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Kiseki
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16 Mar 2012, 12:59 am

So I've been studying Asperger's for several years now, as I believe I have a mild form of it. However I also have OCD traits and am unsure if I'm just simply OCD or OCD/Asperger's.

Some of the OCD things I do:

1) Was diagnosed with Tourette's as a child due to loud throat clearing and eye blinking. These tics went away for the most part, though I still clear my throat at times and do other stimmy-type behavior that is more socially-acceptable.
2) I was a skin picker as a teen because I didn't like the feeling of bumps on my skin.
3) I hoard food and toiletries because I'm scared that I will run out of them and not be able to get them anymore. I organize all of this in cupboards and in drawers according to expiration date.
4) I always have to turn the TV volume on either an even number or a multiple of 5.
5) Everything must be in its proper place and, if it isn't, I will stop whatever I'm doing to fix that.
6) If I'm eating stuff, I separate each different item on the plate and eat only one thing at a time then move on to the next.

I don't have any ritualistic behavior like hand washing or checking locks.

My Asperger's traits are pretty much all of the things that Aspies have: sensory issues, special interests, empathic reciprocity problems, socially stunted, adherence to a rigid routine.

So I was just wondering how common it is for OCD and Asperger's to be comorbid or if they are misdiagnosed as the other. Thanks!


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Your Aspie score: 161 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 55 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie


Last edited by Kiseki on 16 Mar 2012, 2:59 am, edited 2 times in total.

Alexender
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16 Mar 2012, 1:10 am

I do not think 4 or 6 mean anything. I haven't looked up much on OCD, since I don't have it. I am not sure if it is common, but it is not unheard of by any means. I know add and anxiety disorders are common with it though


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btbnnyr
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16 Mar 2012, 1:14 am

So would you say that as long as eberrything is ordered the one true way that you like, you feel fine in your mind and like you can get on with whatever you need or want to do? If yes, then your rituals seem related to ASD, not OCD. The vocal tics, eye tics, and skin picking are also common in ASD.



Kiseki
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16 Mar 2012, 1:19 am

btbnnyr wrote:
So would you say that as long as eberrything is ordered the one true way that you like, you feel fine in your mind and like you can get on with whatever you need or want to do? If yes, then your rituals seem related to ASD, not OCD. The vocal tics, eye tics, and skin picking are also common in ASD.


Yes, that's about right. I need everything to be ordered the way I like. If things are changed I experience anxiety and stress, I wasn't aware that tics and skin picking were common in an ASD.


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btbnnyr
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16 Mar 2012, 2:07 am

I also have a ritual with the TV volume and changing channels using the remote control. The OCD version of this ritual would probably be like checking the TV volume many times in a row for to relieve anxiety using compulsive repetitive behavior, whereas the ASD version is like setting the TV volume according to your numerological preferences and freaking out if someone else changes it. The feeling of the change can be described as anxiety or stress or discombobulation, and a disruption of a favoritest importest ritual can lead to a severe drop in functioning for the rest of the day, for me.

On paper, ASD routines and rituals sound a lot like descriptions of OCD, but I think that they appear very different in real life and are very different based on internal eggsperience. I am not sure about misdiagnosis between the ASD and OCD, but I could see that happening if only verbal descriptions were given, and the behaviors themselves are not observed in the wild.



Kiseki
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16 Mar 2012, 2:59 am

btbnnyr wrote:
I also have a ritual with the TV volume and changing channels using the remote control. The OCD version of this ritual would probably be like checking the TV volume many times in a row for to relieve anxiety using compulsive repetitive behavior, whereas the ASD version is like setting the TV volume according to your numerological preferences and freaking out if someone else changes it. The feeling of the change can be described as anxiety or stress or discombobulation, and a disruption of a favoritest importest ritual can lead to a severe drop in functioning for the rest of the day, for me.

On paper, ASD routines and rituals sound a lot like descriptions of OCD, but I think that they appear very different in real life and are very different based on internal eggsperience. I am not sure about misdiagnosis between the ASD and OCD, but I could see that happening if only verbal descriptions were given, and the behaviors themselves are not observed in the wild.


Thanks for explaining things more in detail for me. My dad actually has OCD (complete with checking locks and counting change over and over. He also repeats himself quite a lot) so I wonder if I acquired these traits from him or if I actually have an ASD.

So in general, why would a person on the spectrum exhibit these OCD-like traits? Is it out of anxiety or fear of change or some other reason?


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You are very likely an Aspie


Sagroth
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16 Mar 2012, 4:28 am

According to my neuropsych workup, I would have an OCD diagnosis if not for Autism "accounting for" several of my OCD symptoms.

Which is to say, I think there can be a great deal of overlap there.


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OddDuckNash99
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16 Mar 2012, 7:12 am

I have both AS and OCD. The OCD interferes in my life FAR more than my my Asperger's. It is what made me first need to go for psychiatric help in the first place. Some things about my AS are actually beneficial, such as my superior memory. Nothing about OCD is beneficial. It is an inner torment of guilt and fear. Keep in mind that there is a very big difference between obsessive-compulsive traits and full-blown OCD. Little habits/rituals that you do to keep order and that make you feel pleasant because it brings you control is a sign of ASD obsessive-compulsiveness. If you have full-blown OCD, there is no sense of happiness involved. All that is involved is immense, crippling fear.


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Kiseki
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16 Mar 2012, 7:22 am

OddDuckNash99 wrote:
I have both AS and OCD. The OCD interferes in my life FAR more than my my Asperger's. It is what made me first need to go for psychiatric help in the first place. Some things about my AS are actually beneficial, such as my superior memory. Nothing about OCD is beneficial. It is an inner torment of guilt and fear. Keep in mind that there is a very big difference between obsessive-compulsive traits and full-blown OCD. Little habits/rituals that you do to keep order and that make you feel pleasant because it brings you control is a sign of ASD obsessive-compulsiveness. If you have full-blown OCD, there is no sense of happiness involved. All that is involved is immense, crippling fear.


Thanks for sharing. Sometimes I DO feel distress over my OCD traits, but I don't feel as if they are as bad as my father's. When I was younger I always felt anxiety over these things but I've come to understand them and can somewhat stop them nowadays.


_________________
Your Aspie score: 161 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 55 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie