Mild asperger syndrome or slightly wierd?

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Greetings fine people of the interwebz!!I have seen that you folks know plenty about ASD so I wondered if you could help me out?
I was diagonised with mild (not sure how mild) asperger?s at age 7, But a couple of months ago I was diagonised as having hyperactive/impulsive ADHD & my therapists say that my symptoms also relate with selective mutism which is linked with ADHD.
I have done a lot of research but I cant seem to figure it out. I can classify all the symptoms related with asperger?s as either one of the four: ?definitely prevalent?,?not sure?,?used to be prevalent?& ?definitely not prevalent?.
OK,so here I go:
?definitely prevalent?: Narrowed down interests, social awkwardness(occasional), affinity for numbers, collecting wierd information or statistics ,saying something inappropriate or out of context(occasional),Identification of patterns(occasional) ,sharp photographic memory,zoning out from time to time,liking talking about self.
?not sure?: Close attention to detail, sticking to routine(mostly not but I have noticed a few times)
?used to be prevalent?(most of which disappeared by age 15): Lack of eye contact, going on & on about one thing, extreme social awkwardness, slightly clumsy.
?Definitely not prevalent?:Hand flapping,rocking,inability to process gestures/body languages/facial expressions, underdeveloped gross motor skills (in fact I am known to be athletic)
I do get slightly annoyed by misplaced objects (unless the place is an absolute mess, ie; everything is out of place) & It gets on my nerves a bit when people create a huge racket. I hate drama & small talk (even though I have learned to do small talk I tend to not listen to the speaker ,concentrating on only what I have to say).
I felt it necessary to mention that I am reasonably popular at school but am known to be soft spoken & a bit of an introvert. My friends tease me for ?freezing? or ?hanging? or ?not responding?( referring to the computer terms), but when I asked them of what they think about me they say that I look like an NT about 80% of the time .
I remember someone saying that I was arrogant & a bit of a jerk but I don?t think I am , I also remember my teachers always making sure I understand the topic & when I said that I?m not dumb & I do understand she said that I wear a blank look which causes that impression.
So what do you think? Am I just a slightly wierd person with ADHD or do I have mild Asperger Syndrome?

I would say: Definitely Maybe.

You have some of the traits of Asperger's, but it hasn't affected your functioning to a great degree, from what you've described.

If your history is taken into account, it's more possible that you are diagnosable. If present functioning is taken into account solely--probably not.

I would say you're probably within the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP)

Especially amid the anti-diagnosis climate prevalent these days, I would say, based upon what you wrote, that you probably would not be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder,per DSM V (which the United States uses).

Thanks....
But I still have a lot of questions:
Is my condition so mild that I have overcome most of my problems? Do you mean that I am an aspie behind an ADHD 'mask'?
Also , what is a meltdown ? I wouldnt know because I have never seen one & I dont think I have ever had one. However when emotionally provoked I cant help but ranting about it to my parents or friends.
Are aspies unusually calm during dire situations ? If not then I guess I'm an anomaly in that aspect.
Is it true that aspies have meltdowns due to stimuli overload? I am definitely bothered by loud noises but apart from wearing a distressed look I dont show much of it.

There's nothing that you state that pops out that you are definitely an Aspergers type. I once thought that I was just introverted, then realized that that didn't explain my behaviour. If you really want to know, go to a professional to get a diagnosis.

A meltdown frequently looks like a hissy fit--but they have very different origins.

Meltdowns are frequently caused by "sensory overload." If an Aspergian is in a room, say, with bright lights, many people about, and considerable ambient noise (e.g., air-conditioners, fan, etc), the Aspergian, owing to he/she being overly sensitive to the above sensory stimuli (i.e., bright lights, many people about, etc), might experience a meltdown.

thanks.....I'm mostly not bothered by my environment & surroundings but but loud crowd noises certainly do trouble me (unless I'm in a soccer game or some place where noise is expected)
I'm still quite concerned about my future....
If I get (re)diagonised I fear that I will be forced into a job which does not require social interaction. I do want to participate in social activities & I'm mostly not troubled by normal social interaction. But I fear how I would fair in interviews & board meetings.

Truthfully, many people with Aspergers--diagnosed or not diagnosed--do well in interviews and board meetings.

I just don't discern any severe symptoms within you.

There's an old adage:

You must rule your diagnosis; you must not let the diagnosis rule you.

Lots of people will say dont let autism define you, which is ironic because many of these peoples have very narrow views of what autism is.

Understand that you are defined by being autistic, understand that being autistic is an extremely wide spectrum.

Also understand the past is a poor judge for your future, as the possibilities for people on the spectrum are greatly increasing.

I don't have a narrow view of what autism is.

I just don't think you should allow autism to define you.

True. One has to have a start before anything else. End points are always evolving, as experience is gained.

Also , what is a meltdown ? I wouldnt know because I have never seen one & I dont think I have ever had one. However when emotionally provoked I cant help but ranting about it to my parents or friends.

