Have I got Aspergers, or am I just a bit odd to some people?

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Hi Guys and Gals,

It has recently come to my attention that I may be an aspie. I know this is the wrong place for a proper diagnosis, but I am very curious. I have been researching it all day. Obssessive or curious?

I do fit into a lot of the categories for AS, a lot of things apply to me. Its like my whole life has opened up, however, some do not.

Here is what I do not do.

Rock when I am nervous. I can pace up and down, and twiddle things, but I never find myself rocking.

Get too obsessive. I couldnt tell you the different models of cameras, or the ins and outs of a deep fat fryer.

I am sensitive to glare, but not too much to load noise. I hate irritating noise though.

Thats it really.

I have a great job which involves being social, but I think it may be a hidden desire that I wish I could be a social butterfly, but I get on edge when in social situations. I got to go to a private screening of James Bond recently, and there was lots of famous olympic stars there. I vividly imagined that I would walk in, introduce myself to everyone. Make lots of friends etc...

I ended up being a nervous wreck. Standing at the back quaffing champagne and looking all awkward and not relaxed. Even when people turned up I knew, I was a sweaty wreck.

This made me depressed, and I couldnt wait to get out of there.

This happens a lot to me. A LOT. And I rarely feel comfortable in social situations.

I do have obsessions, but only short lived ones. Theses have involved, smoothy makers, tea, watches, astrology, NLP, hypnosis, pseudo science, rocks, minerals, watches (which forms part of my job) and people always comment on how much of an expert I am. And I do do the whole talk on end about stuff I know, but not on stuff I dont. I always thought I was quite astute, picking up on signals, but I must admit, it is normally to late to recognise them. If someone goes 'I must be off' I say 'oh, ok' then continue to talk.

I am a logical problem solver. I know all the systems and policies and procedures like the back of may hand, and I enjoy finding ways of exploiting the loop holes to get things done.

I never knew when friends genuinly like me or not. And the same as girls. I had so many fancy me in the past, but I never picked up on the signals, and always thought 'how could they be interested in me'.

I work problems out backwards. I always have to believe something before I try it. Like new approaches to work, or even the tablets I and other people take. My views are always very rigid.

I am passive aggressive. I can make people cry at a drop of a hat, but I do not understand why they are crying, then this annoys me because I do not know or care about handling the situation. I can get very emotional though to a piece of music. I vividly imagine the emotions happening to me, and it makes me cry.

Anywho, I am confused to who I am. Some symptoms are not as strong as others.

What do you think.

Very, very likely. Not everyone fits all symptoms, and different people do different things to cope.

At certain levels of Functioning many different things look like AS, social anxiety, ADD, high IQ, sensitive personality... etc. Since it's not quite understood just what causes AS, mostly they just go by the symptoms...How you were like as a child is useful to know too.

I'm still not sure, I went for a diagnosis but it was inconclusive too.

I don't have that obsessive of interests, I do know lots of things about certain topics... but it doesn't approach the encyclopedic levels that are often associated with AS.

I'm sensitive but also insensitive at the same time. I get uncomfortable, but I can tolerate much... and I can get used to stuff eventually.

Socially, I know enough to be liked by most people... and not do things horribly offensive to NTs... but I'm inept to do subtle social interactions... the interactions that actually accomplish things. I exist in this parallel world. I'm not a complete social outcast, but I'm not a commanding social figure either. Any task that requires 'doing' something on a social level is challenging, if I wanted to talk with someone to convince them of something, if I wanted to demand something.

But I'm easy going and quirky in the good ways enough to get along with people.

Much of my problems can be attributed to a working memory/learning disability combined with a high IQ. Because when I'm comfortable and experienced many of my social AS problems go away. It's weird, I don't completely understand the social domain, but I'm comfortable and confident enough that I don't care... and can get the job done anyways.

You're functioning on the level of many people here anyways... some would call you AS... others may not. And since it's a spectrum anyways... you seem to be on the higher functioning side of things... at which point does it become 'real' AS? That's almost a personal unsolvable question...

Lots of people pace to help them think. But apparantly both these things are AS traits.



But is there something obscure that you CAN tell us about? Although the use of the term 'obscure' is probably inappropriate in this case.



