Who here has Aspergers Syndrom? | Forums

[Jeff433]

I can't really tell if I have social anxiety disorder, adult add. But now I am leaning towards aspergers syndrome because I have almost ALL of the syndromes. Actually the only syndromes I DON'T have are: solemn/serious expression (I have a tendency to smile all the time even though i don't know why), unusual play patterns e.g. lining toys up or taking them apart, and maybe naivity, tendency to read factual rather than fiction books. I don't become extremely anxious. All the other syndromes i DO have.

kinda concerned now

--Tor`na Makesh

[maztec]

Aspergers is over-diagnosed, over-assumed, and over-generalized.

Aspergers is not a single disorder but a collection of disorders.

You can not have just a few of the symptoms within the aspergers repertoire and have "aspergers". You must have (if I remember correctly) four out of six of the minimum requirements and you must display them in ALL aspects of your life. If you only display them in large social gatherings but not with small intimate groups -- it's quite likely you're just shy.

Why do I know anything about Aspergers? Because on top of my mother being an Autism specialist (Aspergers is essentially high-functioning Autism) for most of my life -- I have also spent quite a bit of time studying both Aspergers and Autism.


Anyway, fun fact for the evening. Where is the largest concentration of Aspergers syndrome suffering (quite a few diagnosed) people?

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Microsoft. Apparently their hiring policies coupled with the type of work and the way people do their work within said environment results in a very high occurrence of people with social disfunctions such as Aspergers.

Finally, if you have been living yoru fine just hunky-dory so far. Don't worry about whether you have Aspergers or not. You start worrying about what social disorder might be wrong with you, you'll turn yourself into a hypochondriac just by the sure volume of disorders and diseases out there that either partially or fully look and feel like you.

Not to mention self-diagnosis is a very hard thing to do. You might be right, but you're just as likely to be wrong.

Nothing wrong with having Aspergers, Autism, ADD, ADHD, SAD, or any of the other buzz-words for some social disorder or another. Not to make light of if you really do or don't have it. It just happens that worrying about all of this is worse than having it.



Maztec

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If this is one of my postings and I have not said it's "official news", provided a quoted source for reference to the news, or directly indicated that I am moderating the thread. Then I am posting as a fellow user.

[sowkrdan]

I would disagree with the idea that the disorder is being overly diagnosed, but definitely agree that self-diagnosis can easily happen.

We all have our autistic moments when we aren't quite connecting with other people, but it needs to be a pervasive problem, evidenced in all aspects of a person's life. The bottom line is that if you are functioning appropriately and successfully in your life, then you, by definition, do not have a problem.

Also, if you own every piece of Myst related product from books and games to clothing. If you go to Mysterium every year and have your own fan site, then you are realistically just a Myst super-fan. Although, your spouses and family may disagree.

Aspergers may be the diagnosis du jour for clinicians, but that doesn't mean that it is overly diagnosed. It might mean that they are finally getting it right. Ok, Mr. Smith, Your child has ADHD, no wait he has Bi-polar Disorder, no wait he has Oppositional Defiant Disorder, no come to think of it he has Reactive Attachment Disorder, Dis-inhibited Type.

Hey doc, how about Aspergers since it is the one diagnosis that encompasses the behaviors that are touched on in the previous four disorders?

The biggest problem with accurately diagnosing the syndrome is that an "Aspie" can look "normal" in a one-to-one session with a physician or clinician. A doctor or therapist is usually pleased to have such a "grown-up" child to speak with who can articulate himself so well. They forget that this is usually part of the diagnosis! They also tend to start with a TOVA or some other test to determine attention deficit. Just because a child with rigid thinking and fixed interests is not interested in your topic of conversation or your testing instrument, does not make them ADD!

Did you stop to notice that the kid kept going off topic to talk about train schedules? Did you check your ego at the door and realize that just because the kid is not focusing on your topic, this does not mean that there is an attention deficit? Maybe you are just boring!

