hi, 32 yr old female weirdo

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Hi, I am a 32 yr old female. I was never diagnosed with AS but have lots of charcteristics as does my 8 yo old son. I was teased/ bullied viciously in school and have always felt like a brainy oddball (freak?). I am most comfortable (perhaps I should say I am comfortable only around) people with aspie traits; they seem to speak my language. I also suffer from depersonalization disorder and phobias. I have difficulty talking to 99.9% of the people in the world, and many people seem put off by me (unless I'm imagining it, but I don't think I am). Often when I speak to someone they ask me what country I'm from (!) even though I'm American.

Oh, and I forgot to add: there is 1 typical aspie trait that I don't have a problem with-- I can easily make and hold eye contact, even with strangers.

Last edited by en_una_isla on 01 Nov 2005, 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

hi, welcome. 31 year old female here.

hi laynie! I also homeschool. I cannot risk my children being bullied as I was, or even witnessing it happening to someone else.

Hello, en_una_isla! Welcome to WrongPlanet!

The major AS trait I have never had a problem with is eye contact, too. I am perfectly comfortable with it, and I don't even have to think about it to do it. So you're not alone when it comes to eye contact.

By the way, I see your location is New York City. I love it there! I am so jealous!

How do you know if you are aspie (?) or just not clinically depressed?

I feel slightly paranoid, but very introverted. However, I have good days and bad.
Like today, I spent the entire day inside. Did not talk to one soul except utility people.

That's a good question-- while I do sufffer from DP disorder I have not had problems with depression for more than a decade (I did as a child, though, when I was being bullied); the aspie traits I have I could sum up by saying that I feel like a quirky social oddball: being too smart (not claiming to be a genius or anything, but I find I have to speak very slowly and avoid multisyllabic words with most people), difficulty communicating, being able to befriend very, very few people, having weird, intense interests (dinosaurs, early church history, obscure authors etc.). Stuff like that.

Although, depression and AS can exhibit some similar traits, they are different. It also seems that people with AS (or actually anyone 'on the fringe', as my mum says) are more likely to become depressed.

The diagnostic criteria for AS:

1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
-marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
-failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
-a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
-lack of social or emotional reciprocity

2. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
-encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
-apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
-stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
-persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

3. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

4. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

5. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

6. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

It is weird that I have no problem with this, as I have many other severe social phobias. I've been told my stare is disturbingly intense, so I suppose in that sense my eye contact is still abnormal, just not one of avoidance.

Isla, You could always try this online test. It's 50 questions long. These are the things that helped me first see that I had AS.

http://www.msnbc.com/modules/newsweek/autism_quotient/default.asp


I get a 46-47 on the test. The test says anything over 35 and you definitely have it. My sister is normal with aspie traits, and she scores around the upper 20's to 30. My husband, who I thought was rather Aspie, but really isn't, scores a 14.

There's no difference on the test as to whether or not you answer "definitely" or "slightly". The points are only calculated based on the "agree" or "disagree" buttons. So don't fret too much if you can't decide between a "slightly agree" and a "definitely agree".

Thats interesting, because while I DO have a very serious problem with looking people in the eye, it seems any time i force myself to get the courage and actualy do it the other person almost always looks away. People tell me the same thing, that i have very intense eyes. Not in the "crazy eye" way. Everyone always says i have very kind, even sad, eyes. But few people ever stare back for very long.

Mabie aspies just get cool eyes?

Those don't always work, but it might give you an idea about where to start out. I would also check out the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger's if you haven't already.

Bec posted the DSM-IV earlier on this page.

Hello, and welcome to Wrong Planet.

I've dealt with a lot of teasing durring my School Years, as well. I'm 31 and very Eccentric. I also get asked where I'm from, when I speak, or people ask me what part of Britian I'm from. The thing is that I'm Canadian. I feel more British, but I'm Canadian. I'd also be Home Schooling if I did have kids. Most kids are such Intolerant Brats, these days.

Shelby

Yeah, and some adults too.

Welcome to our neck of the Universe, Isla! I find it interesting that people ask you if you're from another country. People do the same thing to me as they always ask me if I'm from out of town......or overseas. Many say that I have an accent as if I'm from the Caribbean and I don't act like one of these local yokals, yet I've lived in Tennessee all my life.

You live in New York City? Goodness! With all that noise and stimulation and NY essentially being "NT Land".....on steroids, my heart, soul, kidneys, stomach and liver go out to you.

Hi!

Welcome to Wrongplanet! I hope you enjoy posting here!

Lol, thankfully I live in a very quiet part, and rarely leave the house.