Autism/Aspergers

[Melari]

Well guess what from early age one i knew i was different from most kids, some things seemed to be easy others where pretty hard. When i got burned out after my third job i deceided i should let people look at why i was having so much troubles.

 

I got a diagnose of add with pdd-nos. So not one but a double, now at the age of 40 i am getting help and learning a lot of new stuff. Still struggeling a lot of the time to have to accept some things when adult it is not always so easy. Keep in mind i was diagnosed somewhere in 2006 but never did anything with it as they never explained what they could help me with. I deceided in 2010 that it could not go on like i was going.

 

I was afraid to try to go to work again because of the many burnouts i had, i was tired often and i have accepted now that that part is just not going to get much better as i just need more energy to do things then other people so it will be part of me no matter what i do.

 

One word of advice if you do wonder if something is wrong just try to get things sorted out, even if you are older as at some point you can get pretty burned out if you don't.

[Diame]

I have it and it's ruining my life.

[Viktorya]

I have it and it's ruining my life.

Aww, how so? I hope things get better for you though!

[Solitary_stranger]

Hay guys! I thought I'd stick my nose into this thread as I recently had a tentative diagnosis of Aspergers. I went to a psychiatric consultant to try and see if I had some sort of anxiety disorder and how to fix it (my mum says I have a phobia of life) and he said I do but that it (and other things that I always assumed was just dyslexia) might stem from Aspergers. I'm getting it properly tested next week (I'll put the result here if people are interested).

 

I took the test thing that was posted on the front page and got this-

 

Your Aspie score: 121 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 87 of 200

You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

 

The test is quite good and the pdf with it interesting as it seems to have taken dyslexia into account (which I was diagnosed with at 11) although it seems to think that I might have dyspraxia. I got tested for that a few years ago and it came back negative despite 'normal' people saying I have it. Could autism be mistaken for dyspraxia?

 

On a silly note- if I did get diagnosed with something next week it would make me happy as it would mean that at 22 I would have had two different neurological diagnoses on sequential palindromic ages!

Edited February 17, 2012 by Solitary_stranger

[7Deadly$ins]

Please don't think that you can do something easy to "fix it." That's how it comes off in your post, which is a vast oversimplification of the situation.

[Princess Artemis]

Please don't think that you can do something easy to "fix it." That's how it comes off in your post, which is a vast oversimplification of the situation.

I think that since she's lived her life for 22 years, she has a decent idea of how easy or hard it would be to "fix"...especially given that the 'it' to fix was an anxiety disorder, not Asperger's.

[Solitary_stranger]

Please don't think that you can do something easy to "fix it." That's how it comes off in your post, which is a vast oversimplification of the situation.

 

I'm not expecting it to be fixed per-say just managed enough that I can get on with my life. If I don't do something I'm going to spend my life living with (and leaching off) my parents and my only contact with the outside world being the internet as so scared of social interactions that I do my best to avoid it (22 and never had a job).

 

I'm getting the diagnosis to find the root cause of my problems so that the problems can be sorted. I need to do with the autism (if it is the underlying cause) what I have done with my dyslexia- work out the cause of the problems and find strategies to work around said problem.

 

I'm sorry if I came off a bit flippant or something, I'm no good at expressing my thoughts anyway, let alone through just text.

[Princess Artemis]

I thought you came across as simply eager to share, not flippant in the slightest. Anyhow, I don't think I've heard of dyspraxia being confused with autism, though perhaps they occur together sometimes?

[Solitary_stranger]

I thought you came across as simply eager to share, not flippant in the slightest.  Anyhow, I don't think I've heard of dyspraxia being confused with autism, though perhaps they occur together sometimes?

I'll ask the testing people next week. And I've always been the 'odd one out' in my life so I'm probably over eager to interact with people who might be the same as me!

[kiffren]

I have a mild form of aspergers. Never been officially diagnosed (family hates psychiatrist type people), but I display most of the classic symptons. My ability to handle social situations has improved over the past couple years, but it's still only marginal. Like Zephyr_Drake said, I had to be taught to read body language, still not very good at, and interact with people.

And an update from me.