Maztec, I want to make sure that you understand that I am not attacking you or the work of your mother. My wife and I spent years trying to get an accurate diagnosis for my step-son and I currently work with students in a special education school, some of which have the symptoms, but aren't diagnosed offically. Also, I have not come into contact with any student that has been officially diagnosed, that does not actually demonstrate the necessary minimimum amount of symptoms. I also would strongly advocate to their doctor if the diagnosis seemed incorrect.

For everyone else out there, these posts are also an example of the philosphical and theoretical differences within the mental health field regarding what is and is not Aspergers. Although, I clearly have strong opinions; I am not discrediting anyone else's and welcome the debate.


Teledahn Allergy Sufferer
KI: 00062605 (Katran)
'landogardner (in cavern)

[maztec]

sowkrdan No offense taken at all <g>.

Very good post <G>.

Maz

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If this is one of my postings and I have not said it's "official news", provided a quoted source for reference to the news, or directly indicated that I am moderating the thread. Then I am posting as a fellow user.

[Jeff433]

I think i will just stick with add

--Tor`na Makesh

[Kativla]

I don't like to self-diagnose.

I have symptoms, but I find technical stuff utterly boring and I couldn't stand reading mostly nonfiction as opposed to fiction.

I don't see how creative and independent thinker really goes with literalists that like technical stuff...

[dnilinguist]

Well, I have never been diagnosed, but I talked recently with a lady who has Asperger's and she said it sounds like I may have it. But I really am not sure, since I am often a hypochondriac. But for example, taking from StrScape3000's post:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Do you have problems telling when someone is teasing you?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes, and sometimes it makes me feel a bit neurotic. I have trouble with people teasing me, though, because even if they are, it makes me feel bad.(1)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Do you feel more comfortable with computers than with people?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes. (2)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Do you want friends but don't seem to have the ability to make them?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes^25! (3)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Do you have trouble making eye contact with people when you are talking to them?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I did have trouble with this for a long time, but I am getting better at it, although it still is unnerving, because I don't know how long of contact is appropriate. (4)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Do you make up your own words (i.e. your own language)?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
YES! I was amazed that this was often part of Asperger's, because I have been making up languages of my own for a long time. And now I am learning German, Russian, starting Hieroglyphics, and D'ni. (5)

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>do you feel like an outsider, always looking in.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
*sigh* Yes. (6)


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I have learned to hide out, always presenting something different to whomever I happen to be with.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I often am at a loss for what to talk about with people, because I don't know on which level I should answer. Do they want to know how I'm feeling, or are they just asking out of casual conversation? It often feels like I am wearing a mask over the "real" me. (7?)

I also have some small sensory difficulties, like having difficulties sleeping with any lights on or noise, and people who know me say that I display obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

But, I have never been diagnosed, so I have nothing concrete to go by. Do I count?

[stellaflora]

Yes, I think you do count. Not everybody with Aspergers Syndrom is diagnosed. Do go to the "Asperger Norfolk" website to find out more (there are several pages to look though but there should be links at the top of the page) I look forward to hearing about more people with aspergers syndrom

It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Stellaflora [Field Investigator]

Who here has Aspergers Syndrome? Got any Silly Pics?

[sowkrdan]

that's you, bud...

dnilinguist, I am giving you an official, clinical thumbs up on a diagnosis.

A couple of things to remember, too...

Everyone with Aspergers is just as much of an individual as anyone else, so a person with a diagnosis will not fit into a cookie cutter set of behaviors and experiences.

You don't have to have all of the symptoms and you don't have to have all of them to the same extent as another person.

Also, there can be residual cases of Aspergers, where people have sort of grown out of it through life experience and maturity and body chemistry changes.

A final thought....

Jeffrey Dahmer&lt;&lt;&lt;..........&gt;&gt;&gt;Bill Gates

Same diagnostic profile, very different people. Maybe the same barber, but that's just a guess.


Teledahn Allergy Sufferer
KI: 00062605 (Katran)
'landogardner (in cavern)

[woodlouse]

I am an aspie. This is Linkin' Imp, BTW.