Learning more about Asperger syndrome

Post Reply New Topic

Hello,
I have some questions for people who have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.
I was diagnosed with acute anxiety disorder, OCD, and depression many years ago but am beginning to think that my anxiety/OCD may be a result of, or co-occuring with asperger's syndrome. I have many of the characteristics of a person with AS, however I don't have a singular intense interest that has continued my whole life. I tend to get intensely interested in a subject for a few months or years and then move on to another subject. I also do not have any trouble with vocal inflection when I am speaking. I do however have all of the other core characteristics of a person with AS. I have been reading a lot about AS and spectrum disorders and don't know what to do next. I know that something is out of place but i don't know what.
In the opinion of people who have AS do you think I have it?
Should I speak to my therapist about being diagnosed?
Does having a diagnosis have any benefits/drawbacks?
What are some good resources for managing AS?
What are some other suggestions you would give me?
I thank you very much for your time and for your answers to these questions. This has been a confusing and hard journey and I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

Folks on the spectrum actually move around from special interest to special interest. One month, there's an intense interest in lemurs, the next an intense interest in interplanetary travel. With me it's writing screenplays to writing music. A clinical psychologist or doctor specializing in Asperger's can steer you on the right track.

I like being an aspie because when I focus on a special interest I often see it to completion. The trade off is being a loner & social misfit. You can't win 'em all.

thank you.

I think some aspies, me included, rotate through several special interests with one or two that some to the forefront more often.

I have 3 longtime interests currently, and go through phases with other things. My full-blown autie half-brother has had 2 of his interests as long as I can remember and will rotate other ones, currently he's big into watching old Jack In The Box commercials on Youtube, a month from now he'll be on something else

I think it would be a good idea for you to try and get a professional diagnosis, but before then, keep a list of all the AS traits you have through research, which is what I did. Then when you try to get the diagnosis, you will have the list available when doing the testing and the other stuff that goes on when being diagnosed.

If you research diagnostic criteria required for a diagnosis of AS it might help you to understand what is going on in your life, though it still might be a good idea to get a diagnosis when ever you have the chance.