Which Am I?

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I know that it doesn't really matter, but I still can't help wondering.

I can't seem to figure out if what I have is better categorized as asperger's, schizotypal, or schizoid. And I also can't figure out if I was born with this condition, or if I became (aspie, schizotypal, or schizoid).

From what I can tell, I was born with ADHD and a tendency toward depression. I did "stimming" things when I was little, like walking on my toes and lining things up. I'm gifted, so I was hypersensitive and highly empathetic when I was little. I'm still sensory hypersensitive, but I have lower empathy now.

I'm running out of time to right this, but I'll finish what I was saying later.

I went to a school that didn't have any programs for gifted kids, so I was bored out of my mind most of the time. I entered a really deep, existential depression between the ages of seven and thirteen. There were severe medical issues in the family, so I often couldn't attend social events or join groups.

Here's the symptoms at this point. Various diagnostic criterias for Asperger's syndrome require some combination of the following: lack of language delay, lack of cognitive developmental delay, lack of self-help skill delay, impaired nonverbal communication, few friendships, repetitive or stereotyped behavior, all-absorbing interests, routines or rituals, odd speech, motor clumsiness, and isolated special skills.

lack of language delay -- yes
lack of cognitive developmental delay -- yes
lack of self-help delay -- yes
impaired nonverbal communication -- Not exactly. I fail to read body language simply because I don't notice it. I just find paying attention to nonverbal cues to be counterintuitive. I can read body language fairly well when I put effort into it.
few friendships -- yes, but I'm very close to my family
repetitive or sterotyped behavior -- I lined thing up and walked on my toes when I was a little kid, today as an adult I tend to do things like listen to the same song over and over again, etc.
all-absorbing interests -- It's a stretch, but I'm going to say "yes". I tend to become interested in anything and everything that catches my attention. Once in a while, however, I will develop a special interest. At the moment, it's Doctor Who.
routines or rituals -- no, I've actually observed that I have trouble following routines and schedules.
odd speech -- This is open to interpretation. IHAVEALOUDVOICEANDTENDTOSPEAKQUICKLYSOISOUNDLIKETHISISREALLIFESOMETIMES.
I'm almost always coherent, however.
motor clumsiness -- yes, definitely
isolated special skills -- nothing savant-like, but I'm very good at writing

So, definite aspie traits, but it's not perfect.

Right, on to schizotypal personality disorder. For someone to be diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder, they must meet at least five of the following criteria:
Incorrect interpretations of events, including a feeling that something innocuous has a direct personal meaning -- More or less, yes. I do believe that God can manipulate otherwise random data (such as the output of random number generators) to be meaningful to the person who intercepts that data. This isn't an uncommon belief among my denomination, and remember that the psychiatric community has not only been generally atheistic, but actively hostile to religious beliefs.
Odd beliefs or magical thinking that's inconsistent with subcultural norms -- Like I said, most of my beliefs are consistent with my subculture. I do believe in things that might be considered odd, such as telepathy, supernatural entities, and that sort of thing. I would argue that this doesn't make me crazy, but then again, I would also argue that having a personality disorder doesn't necessary make you insane either.
Unusual perceptions, including illusions -- I have had this, but to a lesser extent. You know that feeling you get when the seams of your socks are twisted around? Periodically, I get that feeling when I'm barefoot; like the "seams" of my skin are twisted around. It's unsettling and a bit painful.
Suspicious or paranoid thoughts -- More or less, yes. This is only because I am easily startled (due to anxiety issues) and people think it's funny to sneak up on me.
Flat emotions, appearing aloof and isolated -- I can act warm, but I'm generally aloof and like to keep to myself a lot of the time. I have a more narrow emotional range than most people, but without having a flat or blunted affect. It's a trait that runs in the family.
Odd, eccentric, or peculiar behavior or appearance -- Sure.
Lack of close friends or confidants other than relatives -- YES!
Excessive social anxiety that doesn't diminish with familiarity -- Ummm... no.

For schizoid personality disorder, at least four of the following criteria have to be met:
Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family -- Not at all. I would like to have more friends, and I enjoy having a close relationship with one or two friends at a time. I am extremely loyal and attached to my family. On the other hand, I seem to need a lot of time alone. A really good day for me is one where I spend the majority of my time by myself doing something I enjoy, then watching a movie or something with a friend or family member.
Almost always chooses solitary activities -- Yes, although this is more because I find it difficult to cooperate with other people.
Little, if any, sexual experiences with another person -- True.
Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities and rarely experience strong emotions -- Not at all. I have a narrower emotional range than most people, but I still experience joy, sadness, and anxiety. I have no anger though. Can't figure that out.
Doesn't have any close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives -- YES!
Seems not to care about praise or criticism -- I wouldn't say that. If anything, I'm extra sensitive to that sort of thing.
Seems emotionally cold, detached, or unexpressive -- no.



I'm confused. As far as I can tell, I'm a gifted person with ADHD who has been morphed into an aspie. Does it still count as AS if you become an aspie rather than being born an aspie?

You may be both Aspergers Autism AND a Schizoid Spectrum issue. Check out this link:

http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/43/19/20.2.full

Interesting stuff.

That study had 35 schizotypal college students, and 10 of them went on to develop schizophrenia. I'd theorize that there are two types of schizotypal: one that is more like a milder version of schizophrenia, and one that overlaps with autism. Very interesting stuff though.