I think I might be schizotypal

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- every time I sit in a lecture at uni I seem to think that there is a hidden meaning behind it for me
- I watched this episode in law and order and they showed this murderer and I interpreted that again in reference to me (more specifically they showed this person with more sever autistic traits than me - the stereotyped version and I took it to mean that It is a message to say that I am a fake)
- I do not have many friends
- I have had paranoid thoughts before and I even asked my university to destroy my records and requested I be able to at least see them since they told me they cannot destroy it.
- When I used to read the news headlines I used to think it is referring to me.
- I prefer to be alone
- I have been told that my essay was vague toward the middle one time.

However:
- I do not dress up weirdly
- I do not have odd beliefs such as telepathy (just odd interpretations)
- I do not have any odd perceptions Such as illusions
- I don't think I have odd speech patterns

Okay, as far as thinking a lecture has a meaning for you, maybe you have an artistic view of life? A mystical view, a little like a zen master?

And about people maybe thinking you're not really on the spectrum and a fake, I get that all the time. My Dad (not on great terms with) thinks I'm not "really" austistic or not "really" Asperger's, that everyone thinks they don't fit in, etc, etc. Well, it's a little bit different for me.

There have been a number of times in my life when I did not really have a single friend. I am developing a friendship now but it's a little bit of a struggle in that my friend is a Christian and I am atheist/agnostic.

I am also suspicious of institutions, and I don't like institutions defining and deciding for me. I think most so-called 'normal' people (cough, cough) have a much higher threshold before they will object.

You know, I wish there were a counselor people could just go to and talk with, who didn't feel such a heavy need to label. Maybe a minister with a Unitarian church, although I haven't been too impressed the times I've attended.

You could very well have schizotypal personality disorder. You should be evaluated by a psychiatrist.

And take it with a grain of salt. I mean, psychiatrists are not some kind of high priests who walk upon the Earth. They are human, very human.

Some psychiatrists are good, some not so good. I recommend, take it in a series of medium steps and trust your gut.

I don't think I have enough to classify as schizotypal as I am not overly eccentric but I do think I have schizotypal traits.

Also in one of my developmental psychology lectures, I remember my lecturer saying that autistic people tend to be egocentric which is where the word autism got it's name (I also thought that refered to me).

A clinical psychologist would be very helpful. My impression of the U.S. system is that clinical psychologists do more

A clinical psychologist gave me an axis II diagnosis of Schizotypal, but I don't really don't know what it means so much - I just focus on getting/feeling better. Focusing in the illnesses and their definitions/symptoms makes me depressed.

OK Schizotypal is so close to looking like Aspergers it's not even funny. If you have a diagnosis of an Autism spectrum disorder than you may have some traits but not enough to warrant a DX of schizotypal. I personally think schizotypal is an incredibly useless diagnosis unless you want to change or somehow benefit from psychiatric treatment.

According to the DSM's criteria for schizotypal disorder I have some of the symptoms. I too prefer to be alone and hold beliefs that many people may find unorthodox. However, define "odd beliefs". How is someone who believes in telepathy and UFO's any more "odd" than someone who believes some deity watches over us? How is someone who believes in ghosts and new age thought any more "odd" than someone who believes some guy who lived 2,000 years ago came back to life three days after he was executed? I'm not trying to offend but I find the criteria somewhat biased.

Schizotypal; is among the schizophrenia spectrum. It measures potential progression of schizophrenia w/o psychosis.

As for OP; you do not have it.
I myself am merely 'schizoid PD', although I was given that DX during a time i was admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric facility. In other words, i wanted to get out and go home, so feigning as normal was a priority. Truly, I have Asperger's, as stated by my psychologist and psychiatrist i met later on. But, would never want association of this pandemic dX.

I feel most of those DX'ed with Aspergers are like OP, hasty to make speculation, thus overt reality. Schizoid PD, itself, used to be Aspergers of children and adolescents. Did anyone know that? Probably not.

The truth is, I have had OCD + Transient Tics since age 6, speech impediment unto grade 3, chronic insomnia for last 5 years, social anxiety since age 9, and terrible interpersonal skills spanning my entire life. I can honestly state, I can count the number of friends I have had throughout my 19 years of life all on 1 hand.

On the other hand, it would be nice to accept DX of Asperger's, to have the unyielding, unrestricted access of making fun of those who supposedly do?

Student: *raises hand to ask a question*
AS Kid : Have you ever heard of a textbook; read it!
Student: Will you stop being so rude...
AS Kid: Sorry, it is not my fault. I have Asperger's.
Me: Excuse the Asperger's kid, unable to restrain from mental instability, shouting exclamation rants is quite common.
AS Kid: Your not allowed to discriminate me, I have Aspergers!
Me: As so do I....

Many people are using it as an excuse, it's prevalence has grown infamously.

Last edited by jesseiNhD on 17 Nov 2011, 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Do your homework. The definition is defined as a variable, dependent on multiple factors; social influences, geographical location, preserved culture, etc. Religion does not account for 'odd beliefs' within the DSM's criteria, what constitutes as 'odd' is abnormality in relationship to the given society + external factors.

Wikipedia is your friend.

From what I know about schizotypal, you sound too much on the paranoid side to have it. No offense, but that's closer to a mild form of schizophrenia.

There seems to be a lot of talk on this site about people using it as an excuse, yet in real life I don't really see this at all.

The question is, how many of those with Aspergers in real life do you actually know?
I have read your previous posts, it seems like you hardly go outside, and in 1 post you voluntarily admitted to social anxiety. It only brings to surface great skepticism to the idea of your statistic.