questions regarding aspergers

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thanks for reading. i have a few questions based on events from this past week.

it was recently suggested that my father might have asperger's syndrome. he is an engineer by academic training, does complex mathematical equations in his head, sits in the corner of the room with his jacket over his head (although does offer one-word responses to guests when they greet him), reads the telephone book, and gets very upset when people walk through the living room (he says that the footsteps are too loud).

while reading about asperger's i was astonished that many of the characteristics seem to match my personality, too. a small list of my interests and characteristics:

1. strong interest in symmetry (symmetry in manhole covers, cracks in the sidwalk and street, church facades, audible, numerical, etc). i love to talk about symmetry and patterns in these above-mentioned objects.
2. obsessive arrangement of objects (railroad artifacts long the side of train-tracks, sticks along the side of the river, stones).
3. use of compass to measure geographical-angle of catholic churches (according to canon law these churches are suppose to face north).
4. reading the telephone book (not numbers, but all of the technical information in the first chapters i.e. the diagrams regarding telephone wiring).
5. trains and train-tracks (i spend entire nights sitting outside the train-station and watching trains; spend nights at the train-tunnel waiting for trains) -- railroad signs and mechanical devices.
6. radio towers (obsessively watch the red-lights on the radio-towers flash in patterns).
7. college: analytical linguistics -- erase homework so that it can be done again and again (deconstruction of sentence structure) -- urinating in empty soda-bottles so that i didn't have to leave my private dorm-room and use the public restroom (social anxiety?)
8. life-long trouble maintaining friendships (although getting better).
9. obsessively driven by other narrow interests i.e. aesthetics of catholic monks and monasteries in the united states and europe (i also visit these monasteries when i have opportunities) -- drainage pipes -- canals -- airport runways (flashing lights, again)!

i wonder if anyone in this forum could make any suggestions, or offer any comments regarding the above information? i'm a bit confused about what to make of the information.

sincerely,
matthew

I'm not sure what you're looking for.... a comment about the things you listed? About your father? I mean the basic things you list certainly sound familiar. If you're looking for research resources... check out Dr Tony Attwood and we found the OASIS guide from the people at aspergers.org to be good resources. If you're looking for a formal diagnosis you need to see a qualified psychiatrist who has experience with Asperger's and other Autism Spectrum Disorders.... I mean is that what you were asking? I feel like I'm missing the point. Not the first time for that...

you're correct... i didn't really ask any clear questions, did i?
i suppose i'm simply trying to understand what it means to suddenly recognize a possible correlation between my character and asperger's. perhaps i'm "thinking out loud." i don't know?
thank you for the research resource! thus far i've found it difficult to understand exactly what the medical journals are suggesting (the information seems very general and abstract).
i suppose i'm also sharing my story while wondering if anything that i write sounds familiar to anyone reading this posting.
i appreciate your response!

It seems normal to me.

I have long wanted a near enclosing wingback chair. There is no reason for them to be open all around, just cheap builders, a little sound proofing down the sides and over the top would do wonders. The jacket will block light, but I want to be rid of sound, forward is enough.

The patterns in things are what autistics learn from, we are pattern seekers. transportation and drainage are patterns.

All I can is autism runs in your family, and airport lights are cheap, flashy, have no content, and are not worth your time.

It is good you have a private room, and are getting better at friendships.

You are young and building the person you will use to get through life, so education, social connection, do come in handy.

I do wonder what you will do with a degree in analytical linguistics?

The things I'd really suggest strongly is keep in mind that it's called a spectrum for a reason, we vary so widely people often question if we're dealing with the same thing at all. I'd also suggest doing the research with an eye towards learning your own "triggers". Things that tend to bring out your "differences" to a level that they interfere with what you're trying to do. For example, I knew I hated being in the mall at Christmastime, or at a time when we're swamped with tourists and the place is packed. I never realized it was because the crowds were what I was having a problem with. My fight or flight response was so keyed up I was stalking through the place to get to the store I needed, up on the balls of my feet, ready to lash out and kick somebody's head off. I was furious, for absolutely NO reason. I realized I got that way when packed in with ANY crowd of strangers, and that realization allows me to watch for the signs and take control of my reactions and my emotions. I still don't like being in crowds, but now I'm not afraid I'm going to go off on somebody.

Ready to learn the secret handshake? You sound like a member of the club to me.

1, 2, 7 and 9 are totally me.

I'm surprised, never thought someone else could be obsessed with the aesthetics of Catholic monasteries just like me. I live to save money to visit them in Europe, and I'm lucky enough to live next to Jerusalem, where there are so many awesome ones. I'm also obsessed with visiting churches in land spots where Jesus wept/stepped/slept/fell although I'm Jewish. I'm lucky they're all near me here.

And the deconstruction of sentences too! I majored in English Linguistics btw, and got 100 in Syntax and the Syntax professor begging me to stay in academia, hahaha.

'A thousand million questions, even if they were unasked' topic

I am glad bibliographer felt comfortable enough to come here and ask about some habIts and behaviours he has had experience with. Just remember, there was was nothing like this when I was young. People especially of my generation held it all in and it led to self doubt and sometimes even self loathing, I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Aspiedave, I liked your bang on statement about differences triggering certain behaviours that might hurt us. I never read it quite so succinctly. Thank you.

Greentea, I have always wanted to visit Yad Vashem in Israel ever since I read about it years ago. I hope to go one day (if I ever had money). Part of my 40+years of special interest in Genocides includes honouring memorials to Holocaust victims and paying homage to the fact that they were subjected to indescribable terror and wrongful death. I hope to visit the memorial in Ottawa this year, and the one in Washington DC next year.

Wow, your dad sounds really interesting and kinda cool. He does sound more autistic than aspie - do you at all know what his language development was as a kid? Usually the main difference is that aspies start talking at a "normal" age (whenever that is) and autistics are delayed until after the age of five or so.

I think it is great that you discovered this site - your dad probably will appreciate it very much in time. Welcome!

sartresu, I really hope you can make it here one day. I'll be glad to show you around.

I never visited Yad Vashem, and I don't think I ever will. I have more empathy than the normal, so I'd get very sick from the experience of seeing how all my family was tortured to death. When I pass by on the bus, I look the other way, because the museum is so superbly designed that even the trees on the path leading to the entrance look like death.

thanks to those who responded to my initial posting, as everyone's responses are helpful.

i also wonder if anyone reading this forum has direct experience with "night terrors?" These are terrifying dreams but without any discernable content. they usually occur within the first or second hour after falling asleep.
Perhaps I will post this question afresh...

I'm unaware of any canon law dictating the arrangement of Catholic churches, but the tradition among Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox branches of Christianity is that, when possible, the church should face the east, so that it is facing the rising sun (symbolic of Christ's Resurrection).

Certain site conditions may prevent this from being a viable option, though, especially in urban sites that may not have much flexibility. For example, my church (Anglican) and St. Patrick's Cathedral (Roman Catholic) both align with the Manhattan street grid and face in a roughly easterly direction, but because the street grid doesn't align with a true north-south axis, the churches actually face more toward the southeast.

On the other hand, Islamic mosques must all face toward Mecca, and that direction will vary depending on what part of the world you're in.

you're right that catholic churches are traditionally alligned so that the window above the alter illuminates with the rising sun. i erred while typing north rather than east.
let's look at canon law and clarify whether this is legal code or mere tradition.

true, the code of canon law does not appear to offer information regarding the alignment of catholic churches. i checked book iv part iii title i chapter i.
tradition?