 

Just last quarter I was officially diagnosed with high functioning aspergers and social anxieties.

 

I've gotten better at dealing with social situations, however I have yet to find any sort of head doctor that can actually help me. They keep trying to "fix" what isn't broken. That is, they keep trying to find ways for me to have more friends when I only want one or two close friends. I want to learn how to successfully maintain close friendships, not have a bunch of not very close friends.

[TikindiDragon]

And an update from me.

 

Just last quarter I was officially diagnosed with high functioning aspergers and social anxieties.

 

I've gotten better at dealing with social situations, however I have yet to find any sort of head doctor that can actually help me. They keep trying to "fix" what isn't broken. That is, they keep trying to find ways for me to have more friends when I only want one or two close friends. I want to learn how to successfully maintain close friendships, not have a bunch of not very close friends.

Unfortunately, in my experience, unless they're specialist nurse practitioners they're unlikely to be able to help very much. I don't know wether it's going to be possible for you, but I found that I learnt the most by simply talking things through with my Mum. And I do mean a *lot* of talking. It's taken years, but both of us now have a better understanding of how the other ticks, and because of that I have a better understa\nding of NT people in general. It's helped enormously.

[dragon_mando]

http://www.rdos.net/eng/poly12c.php?p1=99&...&p11=100&p12=88

 

192/200 AS

6/200 NT

 

Same as when I took it two years ago.

Edited February 17, 2012 by dragon_mando

[Ryujin13]

I was diagnosed with aspergers at the end of my high school career. I never really got help with it and am still working on effective communication with employers so I can get a decent job. I hate that I am stuck with this thing both because it has hindered me in everything I have ever wanted to do and it has put barriers in between me and my dad. I don't tell anyone that I have this problem because of the general opinion of people with aspergers, which comes down to labeling everyone with it as a bunch of people to lazy to go out and make friends. There have been multiple websites that make fun of the issue and I have even met people in real life who say that people with aspergers people should have been spanked more as kids because that would have sorted them out.

In short I am tired of people making remarks based on something they don't understand, being biased because they can be and just generally being ***s. If you want to see what most of these people think and don't mind getting pissed, ~Removed; ED is plain inappropriate, link also contained nudity in the article~ for this site Here's a link to a website made by a bunch of ***s. If you want to get even angrier look up dragon cave on there.

Edited February 17, 2012 by SockPuppet Strangler

[kiffren]

Unfortunately, in my experience, unless they're specialist nurse practitioners they're unlikely to be able to help very much. I don't know wether it's going to be possible for you, but I found that I learnt the most by simply talking things through with my Mum. And I do mean a *lot* of talking. It's taken years, but both of us now have a better understanding of how the other ticks, and because of that I have a better understa\nding of NT people in general. It's helped enormously.

I don't particularly get along with my parents very much, and my mother doesn't seem to understand what's going on in my head. She makes suggestions that are either stupid (seriously, some of them are), or don't work.

 

She has, however, been in contact with one of the leading psychologists who has done tons of study on Aspergers (he's now retired, and I only know his last name is something like Zerief?). He finds my case to be particularly interesting and has given me a few tips/suggestions that have actually helped.

 

However, I have only communicated with him by letter, my mom has only talked to him by letter of phone as well, so it's not as helpful as it could be.

[elderberrysyrup]

If you want to see what most of these people think and don't mind getting pissed, ~Removed; ED is plain inappropriate, link also contained nudity in the article~ Here's a link to a website made by a bunch of ***s.

Don't take anything on Encyclopedia Dramatica seriously. It's a troll site and people on there don't actually feel that way, they just feel like being offensive.

Edited February 17, 2012 by SockPuppet Strangler

[Chinchin]

I've never been officially diagnosed with anything, but I have a few best friends who have Aspergers who could swear i have it too, even if it's only mild - and even though i know the online test things count for jack, i always score highly for having it.

 

I can get on though, I don't particularly have any problems with people - but I have trouble understanding them sometimes and my mum often says things like 'they're using you and you just don't see it', sadly, I often do see it, but friends are few and far between with me. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with having it as long as you can communicate with some people. I have a friend who tells me I'm the only one who 'gets' him, and to be honest, he's really the only one who gets me too.

