Poll: Doctor suspects I may have Aspergers Syndrome (Calling anyone who has Aspergers or knows about it)

[Something Amyss]

Aspergers apparently shares alot of OCD-like symptoms.. Which isn't like me at all..the house is a complete trash heap.

I have OCD and my place is a trash heap. I wouldn't preclude OCD, as it does not mean "clean freak" no matter what TV tells you.

Your doctor sounds like he's right in that it could be aspergers. I would certainly wait for the specialist you mentioned, though.

 

[Something Amyss]

If I have some intense obsessions, they change from week to week.

sounds like me.

"ponies ponies ponies ponies SQUIRREL!"

Actually, I dislike ponies, but...

 

[MammothBlade]

no worries, sorry if i sounded snappy. Psychatric disorders have to do wtih brain wiring and chemistry, psychological disorders deal with more abstract things like modes of behavour and thinking. while there is some overlap, there is enough distinction to warrant differentiating them.

also, it's true that there are varying degrees of Aspergers, but aspergers is by definition a milder variant of autism, so it's fair to say that most aspies can in fact function, especially if given the proper help.

That is...good to know. And it makes me wonder why I didn't hear about it before.
Because I think/thought that one part leads to the other, like logical internal screwups will have chemical consequences and vice versa.

That's what I think, chemical imbalances can just be a symptom of a screwed up thought process somewhere, or one thing might feed another, which then feeds something else, and loop in a vicious circle.

If I have some intense obsessions, they change from week to week.

sounds like me.

"ponies ponies ponies ponies SQUIRREL!"

Actually, I dislike ponies, but...

Battleships battleships battleships! Aircraft carriers aircraft carriers aircraft carriers! Submarines!!

 

[Daverson]

It doesn't sound like ASD, but it's difficult to say.

Simply judging by personality isn't a great way of figuring out if someone's autistic, because a lot of traits are pretty common outside ASD too. You need to consider if you have other ASD symptoms, such as hypersensitivity or synesthesia.

 

[antipirate]

I guess what I thought I knew about aspergers is wrong. I was under the impression that aspergers was similar to but distinct from autism in that It was characterized by an inability to read other peoples's emotions. That sort of definition hasn't come up here at all.

Wierd. It's great to learn I guess.

Regards,
Jordan

 

[Colour Scientist]

To be honest, it just kind of sounds like you suffer from anxiety and that can just be caused by a chemical imbalance.
If you're on anti-depressants for it, your doctor mustn't think it's debilitating enough to go on serious anti-anxiety medication. Have you gone to see a therapist about it?

You should obviously take your doctor's advice but I don't see where the leap to Asperger's is coming from.

 

[Joos]

OCD doesn't necessarily mean that you like to clean your room a lot. Go see the specialist and have a proper diagnose made. It can only help you in the long run.

Having slight asperger, or being nervous around strangers isn't all that uncommon really. Both are treatable, but getting the right treatment means getting a correct diagnose first.

 

[Colour Scientist]

You sound shy, I see no signs of Aspergers, seriously, I hate how everyone throws around the word "Aspergers" and immediately thinks "Socially inept loser"

Also this.

I guess what I thought I knew about aspergers is wrong. I was under the impression that aspergers was similar to but distinct from autism in that It was characterized by an inability to read other peoples's emotions. That sort of definition hasn't come up here at all.

Wierd. It's great to learn I guess.

Regards,
Jordan

It has a lot of different characteristics.

AS is a complex brain disorder and is seen as part of the Autistic Spectrum. Generally those affected by the condition have an IQ within the normal range but may have extremely poor social and communication skills. Common characteristics can be a lack of empathy, little ability to form relationships, one-sided conversations and an intense absorption with a special interest.
Sometimes movements can be clumsy. However, with the proper support people with AS can lead full and productive lives.There are a lot of symptoms connected with the condition and nobody will ever have all of the symptoms and no two people will ever have the same combination of symptoms. The majority of people with Asperger Syndrome will experience difficulties in developing their social, communication and emotional skills.

Asperger Syndrome or AS for short is part of the autistic spectrum and shares some of the same characteristics as autism. Many people with Asperger Syndrome experience impairments in the following areas: -

Social Interaction
Individuals can have problems interacting socially; they may seem quiet or be called loners. Some people with AS can appear socially inappropriate or naive.
Communication
Individuals can have problems with over elaborate or double meaning language and may interpret some things literally. Some people with Asperger Syndrome may need visual written back-ups and prompts.
Imagination
Individuals may be very rigid thinkers and relay a lot on timetables and routines. Some people with Asperger Syndrome will have problems grasping concepts that aren't very black and white. Asperger Syndrome was only confirmed as a distinct Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the early 1990's. Some professionals and members of the public have a limited understanding of Asperger Syndrome.

 

[Yopaz]

Oh, and a piece of advice, don't take advice from random net dwellers, especially medical advice on a gaming forum.

Pretty much this. Advice from strangers with no possibility to make sure they know what they are talking about is a bad idea.

OT: Your doctor knows your condition better than any of us and got an objective view of you unlike you so I would trust the doctor's hunch first here. However I feel like everyone who doesn't conform to "proper" behaviour are diagnosed just to make them fit in somehow so I rarely trust a diagnosis on mental health.

If you do happen to have it though it's not the worst condition you could have. There are lots of companies around here who only hire people with Asperger's.

