How many people think you have AS (undiagnosed)?

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I am sorry you had that experience with that person, skibum. Some people get really self-righteous and indignant about things. Maybe she gets a lot of self-esteem from working with people she considers "less than" herself and she can't feel that way about you and can't handle that so has to discredit your diagnosis.

Thank you.

What you said makes a lot of sense. I had never thought of that but I think you are probably right.

Infuriating, indeed. I'm going to try to remember to copy posts to my clipboard before I hit "submit".

It's frustrating that some people who are supposed to care for autistic people don't actually understand what autism is. That experience with your friend is unfortunate. I assume that friendship didn't last much longer after that. I can at least say my mom is generally a good person. She's just misinformed about some things and probably too rigid to change her beliefs.

Yeah, it took me a very long time to be able to be around that person again. And the real scary part is that she is a Special Olympics coach as well. And she knew I was a Special Olympics athlete. You can't talk to people like that if you are an authority figure in something that the only reason they are allowed to be there is because they have an Autism diagnosis. I am always wary now when I am near her. It really is a shame because I really liked her very much before. But I can't trust someone like that.

I am glad to hear that your mom is cool otherwise. That is good. Hopefully one day she will be able to learn.

My estimate is around 3-5% of the population on spectrum, 20-40% on extended BAP spectrum.

People like that are generally the WORST source on what autism is, as they don't have any background in autism academically, they only work with a proportion of people on the spectrum in a very specific context, they aren't on the spectrum themselves, and they think they know things because they are put in a position of authority.

Or if/when we did the result would be some other diagnosis. Probably dependent of age, gender, where and when...

I am at this time undiagnosed, officially, but I've read a lot of articles and blogs and taken the online tests, and the evidence is pretty hard to refute.

I talked about this some in the family life thread yesterday but my parents refused to believe I'm autistic. My father, who, ironically, likely has aspergers/AS as well, won't even believe it exists - thinks it's some American liberal nonsense like ADHD or OCD - another trendy made-up ailment used to excuse bad behavior. My mother, who we've been trying to push toward psychological help for years but she refuses (I'm guessing she's bipolar or BPD), thinks I'm self-diagnosing for attention and to make myself sound special or unique or whatever (apparently autism is cool now? news to me...). Funny though, my whole life they've been asking what is wrong with me - how is it that such a smart, talented, nice girl can't even make friends. Or, you know, handle daily life...? You'd think they'd appreciate finally having an answer.

My boyfriend of nearly five years (three, at the time) was hesitant to believe it at first. Said he was afraid that in labeling myself, I would start using my aspergers as an excuse for my bad behaviors (why is that such a common assumption anyway...? But that's a rant for another time) or for refusing to change them. We also had a nature/nurture debate, where he argued that being raised by parents like mine must have made me the way I am. I think the ultimate problem with him was that by accepting I was autistic, my flaws were part of who I was and could not be 'fixed', rather than learned behaviors that could be unlearned. Fortunately, he did his own research in addition to reading all the links I sent, and talked online with other NTs in relationships with people like me. It took time, but now he accepts it, and is supportive. He even started talking to people about how he's in a relationship with an autistic person (not with me present, of course) which made me super uncomfortable at first, but hearing the stories he got back from people who also have loved ones with aspergers, or have aspergers themselves, has been pretty amazing. And has gone a long way, I think, in helping him accept me, being the social person he is.

I don't have any friends right now (been deeply hurt by so-called friends one time too many, and don't want to go through the trouble of making new ones), but I did tell a couple co-workers about it. The first one, a supervisor, actually said "I figured it was something like that," and after I got over the initial blow to my ego (I thought I was doing well, dammit ) it was nice having someone I could be open with about some of my more... unusual needs. Another person did this weird exaggerated nod thing that I think was supposed to be... supportive? Maybe? Erm... Whatever, she didn't say much, and we changed the subject, and she's treated me more or less the same since. The only reason I told her was because she was all offended because some lady thought her kid had autism because he was misbehaving, and I was in a bad mood and couldn't just stand there and listen to that much stupid. Another person I told said she wouldn't have guessed but it 'made sense' once I said it, and the last was a trans-guy I was discussing gender issues with - told him I didn't really 'get' social norms, probably because I have aspergers, and he said he wished more people thought like I did

So overall, the reaction I've gotten from people has been positive - I think Miss 'Nod-Nod' might have been incredulous, maybe, but wasn't about to say it out out loud, but the others didn't question it at all. My parents barely believe in psychiatry so their reaction was more or less expected, and my boyfriend mostly just needed more education, and I was fortunate that he was willing to seek it out for my sake.

It's pretty sad though when so called 'professionals' who work with autistic people but have such a narrow view of what autism means. It kind of makes me wonder how they truly feel about the people they care for, and how it might negatively impact that care.

Oops, read the thread question wrong, the "you" and "think" switched in my brain, I'm diagnosed so this doesn't apply.

I just had a thought, how do i know the teachers i had in high school think i have it. well its because we had a special class that you would have on a wednesday morning for.....different people..... problem is.... im not diagnosed with anything so why am i in this class? i wondered. we were taught about social constructs (much of which dont remember, well done me) they used a book about metaphors, asked the class what different facial positions meant, what different body languages meant and then corrected us... we were a very small class of only like 6-7 people so i got some answers in (most of which were wrong.....nailed it) my best friend is autistic and they used to talk to him in a certain way, trying to get him to understand why they were doing things they were doing when trying to get him to do work and help him with it, and they used to talk to me in the same way (even though we both knew why they were doing what they were doing it was just the english work of analysing macbeth play that i couldn't really do academically) to be honest i think they thought i was already diagnosed and knew.

Being out here on the street you see a lot of homeless people who have Asperger's-like symptoms/traits:
- People who keep on telling you about something even though you stopped listening minutes ago
- People with poor social skills who keep to themselves or
- Say inappropriate things that angers, upsets or disgusts people
- Think solely in black & white, extremely rigid thinking "Either this or that, no exception."
- Stimming-type behavior like continuously twirling their hair, rocking back and forth, etc
- People who can't hold on to jobs or relationships
- Intensely obsessed with just one or two things and nothing else (marijuana, alcohol, etc)
- Odd postures and gait
- Once in a while you see those who wear sunglasses even in overcast skies because of light sensitivity
- *Get into frequent arguments because they frequently misread each other.*

*I starred the last one because that seems to be the most prevalent out here and contributes to people staying apart.

How many of these people are diagnosed as AS? Probably none of them. How many of them have AS? Probably half, combined with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar and so on.

I've always thought before that the percentage of Aspies on the street is way higher than the percentage that is employed and married with kids, but I can't prove it.

Alas, the social service organizations have their hands tied. I'm sure they'd like to go out in the street and help people, but it doesn't work that way. People have to go to them for help. Yes, some people would object to gov't institutions approaching them because they'll say they have the right to be homeless. Tough situation. You can't force yourself on someone who you think needs help when he himself doesn't think so.

Sadly, most of this is true.

Oops. I misread the question. I switched the "you" and the "think".