 

Still, I don't suppose i'm allowed to have an opinion, i haven't been diagnosed with anything.

[satyr76]

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what autism is. DX I'm pretty sure it has to do with social stuff, but I don't know that much more about it. I'd be really grateful if someone could explain it, since a lot of internet sources use big words can be confusing. DX

 

I've heard of a lot of the symptoms of Asperger's{sp?}, and I display a lot of them. But I don't think I have it, and I don't know enough about it in itself to make an actual guess.

[Viktorya]

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what autism is. DX I'm pretty sure it has to do with social stuff, but I don't know that much more about it. I'd be really grateful if someone could explain it, since a lot of internet sources use big words can be confusing. DX

 

I've heard of a lot of the symptoms of Asperger's{sp?}, and I display a lot of them. But I don't think I have it, and I don't know enough about it in itself to make an actual guess.

Well, not everyone with autism is the same, but there are a lot of (stereotypical but common) symptoms that are pretty common throughout the spectrum. We can have a lot of social issues (not understanding/recognising body language, sensory issues, coping mechanisms for these sensory issues, etc) that can seem sort of strange if you don't know what's going on. Sometimes if I'm dealing with something especially stressful I just need to sit and rock back and forth for a while to deal with the mental overload that I'm getting. Sometimes we also can't cut out messy background noise (ex. at a party or in a crowded, noisy room) and everything just sounds loud and awful and that often is the cause of a lot of sensory stuff (for sound at least, a lot of the time). Sometimes we can go nonverbal and basically just... can't handle complex (or any) speech for a while, and that can be somewhat frustrating

 

Aside from that we also sometimes have really narrow interests and stuff? I know a TON of (random?) information about different topics that I'm just really interested in. This happens with anyone, of course, but it seems more prevalent among those on the spectrum.

 

Autism in general covers a LOT of different things, but many of these symptoms are often shown together in those on the spectrum. Those with Asperger's are just in... well, a more defined category of autism with a bit more specific traits. Some people use the terms high and low functioning to describe those on the spectrum but we're increasingly starting to move away from those terms (at least among those I talk to about it) because that creates a sort of stigma against those who are lower functioning. I know some "low functioning" people on the spectrum that seem completely neurotypical at some times and if you didn't see them in other situations you would never even guess it. Autism is often treated as something that makes you really different than others but a lot of us have just learned to act similarly to the neurotypicals around us so it's not as obvious to those watching us.

 

Whoops, I ended up typing way more than I intended haha

If you're really curious and can't decide on your own you could always go to a doctor and get a real diagnosis. Don't be afraid to do more research on your own too, though! It can't hurt

[Obscure_Trash]

I have to share this because I'm still sitting here stunned over this.

 

So, the other day in class I was talking with some acquaintances. Two of them have a couple of classes together and so have talked quite a bit. Let's call them A and B. A's father invited B hunting. There was some convoluted story about how they told A's dad that B was autistic to get him to do this. I have no idea why. I didn't and still don't get it. B ended up commenting something along the lines of "Which is weird, because who would want to spend all weekend taking a ****ing ** hunting?"

 

I faded into this really awkward silence and just stared at him. I guess I've dealt with a lot of discrimination, hate, and/or shaming for a lot of other things, but never with autism. Was really shocking to hear this for me.

 

*previews and sees that ** is censored* Uh, the r-word for idiot that a lot of people don't realize is offensive in their everyday use. Or, shorthand for mentally retarded.

[RWyvern]

I tend to show the world my ideas through art, and I just go hysterical if they don't work ( about 65% of the time), with tears and hitting my head and calling myself names. I am going through a long artists block which is absolutely awful, and all I have so far is a line drawing of a massive wyvern with the moon behind it. Got to have it done before my third exhibition too.

 

And I also have deep feelings for any sort of critter. I cry ( in secret, of course) every time my dad sprays flies, they seem to be in so much pain, I hate accidentally killing any animal, I give all my pets ( bugs, reptiles, mammals, amphibians etc) proper burials and tend to cry at night just thinking about all the helpless animals that killed every day ( including spiders, rats, mice, flies and cockroaches. Yes, they have feeling just like any other animal. Think that whenever you kill one). It sounds silly, yes, but I can't help it.

