Body Language

This post is a response to a comment from Anonymous:

Hi Philip! Since you are writing about some myths can you write about this? I hear very often that autistics have difficulty reading body language of those around them, especially in social interactions. But my personal experience is that autistics are very perceptive and often pick up on very small details. What is your experience?

I am very good at reading body language. I am good at reading facial expressions too. Many times I have to maintain my distance from people because I have too hard a time not getting distracted by small details like a fearful grimace or an unfriendly sneer. Those faces make me feel badly. I like faces that smile and relax. I am so soothed. I am sensitive to the moods of others. The hardest emotion to see is anger. It’s the worst because it makes me fear being helpless and unable to think. You should really control your anger around us. We can easily lose control of ourselves. In my case, I can get aggressive with people or injure myself. I practice staying away from angry people. It is good for me to be around positive people. Making life more relaxed and loving is good for me.

Copyright 2015 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.

Empathy

I am empathetic. I can feel people's moods.  I am too sensitive. I mean to not be affected sometimes but I cannot help it. For example if someone cries by me, I cannot help but feel sad too. I have lots of anxiety when people around me are upset. It can be a burden because I feel the weight of their sadness too. I am trying to give this burden to God more. In prayer I look to God to help those who need help.

I am loving too. Opportunities to make people happy and blessed are very welcome. I look back at the times people were nice to me. I am thankful for those good memories. People need meaningful personal interactions to help them feel good about themselves. I am happy when I can help. I now blog and meet with people to light the way for others so they don't live being misunderstood by their family and community.

I am still struggling mightily. My impulses get the best of me and I hate it. Meaningless actions my body does when I am stressed leave me embarrassed and ashamed. I try to understand inside my mind firing neurons from impulses and trying to stop them with other neurons in a thinking part of my brain. Peace laces pain of real magnified mistakes from popular misconceptions of autism. Popular misconceptions cause lasting callouses that ache. I plan to break old ideas that autism means I am diseased or defective. Because of these ideas I was made to think I am not deserving of good things or meaning in my life. I became hardened to not care about my life. I am now just starting to heal. Peace comes from walking with God and making a difference in the lives of others. I am caring that others like me live free from being misunderstood.  Making search for autism causes is not helpful to those living with autism. Empathy and making communication a priority are the most important things you can give us.

Philip on the first day of 7th grade

Copyright 2015 Philip Reyes.  All rights reserved.