Asperger's severity fluctuating? is that even possible?

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Hi,

Is it possible that throughout your life you have more or less symptomatic? or should it be completely static to be considered Asperger?

for example I can remember that I never talked or had interest in any other child in 1. - 3. grade but i had 4 friends in 4. grade (although some took sexual advantage of me) and again, in the 7. grade I had 1 good friend and talked to other students. In the 10. grade again I had 4 good friends but I can only recall the name of 3 of them (WTF?) between these times, I consider myself a social cucamber. So it seems to me that when I get used to some place, I become somewhat social. The reason is the times when I got social where exactly 2 years after I stayed at the same school.

I have been social at occasions after that but I'd say that was due to mania and I got the remark that i behave like a child or crazy often so that doesn't count.

But right now I feel autistic like hell. I'm traped inside my head. I do a lot of stimming. I dont get what people tell me unless it's said very exact (very literal) but interestingly, it hasent been like this always either. so i'm wondering WTF this is. even Schizophrenia is apealing but you cant have all the symptoms of asperger's, no schizophrenic symptom and have schizophrenia for gods sake!
So do you have similar experiances?

cheerz
omid

It's a neurological condition, why wouldn't you expect it's effects to vary over time? The brain is not a static organ, everybody has moments, or entire days when their mental focus is more clarified than at other times, and over longer cycles, your brain's effective focus and balance might vary due to diet, or physical health or external conditions creating different psychological pressures and catalysts.

The last few years, since I've been on disability and spending ridiculously inordinate amounts of time in total solitude, rather than being exposed to varying amounts of social stimuli in the workplace, I can tell a huge difference in my overall functionality - it's very much the psychological equivalent of having your muscles atrophy from disuse. My ability to socialize, the basic skill of carrying on a conversation and being able to think quickly on my feet and to 'fake' some relative normalcy has diminished to a frightening degree. I think it would come back to me in fairly short order, if I had a friend, or a part time job, but I'm pretty much living in an internalized state of dissociation these days and I know I haven't always been quite this deep into my own head.

So, yes, I think it's quite normal for one's mental state to fluctuate, even within the parameters of a specific neurological disorder. Even things like Chronic Depression are not constant, it just comes more than it goes.

Mine comes and goes and I am one of the lucky ones because I can go from not having it to having it while everyone else goes from having it to having it worse and then having it less severe on their good days. My anxiety makes it worse and when under stress.

Mine gets better or worse too depending on my energy and stress levels. I can also vary when the stimuli vary. The symptoms are definitely not static. I am also more Aspie now than before because I don't hide it as much now. I actually think that is a good thing. Feeling the freedom to be me makes a big difference.

What Willard and skibum said sums it up very nicely.

My social skills and my tolerance for sensory input have decreased as I have been isolating for quite a while now. While there was a different initial reason than that of Willard, it is still very noticable in social/public situations.

I believe that tiredness, stress, and having access to either less or more control over one's known stress triggers and environment, can exacerbate problematic traits and symptoms, and decrease the coping skills that can make your suffering feel lesser.

Fourth graders took sexual advantage of you?! !! !

Fourth graders took sexual advantage of you?! !! !

I am not so sure that my severity fluctulates...but I know in some situations I find it easier to talk to people than in others. I think maybe stress factors in like if I am more stressed its harder to deal with people. I know stress typically increases symptoms of most mental disorders so I think someone with autism could get too stressed and not be able to function as well as times when they are in a less intense environment.