[Wookieinmashoo]

I'll ask the testing people next week. And I've always been the 'odd one out' in my life so I'm probably over eager to interact with people who might be the same as me!

Where would you start to get tested? I have been looking to get tested ever since I saw this thread and understood what Aspergers is. Too many of these stories sound familiar to me, especially yours.

 

I'd just like some answers. I don't know where to start, or who to talk to. I also have minimal income and no health insurance. At first I was just curious but it didn't matter since I dealt with whatever it was as best as I could. A few weeks ago I bumped into my sister at a store and she practically begged me to come visit over spring break. She also mentioned my parents would be visiting over the weekend. I got busy and forgot and she never called. Spring break is over and I never saw anyone. part of me is afraid of confronting some of these people/ I don't want to see them, yet they can't seem to understand why. I have no idea why I really am not motivated to see my sister. Out of all my family she and my brother are the ones I care about most, yet I never contacted them at all. Mostly I want to get tested so maybe it would be easier for THEM to see why I act the way I do. my father always claimed there was something "wrong" with me and told me so himself, yet I was never tested for anything. Getting things down on paper and having "proof" to show them (especially my mother who denied anything was wrong when I told her I wanted to go to a doctor) would help them realize just what they're dealing with. This is the biggest issue I want to hammer out. It's been the most detrimental one to my life and I think many of my problems might revolve around it. After that would be the whole asexuality thing, which has been noticed by my family but again I didn't understand what was wrong. Then being basically androgynous, which was also noticed. And then there's another I won't even mention here. These problems are only known by one close friend and I had no intention of telling my family anything, but it looks like i may end up with no choice. it's either that or have my whole family hate me, which I don't want.

[TikindiDragon]

Where would you start to get tested? I have been looking to get tested ever since I saw this thread and understood what Aspergers is. Too many of these stories sound familiar to me, especially yours.

 

I'd just like some answers. I don't know where to start, or who to talk to. I also have minimal income and no health insurance. At first I was just curious but it didn't matter since I dealt with whatever it was as best as I could. A few weeks ago I bumped into my sister at a store and she practically begged me to come visit over spring break. She also mentioned my parents would be visiting over the weekend. I got busy and forgot and she never called. Spring break is over and I never saw anyone. part of me is afraid of confronting some of these people/ I don't want to see them, yet they can't seem to understand why. I have no idea why I really am not motivated to see my sister. Out of all my family she and my brother are the ones I care about most, yet I never contacted them at all. Mostly I want to get tested so maybe it would be easier for THEM to see why I act the way I do. my father always claimed there was something "wrong" with me and told me so himself, yet I was never tested for anything. Getting things down on paper and having "proof" to show them (especially my mother who denied anything was wrong when I told her I wanted to go to a doctor) would help them realize just what they're dealing with. This is the biggest issue I want to hammer out. It's been the most detrimental one to my life and I think many of my problems might revolve around it. After that would be the whole asexuality thing, which has been noticed by my family but again I didn't understand what was wrong. Then being basically androgynous, which was also noticed. And then there's another I won't even mention here. These problems are only known by one close friend and I had no intention of telling my family anything, but it looks like i may end up with no choice. it's either that or have my whole family hate me, which I don't want.

Well I went and spoke to my GP. I explained to him that I'd been told about this (someone suggested to me at work that I had it) and I'd done some research and it all kinda went from there. I am in the UK, though, so mine was all paid for on the NHS. Not sure how it'd work in the States.

[Wookieinmashoo]

Well I went and spoke to my GP. I explained to him that I'd been told about this (someone suggested to me at work that I had it) and I'd done some research and it all kinda went from there. I am in the UK, though, so mine was all paid for on the NHS. Not sure how it'd work in the States.

Looks like It's up to me to figure these things out. Something I hate doing. I always like help on things even if I can do them myself.

[wonton55912]

I had a doctor unofficially diagnose me with aspergers, I'm about 91.45 percent positive I have it.

[Rachel72]

One of my brother's has Aspergers, he denies it!! But he is classic textbook!!