Kapey wrote:
After a referral from my GP, I visited a clinical psychologist about my suspicions of having Asperger's syndrome.
To cut a long story short, he was of the opinion that Asperger's was not the problem, although he didn't rule it out. He does believe that I have some form of social disorder and I have an appointment to see him again in February.
He did ask me some questions on symptoms of Asperger's, but I became very focused on my depression (which I believe Asperger's is the primary cause) and my general outlook on life.
I'm still fairly certain an ASD is the problem, but I want to get the opinions of the folk on Wrong Planet. I'll list some of the symptoms I have that makes me suspect I have Asperger's, but what I also want to know is: are there any questions I can ask myself that could rule out an ASD?
Starting with my childhood – which I don't have a very good memory of – my mum always tells me that as a child I wouldn't play with my other siblings as a group. She also points out the corner that I would sit and play on my own in. I do remember that she used to go on at me a lot about not looking people in the eye when talking to them. This is something I've only in the last couple of years (I'm 27) have actually managed to do. The problem with this is I often have to concentrate so hard on looking people in the eye that I can't take in what the other person is saying. She also tells me that when I first went to school it took me a long while before I would even speak to someone. It actually took one of my class-mates to get me talking.
I find chit-chat and social reciprocity extremely difficult. If someone asks me how I am, I'm reasonably comfortable answering most of the time, but if they were to ask how, say, my mother was I wouldn't know how to answer. I seldom ask someone how they are doing as a genuine inquiry because frankly I will have no interest in the answer and I reckon it probably shows.
I have strange interests that I tend not to talk about because it's very likely I'll just be made fun of. As a child I was obsessed with flags. I used to have books on flags and I can even remember I had one where I would tick off the ones I had seen. I was also interested in maps (specifically political) and I liked to point out various countries on them. As an adult I've become interested with maths and science. I even took to learning Esperanto because I liked the fact that its grammar is entirely regular. I also know Morse code, which I learned for absolutely no reason.
I often become extremely anxious in social situations and I'm definitely one for routines. When I go out to get lunch from work I always get the same meal-deal because I find the many different things complicated and confusing. When I get my hair cut it will always be at the same barbers and will always be the same style because I don't understand the differences and I'd be worried that people would laugh at me if I chose a bad style. Whenever I get dressed to go for an evening out I have to ask my mum if what I'm wearing is appropriate and if it goes together as I have no understanding of it myself.
I'm very good at remembering numbers. I can tell you that the number of different six-number combinations for the British National Lottery main draw, the Lotto, is 13,983,816; the serial number of the machine I work on is V9022700038 and if I purchase something on the internet I don't even need my debit card at hand as I've memorised all the details.
I could go on some more but I've probably written quite a lot already. Anyway, please let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you all.
Kyle.
Oh goodness!
You are me. Flags, maps, maths, science, numbers, social awkwardness, age, depression, even the recent clinical psychologist meeting where you were told Asperger's was not the problem, although he didn't rule it out.
Except i learned Japanese instead of Esperanto (and never bothered with morse code, though i do remember maybe half of it just through exposure)
That's rather uncanny. Please update later, i'm going to see my psychologist again next week chasing answers too.
12 Dec 2012, 4:30 pm
Clearly you have traits, but perhaps the psychologist didn't think you have it because you've adapted as an adult e.g. making eye contact. Being a psychologist doesn't mean you're an expert on ASDs, so perhaps you could get referred to someone with greater knowledge? Whereabouts are you from?