I think you have had a meltdown----you just described it when you said: "ranting about it to my parents or friends". Meltdowns come in all SORTS of forms. A meltdown isn't always finding a corner in which to sit-and-rock. If you hadn't've let-off steam to your family or friends, I think you might've found-out what a more severe meltdown is. You, possibly, could've felt a sensation like your head was going to explode right off your body, or that the walls were closing-in, or that someone inside of your head was screaming at the top of their lungs----the manifestations are ENDLESS.

I looked up meltdowns on the internet & I certainly dont look anything like that. Despite using very 'descriptive' language & a raised voice , I am under my own control.
I notice how I unknowingly flex my muscles ( particularly biceps & thigh muscles) so hard that it hurts & my first instinct is to punch anything or anyone in my vicinity. I have given in to my instincts a few times & have even heavily paid the price for it , but all instances happened when I was young. I am also not known to have emotional outbursts & my behaviour is fairly predictable.
I have a peculiar pulsating sensation in my chest which I would like to interpret as a 'bleeding heart' when hurt or upset.



Is it true that aspies have meltdowns due to stimuli overload? I am definitely bothered by loud noises but apart from wearing a distressed look I dont show much of it.

Yes, it's very common for Aspies to experience "meltdowns due to stimuli overload". You may not THINK you don't "show much of it", but you probably feel it----more so, than what you've expressed. Next time you're walking down a street and an ambulance goes-by, concentrate on what you're feeling (it's better if you're alone----if you're with someone you will be distracted, and not as attuned to what you're feeling and / or will probably "recover" more quickly). Do you feel like your head is going to explode? Do you feel like you would much rather that your skin suddenly shriveled-up and fell off? Do you feel like screaming and running as fast as you can away from the place? Do you feel like life would be so much easier, at this time, if an asteroid came plummeting to earth and swallowed you whole? It's very important to take time to feel what you are feeling----for LOTS of reasons!!

Honestly I have never had that feeling. In fact what you say seems ridiculous & exaggerated to me. Yes , other aspies may feel like what you have mentioned but it is very unlikely that it will ever happen to me.
I visited my friend's dad's welding factory & tried to feel myself. As I said before it did trouble me just a bit & reduced my ability to think straight, but I definitely did not feel like running away or my head was about to explode.
It must be another trait that is absolutely absent just like the inability to identify nonverbal cues.



Also I took some tests online for ASD. The results are as follows:
AQ: 27/50 NT: 47%
IQ : 134 ( although my IQ tests while diagnosing ADHD said 119)
EQ: 99( average ) SQ: 82.9 ( above average )

Quote:
Do you mean that I am an aspie behind an ADHD 'mask'?

I think you hit the nail on the head!! !! I was first diagnosed with ADHD, and it explained alot of my behavior----"ALOT", but not everything. When I was diagnosed with Asperger's.... THAT'S the thing that cinched it!! !

Also , what is a meltdown ? I wouldnt know because I have never seen one & I dont think I have ever had one. However when emotionally provoked I cant help but ranting about it to my parents or friends.

I think you have had a meltdown----you just described it when you said: "ranting about it to my parents or friends". Meltdowns come in all SORTS of forms. A meltdown isn't always finding a corner in which to sit-and-rock. If you hadn't've let-off steam to your family or friends, I think you might've found-out what a more severe meltdown is. You, possibly, could've felt a sensation like your head was going to explode right off your body, or that the walls were closing-in, or that someone inside of your head was screaming at the top of their lungs----the manifestations are ENDLESS.

Are aspies unusually calm during dire situations? If not then I guess I'm an anomaly in that aspect.

Being "calm during dire situations" is VERY common among Aspies!! When they're is an emergency, I have the most level head of anybody around! I also think of things, solve problems (emotional crises, for instance) better than anyone else (unless there's another Aspie around, of course).
__________-----------____________

I have been diagnosed with a plethera of diagnosis'. OCD, bipolar, depression, borderline personality disorder, and ADHD (most recent), to name a few. I work two jobs both in the same field, Pharmacy, I teach in my first one and actually work in one at the second. The diagnosis only seemed to fit the current situation or life phase. One of the other instructors has an Autistic child and she had mentioned on several accounts how similar we were, she had asked me a bunch of questions asking how I had delt with various situations. And she said that we were fairly identical just different ages. Once I started actually researching it, I found that Asperger's was the catch all of everything over the years and explains how I am today.
I have had to deal with multiple crisies and have been complemented on how calm I was during the event, I definantly believe it could be a trait. When handed a severe problem as such, I feel calm and ready to deal with the problem be it CPR or other. I would like to get a totally official diagnosis, my only hangup is the anxiety behind scheduling and going to the appointment.
From what I read, I would believe you are Aspie, due to the nature of how everything you have said answers everything I have been researching for a very long time. i agree with your other statements as well on meltdowns and what not, we learn to cope with our daily tasks and it really has to be based on past experience to be accurate for a good diagnosis.

* sorry so long, and possibly typo ridden, long week and I just feel careless to try and fix all of the errors, we are human after all, lol