Asperger's Syndrome?

[Vampyremage]

I'm just wondering if anyone around here has any expereince in Asperger's Syndrome, either if they themselves have it or if they have someone close to them with it? The reason I ask is because I suspect I may have it and I'm thinking of getting myself tested in the near future. My bf is an Aspie and it was when we first met that I began researching the syndrome in order to know more about him. But the more I read and the more I spent time around him, the more similarities I saw between myself and the traits common in Asperger's. I'm not exactly sure what getting tested will do for me, overall, except that I have a burning desire to know whether or not I do have it or not. I'm especially curious to know what the formal tests are like, if anyone has experience with those.

[Vdougie]

What makes you think you have aspergers? Sometimes, I think I might have it too, but on a very mild level. I have poor social skills, I'm lost in my own world most of the time, and I have interests in weird things. If you want to know more about aspergers. You should visit this page My link. I know that Wikipedia is not considered an academic source, but it is very useful.

[00101010]

If you want to learn more about it head over to Wrong Planet. There are lots of threads about getting diagnosed and you can ask people there what the diagnosis is like.

[Vampyremage]

There are a lot of different traits that I have that are common with Asperger's. I base this both on my own independent researcy and on comparing notes with my bf who is officially diagnosed. The social aspects are most common. I have always had difficulty with social interaction, I rarely make eye contact with anyone unless I really focus on doing so and even then eye contact makes me kind of uncomfortable, its difficult for me to read non-verbal cues, although I have improved in that regard after a great deal of effort in doing so. I sometimes become completely overwhelmed in social situations. While I've never had a panic attack, I have had an undeniable urge to leave a given situation, particularly when there are many people around.

In regards to some of the other traits, I definately prefer my routines although I'm not sure how severe that preference is. I am constantly fidgetting and have relatively confined interests. I've been told that the way I speak and construct my sentences is a little unusual, although I couldn't really pin down why. I know that I have a fairly limited range of vocal inflections, however.

I even have some of the unusual sensitivies that I've heard are common among aspies. I don't have problems with clothing or touch, although I don't like to be touched by anyone other than the person I'm with. However, I have issues with touching anything that I consider to be slimy or slippery feeling and have had these issues since I was a little child. I remember in kindergarden not wanting to do paper mache because I didn't like to touch it.

I have poor handwriting and always have and have always been clumsy when it comes to things like catching or throwing things. I'm not certain if, other than that, my motor skills are abnormal in any fashion. I know when I was younger people used to comment on the odd way that I walked because I sort of bounced when I did so, which was apparently unusual.

Because I appear to have so many of the traits, that's pretty much why I want to get tested. Just so I know for certain, one way or another.

[00101010]

Those are all aspie traits and you do seem like you have it. The following are two widely used tests you could do if you haven't done yet: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html and http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php. Though they do not substitute a diagnosis they can really help you figure out some things for yourself.

[Vampyremage]

Thanks Battlesword, I'll take a look at the site you linked me too. I've taken those tests as well and results seem to indicate that there is a possibility that I may have it.

[Sadfairy]

If you want to learn more about it head over to Wrong Planet. There are lots of threads about getting diagnosed and you can ask people there what the diagnosis is like.

Hah I was going to suggest wrong planet as well.

I have aspergers Syndrome, diagnosed. if you weish to talk feel free to PM me.

[Vampyremage]

Sadfairy, I have sent you a PM. I have also spent some time look at Wrong Planet. I think that I am going to attempt to get diagnosed, that way at least I'll know one way or another. There are apparently at least two places in my area that do assessments on adults so I'm going to try and give them a call tomorrow. Hopefully they might give me an idea what to expect or, for that matter, if its even worth it try try and get the diagnoses.

That's really the main concern of mine, whether its worth it to have the diagnoses or not and from the threads I've begun reading, its not such an uncommon question among adult potential-aspies. The thing is, I've developed enough coping techniques that I am more or less able to function adequately in day to day life. I know, however, that I do have certain difficulties that I'm not sure that most people have, mainly related to socialization. I'm still a bit conflicted, however. After all, how do I truly know if my difficulties are any more difficult than the average person's challenges? Maybe I'll get some more answers once I actually talk to a professional.

[bodum]

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[Vampyremage]

Well I just contacted what seemed to be the main place in my city for doing testing. Hopefully I'll be going in for a pre-assessment interview sometime in the next couple of weeks. I'm a little nervous about it, but I think its the right thing to do, if nothing else than just for the peace of mind of knowing one way or another.

