Do you have Asperger's Syndrome? - (1/2) Explaining the Symptoms

[Hairmetaller86]

I exhibit certain traits of Aspergers I suppose. I am very very creative and I always do things my own way. But I don't know if I have it. I have been diagnosed with Anxiety/OCD and Depression. Is it possible that the symptoms of my disorder may reflect those of Aspergers, but they are not from the same disorder? I am also very self conscious, so I do avoid eye contact. I also require a regiment to stay stable, for example, waking up after 2:00 pm after a while will ruin the day for me.

[MrAmbidexterous]

I do feel like your voice if fairly flat, its not a bad thing though

[punkrastagirl96]

are you Swedish? I noticed your accent

[TheOnlyAttrition]

I got diagnosed with AS when i was 10.

[HeyItsASquirrel]

@TheOnlyAttrition I was when I was 9.

[fromdabosch]

thanks for this. i'm going to get an appointment and get tested next week. i've been putting this off for ages.

[IcarusFlying]

restless eye syndrome.

[TheHollisterchick25]

omg!!! i freakin love your accent its soo pretty =)

[Jcrazy147]

i love your videos! im not 100% positive, but im pretty damn sure my son has aspergers. he's 3 yrs old. i have a couple questions for you. 1.- i havent heard you talk about stimming, what are your opinions about it, and do you stim? 2.-Are there any aspergers syndrome books that you would recommend?. & Do you have a facebook account? keep up the great videos! :) & thanx 4 your time!

[emokiller907]

cool accent dude

[DavidLynch007]

Thanks very much, I like your videos.

[DavidLynch007]

I can totally identify with your bucket of spiders analogy.

[OdessaMcGregor]

Thank you! I am learning about autism because my husband has it and I agree that you can have great emotions for those that are close to. I have a better understanding thanks to you keep up the good work!

[MasterCookie1993]

just disable annotation to see it from here

[thelittlesagg]

I got a 38. What does that mean?

[Doomsfall]

Is aspergers capable of causing bad concentraton? :P

[thelittlesagg]

@Doomsfall Occasionally yeah, I mean, I do not concentrate very well. If someone is talking to me and I'm doing something else I usually can't listen to it. x.x

[diesect33]

I have Asperger's. all the 1st born sons on my moms side have it although i was only recently (reportedly, i suspect my mom hid it from me) diagnosed.

[tabbykatification]

I think I might have this... I have most of the symptoms, but not number 3. I feel sorry for people who I like a lot, but when someone who bullies me is sad, I walk away. Also, I get awkward in emotional situations so people think I have no emotions.

[Greensleeves1984]

Damn, you're beautiful!

[wingedsweetheart]

Sorry double post! Stupid thing.

[wingedsweetheart]

I have empathy but have a hard time showing empathy. It makes people see me as being cruel cold or heartless when I'm really not at all!

[wingedsweetheart]

I have empathy I just don't know how to show empathy for others. So to a normal person I seem cold and heartless when I'm really not.

[sisyphusorianus9787]

I have asperger's, and I aim to be a therapist that specializes in Asperger's & Autism-related disorders. It is cool how you can correct the maladies of Asperger's. I even got laid a few years ago! Desperate I know, but I have a reason for my joy. My brother thinks that people w/Autism are borderline retarded! Oh yeah?! Explain my IQ of 128?!?!?! Asperger's is a limitation in the expression of empathy in many ways... leading to more than enough social misconceptions about that person.

[markleerose]

You should stop the overlays after 30 seconds or something. I'm watching these videos as part of someone else's playlist... but I can't see the videos :/

[Adkit2]

@markleerose Sorry, but I wan't people to see them on the other channel so I kind of made them unwatchable on this one. :/

[rossapher24]

@markleerose press the "captions" button right next to the "resolution". It will turn off the captions.

[buzzingfrets]

Thank you. Your videos have been very helpful. I am 16 and it has always seemed that I view the world differently than most people. Communication is like being stuck behind a thick piece of glass. I can't and don't want to relate to most people. Eye contact and physical contact make me squirm in most cases. I believe I have AS but don't have medical insurance to see a doctor about it. I have also had some problems with the symptoms of AS as typically described, so I'm not always certain.

[schmui]

@buzzingfrets ...you don't have medical insurance.

that's so sad and so gmkaslfpo!!! it just fucks me up.

the u.s. is just backwards when it comes to this.

hard for me to understand.

best wishes

[1971Boink]

check your inbox! :D

[smooshiemonster]

You are hilarious and adorable, I want to dunk you in my coffee (haha that was a joke ;-) )

[Taranatar2211]

AWESOME! You're SWEDISH and a CHEF!!!

