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What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

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Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#111

Post by cmdrfred »

Practicality wrote: post #106

So, funny that on hacker news and lots of programming blogs when this topic comes up a lot of people chime in about being on the (autistic side) of the spectrum too. Ironically, I feel left out. I am on the other end of the spectrum. Kind of like what this guy described after the treatment, although I've been dealing with it my whole life, so I don't get all worried. I feel like the only programmer who is intensely a…

It's not selfish, you are supposedly in a room full of adults. Adults regulate their own emotional state. If you disagree consider this for a moment. Imagine when you were in high school there was a woman who you had feelings for. You would had prefered that she date you rather than the quarterback of the football team. Is she now required to do so? Is she selfish for not doing so? What of the quarterback, should we hurt his feelings to make you feel better? It's all so ridiculous from the start.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#112

Post by agumonkey »

restalis wrote: post #79
agumonkey wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a life altering 'change' in one's brain (at least it can be) and I very strongly believe that for people with socio-affective issues it has some relevance. Not talking about mechanics here of course, but a mean to interact / relate with someone emotional state.

"for people with socio-affective issues it has some relevance" It may. It would enlarge the amount of things we use to relate to when we're communicating but it's not essential for a natural-perceived relation. The mechanics may be all what's necessary. From what I've noticed, all that non-autistic persons are really interested in this regard is the belief that the other person is emotionally-empathetic, and that int…

I may be an oddity but I can assure you that emotional relation through contact has significant deep sources, causes and effects on one's mind. It was like going from 2D monochromatic vision to 3D trichr. And in my case it wasn't a smooth transition and caused me deep anguish to say the least. When I see documentaries about autistic childs, the way they express anxiety and hit themselves, I can't help but to think about my own past issues. Hence my question.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#113

Post by drumdance »

louprado wrote: post #109
Practicality wrote: post #106

So, funny that on hacker news and lots of programming blogs when this topic comes up a lot of people chime in about being on the (autistic side) of the spectrum too. Ironically, I feel left out. I am on the other end of the spectrum. Kind of like what this guy described after the treatment, although I've been dealing with it my whole life, so I don't get all worried. I feel like the only programmer who is intensely a…

> normal level without caring One of my personal quotes is "caring is the first step towards insanity". Over-caring/empathy can also push one towards an unhealthy level of isolation as a coping mechanism. Granted that is a choice whereas someone on the spectrum faces isolation by default.

I have a friend who is an energy healer. I personally think that kind of thing is nonsense, but her origin story makes me pause.

Throughout her teens and twenties she really struggled emotionally because she had this unconscious ability to absorb other people's emotional states. Then she went to an energy healer herself, discovered she had a gift and finally developed the coping mechanism not to let other people's energy affect her so much. Now she uses her ability to help people instead of just flailing around.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#114

Post by innertracks »

Practicality wrote: post #106

So, funny that on hacker news and lots of programming blogs when this topic comes up a lot of people chime in about being on the (autistic side) of the spectrum too. Ironically, I feel left out. I am on the other end of the spectrum. Kind of like what this guy described after the treatment, although I've been dealing with it my whole life, so I don't get all worried. I feel like the only programmer who is intensely a…

How interesting. I'm learning about healthy emotional boundaries. In the past there have been times I've been so synced up with another person's emotional state I thought their emotions were my own! Practicing dialing down my sensitivity has been a big help.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#115

Post by agumonkey »

restalis wrote: post #76
agumonkey wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about simpler affectionate interactions ? dating and sex were already way beyond what I had in mind. Autism impossibility of emotional interaction would be at odds with simple hugging. And in my view, hugging is a prototype of sexual relationship (pure pleasure sex left of the discussion).

Hugging has two distinct sides - emotional and sensorial. It feels kind of futile to do it for emotional reason (you do it just to please the other side, maybe) but it still feels good for sensorial one. It's like hugging a pleasant animal.

