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ASD and Pseudobulbar Affect

FayetheAspie

FayetheAspie

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Pseudobulbar affect is known to occur as a comorbidity of another neurological condition. Autism does not seem to be on the list of comorbid conditions but I wonder if there can be a correlation between them. Does anyone relate to the symptoms. Online tests say that I probably have this. I laugh when embarrassed, uncomfortable scared, ect. including a couple of times when I was in potential danger (once when mean customers were in the store and once when my dad was in a rage.) I am not genuinely amused in these situations though it can be hard to convince some people. Personally I don't think this type of laughter even sounds the same as humour based laughter, but many neurotypical people do not seem to tell the difference. Ironically, people with profound autism (who supposedly would have empathy deficits) and similar conditions that I know seem to automatically know that I am scared and/or hurting at those times. I feel the emotions that I should but sometimes it expresses externally as laughter. When I genuinely find something funny it is extremely hard to stop laughing. Sometimes I just start laughing at random and don't know exactly why. At those times ,I do feel humor but do not associate the feeling to anything in particular. I have had random tears too but rarely. Also there have been times when tears would stream out of my eyes with the laughter.
 
I don't actually laugh but when people upset me I smile. It has a disturbing affect on most people, many assume it's because I'm looking for a fight and that can go either way. In truth it's just a nervous response.
 
I remember laughing when Dad was launching into one of his lectures/ reprimands. I'd be telling myself don't laugh, don't laugh, he'll get more mad. I'd be trying to stop the corners of my face from turning upwards but it was all in vain. Once you have the bug it's game over. That's why corpsing outakes are so funny!

I had the same thing cracking up outside the headmasters office, it was worse then because you had other kids setting you off! In my teens I was able to control the involuntary giggles, having had plenty of practice, but was still getting into as much trouble..
 
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Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a condition that's characterized by episodes of sudden uncontrollable and inappropriate laughing or crying... The primary sign of PBA is frequent, involuntary and uncontrollable outbursts of crying or laughing that are exaggerated or not connected to your emotional state. Laughter often turns to tears. Your mood will appear normal between episodes, which can occur at any time. Crying appears to be a more common sign of PBA than laughing. - Mayo Clinic
 
Cutesie said:
Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a condition that's characterized by episodes of sudden uncontrollable and inappropriate laughing or crying... The primary sign of PBA is frequent, involuntary and uncontrollable outbursts of crying or laughing that are exaggerated or not connected to your emotional state. Laughter often turns to tears. Your mood will appear normal between episodes, which can occur at any time. Crying appears to be a more common sign of PBA than laughing. - Mayo Clinic
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I have had exactly one episode of this. My wife was getting ready to take me to an ER when it stopped as abruptly as it started. We were away from home at the time, so not going to an ER in a strange town was much appreciated. I have also had one episode of TGA (Transient Global Amnesia). That's how I met my current neurologist who later diagnosed my narcolepsy. My wife used to talk about my atypical neurology well before the ASD diagnosis.
 
FayetheAspie said:
Pseudobulbar affect is known to occur as a comorbidity of another neurological condition. Autism does not seem to be on the list of comorbid conditions but I wonder if there can be a correlation between them. Does anyone relate to the symptoms. Online tests say that I probably have this. I laugh when embarrassed, uncomfortable scared, ect. ...
Click to expand...

Nervous laughter is actually very common and normal and it is, as you say, often associated with embarrassment, nervousness, or stress. Some of the other spontaneous laughing or crying sounds like it's out of the ordinary in my non-medical opinion.
 
FayetheAspie said:
Pseudobulbar affect is known to occur as a comorbidity of another neurological condition. Autism does not seem to be on the list of comorbid conditions but I wonder if there can be a correlation between them. Does anyone relate to the symptoms. Online tests say that I probably have this. I laugh when embarrassed, uncomfortable scared, ect. including a couple of times when I was in potential danger (once when mean customers were in the store and once when my dad was in a rage.) I am not genuinely amused in these situations though it can be hard to convince some people. Personally I don't think this type of laughter even sounds the same as humour based laughter, but many neurotypical people do not seem to tell the difference. Ironically, people with profound autism (who supposedly would have empathy deficits) and similar conditions that I know seem to automatically know that I am scared and/or hurting at those times. I feel the emotions that I should but sometimes it expresses externally as laughter. When I genuinely find something funny it is extremely hard to stop laughing. Sometimes I just start laughing at random and don't know exactly why. At those times ,I do feel humor but do not associate the feeling to anything in particular. I have had random tears too but rarely. Also there have been times when tears would stream out of my eyes with the laughter.
Click to expand...
Emotional lability is common to nt and ns especially physically tired stressed
 
Interesting to note that this particular article shown below does not seem to even mention PBA.

Which may tie in what I regard as a common mystery as to where a comorbid condition of autism begins or ends as opposed to symptoms of autism itself.

So when I think of such dynamics, it may apply to any number of conditions. Making the distinction between autism and other comorbid conditions uh....confusing at best. :oops:

Inappropriate Laughter in Autism: Causes, Impacts, and Management Strategies
 
Cutesie said:
Can I ask a therapist's question: How does that make you feel? Does it have you wondering about yourself? Worried that it will happen again?
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I was concerned at the time that I was having a mini-stroke or something.

I know I have neurological weirdnesses. Autism is only the latest discovery. I just take them in stride. I can't get my brain redone.

If it happens again, it will be familiar at least. I don't put energy into worrying about it. I have already passed my use-by date. (Statistically, I was supposed to die 3 1/2 years ago from CAEBV. I'm not circling the drain yet.)
 
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