Calling neurotypicals.

[tellmesomethingtrue]

Please can a neurotypical person describe how anger, happiness and sadness feels?
Also, how do you know you’re neurotypical?
Thank you.

Nobody can do that because we’re all different, unique people.

Why do you ask?

Well apparently we can because that is what I was asked in my autism assessment.

I don’t know I’m NT. However I’m either NT or better able to mask than my ND family.

For me-
Anger feels like a tension in my chest, around my heart, but also up into my head. It’s confining and uncomfortable. A bit like this, but the steam comes out of my ears.🤯 😤.

Happiness feels a bit giddy, a bit distracted- think of lambs playing in a field.

Sad is a hard one. It’s almost like being switched off. Nice doesn’t taste nice anymore. Sun is irritating. It’s hard to enjoy things when I’m sad.

It’s probably more about awareness of your feelings, than having correct answers. So my answers won’t do anything much for you.

Was it a question about how they actually feel , or more about being able to identify them correctly, distinguishing between them, being able to verbalise them etc.?

It was what I wrote “describe how happiness/anger/sadness feel”

But that means what it feels like specifically for you.

Do you mind sharing what you wrote?

Tbf, it’s a pretty abstract question that would make me overthink so much I’d end up either waffling or not answering at all.

I wouldn't be able to describe them either. I know what they feel like, and I would agree with @PrizedPickledPopcorn explanations (nicely done btw) but I wouldn't be able to use my own words.

Edit - I'm assuming I'm NT but who the hell knows nowadays.

Not sure if I’m not neurotypical or not. For me,
Anger - for me it’s like a really intense frustration or hurt. My body feels tense, thoughts are rushing, brain in spiralling.
Happiness - elation, light, all is good in the world, thoughts feel soft and squishy
Saddness - either totally numb, or so low that I feel nothing will ever be good again. Self-loathing, self-critical.

I'm ND but experience the three emotions separately and distinctly and am well able to describe them. Did you ask why they wanted to know that?

I asked DH (not formally diagnosed but…)

He was able to describe situations where those emotions happen, but couldn’t describe any physical sensation at all. When I pushed a bit, demonstrated describing a sensation- he got irritable.

you need to answer your asd assessment questions as to how things feel for you op, it doesn't matter what other people feel.

how do you know you’re neurotypical?
There are questionnaires & descriptions, I seem to fit NT.

anger: like I want to throw something, hurt somebody, break something, change the world, shout, scream, stomp around, gritting my teeth...

sadness: trying not to cry, feeling distressed and powerless.

Both the last 2 can be very frustrating.

happiness : absence of anything that makes me unhappy. Positive, optimistic, energetic, exhuberant. Opposite of frustrated.

What did you say, OP? How do they feel to you?

I have no idea if I’m NT

Anger - I feel it in my whole body. Rage. Adrenaline. Frustrated. Increased heart rate, incensed.

Happiness - light, smiley, relaxed, content, radiating glow, calm, excited

Sadness: Broken, hurt, in my chest. Crying until I’m empty. Numb.

Im neurodivergent sorry, not who you asked for! But I wouldn’t have a clue how to answer that if it helps! I’d spend too much time worrying how they mean it, and over thinking if I was on the right tracks! I’d probably describe happy as having nothing to worry about! No social occasions coming up! Anger I’d describe like bubbling up inside and sadness like heart aching! I’ve seen this online and have never known what the correct answer is!

I think those are perfectly reasonable answers

I'm neurotypical. I live in a house with 3 ND family members and we talk about how we think and process a lot. Probably not as much about feelings. I still couldn't answer that question and would think I experience these things a little differently from other NT people because we are all unique. Nd family members are totally different from each other too.

Also these can feel different in different contexts or moments. Anger at something that happens today like a driver being rude might feel like a fluttery energy in the chest that subsides quickly. Anger over something in my life that shaped my personality is more likely to be a repetitive thought that might keep me awake at night, a dull ache in the abdomen or a tightness in the back that won't go away from stretching or breathing. Happiness is often a lack of emotion. If all is OK and you are living in the moment that's contentment and happiness I would think. Joy is different. I could go on all day but I might have many different versions of each. It's a silly question to be honest

NT people are not one homogeneous group in the same way as ND people are not one homogeneous group. If you look at the list of criteria for an autism assessment, you realise that there is also a huge crossover between the two groups. Some people meet all the criteria, some meet some of the criteria and some only meet a few or none. Some do meet the criteria but it doesn't have as big an impact on their quality of life as others. The waters are muddied even more because autism is often used as a blanket term for many other conditions and also often co-occurs with other conditions.

I’m NT I could describe my emotions. My H is autistic and could not.

It’s common for autistic people not to recognize their emotions.

I imagine that is why they are asking.

Anger: rage, see ‘red mist’, become a bit irrational, want to run away from the situation.
Happiness: feel light, free from worry, relaxed.
Sadness: want to cry, hide, eat shit food. Hollow feeling.
I had therapy for a bit and the therapist used to ask me how something felt physically and it was really hard to answer. I
i def feel a lot of emotion in my stomach (probably why my digestion is fucked!).