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

[Hunter65416]

I've always had some pretty heavy social-anxiety around new people, I'm perfectly fine with people I've known for a long time. I guess its a mix of: feeling inferior, feeling like I wont have anything interesting to say and fear of embarrassment in general.. I just panic and seize up.

Most of the people that I'm completely comfortable with are fairly 'normal', outgoing, social, people.. You would never guess that I had any social-issues around them.. Admittedly I've known most of them for quite a long time (e.g since childhood or high school)

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.

Originally my doctor was going to put me on a second antidepressant, but after talking with me for 10-15 minutes (what I was like as a child,the mental process behind my anxiety,etc) she now suspects that I 'could' have Aspergers syndrome. She booked me an appointment with another doctor who specializes with aspergers (and other forms of autism) and advised that I did some research. Keep in mind that It was a very brief appointment, She doesn't specialize in austism and that she only thinks its a possibility.

From what I've read.. It seems pretty unlikely, I only really fit the social-anxiety characteristics.. I don't have any intense interests, I don't have any sort of daily routine, I don't obsess over small details, I'm not overly sensitive to loud noises, I don't need to plan/organize things,etc.

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

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

No..I'm not going to diagnose myself based on an escapist thread I've got that specialist appointment in a couple of weeks..

Sorry if this threads a bit of a mess.. I had to throw it together on my phone

Thanks guys, Feel free to ask any questions

 

[Marter]

I'm going to agree with your doctor and say that you unequivocally could have Asperger's. I agree with your doctor because your doctor is a doctor and I know nothing more than what I saw in Adam, which was a sweet little film that I'll recommend to you, Asperger's or not.

I'm no help here.
But seriously, you should watch Adam.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

Aspergers can be pretty mild, and each case is different.

My little nephew has it and his room is a massive mess of Lego...

 

[Stormfire Rebellion]

You are right about the OCD side of Aspergers, which many doctors don't take into account. It is far more than just social anxiety. I have aspergers and what is harder for me is constant sensory overload. I think you should definitely see the specialist, as a fair number of people are getting misdiagnosed with Asperger's based solely on social difficulties.

 

[Doclector]

You are right about the OCD side of Aspergers, which many doctors don't take into account. It is far more than just social anxiety. I have aspergers and what is harder for me is constant sensory overload. I think you should definitely see the specialist, as a fair number of people are getting misdiagnosed with Asperger's based solely on social difficulties.

The OCD side can take many forms, though. Personally, I'm insanely superstitious. Especially about the number, the "unlucky for some" number. I'll go to pretty strange lengths to avoid it. I'll buy something I don't need just so I don't have that number of pounds in my wallet. I'll wait an extra minute to do something if it's that minute.

Hell, you've probably noticed i'm refusing to even type the number right now.

I also check things a lot. Stuff like locking doors, turning off ovens, everytime I so much as look at my wallet I check that none of my important cards fell out.

As for Aspergers, I'd guess you're being sent to a specialist to say for sure whether you have it or not. There is a lot of misdiagnosing in my opinion though. Seems these days you can't have a personality without some part of it being named as a disorder. Go to the specialist, and if you're really that unsure/bothered about it, ask for a second opinion.

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

I was diagnosed with Aspergers but really... i couldn't care less. I still don't see how i'm different than everyone else and it hardly matters in my everyday life.

 

[slarlath]

I work with children with the full spectrum of autism and can confirm that it is a spectrum and so every case is dramatically different. With that in mind it is possible that there is a level of Aspergers behind your social difficulty.
That being said from what you have said it does not sound like very likely, just a possibility that is worth checking.

I wouldn't worry if I were you. Whether you have it or not doesn't change anything about you as a person. It will however help you to understand how you respond to certain stresses and learn to manage them better.

 

[TrollFase]

You definitely fit the criteria as far as the OCD symptoms are concerned. I will say this however, Asperger's is a term doctors nowadays LOVE to throw around like a damned football. Back in the 90's Asperger's was ADD/ADHD and the "cure" was a steady dose of Ritalin (I speak from experience). That being said, you definitely fit most of the criteria for an Asperger's diagnoses, but you should really take the term "Asperger's" with a grain of salt at this point. Going back to the way docs/psychs love to toss around the term really damages the overall accuracy of diagnosing the condition on both and small and mass basis.

Just a personal opinion, I hope I do not offend anyone.

 

[FalloutJack]

Welcome, brother.

Hunter, I have Aspergers. More importantly, I know a fair deal about it. I am not, per se, an expert on the matter, but there is enough knowledge in this head of mine to say it's possible that you have a mild case of it with a blindspot to the everyday actions you believe are normal but other people perceive as 'off'. Let me explain myself by way of comparison.

{1} There are some things I do like a certain way, but no more so than being stubborn. I am still flexible.

{2} What OCD is has many subtle levels. My father is suppose to be OCD, but I tend to clean up after myself while he sometimes leaves a mess where he eats. I don't even consider myself OCD. It's just polite.

{3} I am anti-obsession, to the point where I find deep deep fanhoods to be wrong and demeaning sometimes, especially to the point where people start labeling you. One can like a thing without being considered obsessed with a thing.

There's more, but this is enough to bring it to a head: People with Autism/Aspergers perceive the world at different angles. Our actual mental connections, brain-wise, have been known to be slightly different. How much or at all is as varied as pebbles on the shore. It's one massive melange that you may or may not be a part of.

It is possible that if you see things differently from people that seem completely normal to you and wonder why everybody else isn't like THIS, this might be your diagnosis and the reason behind your social drawbacks. OR...you could just have anxieties. People do. My closing statement will just be that either one is NOT the end of the world and I hope you know that.

