Is it really Asperger's?

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It's some time that I've been feeling like I have been misdiagnosed.
The first diagnosis I received when I was a child was that of ADD (at age 6). The doctor who made the diagnosis told my mother that I might have had some kind of high-functioning autism but I wasn't officially diagnosed with it. During elementary school they thought I had ODD because I was disruptive and at 13 I was diagnosed with Asperger's and ADD. Then when I was 14 another counselor said I didn't have Asperger's but that I had severe anxiety issues, ADD, ODD and OCD traits. But then a therapist said she thought that I probably had AS.
I think that those who said I have AS were wrong.
I don't want to go through a diagnosis process again and frankly I'm sick of sitting in a room in front of a psychiatrst. I decided to ask you people here because some of you seem to have an excellent knowledge about autism and disorders in general.

Asperger's symptoms I display:
I have a really hard time understanding facial expressions and body language. I can only understand smiles and sadness on people's faces, sometimes anger (but many people with ADD/ADHD seem to have troubles with body language and facial expressions as well).
My sensory issues are absolutely the worst problem I have. They're really a pain.
I get obsessed over things a lot and can hyperfocus, expecially when drawing (another thing that seems to happen to those with ADD/ADHD as well).
I have troubles with my coordination and balance; my gross motor skills used to suck but now they're ok; my fine motor skills still suck and I have troubles with handwriting; my drawing abilities are ok though. I am often told I have a weird gate (but all that can be found in people with ADD/ADHD as well).
I am told I use a formal, repetitive language.
Social interaction confuses me. In the sense that when I'm in a group and more than a person is talking my brain gets foggy because I hear all their voices and I also hear the voices of people that are gathered in other groups (but this happens to those with ADD/ADHD as well).
I find it very difficult to introduce myself to new people, unless I know they share some interests with me.
I often forget to greet people unless they greet me first.
I unintentionally offend people (but this is a symptom of ADD/ADHD as well).
I find it very hard to focus on something I'm not interested in (but this is a symptom of ADD/ADHD as well).
When people on the bus touch me I get really mad.
I lack empathy.


Why I think that I only have ADD and that I have been misdiagnosed:
I am hardly ever serious. I joke, smile, laugh very much, make jokes (even if few people understand them) and puns and people generally think I'm funny.
I used to have troubles with it once, but now I have no problem whatsoever with small talks.
I generally get along with most people.
I have no problem with being in the middle of a crowd if the crowd is silent. When I take my ADD med though, even being among noisy people doesn't really bother me.
While people touching me on the bus is an issues, when someone I know (even if they're not friends) touches, kisses or hugs me it doesn't bother me anymore (it used to, once). I just freeze in their hug.
I have many interests even though I don't have many obsessions. I can't remember being obsessed on only one thing in any time of my life.
I am not upset by routine changes for the simple fact that I don't have a routine. I am very disorganized and messy and I can't make a plan I will follow through to save my life. I would really like to be able to get organized and have a routine because it would spare me a lot of anxiety, but I just can't seem able to do it.
I can't relate to most people on this forum. Most of you seem to be too high-funtioning compared to me and you have a great ability to write long, detailed posts that I can't even focus on because they are too long and articulate for me to understand them. Most of you seem to have a great ability to express themselves through writing that I don't have. I actually find it hard to express myself through writing.
I appear as an introvert but I actually am an extrovert. People just seem to confuse my lack of social skills with introversion.
I usually follow my instinct/emotions when I have to do something/decide even though I think rationally abut it as well.


This is all that comes to my mind. Maybe I'll update this if something else comes to my mind.

At the very least, I would not preclude a diagnosis of Asperger's. A diagnosis, in and of itself, should not prevent you from realizing your full potential.

From what you've described, you exhibit at least some of the features of Asperger's

Not every Aspergian will exhibit every symptom. This is why we are called a Spectrum. It is not out of the realm of possibility for there to be extroverted Aspergians and introverted NT's.

I believe I am an Aspergian, but I:

1. don't experience many sensory symptoms (though I could become overwhelmed by many things coming at me at once)

2. I don't speak especially pedantically most of the time, though I did to some extent when I was younger.

3. I'm not especially affected by changes in routine, unless they are drastic

4. I do have special interests--but I am able to be diverted from them rather easily. I do avidly go back to them, however, when I could.

5. I dislike small-talk, but I could perform it somewhat well. I understand the reasoning behind it, though it IS irritating

6. I'm clumsy, but not exceptionally so.

7. I actually go up to strangers and start talking to them, rather than shy away from people. Come to think of it, it is possible that this is what is meant by "awkward" in the sense of the nature of an Aspie's social interactions.

8. I don't sense, over all, that my "neurology" is especially different from that of NT's most of the time. I have my moments where I doubt the above, though.

9. I believe I could "pass for NT" for at least a little while should it be necessary.

10. I don't think of myself as being completely separate from NT's. I believe Spectrumites should meet NT's half way, and vice versa.

10. I'm not political, in the sense that I believe there should be an "autistic" culture which keeps itself separate from the NT culture, even though I believe autistic people should advocate for themselves, and be advocated for.

11. I do believe, however, that the unique achievements of autistic people should be recognized, and should not be denied by the NT world.

Obvious, as many have stated, one should be diagnosed by a qualified professional, especially if the diagnosis is needed for some benefit or other.

What I did notice is that a several of items in the "not autistic" section were autistic behaviors that you used to do when you were younger but that do not do now or that you do less of now. That is often described as coping with autism instead of being allistic

But as has been said we are not proffessionals. There is nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion and as much as you do not want to go back to a psychologist if you feel this doubt is going mess you up mentally it might be something you need to do. If you do get a new diagnosis because of the DSM 5 it won't likely be Aspergers.

Its difficult to judge. We are not doctors or shrinks. If I had to guess, it sounds like you are somewhere on the spectrum, but its just guesswork.

The only ones that can alter your diagnosis are medical professionals, so if you think it may be wrong and its worth it to you, that is to whom you must go.