Cool!

[cdreyo]

are you left handed?

[StuartJohnson1975]

Thank you man! Your a cool guy :)

[MrVegemitesandwich]

My language is very obscure compared to my peers because language for me is an exchange of information, not a social tool. My mum always got upset when I didn't look at her in the eye, and then when i did look her in the eye, she acused me of staring rigidly. I still don't get how you're supposed to look people in the eye...

[mrsladida]

@MrVegemitesandwich Yeah the last part confuses me too. Although I've heard that it's helpful to look at the left eye and then the right eye when you talk to people, so that you're not staring at one place (which is a start i guess). Idk, it kinda works for me. =P

[MrVegemitesandwich]

I can identify with point 3 about empathy, I can feel for other people, except only when I care to, and sometimes I feel for others but "don't show it the right way". Sarcasm also confuses me, like my schoolteachers sometimes are sarcastic with me and I take it literally, although sometimes I use it to seem somewhat socially acceptable.

[MrVegemitesandwich]

Yeah, some people are even borderline normal/aspergers, like my friend, Jack. I'm an aspie as well, and my obsession right now is neurological disorders, and in particular, autism. Thanks for the information, Adkit2 :)

[blahblahblah7679]

im pretty sure empathy means that you feel others pain. that you put yourself in their shoes. if your friends mother died, you would also be affected by sad emotions. im pretty sure thats empathy

[AntiGravDisclosure]

is it possible to have a mild form of aspergers?

[Adkit2]

@AntiGravDisclosure Of course it is. You can have a cold that makes you snivel some or you can have a cold that threatens your life. :P

[ArtificialLifef0rm]

@AntiGravDisclosure

Depends what you mean by "mild". You either have AS or you dont have AS. But every aspie have a different setup of AS-symptoms - some which are more severe (handicapping?) than others. So yes, there are varying degrees of disability when it comes to AS. Some have it very hard and some have what you could call "a normal life".

[AngleBitSumSquare]

Love both of these symptoms videos.

Even though I don't believe I have AS I share some of the behavioural traits you list with one or two wrinkles of my own.

All of us are somewhere on a spectrum of character, ability and disability. It is convenient to label someone as AS (or obsesive compulsive or bipolar or ...), particularly if treatment is required.

Looking at you video I get-it that things can be a bit tough, but you don't need treatment, just some understanding.

Very cool video :)

[Brettwbeyer14]

finally, people have always found me to be mostly normal but a bit weird to where they couldn't put their finger on it. i've always felt different to where i couldn't really relate to them. I tend to come off rude to people without intending to be or try to be sarcastic or funny, but they find it very obscure to notice it. I hate small talk find it difficult and do end up making the consversations one sided and about my singular passions. after reading these what could be my synopsis?

[Adkit2]

Not being able to send the right or read the right emotions is very aspie. I'm not saying that you can't spot when someone is angry or not. I'm saying that you don't pick the signals up on instinct. I love movies because they always overact their emotions in order to convey them properly so even an aspie can "get" the emotions.

In my humble opinion: yeah, you sound pretty aspie. :P But you NEED to talk to a psychiatrist before you can be sure of anything.

[keanu320]

@Adkit2

I agree with you on that. I find it hard to detect my brothers mood swings.

[OriginalAtomicSheep]

@Brettwbeyer14 prognosis not synopsis. Synopsis is a summary or outline of something.

[Brettwbeyer14]

continued... I am not sensitive to light, i've always been athletic but clumsy in social situations as a kid. I am never able to really talk in a group. I was always erotic and impulsive as a child who was affectionate. However, I have lots of trouble looking people in the eye, extremely sensitive around new people or girls and women and am always very hesitant about trying new things. I also happen to be quite analytical and obsess over singular hobbies and passions to where people notice.

[Adkit2]

you don't HAVE to be sensitive to light, nor do you have to be sensitive to shower-heads for example. Some aspies are sensitive to different things.

And obsessing over singular hobbies is a very aspie thing to do. Especially if you simply do it because you want to know more about it rather than just because it's fun, I think.

[Brettwbeyer14]

im not sure wether or not i have asbergers. I've always been able to tell as a kid if someone is bored, angry, sad, happy. I used to be a door to door salesmen who sold 12 vacuums in two months. I've been told interviewing for a sales job that i have good people skills. However, it is very hard for me to connect with people, make friends on my own. I like routines and i do like to plan ahead before doing things, but i can improvise and am a very messy person.

