Why is every weird person a suspected aspie?

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I'm actually very scared that this is the case for me...

I just have a few questions...

I've made the attempt to seek a diagnosis, and after seeing a psychologist they said there is no was I'm on the spectrum. She even went as far as to say that she was surprised to see me sitting on her waiting room couch because I didn't even look like I had autism.

I've only taken a few online tests (which I know aren't diagnostics), but after reading so many personal accounts it just seems to fit so perfectly, like nothing in my life has ever before.

Is it worth a second assessment? Or am I just better off chalking it up to weird?

This psychologist sounds like he/she has a 1970s view of autism.

Most people with autism don’t look “autistic” at first glance.

If it doesn’t cost anything, why not go for a second assessment.

I'm afraid that the only specialists with experience in autism are states away. I have one more option here in New York, but I'm also kind of scared to hear no again from someone like the one who said "there's nothing wrong, you're just a genius and see the world differently". Lol I'm no genius, I just learn things faster than others, and I personally don't see ASD as having anything wrong... In fact I might just be weird by her standards, because it would make my life much easier to know I do have a place in the spectrum.

I’m in New York City.

Are you in Upstate New York?

In NYC, there are tons of people who specialize in autism, and may know the latest trends.

Yes, I'm in upstate, around the Glen's Falls area. I wouldn't mind taking a few days trips to get a worthwhile shot at finding the truth.

It’s about a 4-hour drive with no traffic to Midtown. I hope you can find a place with parking.

At this point I'd walk as far as necessary. Heck, I'd get a hotel if this next psych doesn't take an up to date approach that involves more than 3 sessions with one consisting of complimenting my intelligence and insulting neurodiversity.

I'd appreciate any recommendations, no harm in looking them up and seeing if it's feasible to take an extreme approach as stated above.

It's one of the more popular "syndrome/disorder/illness" categories. There's other less known stuff like personality disorders and generalized anxiety stuff. Everyone knows what a Sociopath is, so we often assume criminals are Sociopaths. It is irritating but unfortunately we don't have control over how people refer to AS. We can only wait till the label falls out of public misuse and is replaced for something else.

SUNY Albany and other colleges in the Capital District might have clinicians that are up to date or research programs where if you participate they will pay part or all of the assessment.

Because it's common for aspies to be seen as weird and be different so autism is the first thing people think of when someone is odd or awkward or a loner and do their own thing or do the same thing all the time and have troubles fitting in.

It's like how people assume every abuser is a narcissist or every killer is a sociopath and every child sexual abuser is a pedophile or how every neat freak person has OCD.

It sure shows as a fad out here.

I'm actually more annoyed by people who say it's totally absurd to suspect someone to be aspie no matter who. E.g. there's an old thread were people say it's totally laughable than Eminem could have Aspergers, but we know now he has it (at least he has said that himself).

That's how I see it: 1) People who are creative, inventive, make eccentric, innovative, maybe weird art like music, films etc. have a tendency to be not neurotypical. Being creative often comes with ofter stuff like depression, ADHD, ASD or schizophrenia (with these conditions being comorbid as well...) 2) Many adults are still not diagnosed even though they fit the criteria. There's also many stereotypes like that aspies would always be the kind of "super smart shy computer guy" type, so people in showbiz might not get the idea they could be affected. Also, women are under-diagnosed. 3) Even if diagnosed (or self-diagnosed, self suspected) not everyone will want to talk about it. They might simply not care about it, or they might be afraid to talk about it (having ASD as a prog rock musician is something different than having ASD as a teen popstar).

That means that we only see the tip of the ice berg. In reality, there are way more famous people that are not neurotypical than we currently know of. Just like more people are coming out as homosexuals these days, there will be more and more people coming out as aspies.


Social awkwardness, not fitting in and being obsessive belong to the core characteristics of autism. If someone has all of these traits, it's difficult for me to see how this person could NOT be at least borderline autistic (except if these traits are caused by a psychiatric illness by schizophrenia).

DSM-5 ASD criteria consist of two main traits:
-Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts
-Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities

And you cannot possibly have autism because...? If it's something like "I like going to parties" or "I have friends" or "I like to gossip" or "I actually understand metaphors and jokes!", that doesn't mean anything. I do all of these things and I'm still aspie and very, very sure about it Also, just because you don't like maths or computers and because you are extroverted or because you're good at sports that doesn't mean you cannot have ASD.

But no, autism is not the only reason for not having any friends. Some people are shy or have social anxiety, or they just don't have the opportunity to meet people.

It's hard to believe that any celebrities could be on the spectrum because many autistic people struggle to be independent and not depend on their parents for a place to live and transportation.

But you do know that there are celebrities who are diagnosed? Not everyone on the spectrum is dependent on their parents, and celebrities struggle in their own way (drugs, alcohol, financial problems, meltdowns, depression, inappropriate behavior...).

I don't pay any attention to celebrities. I think I know what Elaine is saying. She didn't say all autistics are dependent on their parents. The more severely affected ones are....not the mildly possible autistic folks.