As a PostScript I’d like to at least give my opinion about the subject of peoples need to label not just themselves but others. I can honestly say that it is very tempting and also a bit comforting when you can point at something and say that’s it that’s what did it to me that’s what’s wrong with me whether they’re is some form of therapy or drug that can help is not all that important. I know for a fact that people like to have something or someone to blame for their problems and often they legitimately do however the human brain is so complex and feelings and emotions so diverse with unique experiences that though it may be hard for someone to admit that there are parts of our brain we have no blanket term for or category that is popular in present culture or social media such as the bipolar trend that was the go-to mental illness for quite a while and then the autistic spectrum labeling we came very popular and still is. For someone who actually is diagnosed bipolar and has suffered with its actual debilitating symptoms for so long that it was manic depression back then, it was fairly irritating and offensive when all of the sudden every celebrity jerk off or someone who did something stupid was automatically bipolar. I just think we should be careful to fall into that pitfall of cozying up to the notion that just because we have some symptoms of a person whom is autistic we may not have the right to adopt that label because there is a very real potential that it dilutes the seriousness and the real struggles of those whom are on the spectrum of autism and people with sheltered lives and whom are hypersensitive really do a disservice to those who have a genuine disorder. And I had to use quite a bit of restraint not to be more vulgar in my criticism of dramatic people who seek sympathy or special treatment for their imagined illnesses.

I hope the op reads this response to their comment. It didn’t fully occur to me until I read that short passage in this article about feeling empathy towards inanimate objects. I always knew this was a quirk of mine since my earliest memories but imagined it was a product of my very healthy imagination being overactive. It’s a strange dichotomy in my personal experience though I would have to disagree with it simply being a case of being overly empathetic as your nature. Speaking only from personal experience I have always had varying degrees of empathy some very high to the point of me becoming very emotional and crying to being almost callous and dismissive about certain people or situations that should elicit some sort of empathy emotion or at least guilt and does not. Two examples of this that I can think of right now but there are many is for instance a Blind gentleman with his white cane I see making his way down a public Street without difficulty or outward sign that he is in any kind of stress or discomfort will cause me to be overwhelmed with sadness and empathy that I may have to go somewhere private and weep should I make a spectacle of myself. with the other example seemingly proves my heartless and jaded side of my brain for example a video or photos depicting young children in Africa or other regions in developing countries with extreme poverty, children literally dying of starvation and disease and I feel little to no real sympathy for them other than the conscious awareness that this is obviously a horrific thing. I’ve also felt the deepest loss and sadness as if I had had a family member die when a inanimate object possession of mine was somehow mistakenly given away or stolen and I felt that object somehow had to be feeling the sadness of losing me and must be lonely as strange as it sounds. It’s one reason why I cannot tolerate when something of mine is stolen it’s as if someone has kidnapped a member of my family. But it has also caused me similar pain to see sad looking objects in thrift stores that I’ve never seen before but I imagine we’re abandoned and somehow have feelings though I know this is irrational. I don’t know if it’s associated with it but I’ve also had the greatest empathy and strongest emotional attachments to animals rather than other humans especially with the grief process, losing a beloved dog or a dog that I was acquainted with is emotionally crippling in its intensity compared to the grief felt for relatives that have passed. With the exception obviously of my father.

Im so very very late to this thread ,The image of your not being able to leave your pooh bear caught my heart ,and then your great relief at how others felt the same ect ect ,however one thing stands out for me .I wonder if we are all a little damaged due not so specifically to our family environment but perhaps it more about how weird the western society is !!.In indigenous society’s for centuries thier was a huge connection to inanimate objects ,father sky ,mother moon ,rocks and water ,or sacred areas that have a certain feel ,not only was there a huge amount of emotion related toward these inanimate places, objects ect but its went further into the realm of the universal energies and shamanism ect .Humans have always used symbols it wasn’t until the west that it began to fade away ,think of the druids and their stones ect Im wondering if we are not recognising this huge need we have to have symbolical ceremony ect ,perhaps its very bloody normal to need symbology ect and our way of manifesting it is a form of replacement for such deep urning with an interconnection exerpience with our world ,our universes ,our land our true home ……???

I’m happy,sad and confused about this article. I was actually looking up something else and seen this and suddenly was feeling like I have found my people,lol. I have done this as long as I can remember but it’s not just objects. Sometimes it’s the old man on the side of the road,or the way someone is holding there fork when eating. I find it happens more when I look at toys even when they are online. I have even bought a particular stuff animal bc I felt sorry for it bc it’s so little and it’s hair every where and lost a eye. So I must take it home and love it. I’m 47 yrs old what is wrong with me? U mean nobody else feels like this what kind of monster are you. Yes it’s a heart breaking thing but I also can’t imagine being a person that doesn’t feel anything when seeing something that reaches out to you whether real or not . Oh and the whole Ocd thing doesn’t make sense to me really. I don’t understand how me seeing a broken leg fairy at Walmart thinking it’s going to be left out and tossed away I must buy it has anything to do with OCD. Personally yes it has to do with empathy but also has to do with you your self having abodment issues or hurt of some kind. Otherwise we wouldn’t know to have empathy for something we aren’t familiar with and understand. There for we don’t want nobody, nothing real or fake ever feeling like they aren’t loved or wanted by someone, just one ,just one can make a difference.

I’m happy,sad and confused about this article. I was actually looking up something else and seen this and suddenly was feeling like I have found my people,lol. I have done this as long as I can remember but it’s not just objects. Sometimes it’s the old man on the side of the road,or the way someone is holding there fork when eating. I find it happens more when I look at toys even when they are online. I have even bought a particular stuff animal bc I felt sorry for it bc it’s so little and it’s hair every where and lost a eye. So I must take it home and love it. I’m 47 yrs old what is wrong with me? U mean nobody else feels like this what kind of monster are you. Yes it’s a heart breaking thing but I also can’t imagine being a person that doesn’t feel anything when seeing something that reaches out to you weather real or not .

WOAH.. no need for all that, keyboard warrior. Being nice is free. Being a mean butt wipe, that brings bad karma

Oh my gosh. I’ve been watching Love on the Spectrum, I’m noticing a lot of things I recognize in myself. Not that awkward parts, socially.. the counting, the making sure the door is locked 4 times, using 4 scoops of whatever, 4 pulls on the toilet paper. I always thought I was weird & it was just my “thing” .. I don’t think I’m Autistic, but I do think I may be compulsive with routine and numbers. I’ll eat the same thing, for breakfast, every day, for months on end. I’m glad to know there are others like me.

You’re welcome, and thank you for the compliment/validation. I see you work for NHS. If I give you my info for credit we can totally publish my analysis …just saying. Kidding and not kidding

Ditto Squeak’s reply! I’m saying- reading this thread had me leaning forward, your comment made me sit back in my chair. *Thud!*