May not be aspie

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Hi, I haven't been here in ages! Anyway, when I asked my pdoc if I was an aspie, he replied by saying that autistic people do not generally get to the level that I'm at. By this he meant that autistic people do not get to university. He instead diagnosed me with paranoid schizophrenia. I'm now on abilify and clozapine. My difficulties might make me seem like an aspie. I don't do eye contact. It is difficult for me to look people in the eyes. I have a non changing facial expression coupled with a monotonous voice. I like routine in my life. I miss social cues etc. All these can be accounted for by schiz. Just because you are smart doesn't mean you are an aspie. The confusion that many normals make is to think they are aspie. I don't know what I am but it's ok. I mean, normals need to belong somewhere, to fit in. I don't need company. I don't need to belong somewhere as it makes me uncomfortable. Please share your thoughts.

When he said that autistic people don't get to the level you reached, that is simply not true. Some people on the autism spectrum are intellectually gifted, and many others are able to attend college, so I would be little skeptical of his diagnosis. If I were you I would consult someone who knows more about HFA to figure out if your issues are related to autism or whether you are on the schizophrenic spectrum.

Btw, abilfy is also approved to treat autism so it could help either way. I don't know about clozapine.

You're welcome here, any time.

None of your traits sound schizophrenialike.

You need a new doctor. Give that one a copy of Temple Grandin's book when you ditch him.

I graduated engineering college magna cum laude and am a diagnosed aspie. So what he is saying is simply not true.


You sound more spectrum like then schizophrenic like to me.

Were those things you listed the only reason he diagnosed you with paranoid schizophrenia? And he's doping you? I'm not anti meds but I think it's extreme to medicate you for such an incomplete assessment. Do you have a history of delusions?

Those are serious drugs with potentially serious side effects. That not something I would ever, ever do without getting a second opinion.

But that's just me.

Given how far off your pdoc is about AS (plenty of people with AS go to college; sounds like he was thinking of Autistic Disorder), I'd have grave reservations about trusting his ability to dx schizophrenia. IMO you ought to get a second opinion.

Also, it's known that the "negative symptoms" of sx are very similar to certain autistic traits. And IIRC that's why in the DSM if someone is dx'ed with AS they can't be dx'ed with schizophrenia -- there's too much overlap.

Doctors can foul up, and you will have to pay for the consequences in ways he never will, if he's wrong. Good luck.

• Most neurotypical people do not go to college (only roughly 20% have attended (source: 2000 census data)).
• I am going to college
• Therefore, YOU cannot be neurotypical since most neurotypicals don't make it that far.

One of my old therapists told my parents that I would likely become psychotic due to the "negative symptoms" I was exhibiting.

Please get reevaluated. Being medicated for what could be the wrong condition would be tragic. He could be right, or he could be wrong, but please seek out another opinion.

Well, I do have delusions. That means I'm not a typical nt. It is annoying though, to belong to a minority of people. Most people do not understand what it feels like to have a mental disorder.