 

[excalipoor]

Yeah... I'm not going to fight your doctor over this, but you sound like a spitting image of me, and no doctor, therapist or psychologist I've seen has ever even suggested Asperger's. She's probably just throwing shit on the wall to see what sticks. Even Greg House did it all the time, and he was way smarter than any real doctor!

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

I dunno. It's possible. You should definitely see the specialist. It's not like the diagnosis will change anything about you.

My school's social worker thought I had Asperger's. Nothing really ever came out of it, but it doesn't really matter to me. I do share a couple symptoms, such as the obsessiveness about little things and my social anxiety. I do have sort of intense interests, but they vary. I'm really not sure about the empathy thing. Like, I don't seem to have a lack of it, but how can I tell, since I've never felt any differently? I'm also a bit sensitive to noises, but that's what the headphones are for.

Honestly, though, does it really change anything? It's just another label that people will slap onto you. If it does turn out that you have Asperger's, then what?

 

[Folji]

Snip

Sounds like autism, sounds like autism, doesn't sound like autism, kinda like autism, definitely autism, wonder what you said that made her change opinion, kind of not like autism... sure you're not just that comfortable around other people? Or, well, that's one of the key bits of aspergers. Tons of strangers everywhere and you get that weird feeling crawling on, feeling like you just want to get out of there? Want to talk to someone about something but can't seem to break through and do it? Got that one thing, or those few things, that you just love to find out all you can about and bask in like there's no tomorrow?

It's just a word on a piece of paper. Doesn't have to affect you in any way. Great company to be in if you do have the syndrome, though! Feels like every other person on this site does.

 

[soren7550]

I'd say it's 50/50. Then again, I'm not a real doctor.

I was apparently diagnosed with Asperger's in High School (I say apparently only because I didn't find out until years later) and what you've said about yourself sounds very similar to me. I do have the intense interests and OCD like tendencies, but I also leave things a mess all the time (you can't find the desk due to all the crap on it).

 

[Hyper-space]

I'm okay in some situations.. for example If I was hanging out with a friend and one of his friends, (Assuming its the right kind of person) I'll gradually become more comfortable, As for being stuck in a room with 15 people I don't know.. complete hell.

Dude, this right here is pretty normal, I'm a pretty well-adjusted person socially, but hanging out with 15 random people I don't know fucking sucks.

 

[Zyst]

Social anxiety =/= Aspergers, I see a lot of my American friends saying they got ADHD and all kinds of shit and all are taking a ton of pills a day... I dunno, but here in Mexico it's not like that.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

ust because you're socially awkward doesn't mean you have a psychological syndrome that makes you unable to function in life.

and no one has even talked about such a thing: Asperger's is a psychiatric disorder, not a psychological one. and aspies are perfectly capable of functioning, thank you very much.

I am sorry for my ignorance/bad wording on that part, I guess.
Actually, what IS the difference of psychological problems and psychiatric problems?
Never heard of the latter.
Also I've seen enough Aspberger's cases that somewhat back my statement up.

no worries, sorry if i sounded snappy. Psychatric disorders have to do wtih brain wiring and chemistry, psychological disorders deal with more abstract things like modes of behavour and thinking. while there is some overlap, there is enough distinction to warrant differentiating them.

There's a full overlap - thinking IS chemistry. What else would it be?

 

[NiPah]

(I) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

(A) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(B) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(C) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(D) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

(II) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects


(III) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

(IV) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)

(V) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

(VI) Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia."

It's not really if they think you have it or not, it's if you meet the given requirements set up by the DSM IV TR and if your symptoms meet enough of a clinical level to warrant a diagnosis.

 

[busterkeatonrules]

I've been professionally diagnosed with Asperger's, and my own symptoms are very similar to what you describe.

The thing to remember is that Asperger's, as well as the accompanying OCD, hits different people in wildly different ways. Personally, I find that any place where I spend signifigant amounts of time will soon be drowning in random clutter - but any time I type anything here, I double-check any facts, triple-check the sentence structure and quadruple-check all grammar and spelling for quite a while before posting!

 

[Xaio30]

So.. From what I've described, Does that sound like Aspergers?

I'll do my best to define my Aspergers from a diagnosed's point of view and you can yourself reflect on if you have it or not. Aspergers itself is a wide spectrum from what I've experienced, but I think I've found some core elements of it after some of my self-studies.

Example one, Imagine you are at point A and want to get to point B. A "normal" person would in this case pick path 1 for whatever reason, and think of it as the most obvious thing to choose. A person with Aspergers would likewise choose path 2 and think of it as the most obvious, not even shedding a thought about path 1. Both paths lead to the same goal, but the execution is different. This can often lead to misinterpreting of instructions and the likes between two people.

Example two, routines and habits, both rational and somewhat silly, plays a big part from an early age. With routines comes an addictive sense of safety that you begin to long for, consciously or not. You may grow aware of these overwhelming feelings in your earlier teens and may use them as ways to make chores easier, something I had much use of.

Example three, a person with Aspergers is not necessarily socially inept because of his diagnose, but rather because he has a lesser inherent need for companionship. He may rather be alone than with friends on a weekend because that way he does not need to force himself to interpret the world around him through path 1, something that I've found takes a great toll on my mental stamina through the days.

Example four, idioms are easily misunderstood because if their interpretative nature. A person with Asperger might interpret "let's skip food" as actually jumping over a plate with food on it, or "make a point of" as if the person saying it would turn something into a physical point.

If you can confidently say that you identify with these examples, then you probably have Aspergers Syndrome.
That's all the help I can give.