I don’t know about you, but as an autistic person, I’m either all in or all out—there’s not much of a middle ground. I need to be challenged, constantly learning, and fully immersed in something to stay engaged. If something doesn’t grab my interest, I’m completely checked out. But if it does, and that hyper-focus kicks in, then watch out, because nothing’s going to stop me. And when I feel like this, I believe that what I’m experiencing in that moment is a phenomenon known as ‘autistic joy.’
8 Clear Signs You’re Experiencing Autistic Joy
How do you know if you’re experiencing autistic joy?
• You find yourself completely absorbed in an activity, losing track of both time and your surroundings.
• Your mind becomes so focused that distractions fade away, and the task almost feels effortless.
• You feel a deep sense of pride and satisfaction in what you’re doing—even if no one else notices.
• Instinctively, you know you’re performing at your best, and it feels like you’re achieving something truly worthwhile.
• An overwhelming excitement builds within you, but it’s more than just interest—it feels like you’ve formed a real connection with what you’re doing.
• You enter a “flow” state where everything seems to click into place, and ideas or solutions come easily.
• You feel genuinely happy while immersed in the activity, even if others may not understand why.
• And perhaps the biggest sign: once you’re in this state, it’s nearly impossible to shift your attention to other tasks. You’re drawn to it like a magnet, and it takes a powerful force to break that focus.
I’ve felt it so many times in my life, usually when I’m so absorbed in something that it’s borderline obsessive. It’s a feeling I connect with a lot of my biggest achievements in life: managing complex projects with budgets in the hundreds of thousands, making sense of massive amounts of data, and spotting patterns others miss.
The Power of Hyperfocus and Monotropism
The behaviors I’m describing are often called ‘hyperfocus,’ or more recently, they’ve been labeled as ‘monotropism’ – a term introduced by British autism researcher Dinah Murray.
Monotropism is the ability to focus on one or a very few things with a kind of tunnel vision. With monotropism, a person experiences deep emotions tied to this focused thinking, which places them in an immersive state that others might find overwhelming.
In some literature, this intense focus and emotional depth are characterized as ‘executive dysfunction,’ a term often used to describe difficulties in task-switching or managing multiple priorities. But when I experience autistic joy, I don’t feel hindered. Instead, I feel more focused and capable than ever.
So, is this really dysfunction, or is it simply a different way of processing and excelling?
The problem I have with these types of labels is that they view the experience from the outside looking in and tend to frame it as something negative. But what if it’s not a negative? What if it’s actually our greatest asset?
When I enter this state of autistic joy, I’m able to achieve things I couldn’t otherwise. I don’t see it as a dysfunction—far from it.
A Strength, Not a Weakness
I’d bet that many incredibly talented autistic people, like Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg, and Anthony Hopkins, didn’t get to where they are today because of a dysfunction. They got there, partly or wholly, because when they’re fully engaged in what they love, they tap into that intense autistic joy, and it’s what makes them the best at what they do.
That doesn’t sound like a dysfunction to me, at all.
How to Embrace and Harness Autistic Joy in Your Life
If you’re autistic and you’re experiencing autistic joy, remember:
• There are people out there who will embrace you just as you are.
• The joy you experience as an autistic person can spread happiness to those around you.
• You are never “too much”—you are exactly enough as you are.
• The little things that spark your excitement are what make life meaningful.
• Even good feelings can be intense at times—remember to give yourself time to rest.
• Your unique way of experiencing joy is something to be celebrated, not compared.
• Taking pride that what excites you is a strength, not a flaw.
