survey for Aspies/Autistic

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I am trying to collect information for a paper I am planning on writing, and I was told to do a ton of research, I also have a few autistic or asperger friends that I plan on also asking questions to...


1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?

3. what are the main symptoms you have?

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?

7. What are your interests?

8. what were you like as a child?

9. do you have memory issues?

10. how do you take criticism?

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?

13. what is your social life like?

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?

17. anything else you can think of!! !

~2009 ... the process took a while ...


Being on the outside of an immense building with impenetrable transparent walls, and seeing a party that I have not been invited to going on inside. Occasionally, someone will notice my predicament, and try to tell me how to come in, but we just do not understand each other even though we speak the same language, so I remain outside.


Attenuated social intelligence and ret*d social development; occasional stimming; frequent stress-outs (near meltdowns); social anxiety; need for dim lighting and quiet environments; need for structure and routine; et cetera...


The need to understand why I am the way that I am.


Mostly anxiety; some depression.


Dealing with people who refuse to consider that my perspective on certain topics is just as valid – if not more so – than theirs.


All things electronic. Role-playing games. Cooking. Science-fiction.


By turns knowledgeable, talkative, sensitive, withdrawn, anxious, isolated, studious ... repeat ...


Connecting faces with names.


With hostility and contempt for the critic.


No. I have not “come out” to anyone I know off-line.


Classical, Celtic traditional, bluegrass, Motown, Big Band, jazz ... anything but rap. I am trying to expand my music library along these lines.


Family, church, and work. No clubs or other social organizations.


No OCD activities, if that’s what you mean.


Usually with something like, "DON’T! YOU! EVER! DOTHAT! AGAIN!"


Yes. I could make friends, but they’d lose interest or become hostile within a few days. Mostly, I was bullied and abused.


Please be specific. I do not know what you are asking for, and I am not going to risk making the wrong assumption. I am a fifty-something married male with scoliosis and a deformed left hand. I earned an MSEE degree and work in the transportation industry. I am also a military veteran.

SORRY!! !
I am horrible at making things "specific" for other people... but you seem to be fine!

Diagnosed July 2011, at age 22, self-diagnosed in 2002 at age 13.



Um? Being myself? I don't know what it'd be like not to be autistic.



The symptoms that interfere with my life the most are my sensory issues. Also notable is my alexithymia and my incredibly low emotional intelligence. I also have no idea how to deal with people in most situations, have meltdowns and shutdowns, and such. The main symptom I don't have is that I'm not bad at multitasking.

I also seem to approach life as a logic puzzle - people are supposed to be logical, that's how I figure them out.



I was told at age 13 that it wasn't worth getting a diagnosis, and that it'd be hard to get a diagnosis as a female. At age 22, I needed what a diagnosis gave me.



I've been diagnosed with social anxiety and that might be true. I'm less than a standard deviation away from average in both depression and anxiety.



Currently this would be self-esteem because of the lack of ability to support myself, and my reliance on other people.



Mathematics, philosophy and history of math, fixing math education, mathematical logic, kindles and ebooks, ASDs, the Young Wizards books, Discworld, turtles...



You need more specific questions than this to get this answered. Same as above in "what's it like to be an aspie. I was myself.



Both short term and long term memory are above average. I can get distracted in short term memory in trying to find patterns where there aren't any apparent, so its my weakest part of an IQ test. My short term memory skills are partially dependent on what it is I'm to remember because of the pattern finding traits.



Depends on how its given. If its constructive, then I'm fine with it. If its an attack, I get very defensive.



I'm living with my boyfriend who is almost certainly on the spectrum - he was stereotypical as a kid and they just never were able to afford a diagnosis. I also know other people on the spectrum but wouldn't consider them friends.



I listen to what's around me, caring mostly that its not harsh. Most of the music around me is Folk music. I don't tend to listen to the same song over and over for hours, but I don't have strong preferences for music.



There's a social group of geeks that I'm part of. I'm not really friends with them, but I get along with them and most of them are nice enough (not all). We play lots of board games and are geeks. There's a lot of people who are BAP in that group.



I can't put a book down in the middle of a chapter unless its really really necessary, and if I need to then I need to go back and finish it ASAP.



Pull away and tense up enough that it was visible. If it was someone I didn't know or an action that isn't normally done to me, then I'd do whatever I could to get out of the area.



Difficulty, yes, but its gotten harder as I grew up.
Lack of interest - I have interest in a few very strong friendships, and always have.

