hi everyone. Do I have AS or PDD?

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hello everyone I'm a 25 year old male. I definitely feel I have mild Asperger's or PDD or something similar. I scored a 34 on the AQ test and a 135/200 on the aspie test. If you could please read and respond, especially if you are diagnosed with AS or PDD I would really appreciate it!

Here's what makes me think I have AS/PDD:

-If I could sum up how I think I would say I can only think about one thing at a time and I'm very analytical with my thinking. I can get stuck on 1 or 2 things and obsess about them. I definitely don't have ADD as I can really concentrate and focus.

-I have a really hard time getting my thoughts into words and expressing how I feel. I only have a few facial expressions.

-I'm always in my own "bubble" and very spacey and absent minded. I'm sure a lot of people think I'm weird, dumb, different, etc. I also come across as very serious. I've had people ask me "are you OK" on occasions when I felt completely normal at the time.

-I have high anxiety and I'm constantly analyzing and figuring out situations, problems, experiences, etc. I worry a lot.

-I naturally have a hard time relating to others. I'm sure I can come across as an A-hole. But I feel I am getting better at understanding people if I stop and think about the situation. I feel I can only relate to other people based on my own experiences.

-I'm very socially awkward, hate small talk, and can't start or keep a conversation going. I'm afraid people think I'm weird or creepy, especially when I talk to women. I'm very bad at eye contact, I either don't make eye contact or look too long and I feel I have a scared/serious look when I do. This is enhanced when I'm around people I don't know. Even when I'm around people I do know and feel comfortable my anxiety is usually much lower but I find I still can't keep a conversation going. I tend to always say the same things like "yeah" or "oh ok" or "that's good" when I don't know what to say.

-I only like a few things, and am very picky with books and TV shows. I'm very into sports especially soccer as I play and referee. I always keep track of standings, games, stats. It's hard for me to think of what else I am into. I like being outdoors and taking care of my dog. The books and TV shows I like either have to be brilliantly written or relate to real life situations. I hate all the made up fluffy stuff that's out there.

-I was labeled as "gifted" as a kid. I'm a chemical engineer now and am very quirky science/math smart.

-Very good photographic memory. I can remember things from when I was probably at least 3 years old

-I always find myself eating the same foods all the time and wearing the same types of clothes. The materials my clothes are made of have to be comfortable and soft.

-As a kid I obsessed about playing with balls. According to my parents, all I wanted to do was throw or kick a ball all the time. I also didn't start talking until I was past 2 years old, but when I did I immediately began speaking sentences.
I also always had to sleep with a fan and sleep on the couch every night and still do sleep with a fan blowing on me every night even in the winter. I love white noises.

-I have a big head and serious/worried "Aspie eyes"

Now here's why I think I may not have AS:

-I don't have any rituals or severe body/hand movements. When I get anxious talking to someone I tend to dig my hand into my back or ribs. I also pull at my hair a lot when thinking or scratch my facial hair. But I have zero rituals.

- I don't have any intense routines. I do much better having a schedule and being busy but I don't get frustrated if my schedule gets disrupted.

-I'm very coordinated. I've played sports my whole life and was good at them.

-I never had a problem making friends, but I also never tried to make friends. They always just sort of happened.

- I don't have severe sensory issues. I don't mind loud noises. I have an issue with turning lights on at nighttime and I can't wear any scratchy material that's not soft but I feel a lot of normal people probably have the same issues.

I'm sure I forgot to mention some things, and I'm sorry for rambling but if you could read this and get back to me with feedback I would really appreciate it, especially if you are diagnosed with AS/PDD and relate to me! thanks

For the most part, this sounds very familiar to me.

Welcome!

You sound gifted, which you stated. And I can't see anything about your post that indicates autism at all. Also being gifted doesn't have anything to do with being autistic, and neither is not liking small talk. Both are stereotypes. And those online tests are not good. They are personality quizzes, and certain lifestyle choices can mean you can score higher without actually being on the spectrum. The AQ test in particular has come under criticism.

Welcome to Wrongplanet.

Last edited by Acedia on 30 Jul 2014, 9:37 am, edited 2 times in total.

You're a cuckoo bird!

Seriously: Welcome to the Site!

Whether you're Aspergian, autistic, or whatever, you'll get to know kindred spirits here.

