Aspergers Vs Social Anxiety

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Can anyone give me just a few clear differences?

Have a docs appointment on 1st Sept to ask for a referral to be assessed for aspergers but I do wonder if they will say it is social anxiety as my main issue is dealing with people.

Just don't have the greatest knowledge of SA and everything I read seems like a crossover between the both

Social anxiety seems to be understood as a fear of being judged negatively. It seems (but I could be wrong), that for many people just putting themselves in more social situations over time seems to solve a lot of it. With ASD, there's also some social ineptitude or blindness that hinders you even without that fear.

Autism is a neurological disorder or atypical neurology. It means actual distinct physiological differences in brain structure. That effects the individual in many ways. As opposed to a psychological disorder that might be due to a chemical imbalance or the result of unpleasant childhood experiences. Or just plain being shy and/or socially awkward.

there is some overlap, and 20% of people with ASD/Asperger's have some sort of anxiety (social, generalized). but they are different. anxiety can be a standalone issue, and there is a pretty good description here (in my opinion) about social anxiety and the symptoms and behaviors - http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/disorder/#what. I assume you're familiar with all of the other things that fit for ASD/Asperger's (https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/diagnosis/dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria sorry it's a link from AS, not my favorite org but it has the DSM-V criteria which are used here in the US). There's some overlap, but not much. Issues with social reciprocity, absence of interest in friendships, inflexible adherence to routines, highly focused interests, stimming, etc. are just some.

I wonder about this a lot myself (for depression too, which I also have and is also common), but ASD requires additional criteria beyond social anxiety. hope this helps

Thanks for the links. It's on my mind a lot with an appointment coming up. I am getting anxious because a diagnosis of aspergers I would see as positive. It would allow me to not give myself such a hard time and understand the way I am whereas a diagnosis of social anxiety I see as a real negative and will only give myself an even harder time over.

My big thing is people and not dealing with them well. I get anxious around people, I avoid people and shut myself away. That is what lead me to look into aspergers. I wonder if there is enough other stuff I struggle with to really diagnose something. I find eye contact difficult, I can feel my conversation with others as being clumsy.

I have some routines but then doesn't everyone? NT's days are surely structured around routine too? The average NT day is not just an unorganised barrage of complete surprises!

You may find this link to Tony Attwood's website informative.

Social anxiety and avoidance are common problems for people with spectrum issues

Tony Attwood's aspergers description page

Good luck with your appointment. Being nervous is normal. You have a lot at stake and hopefully the therapist will understand.

I have my first assessment in a week and I feel nervous too, for exactly the reasons you described so well. Tony Attwood has fantastic stuff as goatfish mentioned, of course. But in my opinion it's best, of course, just to be as honest (and comprehensive, and communicative which I'm not great at) as possible. If you've got social anxiety with/without ASD is fine, none is better/worse than the other. I think either way if you get diagnosed you get an explanation for why you feel the way you feel. They're shouldn't be any greater or lessor stigma with any diagnosis, but I totally understand your nerves!!

Social communication and presentation which is likely include or cause Social Anxiety are just one PART of Aspergers SYNDROME

Biscuitman and Jcfay, may I ask a question?

Was there something that made you decide to seek an assessment?

Hard to explain really. I give myself a very hard time over my failings and I get quite down about it. My thinking is that if I can understand the core of my issues then I can firstly maybe not be so hard on myself and secondly I can begin to work out a plan of how to improve and make me the best me. I know I shouldn't need a diagnosis of something to try and improve but I feel it would give me a solid starting point.

I also like answers to things. Wondering what if drives me round the bend.

Thank you, that makes sense. I hope you find the answers you need.

Same for me too. I've been struggling with anxiety an depression for much of my life, and it was 2 years ago that I suspected that might be only (a small) part of the story. It would provide so much more context to the experiences of my life, why I am who I am. This may be somewhat nonsensical, but that's how it feels right now. It's such an interesting feeling reading the ASD/Aspie criteria and seeing "holy crap, that's me...". It provide some answers in that respect. It also MIGHT offer some other therapeutic options - perhaps the meds/therapy should be changed to also address or take into account these other issues.

And I'm a curious fellow too. We'll see where takes me!

Things commonly associated with Aspergers
Cross dominance--I can write with either hand.
Unusually good memory skills--remembering conversations or having remarkably good visual memory.

Face Blindness--many of us can't remember faces--though we might remember what that person said a couple years ago in a conversation! In spite of having good visual memory for other things!

Aspergers-
symptoms are apparent before the age of 2
Doesnt necessarily dislike socailizing, just doesnt understand basic social concepts
Often has sensory input sensitivity
Obsessivness or a need for sameness
Excecutive functioning disorder

Socail anxiety
Fear of judgement
Heart palpitations and sweating in social situations
Avoids socail interaction and dreads it.
Avoids eye contact
Dislikes ordering food or buying things

Jcfay, thank you for the reply. I had the same jaw dropping reaction when I started reading about Aspergers.

Good luck with your journey

Social anxiety can be cured therefore it gives hope. Asperger is a condition you have to live with for your whole life. So if you get social anxiety diagnosis don't mourn. It's not that hard to cure. A few months/year from now you will be happy and wondering what was even wrong with you in the first place.
Asperger isn't all about logical brain and special gifts - if it was it wouldn't be a disability.

It is also possible you get double diagnosis - Asperger and Social Anxiety. It's pretty common. And even in that case Social Anxiety is possible to be cured.

About differences:

Social anxiety causes you anxiety symptoms when you think about or are in a social situation. You sweat, your hands shake, your voice gets weird, looking people in eye is uncomfortable and you get a lot of ideas like "They surely think I am weird and don't want to talk to me, I will make an idiot of myself" and you often don't know what to say - ar rather know what to say but don't know how to say it in a way noone thinks you are stupid or gets angry at you. The interesting thing is you act totally normal when you are comfortable - for example between friends or close family members, in casual settings.

Asperger makes you seem odd in social situations. You think you are doing the right thing and then suddenly someone says you were rude or awkward - and you don't know why. You thought you are doing well! You fail to understand why what you did was awkward. Another time you feel happy and other people suddenly ask you why you are so sad. You think you actively participate in conversation and in the end people ask you why you were so silent and if they bore you. Someone says they fell head over heels for a guy and you wonder who doesn't have head over their heels. You know it is an common expression for falling in love, but you can't help imagining it and thinking it should be the other way around and wondering why the saying exists in the first place. And at the same time you fail to understand why the friend is telling you that and how you are supposed to answer. You are not scared you say something wrong - you simply don't know what to say at all. So you say about your "heels over head" idea. And friend gets angry with you because you are "So insensitive!". And eye contact? You could probably do it - but why? Human eyeballs are not that interesting and you listen with your ears, not eyes.
Fun part is you do pretty well with strangers and in formal settings(because you learned the social scripts and can act them out for a while) but when interacting with friends or close family members all of your quirks show because you don't have a script for every single casual situation and often just forget of using them when you have fun.

Of course you can have both. And it isn't uncommon. Actually it is hard to avoid getting Social Anxiety and a point of life when you have Asperger. Especially during the "bully years" - middle and high school.