1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?
self-diagnosis, but am going to try to get an official diagnosis in december.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?
I live a solitary life. I find it easier to socialize online, so I have a rich online life. so, I would say it is lonely for me.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?
texture/sight/sound sensory issues, inability to make friends, an unwillingness to engage the world, eye contact issues.

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?
n/a

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?
I have bipolar disorder, ocd, ptsd, and socialphobia and social anxiety.

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?
no motivation except for special interests, getting suicidal, being depressed, anger issues, meltdowns.

7. What are your interests?
meteorology, harry potter, animals (owning them), religion.

8. what were you like as a child?
I don't remember much of my childhood, probably because I was sexually abused.

9. do you have memory issues?
yes, my memory is really sketchy pre-20 years old.

10. how do you take criticism?
not well. I take it as a personal insult, usually, even if it wasn't intended as an insult.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?
no.

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?
a variety, and yes. I have been known to replay a song for a long time, because I can't get enough of it. currently meekakitty's wizard love, and sean hayes' powerful stuff, and simon and garfunkel's mrs robinson, and U2's one are the songs I listen to on repeat.

13. what is your social life like?
it is nearly nonexistent. I talk to family, and text sparingly with one friend that I don't really want.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?
yes, I must spend all at home hours, up til 10pm, on the computer. if I get out of the shower and someone else is on it, I get possessive. I must go with my mom and dad to take my mom to work and pick her up. I must read during the carride or it feels like an eternity. I must watch two and a half men several episodes every night.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?
I would freak the f**k out. I don't like being touched. I will generally snap at the person.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?
every since junior high. I tried to fit in in elementary school, but quit trying after that.

17. anything else you can think of!! !
nope.

About three years ago, at age 65



Like being me


clumsiness, mechanical walk, inappropriate facial expressions (or none), lack of conversational responses like the little nods and "uh-huh"s, etc, special interests (about 1-5 years as "Special", but continue to be interested after), above normal IQ, pedantic speech, unlikely to make friends, or keep them long if I do, less than ideal personal hygiene, need my solitude, go "up the wall" if I'm forced to be with too many people too long



Later on than what? When I was a child, and up to late middle age, nobody was diagnosing Asperger's, and I wasn't severe enough for anybody to notice Autism, which is actually only a little older as a diagnosis than Asperger's. I got diagnosed only a little more than ten years after it hit the DSM IV. Why-- I was in treatment for Depression, and my daughter told the people at the Mental Health Center that she thought I had it. I'd known I was a depressive for almost all my adult life, but they didn't have the MOAIs and SSRIs until the seventies, and what there was before that in the way of treatment was not much.



Both. Depression is cyclical, normal in summer, can be down to suicidal in January, somewhere between (with different Depressive symptoms from month to month Spring and Fall) Panic attacks. Can be paralyzed by anxiety when something that I need to do is bugging me, such as taxes.



I wish my adult daughter liked me better. Most of the other issues are gone with retirement, but it would be nice to have more friends. I guess a lot of NTs get lonely when they get old and their friends die off, too, though.



Music, Theology, Liturgy, Saints, Math, Science Fiction, Fiction in general, Archaeology, Needlework of several kinds, Internet research on any topic that comes up



Like a child, I guess. Luckily for me with the Asperger's (in hindsight) I was an only child, with a mother who had twenty years experience in elementary teaching. I was thought to be bright. I was not athletic



Not really. I wish my memory were better, but then doesn't everybody?



It depends on what kind, and how it's presented



No



Just about every kind _except_ the newest rock, hip-hop, rap, metal, most country-western. No. a few repetitions, if I really like the song, is enough for a while. Hmmmmm Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Gregorian Chant, modern church music, choral, hymns, Dixieland, Ragtime, Boogie-Woogie, Swing, 50s, 60s and 70s rock, Folk, Celtic, Show Tunes. I play guitar, dulcimer, 5-string banjo, read music, once played piano, though not well, a little keyboard, once played clarinet in HS Band, haven't touched it for years,



Zero.



Not really. Some mild, and I don't HAVE to.

[/quote]15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?[/quote]

Would depend on who it was, and exactly what it was.



I never lacked interest, but always had difficulty. Occasionally had friends for a while.



Nothing much

[quote="iceveela"]I am trying to collect information for a paper I am planning on writing, and I was told to do a ton of research, I also have a few autistic or asperger friends that I plan on also asking questions to...


1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?

I diagnosed myself about 2 years ago at age 20. It seemed pretty clear, but it is more mild.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?

