Do I have Aspergers?

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Hi, I'm 15 and have always felt like something was different about me. I have never wanted to let go of things and was awkward, I presumed I simply had Social Phobia and was insecure. However after having been able to relate with a person with Aspergers syndrome more than I had with anyone else in my life I decided to do some research.

I am fine around my close friends (two of them) but to everyone else I can't look them in the eye. I usually played by myself as a young child but I dislike the idea of being alone forever (I still need my own space - a lot).

Symptoms:
- Prefer doing things on my own.
- Have things I put a lot of effort into (Programming) and end up ignoring others (School, Social life).
- Irregular Sleeping Pattern.
- Dislike unfamiliar things (When I was younger this was mainly seen in food - I was a very fussy eater).
- Bad with people, always say the wrong thing, don't know what to say, don't know when to talk.
- When I do talk about something I like I rarely stop.

There are others but I was wondering if anyone though I may have Undiagnosed Aspergers? Two of my 2nd uncles have Autism. I don't think my parents suspect it, but I don't get along with either of them at all. We fight often.

p.s. I had a lack of oxygen at birth and I read in two sources than 50%(!?!) of people with Aspergers had this (hard to believe).


It would make a lot if sense if I do have Aspergers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Michael H-F, 15, UK

[edit]
I have done several online Tests and have come up in the 'Aspergers Range' each time. I'm not sure how accurate they are.

can you put a link to the p.s. part!!

That would be interesting to see

Here's one link.
http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Asper ... order.html

asperger-syndrome.me.uk/abouthtml.

This is one I saw (you have have to ctrl/cmd f 'oxygen' to find it).

If this does mean I have asperger's where should I go from here?

Well, if the UK is like the US, there is not much else you can do before you speak to your parents. If you are uncomfortable broaching the subject with them, you might speak to another trusted adult like a school counselor, school nurse, or minister. They could possibly pave the way for a conversation with your parents.

I agree with the above: are there any adults in your life other then your parents that you can talk to this about?

That you have reletives on the spectrum is what makes me suspect it in you, though you give the impression that you're handling yourself fairly well given the circumstances.

You haven't said anything that definitively puts you on the spectrum by the way, you could just be on the broader autism phenotype.

I'll look into finding other adults. One reason I haven't been sure about weather I have it is that I hear that if you have Aspergers and someone uses an idiom to you, eg: I get the picture; they'll take it literally, I get that it's an idiom, though why anyone would come up with it beats me!

What kind of things would be on the spectrum?

*thanks by the way

I suggest you do the tests here http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt113459.html , maybe it will help you find some answers.

Most of these tests say it is likely I have AS, however I found many questions, eg: Do you enjoy categorizing trees to be false, I find trees boring, but if it came to topics I enjoyed the answer would be a definitive yes.

In the emotional and social ones I often knew the 'correct' answer, but what I would actually do was often very different.

I'm not sure if this affects my results. Thanks though :).

If most tests say it is possibly As then maybe the next step would be to talk about it with your family (if you feel like it of course, it is your choice), and then maybe get a diagnosis (again if you feel you need one) from a professional.

And here are a few possible traits for Aspergers http://www.help4aspergers.com/pb/wp_4a3 ... 112c8.html , there is others, but of course we are all differents and have our own personality just like NTs.

Good luck to you! no matter what you decide.

Most of that matches me, except found (at about the age of 11, before I even knew the difference between aspergers and autism) that I could have a personality that I could use without difficulty, as long as it was eccentric and so I get labelled 'different' again, just a different kind.

To be honest I prefered a shy personality to one I didn't like so went back to the old me.