Anxiety disorder rather than Aspergers....

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Wow has it been a while! Haha, anyway, well, this has been quite a year mental health wise... I finally was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, as well as OCD and Panick Disorder. Nope, no aspergers. A lot of my symptoms of asperger's really seem to just be the severe anxiety. The resistance to change, like of schedules, and even being easily overwhelmed in social situations, etc. all can actually be explained by anxiety. Ok, so I guess I'm also definitely a little socially awkward, but that was never my main symptom. I also have ADHD (that has to do with my anxiety) which can produce some autism-ish symptoms. I still have found this forum so helpful, so hopefully I can continue to be a part of it, especially considering I am not neurotypical, even though I'm not really an aspie. Hopefully the meds I'm on will help so that I can get back to my life and not have to be worrying all the time. I'd like to thank everyone on here for being so supportive to everyone on this forum!

Why are you anxious? Presumably that's not genetic, something caused it. What happened?

Anxiety disorders can be partly genetic.


And, you should definitely stay! You can relate to us and it seems like a good resource to have.

dancinonwater, this is the same diagnosis I got (although unofficially, as my therapist's office seems to steer away from labels). I do have a complex of anxiety disorders and ADD. However, I still think I have Asperger's. It's the only thing that explains anything, from BEFORE I had anxiety. In girls, Autism spectrum disorders often go unnoticed and if you're not being given the help you need of course that can cause anxiety. I'm not a doctor but doctors can get it wrong.

Either way, it's not necessary to focus on the diagnosis. Treating the symptoms to make your life better is the key goal. So you should definitely stay on this forum as it's chock full of useful information!

Why does your profile say you have AS?

Most likely the OP just hasn't changed it since they were going with the ASD hypothesis...

Anyways: Yeah, OP, stick around. Anxiety disorders are so common on the autistic spectrum that you'll have a lot in common with us just due to that; add your social awkwardness, being on the low end of typical presumably as far as social skills go, and you've got enough autistic traits to possibly benefit from the things you might learn here. Even if you don't learn a thing, another viewpoint on the world sure can't hurt.

I agree, I hope you stick around these forums, plenty of people on the AS spectrum have high levels of anxiety so it's common for us.

Anxiety doesn't need a reason, it doesn't require a prior event or a traumatic event, it can be based on a generalized anxiety, anxiety can come through several means such as being too analytical, being conscious or setting high expectations on yourself. It isn't something that is simply solved by getting to the root of the situation or event, it's about finding out what makes that person anxious and giving them the ability to discern those thoughts that lead to anxious or depressed moods.

I've also been told that my traits are the result of anxiety rather than Aspergers but I do wonder whether it is Aspergers making socialising difficult that is causing the anxiety because the socialising never becomes easy or natural.

I can "cover up" my my symptoms quite well so I probably don't appear as odd to most people as I actually feel. I can only do this for short periods of time though (perhaps the length of a working day). If I'm forced to be around people for longer than that I start to crumble

Thanks for being so accepting guys! Sorry about my profile, I had clicked that by accident, but it wont let me change it back.

Anyway, I totally agree with the fact that anxiety disorder and aspergers have many symptoms in common, and there is also sort of a cause and effect thing going on. For most of you, I assume, the Asperger's has caused the anxiety because some things are more difficult, but for me, the anxiety caused the Asperger's-ish symptoms. All my anxiety actually caused the riggidity and need for order and schedules, as well as "rituals" and such things that are commonly associated with autistic spectrum disorders. It makes sense to only be diagnosed with anxiety disorders, but realize that it is all really caused by autism, but I really am sure now that for me, it is just anxiety.

No, I didn't have any traumatic event that caused my anxiety and OCD. Actually, I've been anxious for about as long as I can remember, but it has gotten much worse as I've gotten older. (That fact was actually one of the reasons I doubted having Asperger's). I'm fairly certain that my anxiety is cause by, well, my high IQ, as is my ADHD. My brain just moves so quickly and I have so many thoughts, that a lot of those include the "what ifs". Of course I'm greatful to be blessed with a genious-level IQ, but my brain isn't all good. My brain works very differently than most people's, so along with all the extra good stuff I have, there's also some bad stuff (ei. Anxiety and panic). My mother, grandmother, sister, and brother all also suffer from some anxiety (none as severe as mine), so I guess you deffinitely could say it is genetic, but we also all have high IQs, so it could also be connected to that.

I really am glad to be back on this forum! You guys are all so supportive and accepting, and I'm sure that I'll be looking to you for help with my anxiety.

People on the spectrum can also have genius level IQ, in case you didn't know that. It is harder in some ways I think for smart people.

Haha, no i definitely knew that one! I agree. Everyone always tells me I have it easy, and I know that it will be easier for me when I'm older because I will have more opportunities in life, but it is much harder while in school. I often feel like kid's only see me for my smarts, and my neurotic tendancies which is really my OCD, which again is really just my over-active brain. If I wasn't just "the smart gir" or "the nerd", maybe people would see who I really am.

Also, because of my anxiety and ADHD, its often difficult for me to remember things like homework, studying, and such (even though I can remember basically every fact I've ever learned). This actually provides a little amusement because people who are not as naturally smart as I am (not to sound concieted, sorry...) assume that I must study all the time and work really hard, so they think I'm some kind of goody-two-shoes, but really I just have really good genes, IQ wise, and when I don't do my homework they are surprized, event though it's actually a very common occurence. I just wish that people could look past anything they think about me from their first impression, and see what a great person I am, despite my challenges.

Haha, no i definitely knew that one! I agree. Everyone always tells me I have it easy, and I know that it will be easier for me when I'm older because I will have more opportunities in life, but it is much harder while in school. I often feel like kid's only see me for my smarts, and my neurotic tendancies which is really my OCD, which again is really just my over-active brain. If I wasn't just "the smart gir" or "the nerd", maybe people would see who I really am.

Also, because of my anxiety and ADHD, its often difficult for me to remember things like homework, studying, and such (even though I can remember basically every fact I've ever learned). This actually provides a little amusement because people who are not as naturally smart as I am (not to sound concieted, sorry...) assume that I must study all the time and work really hard, so they think I'm some kind of goody-two-shoes, but really I just have really good genes, IQ wise, and when I don't do my homework they are surprized, event though it's actually a very common occurence. I just wish that people could look past anything they think about me from their first impression, and see what a great person I am, despite my challenges.

I think it can be hard on the less intelligent ones especially when they keep failing every subject.

I can relate. I learn things instantly too, photographic memory particularly when I was younger but still things stick and I forget nothing it seems like. It can also be quite a burden. I always thought things would get easier when I became older too. People assume a lot of things all the time about everything it seems like, and expect a lot due to preconceived ideas, and don't understand. It's hard for sure in so many ways. Take good care of yourself. I wish you all the best.

Yeah, it obviously is harder for people with low iqs,Im not trying to complain, just saying that it isn't always as easy as people assume. People tend to make so many assumptions about other people, and it really drives me insane. A lot of people dislike me because of my OCD and my other quirks, but anyone who has ever gotten close to me and learned who i really am usually ends ups loving me. I think they just don't know why I do things that they find annoying, or they don't know all my good traits. No one is who they seem to be, and, as they say, everyone is fighting a hard battle.