[Adkit2]

Liking routines and being ABLE to improvise are not the same as liking routines and LIKING to improvise. :P You you like routines then that means that you'd rather have them, but sometimes you plans fail and you need to improvise. That's just like me. And that's what they mean when they ask if you "like routine" on AS tests. ;)

[mbncd]

The self correcting issue is a big problem for me. If I say something, I keep thinking about what I've said and the possible interpretations others may make of it. Once I realise one negative interpretation, I panic and start saying that that isn't what I meant and why that isn't true etc and it starts to sound like I'm trying too hard and it must be true.

Then there's the times I write an email and find it's come to a chapter or three in length when it's a response to a single line message...

[GearsOfMind]

You are very articulate and do a good job of debunking myths. You basically say that words are all we have so we might as well use the best ones.

[WingedDrant]

So you have great empathy (able to UNDERSTAND how another feels, what they are thinking) but poor sympathy (able to feel FOR someone (pity, sadness, etc.)).

Great, informative videos, glad you're sharing your personal knowledge.

[AspieKid]

I love the part about using specific words. I am always looking for the right word to express what I want to say.

[a8n2d9y9]

totally agree with Skint, i may have it and this really cleared things up. Great tip about watching lie to me as because of that show i became interested in facial expressions and want to persue that as a possible career option.

[skint0n0minted]

this makes much more sense than the 'professionals' on the internet.

thanks, man.

[lightstarvedmourner]

I have it and I am sooo odd ... ?

[KurtTheAwesome]

Nice vid my bro says i might have asbergers i believe it because i looked it up on wikipedia and most of the discriptions match what i do and stuff... Also adkit2 you look kinda like Mac(Rob McElhenney) on the TV show "Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia" lol :)

[0kvakk]

(09:39)

"Not all the time, just about 95% of it"

"No wait, make that 97%"

Soooo true

(I got Asbergers too.)

[yungcity]

yeah, #4 picking up on signals...wow..just that alone could mean i have this? i'm really bad with that.

[jen9243]

Ok so I am working with a five year old boy who has aspergers syndrome. I would love your feed back on my observations do you have an email?

[jen9243]

Ok so I work with very young students with Aspergers. I was very inspired by your video. I would love to talk to you via phone just get your opinion

[Bighairyfart]

yeh aspergers is pretty broad, the feeling ihate is just becoming a loner ( i mean i don;t mind its just not good) over time in new places like uni its not good, timing;s an issue to i like routine, if its liek 4pm i usually just say fuck it but then i;m lazy as well as an aspie. How do u do with eye contact i have to focus, usually i just don;t bother. spontatinity can leave me seeming confused, but like u basically say substtute in what u ain;t got straight up

[elirosa100]

You did a great job!!! This video is exactly what I was looking for!!! Thanks for sharing it with us!. I would love to have contact with you!!!!!!!!!

[nonzzero]

I'm 23, undiagnosed. Someone directed me here because I was having trouble making sense of the textbook definition of these symptoms, this is much easier to understand. I relate to a lot of things you said.

I'm not sure if my "symptoms" are environmental or biological in nature, but I have a lot of Aspie traits and feel like I could get along with an Aspie person much more than other people.

Anyway, thank you for sharing your perspective, it's been enlightening.

[Catherine8here]

Excellent video. Yes learnt! Our instinct is decreased so we learn how to behave is social settings and what is expected. E.g. grabbing partners coat and hanging it up as a polite gesture can be learnt. Origional you may not see the person having difficulties with taking off their coat, until told, once learnt, partner always helps them take of coat.

[xZeeeeLOL74]

I was diagnosed when I was seven years old, I'm currently 16, and I am very social, but thats because I was brought up in a social environment & I am obsessed with the way computers work. And unlike normal people with aspergers syndrome, I can run really fast, says my girlfriend haha ;).

[XxDatBlonde1xX]

I hate routine and I have aspergers. But that's only because I have adhd too, yay...

[almightycornholio]

me too

[XxDatBlonde1xX]

It's fantastic isn't it? xD

How lucky are we?

[KurtTheAwesome]

i have had adhd since i was like 5 and take medication for it, and now i think i might have asbergers ontop of that alot of the behavioral problems apply to me

[vortexxj9]

I feel like I can really relate to you.