Actually, when you dig your hands into your back, etc, it's a sensory thing. Many autistics feel comfortable with the "squeezing sensation." You should Google "Temple Grandin Squeeze Machine."

thanks guys. Yeah, I don't have all the very stereotyped autistic traits and I've never been suspected of having autism. I clearly don't have bad motorskills, sensory issues, etc that autistic people usually have.

I feel I have many symptoms of AS and that's why I'm very interested in finding out if I have it for not. That's why I suspect I could have PDD - a few Asperger traits but not all.

I don't like small talk, but I also just can't do it even if I try. I come across as rigid and awkward a lot of the time. I feel I can only talk about things that I have knowledge of or am interested in.

Last edited by jangie on 30 Jul 2014, 9:58 am, edited 2 times in total.

Dear sir,
Since I'm considerably younger than you (Age: 13 3/4) and have limited knowledge on AS. I can't exactly answer your question. Sorry.

But since I have Aspergers, I can relate.
- If I could describe myself, it'd be a 15 year old mind stuck in a 13 year body. I come across as very serious/formal if I introduce myself to someone new. I also have trouble with body language but can carry a full adult conversation.

- I also tend to space out into my ?little world? inside my mind. I faze out of conversations on accident.

- I absolutely dislike the ?latest trend?. It's too fluffy and mainstream. I listen more to classical than I do anything else. (I'm probably born in the wrong era, but I digress.) I'm very horrible at talk to kids in my own grade level. Eye contact and small talk just makes things worse for me. Whatever interests my friends have, I tend to disagree.

- I have a photographic memory along with audio memory that can carry me to about 3 years old.

- I was obsessed with elephants when I was kid and was labeled ?Advanced? in school.

I hope this helps you with your diagnosis.
-TheSkippingStone

How so?

I never heard this term before. I searched it Internet-wise and found some anecdotal descriptions ("beautiful, innocent, or child-like[,]" "pupae's get bigger when I think about someone/something I like[,]" "kind of cool and Twilight/vampire ish[,]" "Unfeeling, uncaring zombie eyes") and even an ADDForums.com discussion http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130481 about it. But, no mention in professional journals or web sites. I wonder if there is any validity to the idea?

You have quite a few traits in common with me. I was diagnosed PDD-NOS. I also think your tics might count as rituals, since a lot of rituals are for comfort or reorientation.

You certainly have a piece of autism in yourself (it's a spectrum after all) but you don't seem affected too much. I doubt you would get official ASD diagnosis and I don't think you need it.

From what you say you come out as a shy but intelligent guy that is simply not interested in the stupid social chit-chat talks and got a hobby. You are an introvert - but not disabled. They symptoms you experience in social situations seem more like social anxiety than ASD. You might be slightly affected but your anxiety issues are much worse problem. Once you get rid of them you will know if you really are in the spectrum since most of the "traits" might suddenly disappear then.

- How much time do you spend with your friends? Do you think you understand them? Do they seem to understand you?
- Have you ever had any girlfriend? How was it?
- Do you have problem getting sarcasm?
- Do you like talking through phone with someone you know well (friends)? If not - do you find yourself unable to focus on the voice you hear?
- Do you often do/say something that makes the situation awkward? And you have no idea why it ended that way?
- You say you were "obsessed" by playing with balls. Was it just that you liked playing with them regular way (kicking, throwing...) very much or did you also collect many different kinds of balls, always had a ball with you without really playing it, wanted to buy every ball you seen... Did you cut the balls in half to see what is inside or made experiments with them any other way? Were you curious of why a ball bounce? Were you making your own balls?
- Can you survive a day in a t-shirt with uncomfortable tag on neck? Do you tend to forget about it after a while or does it bother you all the time and prevent you from focusing on something else?

Kiriae - everything you stated definitely describes me. I like the way you summed it up. I definitely have social anxiety. Anxiety runs in my family on my mother's side. Even when I'm not anxious around family and friends I still feel awkward and not always sure what to say and I tend to automatically tune people out. I think I get too focused on one thing and block everything else in the middle of a conversation.

To answer your questions:

- How much time do you spend with your friends? Do you think you understand them? Do they seem to understand you?

I don't spend a lot of time with my friends and I only have few friends - which is fine with me. I'm not always sure if I understand them. If I can relate to them, then yeah. But naturally I don't think I'm good at automatically understanding someone, unless I take time to think about it. I'm sure I read people completely wrong a lot of the time. I couldn't tell you if they understand me to be honest.

