Hi folks - some advice would really be appreciated

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queerpuppy
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25 Feb 2005, 7:56 am

Hello,

I'm pretty new on this board - been responding on some threads, but I've not had the guts to officially introduce myself yet.

So, here goes.

I'm not diagnosed with AS. However, as I find out and read stuff from other people here, and in magazine articles, the more I feel an echo in myself.

I've always been "different" (in big inverted commas - can't you just hear the tone of voice used with that word?!) from other people, but I'm queer, and transsexual (male-to-female) so I'd hardly expect to be the same as lots of other people.

I'm currently signed off sick from work with "anxiety and depression", but it's been there for a long time. Along with other stuff - counting things as a means of comfort, being mesmerised by patterns (snowflakes, bricks, floor tiles, you name it), despising and finding it hard to talk on the 'phone (oh the joys of emails and text messages), having hearing problems if there's more than one noise at any time, social awkwardness, fascinations with many topics - one at a time for about 6 months, ah the list goes on, and I'm not going to bore you with it all.

I'm assuming there's quite a big overlap in symptoms / signs between depression, anxiety, Asperger's, OCD etc.

Anyway, is there any point going to my GP to talk to her about this as I have a history of depression - she blames anything wrong with me on that, or acne! If not, can anyone advise me on who to talk to?

I'm based in South East London if that's any use.

Anyway, that's it for now I suppose. I hope I've posted it in the right thread. I don't really know what to do, I'm just confuced.

Thanks for reading

Robin



Tere
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25 Feb 2005, 9:19 am

Welcome Queerpuppy! I think you are going to love coming here because everyone here is friendly and helpful!

I don't know what to say about whether you should see your GP or not. It might be helpful, to you, to get some relief for your depression. I go through some rough patches sometimes and I feel I will never be able to dig myself out of the rut. I always thought it was part and parcel of AS. I read a lot of it here, so it is a comfort to know I'm not the only one!

Sometimes my depression begins with what I perceive as non -acceptance from people I know. They tend to get irritated with me if I don't do what they want me to do. I don't have much social contact so I believe I take a lot of things to heart when people ignore me.

The things you relate that you are experiencing are typical AS. Maybe a psychologist can help you more there. I am for sure not prescribing! I do feel your pain though. Please let us know what you do.



Bec
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25 Feb 2005, 7:39 pm

From what you described, it is quite possible that you are somewhere on the spectrum.

queerpuppy wrote:
I'm assuming there's quite a big overlap in symptoms / signs between depression, anxiety, Asperger's, OCD etc.


There is an overlap in a lot of different psychological/neurological disorders. For example, a person can only have depression, but if a person has AS or OCD or ADHD, they are more likely to get depression than a typical person.

queerpuppy wrote:
I've always been "different" (in big inverted commas - can't you just hear the tone of voice used with that word?!) from other people, but I'm queer, and transsexual (male-to-female) so I'd hardly expect to be the same as lots of other people.


Did you know that the DSM-IV has a listing for Gender Identity Disorder? It is actually listed under developmental disorders, which is the same place that Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome are listed.



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25 Feb 2005, 7:49 pm

Quote:
Did you know that the DSM-IV has a listing for Gender Identity Disorder? It is actually listed under developmental disorders, which is the same place that Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome are listed.



No, gender Indentity Disorder is not a developmental disorder, under the DSM-IV it is a sexuality disorder.



queerpuppy
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26 Feb 2005, 3:03 am

Yes, GID is classified as a sexual disorder - alongside paedophilia and impotentce!

It is somewhat offensive that it is classed as a mental health problem, as new research is suggesting that it is a physical condition - whereby the brain sex in fixed in the womb before the body sex (which is what happens in everybody). With transsexual / transgender people the body sex is set incorrectly, possibly by the wrong flood of hormones in the womb.

GID can certainly cause mental health problems - trying to fit into society as a "girl" when every ounce of your being shouts "boy" is bloody hard!

This again sounds like there are overlaps with AS - it sounds like that is more a physical condition of the brain that has wide-reaching emotional consequences, and as such has been lumped in with mentla health problems.



Bec
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26 Feb 2005, 2:20 pm

I really hope I didn't offend you, queerpuppy. My psychology textbook last year actually listed GID with other developmental disorders. I've read about GID, and I don't think it is anything like paedophilia.

queerpuppy wrote:
It is somewhat offensive that it is classed as a mental health problem, as new research is suggesting that it is a physical condition - whereby the brain sex in fixed in the womb before the body sex (which is what happens in everybody). With transsexual / transgender people the body sex is set incorrectly, possibly by the wrong flood of hormones in the womb.

GID can certainly cause mental health problems - trying to fit into society as a "girl" when every ounce of your being shouts "boy" is bloody hard!