It sometimes feels like torture because I want to be social, I want to have friends, I want to have people to talk to but at the sametime I need so much alone time to balance it out that it`s hard to keep friends and I'm terrbile and calling and checking up. That and the more major factor that I am just terrible with communicating and interacting enless I am playing a or "My" character...which can only go so far.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?

I share most of the common symptoms of aspergers, but a few of mine are... Social difficulty (obviosuly), Sensitive to light and temperature, Very repetive nature ( I will play one level of a video game for months or listen to one song for a day or 2 straight), Vey clumsy!! ! and so on...

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?

It would be to prove to my family and girlfriend who don't believe me... (As I do seem pretty "normal" when I play my character, but my GF just thinks it's social anxiety, she refuses to believe different.)

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?

Both.

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?

well... let's see... SOCIAL INTERACTION! I absolutely dread it but at the same time there is a big part of my that wants it.

7. What are your interests?

Music (I play guitar and drums), Spirtuality, Video games, Space and the universe, Camping and the outdoors (Not camp grounds...), Internet browsing (I'll sit down to check my email and 4 hours will go by... Sometimes I feel like I can't pull away) and many more...

8. what were you like as a child?

I was always quite and reserved. I preferred playing by myself rather then going outside with other kids. I acted out quite abit in junior high but I was bullied my entire life aswell untill Grade 7.

9. do you have memory issues?

Very much so... My girlfriend gets on my a** about this all the time.

10. how do you take criticism?

Usually not well, even if it's constructive I will sometimes take it as an attack first before appropriately responding. Even so though it still bothers me and I can't help it...

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?

I don't know anyone in my life with asperges/autism except my 7 year old cousin. Alot of my family show signs however...

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?

I listen to alot of Rock and Classic rock and some Reggae (Big fan of Bob Marley and Ziggy Marley), but pretty much anything accept poppy pop music and that new club s**** style that seems to be where music is going now.

13. what is your social life like?

When I was in highschool I actually had a small group of friends and we did quite a bit... But now I work with 2 other guys I only really talk to about work things and I have a girlfriend. I do have older friends but we don't stay in touch too much... I like alot of alone time so it's hard.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?

Not really... I do have routines but nothing obsessive that I would crumble if I didn't complete.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?

I would feel uncomfortable and wouldn't know how to proceed with a reaction to it... but I wouldn't be angry with them.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?

Yes. I do have an interest in friends but then it's hard to maintain friendships with social issues and the amount of alone time needed to "recharge."

17. anything else you can think of!! ![/quote]

I like big butts and I cannot lie!

1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?

I self diagnosed within the past month and I'm currently working on getting a clinical diagnosis.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?

Being an aspie/auti is really a lot like living your life alongside your compatriots and yet always feeling like they're a foreign species. You wander alongside them and yet you never truly feel like you are one of them. When you watch them interact and observe their emotions you simultaneously wonder why they feel and act that way and how they feel and act that way.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?

The main symptoms I have are physical developmental difficulties, i.e I have balance issues and muscle tone issues in my lower body, a pronounced lack of social skills, a lack of desire for social interaction, mild repetitive muscular movements, and, more so everyday, issues with speech. I also have a tendency to become violent when people touch me and push against me without my permission. I have frequent violent meltdowns.

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?

I got diagnosed as late as I did because my parents were busy trying to decide if I had muscular dystrophy when I was a child. After that fiasco had ended, I no longer was willing to speak about my problems. It's only recently that I mentioned most of what I had been feeling.

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?

Both!! !!

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?

I think the biggest issues I face are my progressive loss of my ability to speak clearly and my inability to be social. I don't desire social interaction and when I'm forced to interact with others I clam up immediately. I can't talk to doctors or authority figures because of anxiety issues. I find that my obsession with Autism is taking over my life.

7. What are your interests?

Autism, Computers, Chemistry

8. what were you like as a child?

I really don't remember. Quiet I imagine.

9. do you have memory issues?

All the time. Example, I can't remember large periods of my childhood. I forget what I was doing while I'm doing it. The list goes on.

10. how do you take criticism?

I usually have to keep from crying or beating on the person who criticized me. Not very well I guess.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?

Nope

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?

Country, sometimes

13. what is your social life like?

Social life? What social life?

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?

Only a few

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?

I would be very startled and a little displeased

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?

Yeah

17. anything else you can think of!! !