- Have you ever had any girlfriend? How was it?
In high school I had a girlfriend, someone who I was particularly fond of for a long time, and it didn't go well. She dumped me I think mainly because I didn't really know what to do in a relationship. I was so happy and caught up in the fact I was with her that I lost sight of everything else. But I was only 16 years old.

I've had a few other girlfriends/short relationships after that. Mostly clingy girls that basically came right to me - I didn't have to put any effort in the relationship and they didn't last long. I remember hearing through the grape vine that one had said I didn't treat her good which I didn't understand.

I've now been in a relationship for over 4 years. She is a very good people person - very opposite of me.

- Do you have problem getting sarcasm?
Definitely. I take people literally and sometimes take offense to what people say. I don't understand what drives people to say what they say sometimes. But then again I can tell myself that it's just the person's personality or whatever - but that doesn't come natural for me to think that.

- Do you like talking through phone with someone you know well (friends)? If not - do you find yourself unable to focus on the voice you hear?
I hardly ever use the phone. I naturally tend to ignore people without even trying. I can hear them talking but don't always listen.

- Do you often do/say something that makes the situation awkward? And you have no idea why it ended that way?
Typically I either say something dumb and short or become quiet when the person I'm talking to is most likely expecting a response from me. I usually keep quiet and avoid conversation. When things do get awkward I usually know why but I feel I can't fix it. I'm cautious.

- You say you were "obsessed" by playing with balls. Was it just that you liked playing with them regular way (kicking, throwing...) very much or did you also collect many different kinds of balls, always had a ball with you without really playing it, wanted to buy every ball you seen... Did you cut the balls in half to see what is inside or made experiments with them any other way? Were you curious of why a ball bounce? Were you making your own balls?
I'm pretty sure I just liked the repetitiveness of throwing them - and still do. As a kid I was very cautious so cutting them up would have meant a mess and I wouldn't be able to play with the ball anymore. I find myself now a days always wondering why and how things work.

- Can you survive a day in a t-shirt with uncomfortable tag on neck? Do you tend to forget about it after a while or does it bother you all the time and prevent you from focusing on something else?[/b]
It would bother me but I think I would forget about it unless it was a really bugging me. I usually rip them off as soon as I feel it anyway.

feedback would be great! thanks

thanks to everyone that replied. I really appreciate it

- If you are so sure you get people wrong all the time - can you tell an example?
- You got a few girlfriends and you are in a relationship with one for 4 years. That's sounds like a normal development in this field.
- You seem to have problem getting sarcasm. Checked.
- Ignoring what people say.Checked.
- Saying dumb stuff and not knowing what to say while being aware it is awkward looks like just shyness/anxiety.
- What you said about balls doesn't confirm that it could be called special interest. Perhaps a life-long interest (normal people have them too) but not an obsession.
- You don't seem to have the inability to filter distractions.

Well. You don't qualify for official ASD diagnosis. That's for sure. Since your social problems and rituals don't seem severe enough.
But you experience the literal thinking and you tend to live in your own world.

Out of curiosity - do you have prosopagnosia (face blindness, not remembering faces)?

No i remeber faces quite well. My memory is very good with visuals and sounds.


So it seems im not autistic. Is it common for normal people to have asperger traits? Or do you think I may have social anxiety disorder or something else similar?

I think it all comes down to your brain- what parts of it you use more, how its connected, the chemicals it produces. Mine must be similar to an aspie but also have some differences

It is common for normal people to have some Asperger traits. In fact it is hard to find someone who can't relate to a few of them. Asperger is a syndrome, which means a collection of traits. Every trait is normal when it stands alone. If the traits show all together in one person the person gets the syndrome.

However for what I see you might have social anxiety disorder. Its not uncommon. About 10-15% people experience it at a time of their lifes.
Fortunatelly you can get rid of it even without professional help. I have Asperger diagnosed but I don't seem to have social phobia anymore (I have had it before). I am still afraid in some social situations but I don't focus on "What if I do something wrong?" that much. I just do what I can and if I accidentally make the situation awkward I don't make a big deal of it. My reaction is "Yes, I did a mistake. I'm sorry. I get it. Finished laughing/nagging yet? Can we move on?"