This again sounds like there are overlaps with AS - it sounds like that is more a physical condition of the brain that has wide-reaching emotional consequences, and as such has been lumped in with mentla health problems.


I think you are right. From what I've read about it and your post, I think there are quite a few similarities between GID and AS.



queerpuppy
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26 Feb 2005, 2:59 pm

No, no offence taken in the slightest! I wasn't suggesting that you list it alongside paedophilia - only that it's disgusting that it is considered by the medical profession in general a sexual disorder.

It makes sense that it would be a developmental disorder, as it appears to be the brain (the "sex" bit) not developing in congruence to the body's sex bits.

I was also wondering, though this is an area that is highly unlikely to have been researched as it involves two distinctly unglamourous areas of medical condition type thingies, if a biological female with the potential to have AS would develop it on starting testosterone, what with there being 4 times as mnay men as women with AS.

I don't think I'm making myself as clear as I could, but it probably doesn't interest many people. Anyway, do discuss if it does spark interest, as it's something I'd really like to mull over.



Bec
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26 Feb 2005, 5:36 pm

queerpuppy wrote:
I was also wondering, though this is an area that is highly unlikely to have been researched as it involves two distinctly unglamourous areas of medical condition type thingies, if a biological female with the potential to have AS would develop it on starting testosterone, what with there being 4 times as mnay men as women with AS.

I don't think I'm making myself as clear as I could, but it probably doesn't interest many people. Anyway, do discuss if it does spark interest, as it's something I'd really like to mull over.


I have actually thought that could be a possibility. I am female, but I have never been very girly. I don't have GID, so I don't feel like a guy. On the other hand, my emotions are much more stereotypically male. Also, one of the nicknames for AS is 'extreme male brain'.

On the other hand, I don't know about having more testosterone. I don't even look like a masculine female. So, I have AS, I am a girl, and don't look like a manly girl ( :lol: ). Where does this leave us? :?



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26 Feb 2005, 6:05 pm

Bec wrote:
On the other hand, my emotions are much more stereotypically male. Also, one of the nicknames for AS is 'extreme male brain'.

I'm curious. What would be considered male emotions?



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26 Feb 2005, 9:40 pm

ghotistix wrote:
I'm curious. What would be considered male emotions?


The emotion I feel most often is anger. I'm not saying men are angry, but stereotypically agression is a masculine characteristic. Female emotions stereotypically involve empathy. Think about all of the stereotypes of men vs. women, and I tend to fall on the male side of things.



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17 Mar 2005, 4:58 am

hi, i'm MTF TS too, i don't think i'm strongly aspie, maybe just a bit (EQ=20, SQ=42), but i've noticed that many many many MTFs are inclined this way.

i don't think it matters too much though, after all there are plenty of natal women here with apsergers too. baron-cohen's labelling of brains as "male" and "female" is just plain silly. a better classification would be just stick with an E vs S type spectrum, with overlapping distribution bellcurves for the various genders.

any FTM's here with a take on this?



queerpuppy
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17 Mar 2005, 5:10 pm

Funnily enough, yes!

I don't really like the labelling of brains as "male" or "female" purely based on ways of thinking.

In my experience, only the person that the brain belongs to can label it as male or female.



lachrymator
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20 Mar 2005, 6:16 am

i'm confused, your post at the beginning of the thread says MTF? but you're FTM i assume from reading another of your posts?

do you find AS traits common in FTM circles? i certainly see them commonly in MTF circles.

i wonder if there is something particular about having AS traits, that perhaps stops regular "gender brainwashing" from working very well, thus leaving us to come to our own conclusion about our gender?



motherofhim
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25 Apr 2005, 2:58 pm

but I cannot make him drink. I am here in my son's stead; to find out anyway I can help him join a forum or chat group of like minded persons.

I haven't pressured him to join but maybe some kind of gentle persuasion would work.

How did any of the Aspies here decide to connect?


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25 Apr 2005, 3:09 pm

That's toughie.

As a mother to an PDD son, all I can say is I understand your subject line!

D is happy to post here though. He feels no one else understands him like the people here.

Tell us more about your child, his age, interest, etc...maybe someone here will have similar interest.

BeeBee



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25 Apr 2005, 3:17 pm

My soon to be 15 year old is interested in the sciences, computers, fishing, reading about fishing and traveling. He will be going into 10th grade next year.

My son is usually very communicative and tries to joke around quite a bit. He is very exacting, punctual, but has a hard time connecting to anybody and I know he feels quite different due to his condition.

He also loves classical music, music from the 30's and 40's, is not much of a fan of post 60's music and he plays the piano rather well after only a year and a half of lessons. He has 2 cats and a dog which he adores.

mother of him...


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