Do I really have autism?

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Hi guys,

My psychiatrist said I have a little bit of autism, he also mentioned aspergers. I don't understand why I do and thought you guys could help me figure it out.
I read how Aspergers/Autism have difficulties with social, repetitive patterns and restricted interests. The only thing I have difficulty with is social. I seem to have trouble making friends and maintaining friends, I have trouble having a good conversation, keeping the conversation going, small talk... I don't hate it but feel sad because of feeling lonely and not socially intuitive.

I asked my psychiatrist that I don't have repetitive patterns like hand flapping...and restricted interests like being abnormally absorbed into things. He said you don't have to which made me confused because I thought you have to exhibit significant difficulties in the three areas. I tried searching for examples of repetitive patterns and restricted interests in ASD/Aspergers and none of it matches me.

My psychologist said I did not have a formal diagnosis and it could be that I've been shy my whole life and couldn't develop social skills as a result.

I can read people's expression fine. But just communicating, making friends is hard.

I'm confused of my diagnosis.


On a sidenote, even if researchers have discovered treatments for autism, or therapies to improve, only rich families will have access to them.

This is the same thing for me. The only problem I have is social interaction. Like I have problems communicating my life experiences and sharing my day because I choke up on my words. But all the other symptoms I don't have. I was wondering if there is a difference between being socially awkward and having aspergers. So like when you talked to your phychiatrist did they say that you can learn to communicate normally cause I've always wanted to know if I will ever be normal and it really bothers me cause i wanna have relationships and make friends. Like is it a learnable skill or is it a permanent problem. Anyways I just came on here to post my thoughts and I was curious to know the answer too

Your psychiatrist is ret*d. To receive a formal diagnosis you must meet the criteria, and you do not meet an entire category. There are so many reasons a person may have or even just perceive their social skills to be lacking, and yes shyness is one of them.

You'll prob be bombarded by others that it is completely possible for you to be autistic, but based on what you've written I don't think you are.

_________________
Unapologetically, Norny.
-chronically drunk

What about this...
The reason why I lack social skills is because nothing comes up my head. It's always like blank! spaced out, like as if drugged and I don't even take it.
Even around my family I have nothing interesting to talk, I wish I do. I'm mostly quiet. Not just outside of home.
For some reason I'm just really really quiet.

It's possible that your social traits are similar to autistic social traits, but you don't have the restricted/repetitive behavior traits, which means you wouldn't be diagnosed with autism, but you may still have some traits that affect your life like social interaction and relationships.

Honestly, the poor communication/lack of friends thing very much depends on your motivation, your hunger for making friends, willingness to do/overcome certain things, and such. If you would do nothing significant to develop friendship with other people, and be willing to talk and let conversations flow nicely, then nothing will work out for you. I know this might sound like a weird advice, but watch how other, normal human beings talk to each other, how they start a conversation, how they let it flow, etc. And do what is needed. If you know what you need to do, but just wont do it because your'e too shy, or lazy, then that is not a psychiatric thing. but if it is something like not knowing how to, or trying to and it just doesnt work and you start panicking, then, it could be a psychiatric thing. I'm no psychiatrist, but I know that many cases, people fail to develop social skills/friendships because of the way they talk to others, and also, when you're shy it only makes things worse. But remember, that shyness is not a mental or psychiatric thing at all, it is simply a trait that exists in many people. to deal with shyness, you need to learn to be more open for communication with others. I know its hard, but, if you have enough motivation to do it, you will get there.

What about the PDD-NOS?

PDD-NOS requires a speech delay

_________________
Unapologetically, Norny.
-chronically drunk

I talked to my psychiatrist...
My psych said I don't fit the diagnosis of autism where the three traits exists but I'm just under the diagnosis, like below borderline. My only core is social and inattention, I'm kinda clumsy. My social is just not intuitive and that can't really be caused by ADHD because it's an attention problem, anxiety because I had friends but had problems having good conversations, maintaining good relationships, the like...
My vocabulary is so limited for some reason! so as maths! I have prolongations

My mind like blank! Nothing in there, like as if I'm deprived of oxygen.
I space out a lot, I'm not really aware of my feelings and emotions because I can't feel them, cause I'm blank.
I don't even know what to do because doctors, psychologist, psychiatrist don't even know!
It's like my type is under-recognised.

It runs in the family on my dad's side. My dad brings up a lot of random stuff that doesn't connect with the conversation, he's really quiet, and doesn't seem make friends really well because of his lack of intuitiveness, he doesn't seem to have empathy. I see this in my grandpa, cousin, uncles. All of them don't show repetitive behaviours and restricted patterns. Could it be something else? Or maybe this is ASD but just outside of it.

I was born fine, so no PDD NOS. Just the fact that I eat so ridiculously slow
I don't think there's any other disorder other than autism that kinda matches me.
I feel like there is more than 1% of autism in the world. I feel like my type is under-recognised.

Do you feel impaired enough to warrant a diagnosis?

If the support you'd receive for such a thing is not worth your time, you're life's journey is what will allow to to overcome your problems.

'Ships are safe in the harbor, but that's not what ship's are for.'

_________________
Unapologetically, Norny.
-chronically drunk

Try to be more social with people around you and you will be better, hopefully

wish you a great day

Maybe social communication disorder? I think it's supposed to be like an ASD without the restricted interests or something. I'm not exactly sure what the criteria for it is -- I just know it was added when they updated the DSM and it is in some way related to ASD. Maybe you fall into that category?