Aspie or Hypochondriac?

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Hey everyone,

I've been a lurker here on and off for a while now, and I've looked into the symptoms of people on the spectrum.

I think I may be on the spectrum myself.
I really identify with finding certain stimuli intolerable. Chalk, scraping ice from the back of the freezer, unsealed terracotta grinding against itself, sticky hands (tacky is the worst) ,seams on socks. *shudders*
Being awkward in social situations, being really hyper-specific in words I use, coming off as arrogant (I only discovered this this year, and I'm 23!), relating far better to dogs than people etc.

But I have a few things that stick out. I'm really good with languages. I learnt Japanese for two year and could speak it better than my Japanese teacher. And then I spent time working closely with a German traveller for about 2 weeks and I picked up a basic understanding of German from listening to her on the phone, I would prompt her with German words when she couldn't keep speaking in English.

I thought Aspies weren't good with language? Also, I'm horrible at maths, but I think it must be that I'm dyslexic.

I'll try and get me a diagnosis soon, so no need to recommend that.

Feel free to ask me more about possible symptoms if you want.


What do you think? Am I just a hypochondriac?

I think we'd need more information for anyone to get much of an idea of whether you might have AS or not.. I think Aspies generally are very good with language itself, though.. Just not the pragmatic aspect of it, when it comes to using it socially. Do you have any kind of "obsessions" or special interests that you can't let go of easily or go on and on about? Do you instinctively know how to approach people and how to make friends? Do you interpret other peoples' feelings well, and do you know how to react to those feelings? Have any repetitive motor mannerisms that you often start doing over and over without thinking? Do you make good eye contact and use a normal range of situation-appropriate facial expressions? Do you ever have intense tantrums when you are stressed or overstimulated that aren't considered very age-appropriate? This might give a better idea.

I can relate to all those sensory things you listed, though. Chalk is freaking evil. I hate it when classrooms at college still have chalkboards! Switch to marker boards already! It only really bothers me **a lot when someone actually wants me to write something with the chalk on the chalkboard, though. *twitch*

I have obsessive concepts in my mind that change relatively frequently, but when I fixate I always relate what is being said back to the concept.

I also become obsessive when I research. I had massive trouble at university because I couldn't source all the information I 'needed' to write on a subject.
I will research a subject through to fine details, and I will research the context of the subject to get a complete understanding of it.

I am terrible at approaching someone, and I find small talk horribly uncomfortable. I've developed socially acceptable ways of avoiding it, but I get really anxious, agitated and frustrated because it seems so inane to me.

I have gotten better at interpreting people's emotions, but I interpret them by people's inflection, intonation and specific words that are used, rather than looking at body language.

I can't make friends to save my life, but I can talk to someone if there is a subject. I almost never initiate conversation with people I don't know.

Repetitive motor mannerisms are a bit tricky because I'm not sure if it's anxiety or not. I do tap my right big toe or 'bounce' my knee unconsciously.

I'm a shocker for any eye contact. It makes me horribly uncomfortable. I use a limited repertoire of facial expressions that I think are socially appropriate, but it isn't something that comes to me naturally.

As for tantrums, I moderate my emotions strongly so I don't throw tantrums. When I am stressed or overstimulated, I shut down and become like an automaton. I just get really sleepy and disengage.

Hmmm....

After paying some thought to it, I'm obsessive about my iPod too. Sounds lame, right? But I'm like a kid with their teddy bear - I honestly can't sleep without it, especially if I'm going to be sleeping at a friend's house. There have been a few times I've forgotten it, or more likely I've forgotten to charge it and I just stay up the whole night. It's horrible.

I make in-jokes and references when it's not relevant to the other person I talk to, but I don't do it as much these days. I used to be really bad for laughing at inappropriate times, but I've gradually trained myself out of that too.

You certainly seem to have AS traits, Jayfa. Aspies can be quite good with languages. I'm fluent in Japanese and use it to make a living. Temple Grandin recommends translation as a career path for Aspies who are good at language in her book on careers for people on the spectrum.

Much of what you say about yourself sounds very familiar. I am similar, though lack your apparent ability to understand people's emotions. Inflection alone isn't sufficient for me, so I usually just ask what people are feeling if for some reason I need to know.

Whether or not you have AS remains to be seen. A proper evaluation with knowledgeable professionals is the best way, though many feel confident coming to their own conclusions.

My apparent ability for understanding people's emotions is something I've developed my studying other people's reactions and good ol' trial-and-error. It's not to say I get it right every time, and I often walk away wondering if it was the 'right' way to respond.

Because I'm good at language, I have this lexicon of speech patterns that people close to me use. I'll listen to my brother speak and if I catch one or two 'angry' words, I assume he's upset. If I catch more, I assume he's angry and so on. I also use that lexicon to frame which words I use when I'm talking to someone I know to avoid talking over their head. It doesn't work all the time, but it helps.

In the literal sense of the word, you are not a hypochondriac jsut because you think you may have AS. Hypochondria involves the obsession with the possibility of having serious illnesses, mostly physical illnesses. It is a genuine psychiatric disorder, not some kind of fake label. But I'm assuming you refer to the lay definition, ie. overly worried about having a particular problem. Regarding this, you should seek professional diagnosis before you can be sure whether a clinician would agree that you are or are not an Aspie or too worried. However, if you want o just hang out here, it's alright even without a diagnosis. We don't go aroudn telling people that they're faking or hypochondriacs.

As for the languages thing, I am good wtih languages, too, and bad with math. This doesn't say anything about whethe ryou are an Aspie or not. In fact, at least normal language is required for a diagnosis (as opposed to classic autism which includes language delays).

The problem Aspies have is with the social use of language, rather than being able to learn a language. I have a degree in French and Spanish but can't make small talk even in English.

Awesome. That answers some of my questions.

For the title of the thread, yeah I know hypochondriac is a bit of a misnomer, but I wanted to be succinct. I *HATE* long titles that go "Oh, um I was wondering like I have some symptoms and I think I might have Aspergers?" In no way did I mean to denigrate people with hypochondria. I couldn't imagine how much suffering hypochondria would cause.

It's good to know that you don't me hanging around. Thanks.

I see patterns in languages easily, this is how I can learn the grammar. The words I learn by remembering them as a song, by hearing them from other people I speak with.
I can speak fluently 2 other languages besides my own and I am able to talk to natives in other 3, for one of those 3 I had a course, the others are just related.
I cannot write well in any language, including my own

I don't know if I'm an aspie. I have many of the traits, but I am fully functional. I do have big sensorial problems and real social problems, though.