[smartmelly]

thanks. now i can just give friends the link to your videos --- it would take me three years to put into words how i feel. thanks for doing it for me. :)

[ThrashHardAss08]

I have it too XD

[Emilydogcat]

Thank you for responding to my question. I was teased for how I walked and for how I ran.

If I walk with my dogs it is easier than if I walk alone. If I walk holding something, like a bag or even my keys, it is easier to walk than if I have to walk empty handed.

My dad was a tyrant. He had no patience for my awkwardness and wanted me to be an athlete ( I could not even catch a ball; I can now).

Bye for now,

Emily.

[Adkit2]

Oh I can understand that feeling. I usually always have my hands in my jacket-pockets when I walk. Or one hand on the strap of my backpack. Because if I have to walk normally and swing my arms around I feel retarded and I keep doing it in the wrong tact. x.x

But still, nobody should listen to their parents. :P They always want more from you than you can and should give. I think that's the point, they give you impossible goals that will force you out of the nest in search of fulfillment...?

[Emilydogcat]

Sports:

I just could not seem to hit that little baseball and I did not like that little ball in the air flying down at me. What a horrible game and all that loud cheering. I did not like floor hockey because people push you into the wall and instead of chasing a little ball, now you chase a little black puck. Basket ball meant bouncing a bigger ball and throwing it into a hoop and running back and forth; how tedious.

I am glad for some reason that you understand about the walking.

[Emilydogcat]

My father was just cruel. He must have seen that I could not play sports. He tried to teach me to ride a bike when I was very young and every time I feel of the bike, he would kick my bare legs.

I don't mean to sound negative. But that is what my parents were and I don't try to make it better than it was. I do love animals, especially dogs. I have three dogs, six cats, one rabbit and one guinea pig.

[Emilydogcat]

correction: every time I fell off the bike.

[Adkit2]

And you sound like you have a lot of pent up anger towards your father. (Don't tell Freud) My dad treated me very...un-fatherly. And I hate him for it.

So yeah, I understand if you feel glad that someone understands you, since you spent your childhood being treated like someone you're not.

Anywhoo, six cats are about 5 cats too many?

[Emilydogcat]

With my dad, the anger is not pent up, it is out there in the open. I told him how I felt. I told him that strangers have treated me better. I am sorry your dad wasn't a good dad to you. Bully dads are like the bullies on the playground at school; they are mean because it makes them feel big.

My dad was really big too 6'5. I am 5'8 and even shorter as a kid obviously.

The cats; hmm. You are right, it can be a lot. All my cats are rescue cats. I have to divide the cats into two groups.

[Emilydogcat]

One group has the Alpha cat and his friend (the alpha scares all the cats except his cat friend). He is good with people, an adorable black cat.

I have a bedroom for the cats. So the four other cats will share their cat apartment(one of my bedrooms) for a few days and the other group are free to roam and then I switch. If not, the alpha cat would be beating up on all the other cats.

My dogs get along with the cats.

The cats are very wonderful. Every cat has a different meow.

[Emilydogcat]

P. S.

It is a big bedroom equipped with cat toys and fun things. What else can I do? These cats were not being adopted and would have been killed.

[Adkit2]

Cats and dogs are interesting to observe, because of their pack behavior. A dog doesn't yell at their pups, they don't give them hints or lie to them. They don't tell them bedtime stories that give them false hope and they don't ignore them.

They just parent them. It's beautiful to watch really. My mom has a kennel btw.

[Emilydogcat]

Yes, animals are wonderful to watch. Some people are so rotten with all the lies and games, like one big King Lear play. People smile when they don't mean it. They say things and don't mean it. But animals are so straight forward! Your mom has a kennel! So you get to look at lots of puppies then; lucky.

[Adkit2]

Well my mom's kennel is kind of not operational right now. She haven't had puppies at home in a long time. But I used to be the kennel-boy. :) All the puppies eating my shoelaces and socks, trying to kill my feet with those razor sharp teeth. Those were the days. *dreamy*

[Emilydogcat]

It must have been nice for you; that is a good memory. I will make video of my pets for you to see. I just got my video camera and I have to read the instructions. You know I can't sleep unless I have my dog Thomas at the foot of my bed. Is that strange? He is a big yellow labrador. I also have two other dogs who prefer to sleep on their own (I bought them a mattress to sleep on).

One is a Japanese Akita cross and the other is a Black Labrador cross. All are very cute!

[Adkit2]

Here's my solution for PE in school: all the kids wanted to play basketball or football all the time and the teachers were morons so they agreed every time. And since I was forced to be part of the dumb group activity that I disliked what I did was that I turned towards the ball and walked forward.

