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Tat2Chik
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17 Nov 2011, 11:18 pm

So I recently started asking myself why I act the way I do and ive found some of my habits/interactions line up with AS. The main thing I do that caught my attention is the obsessions, they do change but only if I feel I'm very knowledgeable about the thing/subject. When I was younger I didn't really care for cartoons, I watched animal planet and could tell you everything about just about any animal (particularly reptiles, mostly crocodiles). I have always been really good at drawing which is my long term obsession art. I always felt different in school, but always had some sort of obsession to keep me occupied. I am a tattoo artist now which is kinda a reprocussion of an obsession. I'm in a band and play bass guitar (I can also play 3 other instruments). I had a very strong obsession with cars for about 3 months which was most recent obsession now its kinda fizzled out, I even bought a hotrod. I just become consumed and cannot stop till I reach a point that I know all there is to know or just get bored with it. I've noticed that with these obsessions its all I can talk to my coworkers and family about, I will change subjects or start a conversation about what I like. I've starred to notice they kind of get annoyed with these things and I hide what I'm looking at on the computer when they walk by cuz its embarrassing to be obsessed. There have been several other obsessions, horses is the new one...I just moved onto a place with some land just so I can be near horses (I have strong interest in training them). Phewww....well....you get the idea. What do you think?



cathylynn
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17 Nov 2011, 11:42 pm

well, the special interest thing sounds familiar (i played four instruments in HS). there are other criteria. try the test at iautistic.com/test_AS.php



so_subtly_strange
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18 Nov 2011, 3:51 am

sounds that in the least your deep interests warrant a welcome to the broad autism phenotype. so consider this your induction. beyond that we are talking about clinical diagnosis. take some internet tests as indicators, then get an appointment with an autism spectrum specialist clinician.

But only go to that length if you feel a reason or call to. The important thing is does your personal diagnosis as with some extent of autism help you? Does it provide explanations about yourself that give you strength as you carry into the future? If you gather strength because of your knowledge of autism, what is the significance of someone with a degree stamping their approval on it? Certainly it can provide closure, so I would recommend by all means to speak with a specialist at some point. I just think it is important to have your frame of mind decided beforehand that you dont need someone to tell you what you already know, and what you think and do is ultimately more important. I feel like that paragraph was made weak by overuse of the word 'important', but no other synonyms came to mind at this time



Tat2Chik
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18 Nov 2011, 2:12 pm

Some other things I do that match up:
I have a lot of trouble making eye contact
I have trouble talking to new people or customers and stumble on my words, especially if I'm making eye contact.
However, I don't really have trouble making friends, I will seek people who share same obsessions as I do. I don't really care if they are my friend, just want to talk about my interest. I do see these potential friends change as my obsessions change. My coworkers I consider my only constant friends.
Also when I talk my eyebrows don't really move. I do not have trouble reading others emotions, but I feel like I don't care or have empathy most of the time.
So I guess the social thing just doesn't match up with me, I can't talk to just about anyone, just can't look em in the eye.