Expert at reading negative emotions...not others
Tyri0n
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Joined: 24 Nov 2012
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,879
Location: Douchebag Capital of the World (aka Washington D.C.)
Such as telling truth from lies, knowing if someone is upset or uncomfortable, etc. But really bad at knowing WHY this is. I'm often not sure if negative emotions are directed at me or not.
I also struggle with identifying positive body language, like knowing friendly from flirting, or knowing if someone was pleased with something I did. I often confuse it with neutral body language or "white noise."
It's not just that I'm paranoid because I'm almost always accurate (not over broad) when identifying negative body language. I've been questioned before by others "how I knew" that someone was upset, etc, when I turned out to be right, meaning I've picked up on things NT's missed.
Is there a clinical term for this, and can anyone identify? Is it simple avoidance?
I am hypersensitive to negative energy / emotions etc however explaining them where they come from and why is very difficult. I spend a long time analysing situations and there are some general principals however each situation is so vastly different that I feel like I have no idea what is going on socially much of the time
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Never, Never, Never Give Up
Tyri0n
Veteran
Joined: 24 Nov 2012
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,879
Location: Douchebag Capital of the World (aka Washington D.C.)
Are you just ASD or do you have co-morbids where this could come from too? I had always thought the stereotype was of the AS person who talks about her special interest and has no idea that everyone is bored or wants to leave.
Yes I talk too much about special interests and have been told that many times. I don't really pick up when to stop so my rule of thumb is I will bring it up as much as possible briefly with different people each day and then try to stop before people get bored.
I do have asd also bouts of depression which seem more like normal reaction to extreme circumstances in my life, once resolved I improve again. I also have ongoing anxiety about my lack of social skills and find that due to my self image being quite low Any socially awkward or difficult interaction gets magnified in my head thus causing more anxiety toward future interactions.
I just had a difficult interaction with my daughter and she was angry with me and the intensity was so huge. I analysed the situation as an example and recognised that I am hyper aware of negativity and once sensed it sets off my anxiety about what I may have done wrong socially as I am quite black and white and blunt or not notice small faux pass. In this particular situation my first reaction is to ask person what is up with them and why they are angry to try to work it out. My anxiety is high and I am hoping to work it out to find a resolution. This is not adaptive cause when people are upset they are defensive and tend to not be logical. I have a hard time letting people calm down first and asking later. Repeated questioning can inflame the situation immensely. I think this morning my daughter was anxious about going to school late and having to make her way into assembly hall with everyone In the whole school noticing her so she took her anxiety out on me in the form of anger. This interaction was very confusing for me and took me approx 1 hour to come to this conclusion and feel better about myself and my role and reaction to her emotions. This sort of stuff is difficult cause I didn't actually do anything at all wrong and yet was yelled at. I would never do that if I yell at someone they damn well know why and if I stressed and acting badly is meltdown I will remove myself or repeatedly try to explain that I am just having a moment and it is not because of the other person and say what is causing it.. I know her very well obviously so this one was easier to work out.
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Never, Never, Never Give Up
