daydreamer84
Veteran
Joined: 8 Jul 2009
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 5,001
Location: My own little world
23 Mar 2013, 9:06 pm
Shikari wrote:
daydreamer84 wrote:
OP, I'll add one more thing: to be diagnosed with an ASD you're supposed to have these symptoms to the point where they cause severe impairment in atleast 2 areas of your life. So an NT girl might be really obsessed with Japanese culture but if her functioning at work and her social relationships and home life aren't negatively affected by this then it wouldn't count as a symptom of ASD according to the DSM. The same with routines. Even the repetitive motor movements like rocking and flapping arms -NT's sometimes have these or did as children - but not to the extent that they impair their functioning in life.
Lack of friends can be due to a lot of things but it's only one of the symptoms of ASD under the category of social impairment. Right now you have to have at least 2 to be diagnosed with Asperger's -in the new DSM coming out in May you'll need all 3 to be diagnosed with ASD (they're changing the names and criteria for diagnosis). The other ones are lack of social or emotional reciprocity and impairment in nonverbal communication-you either lack expression or have REALLY clumsy ,odd expressions or you can't understand other's expressions. Social awkwardness isn't really a diagnosable symptom and can be due to lots of different things but it just often comes as a result of having the symptoms of ASD. Again, you'd have to have the lack of friends "haven't developed peer relationships appropriate to developmental level" , problems with nonverbal expression (tone of voice, facial expression, body language) and lack of social reciprocity to the point where it impairs your daily life for them to be diagnosable symptoms.
Edit: The fantasy worlds are not a symptom of ASD in diagnostic criteria but they're common among girls with ASD. So, this also would mean a preoccupation with a fantasy world to an extreme , impairing extent. When I was a kid in elementary school I refused to play with anything else , would do no homework, wouldn't pay attention in school because from day to night I'd be pretending to be a character from X series. It became more important than my real life. (during school, at recess , at home at all times). I even couldn't sleep because I'd keep daydreaming at night. It was hard to punish me too because a spanking was temporary and not connected much in my mind to not doing work and taking away privileges or putting me in a room with no toys didn't bother me-I carried what was important to me in my mind.
Lack of friends can be due to a lot of things but it's only one of the symptoms of ASD under the category of social impairment. Right now you have to have at least 2 to be diagnosed with Asperger's -in the new DSM coming out in May you'll need all 3 to be diagnosed with ASD (they're changing the names and criteria for diagnosis). The other ones are lack of social or emotional reciprocity and impairment in nonverbal communication-you either lack expression or have REALLY clumsy ,odd expressions or you can't understand other's expressions. Social awkwardness isn't really a diagnosable symptom and can be due to lots of different things but it just often comes as a result of having the symptoms of ASD. Again, you'd have to have the lack of friends "haven't developed peer relationships appropriate to developmental level" , problems with nonverbal expression (tone of voice, facial expression, body language) and lack of social reciprocity to the point where it impairs your daily life for them to be diagnosable symptoms.
Edit: The fantasy worlds are not a symptom of ASD in diagnostic criteria but they're common among girls with ASD. So, this also would mean a preoccupation with a fantasy world to an extreme , impairing extent. When I was a kid in elementary school I refused to play with anything else , would do no homework, wouldn't pay attention in school because from day to night I'd be pretending to be a character from X series. It became more important than my real life. (during school, at recess , at home at all times). I even couldn't sleep because I'd keep daydreaming at night. It was hard to punish me too because a spanking was temporary and not connected much in my mind to not doing work and taking away privileges or putting me in a room with no toys didn't bother me-I carried what was important to me in my mind.
Thanks Daydreamer 84! You have been most helpful! I understand now the difference, and that any obsessions that me or my friends have is not AS.
You're welcome. I wish more people would be like you and try to find out more about a disorder rather than make assumptions about it/ about people with it.
23 Mar 2013, 11:00 pm
MaKin wrote:
First question: Obsessions?
That wouldn't make me autistic, would it?
No. Having an interest or hobby does not in itself make one autistic.
Do neurotypicals get obsessed, too?
Of course they do, but probably not in the thorough way aspies do.
Are there different reasons behind obsessions, like maybe boredom.
perhaps boredom, but more or less with me it is what i consider an affinity towards the reasoning, rhythm or innate connection to a given subject/hobby/interest that keeps me absorbed with a focus interest.
Second question: Lack of friends?
it's not necessarily a matter of shyness, but can be with some. for me it is a distinct sense of not fitting in with the social "norm"...an inability to understand or relate to the societal behaviors which come naturally to neurotypicals.
Third question: Social awkwardness?
What do you think are other reasons someone may be socially awkward besides ASD?
personality quirks, moodiness, emotional instability
Fourth question: Need for Routine?
What does a routine do for someone with ASD, and how is it different from just liking things to stay the same.
it gives a matter of comfort and stability to my life. in a world where everything tends to gravitate to a natural state of random chaos, routine keeps those otherwise random happenings to a manageable level. in my experiences, i'm very easily overstimulated by sounds, lights, unexpected activity, too much happening at one time to be able to focus upon any one of them effectively, routine helps me continue on a clear mental path, so to speak.
Fifth question: Females and indulging in fantasy worlds?
i'm not so sure about that one. i've always been quite practical and realistic. even in times where i daydreamed or have fantasies, i've never been the silly romantic. it could be that my fantasy is more real to me, or is grounded in a sense of rationale, and i don't see it in ways that are to the outward onlooker might consider, but i don't see myself as fanciful.
