Inability to feel pleasure?

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My mother sometimes says that I cannot feel pleasure. Is this a thing for autistic people?

Nope. The way individual autists express pleasure may be different or may seem understated by NT standards, though.

On the other hand, inability to experience pleasure is often a feature of major depression. Even then, however, it is not a fundamental inability, but one brought on by the depressive state.

But you would know yourself if you were experiencing pleasure, from a game, a book, an animal, a video, a song, or favorite food, etc. Your mother just may not know how to recognize this in you.

It is definitely a thing that other people sometimes can't tell when an autistic person is happy or enjoying something.

1) I've been asked why aren't I smiling ... when in fact, I thought I was smiling.

2) I've been in a wonderful mood, said something out loud to express it, and to my surprise, had the other person get a horrified look on their face and say, "But that's a good thing ... right?"

3) I've tried to make a light-hearted joke or banter the way everybody else does ... only to find out I've just made somebody angry at me, when absolutely no offense was meant.

It seems in some cases like more of a communication thing.

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Inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia), is tied to lots of different things (ADHD, borderline personality, schizophrenia, dysthymia, hormonal imbalance, depression, physical illness, medications etc.)

But is it true that you don't feel pleasure when experiencing something you find enjoyable, or considering doing something enjoyable? Or is it that you don't show outwardly what other people expect as the_phoenix suggests?

My grandma used to be disappointed that whenever I did something fun I didn't act like I was having fun. So, raising the pitch of her voice and doing a side-to-side dance, she said you're supposed to say, "Oh, yeah!" I imitated it, and that seemed to prove to her that I could.

But I also have some depression/anxiety, which probably limits the joy I could have in life too. It is there though.

I get this too, nothing makes me feel particularly happy. I never really look forward to things and dont find alot of things funny though I do have a sense of humour. I have to pretend to people by smiling at their stupid jokes to try and fit in or they start asking me whats wrong and this just annoys me more so its easier to pretend.

I think this is not looking/acting happy enough when around others. Even if one is enjoying oneself. Probably because at the same time it's a strain because of being more outside one's comfort zone.