Everyone hates irritating noise and strong glare. I am assuming you know how sensitive you are to light in comparison to normal people?



This is not suggestive of AS. People could say it is, but often people forget that these moments happen to everyone and not just those with AS. Social Anxiety disorder, or simply the stress of meeting dozens of celebrities at once could easily have caused this.



This is more suggestive. But again, look into Social Anxiety Disorder before launching into a self AS diagnosis.



Rather suggestive. Its not that weird to get interested in random things in the short term, it depends HOW interested.



Sounds like your talking about your job here. This is fine, although it may be considered weird to be so interested in it, but whatever.



Not telling if a girl likes you is not so suggestive, but not being able to tell if your friends like you, that is suggestive.



Suggestive of AS.



The music thing is fine. Not understanding or caring why someone is crying, thats rather suggestive of AS.

I suggest you take the rdos Aspie test. Its by no means conclusive, but it can give you a good idea.

My personal opinion is that you have Mild Social Anxiety. I would look into that, or other disorders, before you just go and self diagnose yourself with AS.

You best bet to find out for sure is to see a professional.

who knows?
go and see someone who specialises in ASD's and talk to them, get a formal diagnostic assessment, and read up on it.

YOur initial post on this thread simply does not have enough information and it is not really wise asking a bunch of "virtual" people you do not know.

Good point.

I am going to keep a diary from now on, then keep track of things may point towards it in everyday life.

There is one person I know who is convinced I have it because her nephew has autism. And her sister thinks the same because she discusses my behavior with her all the time.

But I think a diary will work, then I can see how I am after knowing so much about it. I have researched it for hours now.

many thanks

I researched for months and months. I co,pared the different diagnostic criteria, spoke with family and even contacted people who knew me in high school. One girl told me I was so internalised nobody could ever reach me, and that it always seemed as if no-one could access the real me. There was checking and cross-checking, more research and eventually I wrote over 30 pages of word document comparing my life and behaviours with one diagnostic criteria. I then went to a specialist who diagnosed me and now helps me with CBT strategies.

A diary is a very good idea.
Record how often you socialise and what happens when you do.
Do you have special interests? ho long do you spend on them? I spend at least 12 hours a day doing or pondering my interests> it is all there is to me, really.
Record your sensory integration issues if you have any.
Record your sleeping patterns, any food intolerances
and how you communicate with others (monologuing or silent.)
how is your eye contact?
How are you in groups? How do you behave? how do you cope with cross-talk and gatherings?

etc etc.

and as you have indicated, get feedback from others who know you as they may be able to geiv yo some objective feedback that pertains to how you actually come across to them and how you relate.


and most of all, good luck on your journey of life, whatever transpires.

Does researching Aspergers for about 8 hours solid, watching endless videos about it, and also pondering different outcomes to it. If it is not AS, then what could be wrong with. I have explored Bi Polar and social anxiety too, and see a lot matches up. I have also been at it for a further 2 hours. So make that 10

I seem to think in a AS way, and am not good socially. But I do not have to much of a sensory overload, but as a kid, I hated discos and fireworks. Although over the years, I have learnt various techniques in combating some signs. I have a very deadpan face, and people hardly know when I am joking or not, so I give a little false smile to let them know that I am, things like that.

Many thanks for your tips, I shall certainly use the headings in my research, and hopefully come to some sort of conclusion, or else it will drive me crackers.

Thanks again, I shall keep you updated.

Researching AS for 8 hours straight is not comparable to thinking about a special interest for 12 hrs per day, every day.

But yeah, the rest is rather suggestive of AS, but that is by no means a certainty.

1/ What about small-talk? The question "Hi, how are you?" causes me to answer precisely how I am (hungry, cold, tired) and maybe what happened to get to that. Then not ask how the other human is. Instead the "correct" answer is "Fine thanks, how are you?"
I remember at school being teased for not responding correctly to the social ritual.
I also hate "Is everything all right?".

2/ Have you ever decided you might the an alien on the wrong planet? I did that 25 years ago (yes long before this website) and even suggested it to people I knew, out of frustration. Before that I decided I might be the "creature from the black lagoon."