Sixth question: Online Testing?
I haven't taken any online tests yet, but how good are they?
they're a pretty good indicator of whether or not a person could consider need for a professional assessment or if they're more "normal" than they realized.
Are the results biased towards males?
i'm a woman and don't think so
How do females test?
i tested just fine...as very strongly aspie
I think I'm going i''m to take them just to see where I fall.
there is no harm in doing so. they're interesting tests which may give you insight into yourself.
That wouldn't make me autistic, would it?
No. Having an interest or hobby does not in itself make one autistic.
Do neurotypicals get obsessed, too?
Of course they do, but probably not in the thorough way aspies do.
Are there different reasons behind obsessions, like maybe boredom.
perhaps boredom, but more or less with me it is what i consider an affinity towards the reasoning, rhythm or innate connection to a given subject/hobby/interest that keeps me absorbed with a focus interest.
Second question: Lack of friends?
it's not necessarily a matter of shyness, but can be with some. for me it is a distinct sense of not fitting in with the social "norm"...an inability to understand or relate to the societal behaviors which come naturally to neurotypicals.
Third question: Social awkwardness?
What do you think are other reasons someone may be socially awkward besides ASD?
personality quirks, moodiness, emotional instability
Fourth question: Need for Routine?
What does a routine do for someone with ASD, and how is it different from just liking things to stay the same.
it gives a matter of comfort and stability to my life. in a world where everything tends to gravitate to a natural state of random chaos, routine keeps those otherwise random happenings to a manageable level. in my experiences, i'm very easily overstimulated by sounds, lights, unexpected activity, too much happening at one time to be able to focus upon any one of them effectively, routine helps me continue on a clear mental path, so to speak.
Fifth question: Females and indulging in fantasy worlds?
i'm not so sure about that one. i've always been quite practical and realistic. even in times where i daydreamed or have fantasies, i've never been the silly romantic. it could be that my fantasy is more real to me, or is grounded in a sense of rationale, and i don't see it in ways that are to the outward onlooker might consider, but i don't see myself as fanciful.
Sixth question: Online Testing?
I haven't taken any online tests yet, but how good are they?
they're a pretty good indicator of whether or not a person could consider need for a professional assessment or if they're more "normal" than they realized.
Are the results biased towards males?
i'm a woman and don't think so
How do females test?
i tested just fine...as very strongly aspie
I think I'm going i''m to take them just to see where I fall.
there is no harm in doing so. they're interesting tests which may give you insight into yourself.
Thanks! You've been helpful!! ! I realize that the traits I may have that are similar to AS are for different reasons, as I don't find other people and situations all that confusing. I pretty good at understanding people and their intentions, and really good at reading body language and facial expressions. Also, I don't have any sensory issues or anything like that. I suppose that traits I do have is random obsessions with wanting to learn more about things, and anxiety---like being put on the spot, about my health, and being in new situations----but that's due to my low self esteem and my introversion. I also have a rich fantasy life, but it doesn't cloud my reality. That's about it for me. So, I'm obviously not I the spectrum. I took the online tests, and I had posted my scores in an earlier post, but I'll post them again.
These are my scores:
AQ: 15.
BAP: 77 Aloof. 68 Rigid. 63 Pragmatic. Below the cutoff on all 3 subscales. Neurotypical.
EQ: 52. Average.
SQ: 8. Below Average.
HSP: 12. Below the cutoff.
Mind in Eyes: 31. It said I was good a reading eyes.
Aspie Quiz: 46/200 AS. 154/200 NT. Very Likely Neurotypical.
Also what is SQ? I scored low on that, and I don't really no what it is.
23 Mar 2013, 11:55 pm
24 Mar 2013, 12:17 am
MaKin wrote:
Shikari wrote:
Also what is SQ? I scored low on that, and I don't really no what it is.
it's good that you took those online tests, and asked questions in this forum. i'm also pleased that you found some clarity to what was concerning you about yourself.
i'm not exactly certain what SQ (systemizing quotient) is, but i take it that it's an indicator of how analytical a person's mindset and process of decision making is, as opposed to being guided by emotional response or consideration.
those tests really helped me to realize i was not misguided by thinking i'm aspie. (the results prompted me to finally get assessed, and consequently, diagnosed). i felt validated by some of the scores, yet i was surprised at how little i can truly read eyes and body language. for instance, i score 5 with the "mind in the eyes" test.
I was surprised how good I read eyes...lol! I looked up with SQ was, and apparently having a low SQ and a high EQ means I have a strong female brain---I agree
Well anyways, I'm pleased with all the responses I've gotten on this site! I see news stories on autism all the time as it is really coming more into light about what it is, and not in the way most people picture it to be---like Rain Man. I'm fascinated by the whole human experience, and how people relate to everyone, and what is means to exist. I've always felt connected to people, and strive to understand what they go through---maybe that the artist in me..lol! Anyways, I'm glad I know more about AS now, and I wish the best for anyone who has struggled in this world---I know it's a difficult place in live in sometimes!
24 Mar 2013, 5:40 am
24 Mar 2013, 4:06 pm
Jensen wrote:
You could try this:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/JTypesResult.aspx
It is widely used professionally, and fairly dependable.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/JTypesResult.aspx
It is widely used professionally, and fairly dependable.
ISFP: The Artist! Makes sense since I majored in Art and Design
You have moderate preference of Introversion over Extraversion (56%)
You have distinctive preference of Sensing over Intuition (62%)
You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (25%)
You have moderate preference of Perceiving over Judging (44%)
