Asperger's and Asexuality

[Mrgnrykn]

Never been officially diagnosed. I show some of the traits, and I may have it.

[Dylan-Michael]

So, apparently I was diagnosed when I was younger, and I was never told until today...

That explains a whole ordeal of things...

So, yeah, I'm an aspie.

I wish I could change my vote.

[Bear]

I do not have Asperger's, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I did, what with all the mental illnesses and disorders that run on my mom's side of the family. :| (I've already been diagnosed with having clinical depression, my grandmom is bi-polar, and all her family has just about every disorder known to (hu)man.)

[Thereaper]

I was diagnosed when I was 9 :)

[sitdownstandup]

I have not been diagnosed with Aspergers. I do hate people touching me, but I can touch others. I am asexual. When I was younger I had years of hallucinations, delusions and some melancholia. I've almost completely recovered, otherwise I would not have figured out I have a problem. Sometimes I'm still down, but I know that doesn't have to do with my disinterest in sex, because when I'm really happy, wanting to make it is the last thing on my mind.

asocial behavior is caused by Autism, but what about Schizoid Personality Disorder? A lot of people with SPD call themselves asexual and don't like being touched. I want to know more about both disorders.

[MerePeasant]

Hmm, interesting... I have dyspraxia which has some overlaps with Asperger's...

[sips]

I am just curious about the makeup of AVEN members as it pertains to Asperger's. A higher percentage of asexuals seem to have Asperger's compared to the sexual population.

So to that end here's a detailed poll.

There are 5 possible options for asexual, sexual and questioning.

I think it's oposite.

It's not very unusual to be asexual when you have asperger, but you don't need to be.

[sindi]

I guess I'm something like a borderline-aspie... All my life there has been someone suspecting that I have Asperger's, but it could never be confirmed

[whale_bone]

Yeah! I'm 20 and was diagnosed a few months ago.

[Trolley Girl]

I was diagnosed at the age of 15, shortly before I began high school. To this day, I heavily doubt that there is any tie between the fact that I am an aspie, and the fact that I am Double-A. I am who I am, and I couldn't be any prouder of it. 8)

[Ace of Swords]

I'm asexual and was officially diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome at 28. A little late in the game, I know... but I had already been unofficially diagnosed by my Mom, so it didn't come as much of a surprise to me. We saw a television program on it and I fit most of the symptoms.

Eventually we found a psychiatrist who was willing to run the tests on me. So, that's how that went.

[MorbidNerd]

I don't have Asperger's but I am dyslexic, I have heard they are linked in ways. Proportionally a large number of people I really click with turn out to be aspergers or schitsophrenic, and I know at least one of them was also asexual.

I have aspergers and dyslexia, I was diagnosed with dyslexia at a very young age but wasn't actually diagnosed with aspergers until this year, growing up people thought all my aspergers traits were just an especially unusual form of dyslexia lol. None of my teachers ever seemed to grasp how I could be dyslexic yet read adult level books in less time than most adults. Many of the friends I have had that I felt at ease around (I am typically VERY nervous and awkward around people) were either dyslexic, aspsergers, schizophrenic or bipolar. I'm not sure if it is whether there are similarities, or the fact that they are all different than "normal" people, that lead us to get along well.

[MorbidNerd]

Holy crap, confusing left and right is considered an actual sign of Asperger's?!

I always figured it had to be. There's no other explanation for why I was never able to learn right and left. I do really well with cardinal directions because those aren't relative to the speaker.

It's also a classic sign of dyslexia.

[MorbidNerd]

It seems like theres a connection between asexuality, gender identity disorder and/or genderqueerness and asperger's.

Its something we discuss a lot on the Swedish LGBTQ site Qruiser.

According to the quiz someone posted in this thread, not adhering to conventional gender roles is a sign of Asperger's. It would make sense, since gender presentation is a form of body language and we're bad at that.

Thats nice to know what with being asexual, aspergers and genderqueer. My sister and me somtimes joked that I was some kind of ultimate combination of oddities all thrown into one single weirdo.

[duckduck]

i'm not, but my older brother is. he can be so funny sometimes cause of it.

[MorbidNerd]

O.o There was a question in that quiz that said something about being so tired by socialising that you go "regenerate" alone. XD I know I get knackered after a day out, and I end up sleeping almost right through the next day, yet the phrasing makes me sound like some Time Lady from Gallifrey *gigglesnort* ;__; I don't wanna "regenerate" I like who I am now! XD hah-ha...sorry Doc Who withdrawel taking effect, I'll probably calm down on Christmas Day when I get my next fix =_=;

I know the feeling! I've become accustomed to mimicing "normal" people, but nevertheless I still find being around others completely exhausting. Pretty much all my spare time when I have been in full time school or work is spent sleeping, it got so bad at one point that I was in a cycle of comeing home from work, shuting the front door and then collapsing right there onto the hallway floor in my full clothes and backback and not moving until I had to wake up the next morning to catch the bus for work again.