1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose? Diagnosed at 12.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti? What is it like being human? It's just normal to me now. I have difficulties, I have some awesome things. If I start focusing on my Autistic-related difficulties too much I'll start moping and that won't do me any good.

3. what are the main symptoms you have? Stimming (all the time), intense specialist interest, awkward in social situations (I say awkward, because I'm not *bad* at social situations - I used to be, but I studied and studied and studied, so now I look like I fit in and am simply eccentric, but my mind is always whirring and nervous trying to find the 'correct script'), naive (not an aspie trait, but related/because of my asperger's).

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why? 12 isn't late, is it? I went to the psychologist for self injury and from the moment she met me she though Asperger's, from there on the clinical process started.

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both? Both.

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life? My screwed up ways of bonding to people (I either have complete apathy to people who are supposed to be 'friends', or I care about people in a COMPLETELY OTT way and end up screwing the relationship up by being overly clingy and idealistic), low self-esteem (depression + anxiety + eating disorder).

7. What are your interests? Animals, particularly rats! Making music. Psychopharmacology, and Thanatology.

8. what were you like as a child? How long's a piece of string? I'd need the question to be more specific to answer that.

9. do you have memory issues? No.

10. how do you take criticism? Outwardly I take it fine and smile etc, inwardly I punish myself and take it to mean I'm worthless. However, this isn't to do with my AS, I had a verbally abusive father.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism? No.

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours? Contemporary folk, sometimes rock, sometimes classical. And yes, god yes!!

13. what is your social life like? I have friends I like a lot who I meet up with occasionally, I get most of my social contact via college and extra-curriculars.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do? Yes.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react? I would be slightly shell-shocked, but I wouldn't react negatively.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life? Yes. Well, I was always odd and socially inept, but it only became apparently when I was in my teens when everyone was expected to be 'normal'.

1.When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?
Between the ages of 22 and 23. Self-diagnosed first and there was a long process of getting officially diagnosed.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?
Living in a force shield. There doesn’t seem to be any connection between me and my fellow species. I’m closer emotionally to cats and spend more time looking at buildings, landscapes and common household objects than looking at people. I live in a fantasy world which feels more real to me than the world outside of it.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?
Severe sensory issues, especially to light and noise.
An extreme need for routine.
Special interests.
Literal interpretation.
Social issues: understanding rules, monologuing, no desire for small talk, saying inappropriate things impulsively.
Very little emotional regulation.
Nervous stimming, hand flapping.
Poor motor skills.

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?
I’m not really sure why. I was a textbook case of autism. I had speech but barely spoke, lived in my own inward world and knew little or desired anything outside of it. IQ would have been below average. Classic types of meltdowns and need for routines and repetitive behaviour.
My family was less about going to doctors and more about at home remedies. It might be the reason why I’m so against herbal remedies.
My dad also had similar symptoms but never seeked a diagnoses. I knew he wouldn’t have if he was alive today.
I suppose very little was known about high functioning autism back then. My mum always suspected something, the teachers too but I was never taken to any doctors.

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?
I have a hormonal type of depression (PMDD) that was a side effect to medication. I’ve had severe social anxiety. Now I have some anxiety (controllable) and mild agoraphobia.

6. What are the biggest issues you face in life?
Trying not to either have a seizure or meltdown at a concert.
Trying not to argue even though when it happens I have no idea.
Trying not to be so oppositional.
Trying to go to new places and get new experiences.
Trying to get a job.
Trying to keep friends.
Trying to become independent.
Knowing that I do need routine to get some organisation in life but to allow for some change.
Working on social skills so I can talk to rock stars. I’m being serious.

7. What are your interests?
Writing my sci-fi novel
Sci-fi: Stargate, Star Trek, Star Wars, Eureka, Sanctuary, Doctor Who, Torchwood, etc.
Going to concerts.
Photography/ drawing/ painting.
The Air Force.
Area 51 facts.
Neuroscience, astronomy and all types of physics. Also, evolution is cool. It was once considered taboo in my household so I’m all over it now.

8. what were you like as a child?
Quiet. Uninterested in others. Ignorant. Drawing constantly. Obsessed with dogs, cats, dinosaurs, The Lion King and aircraft.

9. do you have memory issues?
Yes, due to ADHD and short term memory loss from seizures.

10. how do you take criticism?
Like a dagger through the heart but then try to take it apart and try to work out why someone would be saying what they said. If it’s about my behaviour then I know to change that. If it’s nasty insult I’ll get that person out of my life. Ever since I left the church I find it very hard to forgive because it’s like I finally have the freedom to do so.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?
No. I’ve only met one other with autism and he’s in a famous band.

