Hi everyone. My name is Joe and I'm 18 years old.
The reason I'm here is because a while ago I was talking to this chap and he said that I talked like his ex-girlfriend did, and she had Asperger's. Since then I've done a bit of research into it, and most (not all) of the traits associated with Asperger's I've found that I have. I've taken an online test that calculates the Autism Quotient, and it gave me 37 and 39 (I took it twice).
The traits of Asperger's that I have are:
*Very proficient with computers. They taught us C at college and I learned it faster than any one else, even this guy who already knows a programming language (albeit VB). I have been told that I think like a computer. I often apply situations I am in to formulas.
*Awkwardness in social situations. If at all possible, I'll try to avoid leaving my house and seeing people, even if it's people I quite like. There are exceptions to this though, for example if I want to get drunk I will happily be with 2-3 other people (I don't like just being with one, though), as long as they are good friends.
*I've been very unhappy for 4-5 years, without any apparent reason (I've been analyzed by a psyche person and told that I do not have depression, since when I am unhappy my sleeping and eating are fine)
*Ever since my earliest memory of when I was about 3, I can always remember not fitting into other children's social groups. The only friends who I care about are people who are just really nice, and I think felt sorry for me.
*I have a logical/mathematical IQ of 138, and a spacial IQ of 94 (this was done in a proper test with a psyche), but I have only passed GCSEs, and those I only got a C in. I failed History, despite that I read history books for fun.
*I cannot talk to people I don't know. If I am with a friend and they are with some friends of their's, I will not talk to any one, even my friend. If I am in a bad mood, I can't buy things from shops.
*I am very pedantic. If I see something that is wrong, I will correct it, and people often miss-interpret this as being aggressive, even though I do it politely and don't mind when people correct me. I am particularly harsh on grammar, which is strange considering my spelling is rather poor, so I often look hypocritical
*When I was in my first year of school, I was able to do sums in my head instantly, my simply bashing the numbers together. I have since lost that ability, however, and am at best above average at mental arithmetic.
*I associate emotions with colours. This is by no means, strong, however. For example, if I am feeling low, the colour will not immediately come to me, but if I am asked to express my mood, it will. For the record, yellow is happiness, purple is magnificence, red is sadness, brown is blandness, blue is peacefulness. I do not know what pink is but I like it
*I cannot express my emotions through words. Recently, however, I have started drawing when I'm unhappy, and despite their poor quality, it does help.
*I'm rather bad with facial expressions. I know when someone is grinning, it means they're happy. Or if their eyes are dark they are sad. But any thing else I am a bit eh. Until recently I thought that everyone was like this but I'm not so sure.
*I have difficulty making eye contact, particularly with people I do not know well. I can do it with my friends for a couple of seconds, though, and I'm alright with my family for about 5 seconds.
*I don't like people paying attention to me. If someone's staring at me, I won't be able to do any thing that doesn't involve getting their attention away from me.
Any way, things about me that are not autistic:
*I have been reviewed by an educational psychologist who didn't mention autism or asperger's at all.
*A few months ago I cut my wrist badly and hit a vain, so I had to go to hospital, and be reviewed by a couple of mental-health people ( I can't remember what type), who asked me questions about routine and whatnot, and they didn't mention autism either
*My dad is a psychotherapist and I've joked once or twice about having Asperger's to which he's simply laughed and said "Joe you don't have asperger's". I talk alot around my parents, about politics and current events, as well as things that have happened to me
*I have quite a sense of humour. It sounds rather big-headed, but I'm quite good at making certain people laugh (mainly intelligent people I've noticed recently, however). I also watch comedy that many regard as being sophisticated, such as The Office, and Extras.
That's all I can think of for now. Replies and advice much appreciated.
27 May 2007, 7:25 pm
