Diagnosed with ASD lol
I was diagnosed with ASD over the summer. Their reasoning was basically because I had trouble forming relationships and because I have an "unusual interest in animals and linguistics." I do not know why it's unusual, except that I am the only person in real life who knows as much as I do about these subjects. But I do not know a lot about them, and I just look things up on Google to learn and then I might forget it. I do go very in depth, and so far I can name about 9 insects orders off the top of my head, some odd-families here and there, and certain marine species and the order names of mammals. But I am no where near knowledgeable enough to the extent that an autistic person would be. And by that I mean the ones from the books. They LIVE this stuff. I spend my days scrolling through instagram memes and joking with my friends, or I just play videogames. I only read on this nerd level stuff like lingustics and psychology when I'm bored and because the information is easily accessible. I never read.
Now on the social problem. I CAN READ FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. I can SEE if someone is sad, but oh oh no the shrink we paid $3,000 for says "oh you have slow processing speed or something lol also autism lol" so she says oh I can't read cues because of that so therefore autism now have fun because your dad brings it up every time you pace or try to be funny by making a stupid noise.
Yeah and then they said I have depression and anxiety which I was already getting treated for so ok tell me that thanks.
See that? It was a half-baked expression that I whipped up, courtesy of my not-orderly mind which I felt expresses my anger. I can tell a lie, and I can tell it well. Many people have told me "I need to watch out around you" because my acting is so on point and I can make any statement believable. I also like to make things up, say them to people to get a reaction, then tell them about a second later that I lied . In fact, testing and annoyng people and being defiant is my true personality, without the isolation it caused and the subsequent anxiety. Ever since I was 4 it was all about pushing buttons and seeing how people tick, and that has only changed to the extent that I can control it. I make people angry, but they like my humor and I'm not mean, so in my small catholic school I actually have friends. I speak whatever crazy, stupid sentence comes to mind whether I get in trouble or not, and maybe I do.
But I am painfully aware of the reactions and the feelings. Oh so aware. But what can I do? Conversation is boring unless it's gossip or a common interest or gossip or making fun of someone behind their back. You aspergers people are so innocent or something, and like you hate being touched or whatever and act like robots and sit in books all day. I'm not that at all. I'm functionally normal, though of course I'm weird. Yes I sit on my computer all day. Yes I only like big band swing music. Yes I only like stove pipe hats and sack coats and boots. Yes I once hopped around the locker room with a pig mask and underwear during gym and got a lot of attention (another big motivator). Yes I once reported my Spanish teacer to ICE as a joke. Yes I once convinced my friends that there was a demon called Sitri from the Dictionnaire Infernal making noises near my furnace and three of them blocked me on Instagram and now I'm upset. Yes I only bathe once every 3-4 days and I've worn the same underwear on many occasions and I don't brush my teeth everyday and I never floss even though I'm 17. And yes I blurt out swears and derogatory terms for the shock factor and because of habit. Yes I've memorized the opening to the Canterbury tales in flawless Middle English pronunciation, mind you. And yes I put random objects in my mouth to get laughs and attention from my friends and push the boundary of funny and tragic. And yea I almost failed Algebra 2 for no reason even though I did the homework and studied but I guess I have "slow processing speed." But these are quirks any NT can have.
Oi, oi. You are using some weird stereotypes here.
Read about active-but-odd subtype and see if you still can't identify. Not all aspies are innocent robots not interested in social interaction(thats the aloof subtype).
Besides - you are the age where you want to be normal and your problems are still not too severe because you are still at school. A catholic school, so the people there are nicer than in general society. I also refused diagnosis when I were 17 - and I even convinced the psychiatrist that I am normal schoolgirl, just interested in studying more than in guys and parties.
Wait till you become an adult and start looking for a job - you will see how well you are coming across compared to normal people.
However misdiagnoses happen so it's possible you don't have ASD but some other issues. It's good that you are being cured for your anxiety and depression (it's the first step to realize if you actually have ASD or not - social phobia for example can mimic ASD symptoms) but there is more than that in you - your methods of interaction are not normal. There is too many quirks for a mere NT. It's either some pervasive developmental disorder (ASD or whatever else) or some kind of personality disorder.
BTW. The fact you like testing people limits to see how they react might be because you can't actually read subtle social cues so you want them to show stronger expressions, that you can comfortably read. Just like someone with bad eyesight will prefer books with bigger font.
It might also be the reason why you feel you can read people expressions just fine now. Special interest is the best way for an Aspie to learn something. I am the same with idioms - they are my lifelong interest and were my special interest back in elementary school.
Oh. Also Aspies with an interest in facial expressions can become really good actors because they know all the expressions and can fake them really well. Acting classes are also used to help autistic children learn body language.
AnonymousAnonymous
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Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Age: 35
Gender: Male
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Location: Portland, Oregon
Autistic people don't have to be experts in their special interests. Some just enjoy it, and don't necessarily know everything about it. And some autistic people can read facial expressions and lie. I don't know if you have autism or not, just saying that these things don't disqualify you.
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