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?
Rock, punk, hardcore, some folk.
I go through periods of listening to the same song again and again, especially if it related to my emotional situation.
I define myself as a rockpig.

13. what is your social life like?
I have one good friend who I go to concerts with or hang out with. She lives about an hour from me and we only get together once a month if even that. I can only tolerate it for a little while but I still have good fun.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?
Yes. My routines are scheduled on time. This includes eating meals at the same time, getting out of and into bed, watching my favourite shows and creativity time when I’m usually medicated.
Last time I stopped my routine I had a three day shutdown, couldn’t feed myself properly and kept falling asleep. Also, had seizures but that was strobe light related. And possibly from alcohol.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?
I’d growl and say go away (or depending on my mood choose some more colourful words).
But if it was somebody from a band I’d like that, especially the butt slapping part.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?
More of a lack of interest. I only started to try to make friends in my early adulthood. When I realised making friends with people my age was more trouble than I wanted I stopped, but then made friends with people older than me and they’re probably the best friends I could ever ask for. There are some youngins too and they're great fun too.

Self-diagnosed sometime around 13-14 years old. Official diagnosis at 15 years.



Well, it's not some big tragedy like many people think. It's just the way I am. It sucks when others misunderstand me, but I like the way my brain works. And I especially enjoy having obsessive interests.



My biggest areas of differences are executive dysfunction, meltdowns/mood swings (though this is partly PTSD as well), sensory sensitivity (especially auditory), intense interests and reduced social desire (asexual and rarely feel lonely). Of those, only the executive dysfunction, mood issues and sensory issues cause me any distress. And I suspect my executive dysfunction underlies my creativity and intense interests, so I'll put up with the trouble it causes.



Not sure if 15 counts as late. It's nothing like being diagnosed at 40 or so, but it is past the age of most 'interventions' for autism, so I guess it's still late.

In my case, it's because my parents didn't think being different was a bad thing, and they didn't realize a difference could be a disability and still not a bad thing. It's only after I taught them about the autistic rights movement that they were willing to entertain the possibility that I was autistic.

Teachers insisted I be assessed for ADHD as a child, and one suggested Asperger Syndrome when I was 12, but my parents never really believed there was anything wrong with me. Note that they were not in denial - they knew what kind of kid I was, but they didn't see how anyone could call it a disorder.



Both, but then again, I do have comorbid PTSD. I was sexually abused by foster siblings from the ages of 1-5 years old (this was discovered when I was 7). I was also bullied by teachers and classmates until my homeschooling started in grade 7. I've been through a lot, and I've had times when I felt very scared and hopeless, but part of me always knew there wasn't something wrong with me - there was something wrong with the people who hurt me. My parents and counselor made it very clear to me that I do not deserve to be hurt by others.



Negotiating how to fit myself into society without losing my own identity. I feel like my survival depends on not compromising with society when society's in the wrong. I keep being forced into being an activist when I'd rather just live my life.

Another big issue is feeling safe. My sense of safety is fragile and the slightest conflict leaves me feeling like I'm in a life-or-death situation. But this is classic PTSD.



Psychology, especially autism and psychopathy.

Genetics, especially behavioral phenotypes of chromosome abnormalities.

Creative writing, particularly writing about vampires or other supernatural beings, and writing about disability (or supernatural analogies to disabilities).



'Happy-curious' is how my parents refer to it. A very intelligent, inquisitive child. Ever since infancy I've had obsessive interests (some of my earliest ones were cats and shape-sorters). I didn't understand why other kids didn't seem to like me and felt very hurt by it. I was a very caring and empathetic person.



I have memory issues due to PTSD. I have almost no memory of the sexual abuse (even though my abuser confessed and I know it happened) and when I have a meltdown I can't remember what people actually said, only how it made me feel. I remember very few specific incidents of bullying, just a general sense of how terrified and sad it made me.

But I don't think my autism has caused any memory issues. Occasionally I'm weird about how I store or retrieve memories, but when I'm calm my memory is actually unusually good - provided I paid attention when the information was delivered!



Not at all well. Any criticism feels like bullying to me and I get very scared and defensive. You have to have a trusting relationship with me and be very gentle with the criticism or I'll freak out and either withdraw from you or have a meltdown.



Sort of. I know an 11 year old girl with AS and I'd like to be friends with her but feel that our age difference (I'm 22) makes it awkward. I met her through a summer program for disabled kids that I was volunteering at. She seems almost exactly like me at that age, except probably happier.



