Aspie Girls

Empathy is such an interesting topic. I think that many people, myself included, have only a superficial understanding of what empathy really is. When I was first discovering what AS actually is, I can recall looking at the words "lack of empathy" on some website and thinking that I couldn't possibly have AS because, of course, I don't think that there should be any starving children in Africa and that all little old ladies should be summarily helped right across the proverbial street!! I was really shocked and surprised when I took that Simon Baron-Cohen assessment for empathy. I scored really low and was really shocked by the content of the questions. I realized that I had no idea what empathy really was and actually went and "studied up" on the topic. Of all of the things related to AS that effect me on a daily basis, empathy is the one that "I" personally notice the least. That is not to say that there are no deleterious effects from this. I just think that the lack of empathy that is associated with AS has been the single most difficult "symptom" for me to come to grips with. I have a poor understanding of what it is, I do not naturally tend to these small "gestures" of thoughtfulness and last but not least.... who wants to think of themselves as not being empathetic? Especially a women who is lacking empathy!! I don't mind being seen as eccentric or weird, but it makes me sad to think that I am thought of as lacking empathy. I, like you, "feel" so much. It is a real dichotomy that one can feel yet lack the ability to relate to the feelings of others.