[oneofthesun]

There are a lot of different traits that I have that are common with Asperger's. ...

Hmmm, I didn't know that all those traits were associated with Asperger's. I used to have all of them, although I've gotten over some. My mom told me I was tested for "autism" when I was young, but they said I didn't have it. Would Asperger's have been included in such a test, I wonder? This was close to 30 years ago...

[Deremna]

I do not have Asperger's but I find it nearly impossible not to take a survey/test when presented with one. Posted the results below. Just like with the androgyny and sexuality tests, I fall somewhere in the middle.

Your Aspie score: 108 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 105 of 200

You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

Keep us updated on what happens with the interview and the testing..

[Vampyremage]

I do not have Asperger's but I find it nearly impossible not to take a survey/test when presented with one. Posted the results below. Just like with the androgyny and sexuality tests, I fall somewhere in the middle.

Your Aspie score: 108 of 200

Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 105 of 200

You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

Keep us updated on what happens with the interview and the testing..

I'll see if I can track down my results for that particular test. I've taken it before and have it posted on another foum, its just a matter of finding it lol. I am scheduled for a pre-assessment interview tomorrow morning, so I'll definitely update when I have the results of that. I'm pretty nervous, although I'm not really sure if I should be or not. Oh well, we'll see how it goes. I'm glad I have a supportive bf there to help me along the way.

[Vampyremage]

I have gotten back from my assessment. I spoke to the psychologist for about an hour and a half. Basically his conclusion was that I have a lot of Asperger's traits but because I had learned to cope with them sufficiently to have a relatively functional life, he didn't feel it would be beneficial to actually give me the Asperger's label. He said that there were those who probably would have given me the label, but just didn't feel that it was worth it.

Having had a chance to reflect on the experience, I can certainly see where he was coming from. On the one hand, mostly I do live a relatively functional life. There are certainly things I struggle with, such as anxiety related to certain social occasions, but I live independently and don't suffer from major depression, although depression has been an issue in the past. On the other hand, before I went there I wrote down a list of things that I meant to mention. Some of them I did, but some of them I didn't. Most prominently, I forgot to mention my extreme difficulty in actually connecting to people and forming lasting and meaningful relationships. I'm not sure if mentioning that would have made much of a difference anyway, as the underlying fact that I live a mostly functional life is still true.

I haven't decided if I am going to go back to see him or not yet. I was told about some resources to deal with my anxiety related issues which I definitely plan to check out. I still haven't decided exactly what I feel about the whole experience. I understand not wanting to label me because I have managed to become a mainly independent and, at least on the surface, well adjusted adult, however I still have these difficulties that it doesn't seem like most people have. Its hard to know, however, if most people don't have them, simply don't have them to the same degree, or if I actually do struggle more with certain things than most other people. Most aren't willing to openly talk about the struggles they have in life and those places in which people do talk about them are almost always places in which people are going for help for those particular issues. For example, going to an Asperger's site to learn about Asperger's traits. There are no sites (that I am aware of) for the average person to go to inquire about things like social anxiety in order to establish whether a problem is in the normal range or not. Because I know that everyone has problems but few people seem willing to talk about them.

I'm not even entirely sure what a diagnoses of Asperger's would have really done for me, one way or another. I was told that I have many of the traits, which doesn't surprise me. If I had gone a decade earlier I suspect I would have gotten a different response because its only been through massive personal effort that I have managed to make the improvements in my life and social skills that I have. Either way life goes on, as it always has.

[shouzensetsu]

I was diagnosed with it when I was twelve but it soon became apparent that it was completely wrong and we just discarded it. I'm completely aware of social norms, I just chose not to follow them. I can pick up signals from people very well. I may be weird but not in the way someone with Asperger's is. No offense to those who have it.

[Vampyremage]

I was diagnosed with it when I was twelve but it soon became apparent that it was completely wrong and we just discarded it. I'm completely aware of social norms, I just chose not to follow them. I can pick up signals from people very well. I may be weird but not in the way someone with Asperger's is. No offense to those who have it.

I am a lot better now with social norms and reading non-verbal cues than I used to be, but as I mentioned that improvement is due to great effort on my part. I am highly introspective and whenever I see a flaw in myself, I seek to improve it. Sometimes I succeed in that improvement and sometimes I don't. My social issues I think are something that I've always been aware of, although it wasn't until high school that I started actually taking steps to improve them. The few close friends that I had at that time helped immensely as they were willing to tolerate (and maybe in some cases embrace) my oddities. Just having people to interact with on a regular basis helped a lot. Its only in the last few years, however, that I really feel like I've gotten things enough to get along in society. Finally gaining my independence (after more than one false start and period of fleeing back to my father's) I think is something that's helped immensely.