That way I kept following the ball around so that I LOOKED interested in the ball but I never really GOT to it. Passing grade, oh yes.

[Emilydogcat]

Smart! When I played ball I was like Jerry Lewis. I caught the ball in my mouth one time (not on purpose). All the kids thought I did it on purpose.

The only thing I like sports wise is going for walks, I use to like running but it is not good for one's knees--I also like swimming (and you are immersed in the water so nobody really pays attention to you). I always were a t-shirt and shorts when I swim so I don't get any attention and I like it in the deep side (less people).

[Adkit2]

You swam in your clothes? But girls look so nice in bikinis. x.x I guess that's one way to increase the workout you get though. Running is bad for you though, I agree. Walking is technically not that good for you either but it's relaxing to me.

Of course, I'm a chef, I walk 12,000 steps a day, with cooking pots and the like. Plus, like another aspie said: why do you even need to exercise in this day and age? It's not like we need to. ;)

[Adkit2]

1. All women think they weigh too much, very rarely it's true. x.x You're not "fat" or even "chubby" unless you wobble when you walk, like a penguin. :P That's where I draw the line. Anything under that is just cute.

2. Ratatouille is a bit stereotypical but I liked it because I was actually in chef-training when I saw it.

3. This is getting way off topic, we're cluttering up the comment section. :P Let's keep it to mails, ok?

[Emilydogcat]

I read up psychology and sociology too. I offend people with my facial expressions which may not be appropriate for the situation and I don't always respond to body language (like someone pointing up), I tend to overlook these signals and not on purpose, they just don't register with me.

Has anyone with Asperger's ever been teased for how they ran or walked; especially when they were younger?

[Adkit2]

Having a weird walk is a typical AS trait, just so you know.

[Midna]

~I suck at speaking, especially when talking to someone in person ~I was always shy ~I think I can tell apart peoples emotion, most of the time. I used to have emotions, but they're mostly gone. It sucks! ~I dislike many changes too. I also have problems sleeping at night. ~I have empathy ~I often don't act my age, I act silly but other times I'm really mature ~I don't avoid contact ~I sometimes I have a blank stare ~I have OCD ~I sometimes talk a lot too ~sensitive to light/sound/

[Midna]

I have Asperger's and it sucks!

[bleedingbanshe13]

I'm a little different. I do have empathy (in exception with the stupid people on youtube), and I can be social. I don't like seeing large groups and I don't like peers my age at all. I have trouble making eye contact, but I do glance at the speaker every now and then.

[BackwardsHatToucan]

Empathy isn't necessarily just caring for someone or loving them, but it's more about being able to understand them and WHY they feel or act the way they do. Most people with Asperger's/Autism lack the ability to undersatnd other people's situations and can only apply their OWN feelings to what other people do. For example, an autistic person may see someone crying, but they have no interest or understanding as to why that person is sad.

[Adkit2]

Isn't applying your own feelings to what other people do what everyone does? (irony)

[celestemint]

Love the video - love your accent!

[StitchedElf]

Great video! I've been trying to find more about asperger's and all the medical lists/explanations I came across were very flat and unrelateable. This was the first thing that really made it make sense! I don't personally have asperger's but i seem to have my fair share of the traits, hence my interest. It is unfortunate that some people are quick to make assumptions before making an effort to truly understand.

[jogtheviking]

@ Adkit; before watching, I hadn't fully understood point 4, the sarcastic remark, thank you, oh, and for info, i'm waiting for an appointment to be diagnosed with AS, my GP referred me recently, god i'm anxious

[BayHarborButcher]

Interestingly, my empathy only extends to one person, my girlfriend. I have no real feelings for any of my blood family members. They are more important than strangers, but I don't love them. I meet my girlfriend, and she wakes me up from my emotional coma. The catch is, I only have feelings for her. But, I prefer it this way. I just wish my family would leave me alone.

[FTWinnable]

@ 6). haha ya I really hate eye contact. and my creepy English teacher knew I had aspergers and would try to make eye contact with me by staring straight at me... o.o

[thane17]

Another question for you if you don't mind. Do you find it difficult to talk about emotional things with someone? I do, I mostly have to talk about the subjects I like or I find it difficult to stay engaged. Great video!

[Adkit2]

I don't have much problems with talking about emotional things but that might be because I do it a lot. I'm used to it. But everybody's different as well so hm... You seem to be able to talk about emotional things though if you go by your videos. Of course those are things you might like talking about.

