Do people believe as you say that you have AS

Page 1 of 1 [ 11 posts ] 

pawelk1986
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Apr 2010
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,901
Location: Wroclaw, Poland

15 Sep 2014, 11:06 am

Do people believe as you say that you have Asperger's syndrome.

I often happens that people do not believe me and say that although I'm a little strange, but likable:-)
They can not believe that I have Asperger's because I'm too talkative and open to others to be autistic:-)

At least two of my female tutors said during my student internships in one of academic library when i worked in scanning old books for digital library.

Even though I have an official diagnosis from a psychiatrist and a psychologist that I have Asperger's syndrome.



AspieUtah
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 20 Jun 2014
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,118
Location: Brigham City, Utah

15 Sep 2014, 11:09 am

Most people, including some people with AS or other ASDs, don't know much about AS. Hyperlexia (talkative) is an AS characteristic, but, of course, not all people with AS have it. I do. :-D


_________________
Diagnosed in 2015 with ASD Level 1 by the University of Utah Health Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic using the ADOS-2 Module 4 assessment instrument [11/30] -- Screened in 2014 with ASD by using the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre AQ (Adult) [43/50]; EQ-60 for adults [11/80]; FQ [43/135]; SQ (Adult) [130/150] self-reported screening inventories -- Assessed since 1978 with an estimated IQ [≈145] by several clinicians -- Contact on WrongPlanet.net by private message (PM)


skibum
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jul 2013
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,449
Location: my own little world

15 Sep 2014, 11:16 am

I can be very talkative as well. Many people don't believe me either until I start to tell them more about my struggles. Then they start to see it clearly. But at first glance you absolutely cannot tell with me unless you are an expert and know exactly what you are looking for. Even people who have known me for a long time can't always tell because I got really good at hiding my traits.

I have to learn more about hyperlexia. I am not familiar with that but I am interested to find out about it. I have been told by some people that I talk way too much. Perhaps it is that.


_________________
"I'm bad and that's good. I'll never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."

Wreck It Ralph


NiceCupOfTea
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 15 Aug 2014
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 644

15 Sep 2014, 11:31 am

People haven't given me any feedback, really. Medical professionals hide behind a wall of professionalism and don't express any opinions. None of my family have even brought it up with me, so I've never discussed it with them. My online friends have been politely neutral for the most part: only one guy took exception and thought in no uncertain terms I had depression and anxiety rather than autism.

The only exception was my stoma nurse. For some reason I told her that I might have Asperger's and was going to have an assessment for it. Her first words were "I'm not surprised!". So yeah, she certainly believed me.

Nobody would ever describe me as 'talkative' in real life. Pretty much struggle to talk, usually.



BirdInFlight
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 8 Jun 2013
Age: 63
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,501
Location: If not here, then where?

15 Sep 2014, 11:36 am

I think most of the general public do not know enough about the autism spectrum, even now, to know the traits/symptoms if they see them -- or even if the person has to describe to them which traits and symptoms they have. Many people may, for example, have seen the film "Rain Man" and believe that only people who behave like that portrayal are autistic, thus anyone who isn't like that can't be.

There needs to be a lot more information out there to help people understand that it's truly a wide-ranging spectrum on which some people's traits are obvious and appear clearly more classically, all the way up to some people who "seem normal" according to the general public, or who may be able to "hide" traits, yet who suffer from autistic impairments and are diagnosed also. It's such a wide spectrum with so many variations of presentation, some that can seem hidden, and some that can't.

I gather there can be talkative Aspies. I was the opposite when a child right through to twenties, I even went through a period of selective mutism when outside the house/in school. I didn't want to talk to anyone except family, and this continued into my twenties. And then in a massive case of "overcompensation" I became overly talkative because I was consciously forcing myself to be more social in a new situation m life went into -- which isn't exactly healthy or recommended, it's just what I found myself thinking I ought to be doing. I've gone more to a middle ground now, as neither extreme was good for me in terms of stress.

I've confided my seeking a diagnosis with two people. One of them doesn't know anything about autism or Asperger's, and he also does not know me well at all, has never seen me in different contexts and situations, and generally only runs into me in a relaxed setting where I've just been put in a good mood -- the best way I ever feel, in fact -- because I've been enjoying my special interest, which always finds me at my most happiest and stress free. He hasn't seen me at all other times, stressed or stimming. He laughed in my face and denied I could possibly be on the spectrum. That hurt, and I shut up and never spoke of it again.

The other person I shared my concerns with knows me better, happens to be training as a counselor (though not an autism specialist, granted), has seen me under various circumstances and in various frames of mind, and she had no trouble immediately accepting that I might be correct, in fact she was so accepting, that she just already believes I am, even pending my assessment, which is taking place soon now. She even told me that if my assessment brings out a "no," to get a second opinion, LOL!

Anyway, she's not the expert, although a third person who is already told me I'm likely to get a positive diagnosis.

Other than these people, I don't talk about it with anyone. That one acquaintance who doesn't believe it felt hurtful enough that I'm not sharing my concerns anymore. I get beaten up for it enough right here on WP...

I'm about to get my evaluation, so, time will tell, maybe he's right. But I think I know myself a bit better than he does. I've had 52 years to do so. :wink:

.



Last edited by BirdInFlight on 15 Sep 2014, 11:48 am, edited 2 times in total.

EzraS
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 24 Sep 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 27,828
Location: Twin Peaks

15 Sep 2014, 11:44 am

Seeing me in real life think my autism is obvious. But on forums am told i don't sound autistic. Not that they don't believe me, but just that i am more like a "normal" kid than they thought possible for someone autistic.



Last edited by EzraS on 15 Sep 2014, 11:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

BirdInFlight
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 8 Jun 2013
Age: 63
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,501
Location: If not here, then where?

15 Sep 2014, 11:46 am

Ezra, you rock.



pawelk1986
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Apr 2010
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,901
Location: Wroclaw, Poland

15 Sep 2014, 1:17 pm

The only my problem with autism is my over-sized sex drive since i was teen :D

I still need to go to confession to the priest that watch impure movies and have impure thought :D

But seriously did other autistic both mans and woman, have problem with too hi libido???



eggheadjr
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 3 Oct 2012
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,360
Location: Ottawa, Canada

15 Sep 2014, 1:21 pm

Yes and no - depends on:

- how well they know me
- how good I am at the time covering some of my aspie traits
- their knowledge of what autism is and it's impacts


_________________
Diagnosed Asperger's


glider18
Supporting Member
Supporting Member

User avatar

Joined: 8 Nov 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,062
Location: USA

15 Sep 2014, 1:28 pm

For the people who have known me for some time, it really comes as no surprise to them when they learn I have Asperger's. If they know the traits of Asperger's, they know it fits me very well.


_________________
"My journey has just begun."


skibum
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jul 2013
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,449
Location: my own little world

15 Sep 2014, 1:33 pm

EzraS wrote:
Seeing me in real life think my autism is obvious. But on forums am told i don't sound autistic. Not that they don't believe me, but just that i am more like a "normal" kid than they thought possible for someone autistic.
I would not call you a normal kid Ezra. You are extremely mature and very eloquent and intelligent and extremely well spoken. You are polite and respectful and so knowledgeable. You are gentle and kind and supportive and sweet. If I had to compare you to the silly 14 year olds running around in my back alley I would not call you normal at all. :D


_________________
"I'm bad and that's good. I'll never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."

Wreck It Ralph