How would you define autism?

Post Reply New Topic

Hi Guys,

I'm sure this is a general question and has been asked a million times, but for me the situation is a bit different.

I'm completely obsessed with playing guitar. I play probably about 13 hours a day (tad less when I have class which I do terribly in) and all I can think about is playing my instrument. I love studying theory, and I am very quick at comprehending stuff involving it, and obsessively read every book on the topic I can get my hands on.

I have perfect pitch.

I don't socialize (at all) with anyone really.


Lately, it's gotten me a little depressed. While I have gotten very good at my instrument, I feel as if I have sacrificed a social life for myself. I want friends, but I can't make them since I am so fixated on playing guitar all the time. I feel as if anything else is a waste of time.

I don't think this level of obsession is healthy really. Could this be some kind of disorder? It certainly doesn't "feel" like one since it's not really harmful to me (at least not outwardly) but I really wish I could socialize better and not feel guilty about myself when I am not practicing music.

Any insights would be appreciated.

Thanks guys, btw great forum here..

-Philip

I can tell you the DSM-IV definition, but I'm not sure that is what you want to hear.

Sometimes I just want to play pure DATA like allan holdsworth. Know what I mean?

Holdsworth must have asperger's. There is no way you develop that style with human contact.

anything

How about Social Dyslexia?

How about social constipation ?

How about 'troll' ?

yeah, stop trolling this thread, constipation guy

There's no secret weapon, no hidden process of breaking you out of your obessions (though as a fellow guitar player, I have to give you a big nod!). In this Aspie's mind, one who ha spent his whole lifetime fighting his own obsessions, the answer is hard work. Back-breaking, white knuckle hard work. You just do it. You just put the guitar down - you just do it. You just do it...

I never even knew about AS until about a year and a half, two years ago. So I have spent my 35 years learning to not give in to my addictions. I never knew I had a legitimate excuse about obsessing. Society will not to afford a seemingly normal man the luxury of giving into his obsessions. So I spent my life working VERY hard to fit in and to not give into my obsessions without the knowledge of AS.

The journey is yours. The fight is yours. Bilbo's "hitherto's" and "Why for's" are yours to find out. But in the end, you just do it.

Yoda said it best. "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

Well, it depends on what type of autism you are referring to.

For Aspergers Syndrome:
It is catagorized under PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders). It is a neurobiological disorder that is marked by impairment in social interaction, restrictive or repetitive behaviors (NOTE: This does NOT include your passions), some of them have a marked disability with executive skills. There is no significant delay in language (I am probably closer to HFA than Aspergers because I had a clear language delay), and there is no significant delay in the development of cognitive skills and age-appropriate self-help skills (other than social skills). The impairments are enough to interfere and become detrimental to the daily functioning of everyday life if not addressed properly. There is some speculation that Aspergers may be something else other than autism because in aspergers, there is no impairment in language.

For HFA and some others within this range:
Same as above, except that they may suffer from impairment in cognitive skills and have a language delay. In some cases, they may have a very poor language capabilities.

Low Functioning Autism:
Same, except that they score lower than 80 on the IQ test and qualify as being mentally ret*d. They may also have little to no language capabilities at all.

If you refer to me, I am a moderator here, and certainly not a troll, lol.

I am also confused as to your statement here. Care to expand on it?

my bad, lol

sorry about that!

No problem. To verify why I said social constipation...well, many with autism have difficulty getting their words out and expressing what they wish to say...it can often remain stuck inside themselves...hence the word 'constipation' reference-something getting blocked or stuck. I admit, it was a joke, but still relevant. I can attest to usually being more serious but ah well, it just came into my head and I posted it.

you know what? ppl who find a way to get $$$$ playing guitar +13h are considered GENIUS!

know how to maximize your odds of that actually happening? keep playing!

however SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT. Do your best.

I think I have this social constipation problem.

As for cutting back time on the guitar, what about writing a list of your priorities and do those first, which shouldn't take too long if you don't have much of a life. Then next devote the rest of your time to the guitar.

I think the important thing here though is to do what makes you happy.