Do you get excited?
Unless I'm going through a miserable phase, I can get excited about some apparently trivial things. It's rare that anybody's shared my specific enthusiasms, because my interests tend to be off the beaten track. I'm also often completely unmoved by the things that seem to excite hordes of other people. I don't care about Duchess what's-her-name's new baby, and few people cares about my new discovery - efficiently spreading olive oil onto bread (as a substitute for margarine and butter) using a pastry brush.
I see a strong element of childlikeness in my enthusiasm, and I see it as a strength, it helps me to stay reasonably happy. Not that I get very excited on the outside like a child does. That could get annoying.
Whether or not it's down to my autism, I can't be sure right now. If I had to guess, I'd say it was at least partly that. I think I've seen it in other ASDers.
Omg yes, I get gleefully bursting with happiness at certain things. I have to try hard not to show it as much in public but in private I can yelp and squeal and jump and clap to my delight. People tend to think you're a serial killer or something if you're not acting just like everyone else in your cohort.
auntblabby
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I don't think getting excited has anything to do with social reciprocity. According to everything I have read and my personal experience, people with autism feel every bit is much, or more, as NT's do. The problem is with expressing those feelings in a socially appropriate way... not with feeling them. Responding appropriately to the way other people express themselves is also problematic. Tony Attwood talks about how many autistic adults have the social development of a 10 year old. Given how, in some ways, I often feel and act like a 10 year old, that seems reasonable to me. Sliding around the floor in your socks isn't exactly socially appropriate adult like behavior. I do it in public too on just about any slippery surface if the mood strikes me. Definitely socially inappropriate. I'm proud of my childlike qualities. Unlike many NTs my age, I'm still full of wonder at the world and get excited over small things the way children do. Also, based on what I read the whole not wanting to share things is a developmental milestone that applies to young children. I believe that comes later for people with autism. Of course I'm sure that's effected by where they are on the spectrum.
My impression is that autistic people show emotions in a more genuine way. Neurotypical people display emotions they aren't truly feeling in order to fulfill social rituals. I much prefer to be around people who might be considered "childish". My wife is this way. She is not afraid to be silly and doesn't really care if it is not considered socially acceptable. It puts me at ease. She is so forthright I have no need to feel like I have to "act" around her. It's truly a blessing.
I generally need some level of excitement in my life just to stay motivated. Having nothing that excites at all is associated with being mentally exhausted or depressed. Stoicism has never really worked for me. If there is nothing for me to "get into", life starts to feel pretty damn pointless. I don't understand people who just seem to coast through life without really feeling any emotion. I'm never really happy being "neutral". I have to be able to do something that gives me some pleasure or I else I just start thinking about how pointless things are.
When I was little, I thought other kids were exaggerating when they jump up and down and scream "YESSS!" when they get excited. Turns out, I was the one not feeling excitement as strongly, so for a brief time, I tried to force myself to appear more excited. But then I didn't bother anymore.
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auntblabby
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