I am undecided, heh.

[nezahualcoyotl85]

do you find that you have almost a double to you?? anuther personality or gender?

[Krinoit]

I am disliked for me being blunt

[reachforthelasers]

Are you Dutch?

[debz93sxmsur]

he looks swedish

[Adkit2]

Do I? I didn't know swedish people looked a certain way. And I really didn't think I looked like one of them. :S

[debz93sxmsur]

lol.. no sorry i meant ur accent XD

[reachforthelasers]

I'm not familiar with the Swedish accent, but I think you sound Dutch. Am I right?

[Adkit2]

I'm not Dutch! x.x I'm Swedish. It's written on my profile, you should play Sherlock Holmes some more. :P

[davros1973]

Regarding empathy: I think I have too much empathy. The problem is ... it's like hypersensitivity to sound, light, temperature, touch etc. ... that can lead to melt-downs. I think I shut-out / can't process all the empathy - just as I too find it difficult to talk to more than one person at once (too many signals). I think I process empathy after the meeting with a person/persons is over. I easily cry at sentimental movies etc. as then I am just a passive recipient of the targeted emotive co

[Adkit2]

Exactly. That's why I don't like the fact that one of the major symptoms for AS is supposed to be lack of empathy. I can see why people might think that but it's really not true in the way they think.

[Saguaro24]

Your "hypersensitivity" to light, sound, temperature etc is not "empathy" it is heightened sensitivity hence the term "hypersensitivity". A lack of empathy is a difficulty to "feel" for anothers situation such as your neighbor's beloved dog runs away and all you say is "I'm sorry about that" and are unable to beyond that. Maybe another neighbor would show empathy by spending time comforting that person.

[davros1973]

Hmmm ... I'm not sure I've been clear. I do "feel" others' situations ... just not in "real-time" necessarily - or while talking to people. There's so much going-on when talking to people that it's hard to process it all. I can be quite overcome by intensity of feeling. I think it can be alikened to hypersensitivity - in that someone who likes to feel the warmth of a fire, might avoid it after burning themselves in it. Also - with autism, we do not "intuitively" know how to spend time - ...

[davros1973]

... with them comforting them ... we do not know this will help them because it seems unrelated to the dog running away - it's a huge effort for us to work out what to say etc. Not because we don't have feelings ... but we just can't - well ... I can't work with them in real time during conversation. I'm 35 now ... so I've developed a lot since I was a kid - people would consider me more eccentric than out-right rude or lacking empathy ... hmmm ...

[davros1973]

I guess this is about semantics really. Perhaps I shouldn't try to say I have empathy just in case I really don't understand it ... pehaps I should say - I have deep feelings, I am sensitive to other people's gross feelings; I cannot easily pick my way through subtle expressions of feeling; I do "feel" other people's distress and can become very upset by it. I would feel very sad for someone if they loved a dog and it ran away leaving them distressed. I might be awkward in expressing that.

[davros1973]

As a child - if I learned of this situation in another, I might have difficulty conceptualising it as I prefer "hard concepts" ... if the matter was something not in my experience. It would be easier to turn my attention to something I understood - rather than trying to work-out and cope with the distress of another. However - on the other hand, I find "NT" people find it difficult to empathise with AS people - I suspect because the way we think is outside of their experience!

[Saguaro24]

Now that is a reply! Your response to the dog situation is similar to the way I would respond and I think to an NT that would be precieved as a lack of empathy. :)

[davros1973]

My head's spinning think about these things now. I'm not actually sure where I stand on empathy: what it is exactly and whether I have it or not. I can say I have deep and sometimes overwhelming feelings - including feelings for others' and their predicaments. I can say I often miss/don't-notice other people's feelings, fail to comfort them in a standard way, and sometimes respond inappropriately. So I just don't know. I do seem more able as an adult vs when I was a child. [Scratches head]

[Adkit2]

Sometimes it's better to live in the moment than to worry that you might not be living in the moment enough. Is what I say. :P

[Saguaro24]

I am sorry for confusing you. I will send you a reply where I can write more plus maybe we shouldn't clog up this comment section anymore. :)

[x00m99]

Empathy is basically the ability to think yourself into other people's situations. Wikipedia says (about empathy): Empathy is concept with many different definitions. They cover a broad spectrum, ranging from feeling a concern for other people that creates a desire to help them, experiencing emotions that match another persons emotions, knowing what the other person is thinking or feeling, to blurring the line between self and others.