Pink and Evanescence, and no. I might listen to same ten or so songs all day, but never the same one twice in a row.



Currently not much outside of family, but last year at university I had two good friends with CP, plus hanging out with their friends. Hopefully at my new university I'll make similar friendships.



Not really.



Well, I'm a sexual abuse survivor, and I have tactile hypersensitivity. So, not well.

I would probably freak out. If it was a family member, and it was not patting me on the butt, I'd probably just flinch and tell them not to do that - unless I was already upset. If it was non-family, or if anyone touched my butt, I'd completely freak out and probably threaten to call the cops on them. Especially if they touched my butt, since doing so without consent is sexual harrassment.



No, as a kindergartener I could make friends easily, though a few kids made fun of me. For several years I had one good friend who stuck by me even though I was getting bullied more and more. But when I changed schools in grade 4 I didn't manage to make any new friends, and the bullying intensified. Then I was homeschooled and seldom even saw someone my own age for several years (which is the way I liked it). I went back to school fro grade 10 and made some friends, but withdrew from them when stress started to build up because of the negative associations I had with school (even though, for once, I was not bullied!). Another few years of homeschooled isolation, and then in university I made two good friends with CP.



I'm officially diagnosed with PDD NOS, but I suspect I have Newson Syndrome.

I self-diagnosed (with Aspergers) when I was around the age of 20. I was diagnosed (professionally) with Aspergers at the age 26. That same age (after learning more information about my early childhood development), I self-diagnosed with classic autism. A couple months later at the age of 27, I was professionally diagnosed with moderate classic autism.



This could fill a book. All I can say is that it is NORMAL. I don't know any other way to live.



Was nonverbal for the most part until I was 5 1/2. I am verbal now, but continue to have problems carrying on conversations, understanding nonverbal communication, taking things literally, not understanding sarcasm/jokes/etc. I also sometimes have trouble verbalizing my (visual) thoughts, and also find it difficult to process what is being said to me sometimes. I spend a lot of time in my own world, even when I am surrounded by others. Socially, I am basically a recluse. Even when I have acquaintances, which is not very often, I have trouble communicating with them, and have no motivation to go out and do things. I have a lot of sensory issues, particularly with sound, bright lights, and touch/tactile issues. I am very repetitive and have obsessive interests that I get absorbed in. I also get focused on parts of objects and continue to make patterns out of things or use them in part to stim. I do stim a lot, with or without objects (ie. sometimes I spin things that look twirly, or sometimes-frequently actually-I rock a lot. And I do a lot of other types of stimming as well--I stim a large amount of the day whether it is VERY noticeable or not really noticeable at all.) I have alexithymia as part of the ASD, which means I am also mind-blind, and often cannot even identify my own feelings and emotions let alone others. I am blunt sometimes, and to the point. I do lack empathy quite a bit, so sometimes I seem even more blunt and cannot understand why something I said may upset someone (though I still feel bad if I hurt people's feelings--I don't entirely lack sympathy, just the ability to put myself in a person's shoes). I am sure I could go on and on here, but I don't know what else to write right now. Oh, and I have MANY meltdowns. Okay...done now...



Honestly, I believe I SHOULD have been diagnosed as a child. I am not mild, and I am clearly autistic. My parents took me to MANY doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists as a child, mostly in relation to my meltdowns which were VERY frequent and my parents had trouble dealing with that. Also, when I gained speech, then lost it entirely once again, my parents took me to the doctor, and I had to go through intensive speech-language therapy for a couple years. During all these appointments, it frequently came up how socially awkward and isolated I was, and other things. I think SOMEONE should have been able to recognize it. I blame my lack of a diagnosis on the fact that I was an 80s GIRL growing up in small-town Eastern Canada. There wasn't enough information around here...and being a girl was yet another strike against me.

I went for a diagnosis as an adult because it seemed logical that I probably had it. I was going back and forth in my mind for sooo long, and just needed it confirmed or denied once and for all.



I do have depression. I think I qualify for Major Depressive Disorder as well, though I don't think I have an official diagnosis for that. A couple months ago, I said (and truly believed) that I wasn't really depressed, but lately, I know I am.