You never hugged someone you missed to death ? I bet it wasn't for sensorial pleasure. There's something more when you can let down on someone else and somehow 'talk' by skin / closeness.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#116

Post by Practicality »

cmdrfred wrote: post #111
Practicality wrote: post #106

So, funny that on hacker news and lots of programming blogs when this topic comes up a lot of people chime in about being on the (autistic side) of the spectrum too. Ironically, I feel left out. I am on the other end of the spectrum. Kind of like what this guy described after the treatment, although I've been dealing with it my whole life, so I don't get all worried. I feel like the only programmer who is intensely a…

It's not selfish, you are supposedly in a room full of adults. Adults regulate their own emotional state. If you disagree consider this for a moment. Imagine when you were in high school there was a woman who you had feelings for. You would had prefered that she date you rather than the quarterback of the football team. Is she now required to do so? Is she selfish for not doing so? What of the quarterback, should we…

Perhaps self-focused might be a better term? Normal people aren't deciding to not feel others' emotions like I do—they just, don't.

Indeed, I am still able to make rational decisions, but it would be a lot easier if I didn't feel their pain wouldn't it?

See, being on the other end of the spectrum isn't a choice. I will feel everyone else's emotions, whether I want to or not. I might even think they're completely insane, or immature, but I still can't help but feel empathy. Doing so can be extremely exhausting.

Autistic people don't choose to not care, and I didn't particular choose to care (or more accurately, feel), it's just the way I am.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#117

Post by Practicality »

louprado wrote: post #109
Practicality wrote: post #106

So, funny that on hacker news and lots of programming blogs when this topic comes up a lot of people chime in about being on the (autistic side) of the spectrum too. Ironically, I feel left out. I am on the other end of the spectrum. Kind of like what this guy described after the treatment, although I've been dealing with it my whole life, so I don't get all worried. I feel like the only programmer who is intensely a…

> normal level without caring One of my personal quotes is "caring is the first step towards insanity". Over-caring/empathy can also push one towards an unhealthy level of isolation as a coping mechanism. Granted that is a choice whereas someone on the spectrum faces isolation by default.

Yep. My wife is the same as me (a big reason why we're together) but she hides way too much (in my opinion). The best way to deal with it is to just be willing to feel the pain and move on. Go through instead of around.

There is a lot of pain in the world, but it doesn't really hurt you. You don't have to be afraid of pain.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#118

Post by cmdrfred »

Practicality wrote: post #116
cmdrfred wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not selfish, you are supposedly in a room full of adults. Adults regulate their own emotional state. If you disagree consider this for a moment. Imagine when you were in high school there was a woman who you had feelings for. You would had prefered that she date you rather than the quarterback of the football team. Is she now required to do so? Is she selfish for not doing so? What of the quarterback, should we…

Perhaps self-focused might be a better term? Normal people aren't deciding to not feel others' emotions like I do—they just, don't. Indeed, I am still able to make rational decisions, but it would be a lot easier if I didn't feel their pain wouldn't it? See, being on the other end of the spectrum isn't a choice. I will feel everyone else's emotions, whether I want to or not. I might even think they're completely insa…

This gave me some insight. I've always wondered why people support charities that do things in the western world (ie research cures for cancer) when dollar for dollar you are better off feeding and educating children in developing countries if your goal is to prevent human suffering. At first I thought it was racism, then maybe nationalism, but neither explanation ever fit every case. Maybe these people can't handle the suffering of a mother in Africa making less than a dollar a day to feed her 8 children so they don't think about it at all in the first place.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#119

Post by Practicality »

innertracks wrote: post #114
Practicality wrote: post #106

So, funny that on hacker news and lots of programming blogs when this topic comes up a lot of people chime in about being on the (autistic side) of the spectrum too. Ironically, I feel left out. I am on the other end of the spectrum. Kind of like what this guy described after the treatment, although I've been dealing with it my whole life, so I don't get all worried. I feel like the only programmer who is intensely a…

How interesting. I'm learning about healthy emotional boundaries. In the past there have been times I've been so synced up with another person's emotional state I thought their emotions were my own! Practicing dialing down my sensitivity has been a big help.

A little trick: Physically removing yourself from the person's presence usually clears things up.

Of course, it's not something to do in the midst of a discussion, but very helpful at work to just take a quick walk when something is going on.

Re: What It’s Like to ‘Wake Up’ from Autism After Magnetic Stimulation

#120

Post by hammock »

If it's accepted that magnetic pulses can stimulate nerve cells in the brain, "re-tun[ing] the way brain cells communicate," what does this mean for EMR in the environment, e.g. from Wifi and our cell phones? We are constantly being told that it's harmless, but it must have some effect on our brains.
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