Can you tell whether a Member is an Aspie, or not?

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I always worry that people will mistake my AS for schizophrenia.

Tim

well here's my letter for the first time i was diagnosed, and applied for ssi.

http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=letterul4.png

Last edited by waterdogs on 08 Sep 2006, 9:34 am, edited 2 times in total.

I definitely know that this is untrue. I have known people who say that they think they have it simply because they read something that explained maybe 5 possible symptoms, and they just aren't informed enough about it to know that they definitely don't have it.

The reason I decidedly know that it is untrue is that one of my two psychologists specializes in AS. I believe he deals only in AS. He told me just last week that he "often has to explain to people that they don't have AS." He says many people come to him convinced that they have it and want a formal diagnosis and after an evaluation, he has to explain to them that they don't have it. It is possible that he is mistaken, but since that seems to be the only thing he sees people for, I think he's pretty good at spotting it.

This is really interesting. Did he say if there is a common thread with these people that he says don't have AS? Like is there particular "symptoms" that he is telling people aren't really AS related that they are thinking is AS? Does he have anything published or online? This is really interesting and I'd love to hear what all he had to say since he specializes in AS. This isn't Attwood is it?

Dangit, my cover's been blown. I'm outta here.


You're not???! !! ! I thought I was in the running for the 2006 Wrong Planet Poster of the Year Award.

Sorry Werbert, but I've already won the Toaster Oven.

I'd say it's not Tony Attwood, he's based in Australia.

I'll fight you for it. Your chances of defeating renowned coward Werbert in combat are pretty good.

I have been reading and observing for a few months now. Only once has someone asked me why I was here, to which I explained (with no offense). After not feeling particularly welcome at another site, I found WP refreshing. Please, take the NT presence as a compliment, as an indicator that there are some of us that truly are TRYING to understand.

Just another NT,
SheDevil

There are twisted people in the world, a lot of people here are going from the assumption that people cannot be malicious in their motives.

I don't think that out-and-out fakers are common, but they do exist.

Think of school bullies. You know how some of them really get off on picking on people they consider weak? A place like this would be an amazing find for someone like that.

I've known one sexual predator to claim to be autistic in order to gain access to autistic teens and children online. (Not that there are no autistic people who do that too -- autistic people are not exempt from the various human evils -- but this person was not autistic.)

I've known a different sexual predator to claim to have multiple personalities in order to get into communities where people were survivors of sexual abuse, meet the women there in real life, and attempt to harm people they considered vulnerable.

I've known people who liked to mess with people's heads, who found a whole community of people with literal language to be irresistable targets.

There are people out there who think like this, enough to fake being autistic in order to gain further access to autistic people. Seriously. I've encountered several. Not a lot, not anywhere near the majority of the community, not even a large minority, but enough to cause trouble. They exist.

I agree - I wonder if those people have something in common. I know that there are a number of diagnosed disorders with symptoms somewhat similar to AS - but then again, as I understand, there is a whole spectrum between "AS" and merely "eccentric" or "geeky". Isn't the distinction between those somewhat arbitrary? (I think that the DSM uses clinical significance as a criterion, for instance).

Last edited by Orvaskesi on 08 Sep 2006, 7:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

Addendum: I mean whether it is arbitrary where the distinction is drawn, not that it is drawn.

I am not sure whether thinking one has/is AS can relate to hypochondria as such. Hypochondria, to me, are "what if" scenarios running wild in the head with the "what if" conveniently left out. On a rational level, I know that I don't have a brain tumor/diabetes or what have you. I succeed in making myself feel miserable nonetheless. My relating to the possibility of AS is quite different.

and as far as im concerned all the know it alls like halebopp and everyone else who said i was a "nt" are going to have to prove that they are not. if your going to open your mouth and judge other people you better be able to hold yourself up to those same standards.

deleted

Last edited by waterdogs on 09 Sep 2006, 5:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.

It's enough info to be risky. Since none of us are very easily impressed, anyway, it would be very smart to remove those, for your continued safety.

No one really cares if you're AS or not if you can beleive this thread, so it serves no purpose to post this personal info. Ditch it!

meh there's nothing really that sensitive, i mean i don't go to the guidance center any more since they are a bunch of losers, and my id has my old address on it. it doesn't have my social security number on it, only my birthday and my name. thats not that sensitive i don't think but ill take it down anyways