[Member33070]

I've suspected it a lot but I've been tested and they don't think I'm an Aspie. But they've been toying with ideas that I have ADHD (half of my doctors think I do, half don't, because I score so insanely high on the tests and then have one area that's just "above average" instead of 99% perfect, and discrepancies in specific areas can indicate it), mild OCD (probably brought on by being raised by a bipolar/OCD mother), and mild depression (probably genetic/another thing I was raised with to some degree).

[Deremna]

But they've been toying with ideas that I have ADHD (half of my doctors think I do, half don't, because I score so insanely high on the tests and then have one area that's just "above average" instead of 99% perfect, and discrepancies in specific areas can indicate it), mild OCD (probably brought on by being raised by a bipolar/OCD mother), and mild depression (probably genetic/another thing I was raised with to some degree).

I have this problem, too.. My psychologist was pretty sure I had ADHD along with my bipolar 2, but they had me do these weird ass tests and I am apparently not ADHD because I put colored beads on wooden pegs quickly. I say it's because I play a shitload of video games. *shrug*

[Vampyremage]

As a somewhat random and only semi-related question, how does one decide to see a psychologist regularly? For those that do, of course, Is it something that's been occuring since childhood? If not, what's that point when one decides that its necessary? When I went to see one just that one time, I felt so weird doing so. Usually I just try to solve my own problems, some of which I'm successful at making progress against and some of which I wish I was more successful at. But where is that line of needing someone else to help? How does one know if one has normal or beyond normal problems?

[chelseagirl84]

I took the test, and it looks like I have it. Also, my best friend (who has Asperger's) keeps on saying that I probably have it. Looks like I should go to a professional and get a formal diagnosis.

[tpjfin]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome couple of years back. I'm sparing everyone from my life story since birth until tomorrow, but if you have anything to ask, just PM me. It was really bad when it was originally "found"/diagnosed, but has since got better with therapy - I don't know if it's possible (or even needed) to be "cured", but professionals really helped me. :)

[purin172003]

OMG...I think I have Asperger's Syndrome

The poor social skills, the not being touched thing, the mild panic attacks around overwhelming situations

If diagnosed, will I have to take meds?

[Reader of Strange Books]

No, you do not "have" to take meds, although doctors may encourage you to take them. That is entirely up to you. Some Aspergers' people find them helpful. I do not, so I do not take them. And I do all right on my own. My story is similar to Vampyreimage in that I pretty much learned to adapt on my own. As my doctor says, "You hide it very, very well." I have not gone and gotten a full-blown psych. workup for the main reason that it is expensive and may not be covered by insurance, also, there really is no point to getting diagnosed at this late date as there are no resources in my area for adults with Aspergers and I probably am too well adjusted to benefit much if there was.

[platypuffin]

I have been diagnosed with autism at 6 and 4 years ago they have changed the diagnosis to Asperger's Syndrome. I personally don't really care and I never really fully understood it. I went through tons and tons of books on the subject and all I could conclude was: "I have it. I do that. I don't do this". But it's all so vague, it describes everyone to a certain extent. I never really got on with my fellow auties and I'm not very active inside the community any more.

How does one decide to see a psychologist regularly?

As I said I was diagnosed pretty early. My mother knew I was really odd ,but she never attempted to make any appointments with specialists. It's only in my last year of pre-school that it has been advised to look into it and so I got a label in the end. I have only attempted therapy for about a year. I was young and didn't understood exactly what was going on and why I am doing these things so it's pretty irrelevant.

The next time I had to visit a psychologist/psychiatrist was when I turned 15 duel to major depression. I didn't decide - my mom just sat me inside a car and drove me there and the very same day I was hospitalized. I haven't stopped seeing a specialist ever since. (I'm 20 now) I do see a psychologist regularly and attempt therapy in a clinic for people on the autistic spectrum but I'm not being treated for problems related to autism but rather other issues I've got.

How does one know if one has normal or beyond normal problems?

I think it only matters if you or people close to you find it difficult. I don't think it's really relevant how you call your problem otherwise. I never really tell people about my diagnosis unless they notice something and ask me about it. My closest friends know I'm seeing a specialist but they don't know I have the *autism* label. I don't really think it matters until my issue comes in conflict with my life and my relationships.