Anxiety is a tough one. Many of the psychs--including my current, regular one--had me pegged as social anxiety. It was my current psych who said she tried all the appropriate treatments for someone with social anxiety, and at least SOME progress should have been made (in a normal person with social anxiety). She knew there was something else there, and suggested ASD (but was not qualified to diagnose it officially). When I was first diagnosed with Aspergers, I was also officially diagnosed with co-morbid anxiety. I don't fully agree with this, and my second diagnostician did not even mention anxiety. I think my autistic symptoms LOOK like anxiety from an outsider's point of view. I do not feel anxious or panicky in crowds or such, though. I don't pay enough attention to others to feel anxious. I do feel a bit of anxiety when changes or transitions occur, but this might not be enough for a diagnosis.



Knowing I am truly alone, with no one outside of my family who likes me. Also, being entirely dependent on my family--I still live with my parents, and feel unable to leave right now. I cannot keep track of my finances, and I cannot maintain even a regular part time job.



Religion (all--I am a Religious Studies major), environment/nature, animals, ecology, astronomy, psychology, aliens and UFOs, genealogy, photography.



See above symptoms. I am quite the same today as I was then, only now I have more knowledge and experience. Very little has changed other than that.



I sometimes have an excellent memory (I can tell you my 7th grade teacher's license plate--that was more than 1/2 of my life ago! I can also tell you the phone number of my best friend when I was 5. That was more than two decades ago!) On the other hand, I cannot find my keys most of the time, I forget papers at home and don't realize until I am in town and need them, I forget to give people messages, I even forget appointments, and so on.



Not very well. I am usually at the default opinion that everyone hates me, and so any amount of criticism proves this in my mind. Or it tells me I am not good enough or failed at the task I was supposed to perform, etc. I know this is not good, but I do have real issues taking criticism constructively.



Up until this year, I did not (knowingly) know anyone at all on the spectrum. Since I have been diagnosed, I have joined a self-advocacy group in my city, and have met a few people through there. I would say a few are acquaintances, but currently I only have one FRIEND (who lives in another country, is more than twice my age, is not on the spectrum, and is one of the most marvelous people I know!)



Yes, I can listen to the same song over and over again. I do not ALWAYS have music playing though. I can listen to all sorts of music, but my favourite is country. The only types I absolutely abhor ALWAYS are rap, most hip-hop, and anything really loud like heavy metal.



Non-existant.



This is hard for me to identify because everything is so engrained in my day-to-day life, I don't usually notice them until some people point it out. Basically though, every day is pretty much the same thing from sun up to sun down and beyond. Very few things change.



I'd either meltdown, or feel one begin to set in. If it was really sudden, sometimes I hit or push away (not overly rough, but just enough to get them off me).



Yes, always.

1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?

I was diagnosed in early childhood.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?

It's life. I don't know any other way to be.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?

Type "Asperger's Syndrome" into Wikipedia to read my biography... There are some notable exceptions, but I'm not exactly a borderline case.

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?

n/a

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?

Both. Treated with medication, to some success.

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?

Starting and maintaining relationships. Gaining employment (but not keeping it, thankfully.) Organizing thoughts and tasks.

7. What are your interests?

Music, football, video games, technology, poetry, culinary arts, philosophy & education.

8. what were you like as a child?

Quiet. Isolated. Perpetually lost in my own thoughts, my own interests and experiences. I would often say and do things that were inappropriate. Maybe for attention, I'm not sure. I was a troubled kid. But I grew up.

9. do you have memory issues?

Well, I suppose if you... umm... what was the question again?

10. how do you take criticism?

Internally. When there's not much I can do about it, I often let it bother me more than I'd like to admit. But when I can do something about it, it becomes a positive forces that drives me.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?

No. A few acquaintances though.

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?

Prog, mostly. Listening over and over is a function of the genre. There's a complexity you can't begin to appreciate in one listen. (Also, each song can be over 20 minutes long.)

13. what is your social life like?

I hang out with my brother and a few close friends. I'm fine with that. Relationships have been an issue though. Second dates are uncommon and my sex life is pretty nonexistant.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?

No. I struggle to develop or maintain any kind of routine. In fact, I despise it. When I'm doing and experiencing the same things every day, it becomes very stressful and I start to lose control. This is the one common Asperger's symptom where I seem to be the OPPOSITE of textbook.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?

Politely. But it would make me a little uncomfortable.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?

Difficulty, always. Lack of interest was only in childhood.

17. anything else you can think of!! ![/quote]

Good luck. I hope this helps.

