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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

#121

Post by restalis »

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…

What's funny is that the conditions included in the "autism spectrum" are close to the idea of how a man should be - pretty much emotionless, or at least with no emotional manifestation except laughter and anger. As men, in a more or less expressive manner, we are taught from childhood to cling to that. Could your emotiveness stem from a divergence from this education? (If you're a woman it'd just make sense to be more emotive than your peers.)

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

#122

Post by teddyc »

junko wrote: post #67
k__ wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I knew a few lightly autistic people who also aren't exceptionally good at anything. Some are better than average programmers or something. But their autism is a greater burden than their increased skills are a help in their life. It's not that they just sit at home all day, avoiding people and creating awesome stuff en masse. Most of the suffer from their inability to interact socially.

But that burden can be lightened. I wonder why local groups along the lines of 'Autistic Anonymous' don't exist, or even if they do, aren't widespread enough as there is a significant minority of the population who are autistic. I'm talking about those who are in the 'higher' spectrum of course, though by no means the group should turn into genius club or something. I agree, autistic people can also be average-skille…

We have a MeetUp group in my area: http://www.meetup.com/NeurodiversityNetwork/

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

#123

Post by Practicality »

cmdrfred wrote: post #118
Practicality wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

While related, I think you're overestimating the capacity of the average human being to make such calculations.

Since they are incapable of determining the maximum effect of their dollar (at least, not without intense effort), they simply make the choice that feels the best, and that will usually be determined by the proximity of the suffering.

Secondly, many people invest in cancer research because everyone might get cancer. They aren't hoping to reduce suffering generally. They are thinking "I or my friends might get cancer and collectively this research might save my (or my friends) life."

Nobody cares about the suffering of people they've ever met. I mean, intellectually we all do, but emotionally, no, you have to see the person (or at least talk/text with them) to care.

As depressing as it is, your "average" human being is not making any decisions based on a rational estimation of the best way to achieve their goals. If they have goals at all. They pretty much just try to muddle through.

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

#124

Post by ZeroFries »

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…

I have this thing where I tend to match the body language, style of communication, etc, of the person I'm communicating with. I think this leads to a lot of these feelings, because as I match their body language, I start feeling the same emotions they're feeling. Catching yourself doing this and relaxing your body seems to help. Just wondering if you can relate.

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

#125

Post by partomniscient »

drumdance wrote: post #113
louprado wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 en…

>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.

With a username like yours...? Or is it much more quantized drum machine and less anything else?

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

#126

Post by restalis »

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…

"Autistic people don't choose to not care"

I accidentally got in a condition that can be compared to the ones describing autism. I remember how it is to be emotional but I choose not to go back (even if theoretically it is in my power). Autism has its drawbacks but it also has its perks. There may be others like me who actually just choose not to care (emotionally) or not to become a(n emotionally) caring person.

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

#127

Post by Practicality »

restalis wrote: post #121
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…

What's funny is that the conditions included in the "autism spectrum" are close to the idea of how a man should be - pretty much emotionless, or at least with no emotional manifestation except laughter and anger. As men, in a more or less expressive manner, we are taught from childhood to cling to that. Could your emotiveness stem from a divergence from this education? (If you're a woman it'd just make sense to be mo…

Obviously I can't say for sure, but it seems more genetic.

In my family my mother and one of my brothers is this way, and my daughter didn't have much chance of not being this way (since my wife is such as well).

Excluding the ladies for the sake of discussion, my brother and I would be the targets of your question.

Neither of us would have resisted such societal pressure as we don't have any reason to. Although we were both in the gifted program, so we had enough confidence to not really care what society thinks :)

Also, I don't know that we necessarily expressed emotions any more than our peers. The social sharing of emotions seems to be more a female role in society, but our social handling of emotions would be considered normal.

The difference between the men in the women who are like this is quite interesting. While I feel others' emotions strongly, it doesn't affect my thinking. Whereas with my wife we she feels someone else's emotions it clouds her thinking.

I don't have the citation off-hand, but this aligns with several studies of how men and women's brains are wired a little differently.

The nuance between feeling others' emotions strongly (or not) and having emotions affect your thinking (or not) is probably where the line between the autism spectrum and gender differences lies, although of course, there are exceptions.

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

#128

Post by Practicality »

ZeroFries wrote: post #124
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…

I have this thing where I tend to match the body language, style of communication, etc, of the person I'm communicating with. I think this leads to a lot of these feelings, because as I match their body language, I start feeling the same emotions they're feeling. Catching yourself doing this and relaxing your body seems to help. Just wondering if you can relate.

Yes. Most people do this! Aligning your body language is a way of communicating general agreement, both intellectually and emotionally. It's usually subconscious, but you can do it on purpose.

http://psychologia.co/mirroring-body-language/ http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_langu... http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-unconscious-influence-o...

Yes, relaxing this is a good way to exercise independent thinking. You can make the choice whether you prefer to build rapport or assert independence each time you interact with a person by choosing to mirror or not.

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

#129

Post by restalis »

agumonkey wrote: post #115
restalis wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I choose not to "miss to death" anyone/anything. When it happens to hug someone it doesn't make much difference to me if we haven't seen each other for over a year or a minute.

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

#130

Post by todd8 »

drumdance wrote: post #113
louprado wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 en…

> I have a friend that is an energy healer. ...

I find myself torn when friends say things like this to me. I feel that such religious beliefs are overall harmful to my friends and leaving them unchallenged allows believers to promulgate that horse shit to others. On the other hand true believers seem to be so invested in these beliefs that they would be psychologically harmed by any debate that would be strong enough to persuade them. I've never known what the responsible way to act regarding these strange but heartfelt beliefs. Usually, I just let them know that I don't see things that way and leave it at that.

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