Black_tea wrote:
A lot of Asperger's traits just look like normal variations in personality.
I'm just curious because I've come across a great deal of pessimists on here, who self-diagnose themselves, just because of some of the above traits. If that many people have Asperger's, then the rate is waaay higher than 1 in 150.
I think Aspergers is a normal variation in personality. There is no line; it's more like a zone (trying to avoid the word "spectrum"). Some of the traits you mention could apply to SAD or GAD.
What's different about AS? Repetitive behaviors, Special Interests, and most of all, lack of empathy. A thorough diagnosis should evaluate this. I don't think pessimism has anything to do with it.
The rate of diagnosis is increasing. The diagnosers often have a financial interest in the diagnosis, but that doesn't mean that the people receiving diagnoses don't need and deserve help of some sort.
13 Jan 2011, 9:37 pm