 

[Thaluikhain]

It's a spectrum, it's very easy to say that such and such might have a very, very mild form.

Perhaps you have a mild form, barely noticeable. Or perhaps you have a stronger form, not knowing you it's hard to say.

...

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

 

[Hunter65416]

You definitely fit the criteria as far as the OCD symptoms are concerned. I will say this however, Asperger's is a term doctors nowadays LOVE to throw around like a damned football. Back in the 90's Asperger's was ADD/ADHD and the "cure" was a steady dose of Ritalin (I speak from experience).

Its funny you should say that actually.. I was diagnosed with ADHD by the same doctor not too long ago..She first prescribed ritalin and later concerta (basically an extended release version of ritalin)

 

[Dr Jones]

Shit, I have those symptoms you described. I am just not comfortable around people I don't know. Parties are usually total hell for me, that's why I always get drunk. That way I don't care.

Good thing every person in my new class is just a delight to be around.

On the other hand, don't feel too bad. Bob Dylan might have Aspergers too! (It's a rumor).

 

[vun]

I'm gonna have to go with no. Since I'm just a random internet dweller, you know, the people you shouldn't really take serious medical advice from, I won't post why on an open forum, but if you're still interested in hearing why just shoot me a PM.

 

[TrollFase]

You definitely fit the criteria as far as the OCD symptoms are concerned. I will say this however, Asperger's is a term doctors nowadays LOVE to throw around like a damned football. Back in the 90's Asperger's was ADD/ADHD and the "cure" was a steady dose of Ritalin (I speak from experience).

Its funny you should say that actually.. I was diagnosed with ADHD by the same doctor not too long ago..She first prescribed ritalin and later concerta (basically an extended release version o

You definitely fit the criteria as far as the OCD symptoms are concerned. I will say this however, Asperger's is a term doctors nowadays LOVE to throw around like a damned football. Back in the 90's Asperger's was ADD/ADHD and the "cure" was a steady dose of Ritalin (I speak from experience).

Its funny you should say that actually.. I was diagnosed with ADHD by the same doctor not too long ago..She first prescribed ritalin and later concerta (basically an extended release version of ritalin)

I was in the same position a few years back during school, and the took the same approach to me. Concerta completely WIRED me (like pharmaceutical grade meth, for lack of a better term) so I had to drop it lest I run the risk of ending up on top of the Empire State building getting ready for the most retarded base jump ever or something of that sort. If I can ask a personal question, do you experience "mania's", that is to say, emotional "highs and lows"?

If the question is too personal feel free to tell me to back off.

 

[Kellogs Fried Chickn]

I'll agree with [user]vun[/user] and the like.
TBH, I wouldn't trust your doctor - I am assuming he is a general practitioner - if his first reaction is to put you on another set of medications before a consultation with a specialist. I hope you saw one before he put you on the first set.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Doctors get things wrong a lot especially if they are not specialists. A lot of them just seem to throw different sorts of drugs at you until you stop coming back. And even specialists you should not automatically assume that they have the right diagnosis and are giving you a treatment that is in your best interests. But I guess you should just see the specialist and keep an open mind. You are lucky to have access to people like that. Unless they just take one look at you, think you are a threat to society then lock you up and throw away the key. Which they are probably allowed to do.

 

[ryo02]

I wouldn't be surprised if I have it or something like it but never having been diagnosed I cant be sure one way or the other.

 

[Hunter65416]

do you experience "mania's", that is to say, emotional "highs and lows"

Not really, There are days where I think 'screw the world' and stay in bed.. but I'm pretty sure everyone has those occasionally.. As for mania side of things, cant say I really get that. There is a bit of bipolarity in my mothers side of the family but I'm pretty sure I dont have it

 

[Ingjald]

I was diagnosed with Aspergers age 19, now 25. What you describe is familiar to me, but not a dead giveaway in either direction. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just want to talk. cheers and good luck!

 

[irishmanwithagun]

I've always had some pretty heavy social-anxiety around new people, I'm perfectly fine with people I've known for a long time. I guess its a mix of: feeling inferior, feeling like I wont have anything interesting to say and fear of embarrassment in general.. I just panic and seize up.

Most of the people that I'm completely comfortable with are fairly 'normal', outgoing, social, people.. You would never guess that I had any social-issues around them.. Admittedly I've known most of them for quite a long time (e.g since childhood or high school)

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.

Originally my doctor was going to put me on a second antidepressant, but after talking with me for 10-15 minutes (what I was like as a child,the mental process behind my anxiety,etc) she now suspects that I 'could' have Aspergers syndrome. She booked me an appointment with another doctor who specializes with aspergers (and other forms of autism) and advised that I did some research. Keep in mind that It was a very brief appointment, She doesn't specialize in austism and that she only thinks its a possibility.

From what I've read.. It seems pretty unlikely, I only really fit the social-anxiety characteristics.. I don't have any intense interests, I don't have any sort of daily routine, I don't obsess over small details, I'm not overly sensitive to loud noises, I don't need to plan/organize things,etc.

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

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

No..I'm not going to diagnose myself based on an escapist thread I've got that specialist appointment in a couple of weeks..

Sorry if this threads a bit of a mess.. I had to throw it together on my phone

Thanks guys, Feel free to ask any questions

In my non-professional opinion it sounds like you're more likely to have Avoidant Personality Disorder. To give you the broad stroaks, AVPD is characterised by feelings of awkardness and anxiety, especially around people you aren't familiar with. The anxiety could also be linked to Schizotypal Personality Disorder but sufferers of it tend to also experience some distortion of their perceptions so it's not as likely.
I'd definately see a specialist about the matter but I hope the information has been of some use.