1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?
June 2011


2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?
I've never been anything but myself so its difficult to compare to anything else.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?
I absolutely have very strong interests, routines that I need to follow, and problems interacting with people

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?
I did not have an official diagnosis. I suspect that if I had not moved at the age when people typically get diagnosed it might have been looked into. I also think my parents where holding on strongly to the hope that all of their children would be normal and did not want to accept the possibility despite the challenges I had.

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?
Not depression, though I have been depressed in the past. I do have anxiety (social anxiety and possibly agoraphobia).

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?
A lack of support because of not having friends, challenges at work, I have a hard time getting out of my house, some challenges with being independent, and some learning issues.

7. What are your interests?
Physics (the very large and the very small), mathematics (especially fractals), biology (how the body works, evolution, how systems work at a cellular level), the mind (conciousness, how the physical parts create thought, memory ect.), and human interaction

8. what were you like as a child?
I was shy, often quite, very curious. I liked to explore and make random creations out of anything I could find. My mom was sure I would be an engineer.

9. do you have memory issues?
Some. I often forget what I was just doing.

10. how do you take criticism?
I try to learn from it and encourage it though it always gets to me.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?
No.

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?
I listen to classical music when Im trying to be calm, creative, or inspired. I listen to jazz/folk/country female artists when I feel like singing along. I listen to heavy music when I have emotions I dont understand or dont know how to express. I don't listen to the same song over and over for hours usually.

13. what is your social life like?
I dont have any friends I spend time with. I call my mother and sister daily and talk about everyday challenges were working through. I work part time, and though I work alone most of the time, when I work with others we do talk a bit.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?
I don't have routines that I actually have to do but I have routines that I need to do to be able to get on with my day.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?
I would react in a startled uncomfortable kind of way and it would most likely be a lingering uncomfortable feeling.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?
For as long as I can remember I have always had difficulty with this but I did usually manage to have a few friends while in school. Since Ive been out of school Ive been unable to maintain friendships.

17. anything else you can think of!! !
Something else I would like to add which may or may not be related (Ive just been thinking about it and it could be relevant in some way). I have always been very slow at completing tasks in school and at work though my work is very precise. It is not a personal choice. I am unable to work quickly. This may or may not be related. Im very curious to find out if it is.

I just realized that I forgot probably the most important and decisive thing in my symptoms, not being able to recognize faces easily, or read emotions in faces with no other cues than just the lines of the face. I could edit my survey and put it in, but you've probably already read it and wouldn't notice it changing.

1. When did you get diagnosed: or self-diagnose?
I was diagnosed at the age of six.

2. What is it like being a aspie/auti?
Its interesting. I find that it gives me quite a unique perspective on things. Of course it causes me some problems in life (it is a disability) but I try to look on the bright side of it because being all gloomy about it wouldn't be helping anybody, especially not myself.

3. what are the main symptoms you have?
All of the main symptoms, excluding problems with empathy.

4. If you got diagnosed later on, why?
Already been. Next question!

5. Do you have depression, or anxiety? or neither? both?
Depression? I've had it in the past but got over it eventually. I get anxious alot but I'm anxious and jittery in nature anyway.

6. what are the biggest issues you face in life?
Social interaction, talking to people who only want to do small talk, being used by people, fitting in.

7. What are your interests?
Making electronic music, raves, electronics, sci-fi and fantasy books, MLP:FiM, history, hallucinations/psychedelic experiences, altered states of consciousness.

8. what were you like as a child?
Very hyper, very drifty, easily distracted.

9. do you have memory issues?
Yes, especially with working memory. I can't handle more than 3 instructions at once.

10. how do you take criticism?
I used to hate it. If its constructive, I enjoy it and learn from it.

11. are you friends (offline) with anybody who also has aspergers/autism?
A couple of people.

12. What type of music do you listen to? and do you listen to the same song over and over for hours?
I listen to techno, trance, house, breakbeat, drum and bass, dubstep, reggae, jazz hop, trip hop, industrial, ambient, psytrance, goa trance, and psychedelic/space rock. And I do regularly. Often it isn't a song, but an artist.

13. what is your social life like?
I don't have one. Don't really care either.

14. do you have routines that you HAVE to do?
Yes I do. People often think I have OCD.

15. if someone walked up from behind and smacked you in the butt, or slapped you on the back, patted you in the back of the head, gave you a hug when you weren't expecting it/etc, how would you react?
Very badly.

16. Did you always have difficulty making friends, or had a lack of interest in making friends, etc throughout your entire life?
I wasn't interested in friends when I was younger. I had a couple but I was never interested in popularity and having friends.

17. anything else you can think of!! !
Moose.