[tintinnabula]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was 13. However, I don't believe the diagnoses are accurate. While nonverbal communication can be a pain sometimes for me, I am miles better at it than the majority of Asperger's Syndrome people. Plus, I'm neither obsessive about my interests nor insistent on sameness. People are always shocked when I tell them that I was diagnosed with Asperger's.

Funnily enough, even when the doctors did diagnose me as having it, even they weren't sure about it. Try getting a label of "extremely mild/borderline atypical Asperger's Syndrome with some traits of nonverbal learning disability" :P I mean, what is that even supposed to mean?

[Member33070]

I'm asexual. Before I got my ADHD diagnosis, we tossed this around and it was disproven. But I do have ADHD! :P

[MJM58]

I don't have Asperger's.

My mom suspects that I do though.

I looked over the symptom list, and, while a few symptoms apply to me, many others don't.

Plus, I've never been diagnosed with it.

[Wild Seven]

I haven't been officially diagnosed as where I live, most of the time the diagnosis is given only to those *less* socially adjusted of the Aspies, and I've been relatively good at camo. Plus, given most of my family isn't neuro-typical, they didn't really feel I'm 'that' much of a weirdo to seek diagnosis for it, just atypical.

I'm quite sure I'd fit in the diagnostic criteria, but these days I've got good friendship network that just don't *expect* me to conform. It's a lot easier, knowing I won't be bullied, and can be myself more openly.

[TreacleSponge]

Asperger's is interesting. I think it's regarded by society as a problem to be cured, rather than fundamentally just a different way of thinking/looking at the world. I don't think that's right (I'm not an expert here), but we are forced to describe it in those terms, talking about diagnosis and symptoms and whatever. No criticism of what's written above, that's just the words we use. Naively I sort of miss just saying people were "different" or "a bit odd", since the medical terms make it seem like a disease or something.

[carried in bags]

I am not sure. I'm asexual.

I far from get the world, and the people in it. I seem to have some traits here, but don't have traits there. I wouldn't ask to be tested, but would take up the offer if was asked

[Georgia]

You seem to be lacking the "I've been official diagnosed but am doubting my diagnosis. I'm asexual." option, so I justed picked "I've been officially diagnosed by a doctor. I'm asexual."

[square peg]

I've been diagnosed with AD/HD primarily inattentive type, and I have an appointment with my AD/HD specialist for him to decide whether to refer me to the autism spectrum specialist for assessment for that as well.

A few things have kept me from realising or accepting that I could have an ASD until recently. Here are some of the ones that seem relevant to other people here as well:

Asperger's Syndrome is only one kind of high-functioning autism. You don't have to meet the criteria for it to be diagnosed with some kind of autistic spectrum disorder/PDD. PDD-NOS means that you have impairing or distressing levels the traits associated with the autism spectrum broadly speaking, just not in the right combination or with the developmental history required to narrow the problem down to a more specific ASD diagnosis, such as Asperger's Syndrome, Autistic Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. You don't fit neatly into any of the sub-categories of autism currently defined, is all it means, and it's really quite common.

For a legitimate diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or other forms of ASD, you won't have to have a certain number of traits from most checklists found on the Internet. You'll just need to meet relatively simple diagnostic criteria from one of several widely used books/guidelines. Most commonly, you'll have to meet the DSM-IV criteria. You need to have at least two of the social symptoms and at least one of the perseverative behaviour symptoms along with a particular developmental history. If you don't, but still have significant problems with social interaction and/or perseverative behaviour, another PDD or related diagnosis is possible.

Dyspraxia is just a motor co-ordination problem. It is extremely commonly co-morbid with other disabilities including ASDs, but if you say you have dyspraxia only you are unlikely to get all the help you need at every stage of your life, because 'dyspraxia' officially just indicates motor problems, not cognitive ones, despite what the UK Dyspraxia Foundation claims. If you meet the criteria for AD/HD, dyslexia, ASD etc. then getting diagnosed with these as well would make it easier for any organisation or person you might need to help or understand you to be successful at it, ESPECIALLY if one of your co-mordid conditions is AD/HD as there are medications for this that you absolutely can't get without the diagnosis.

Hope that helps :)

[Synergy]

Was told by my psychiatrist that I 'show all the markers for Aspergers' (whatever that means. He says he prefers not to use the diagnosis professionally, but told me that if I went to a different psychiatrist I would certainly be diagnosed with the syndrome.

I'm reluctant to change shrinks because he's been very good over my schizophrenia and we worked hard over several years to find good medication. I don't want to undo that or start again with a new doc.

Problem is that now I'm in limbo. I can't access any services because it's not official but I'm too scared to take steps to make it legit.

[Selk]

Nope, never suspected by anyone - including doctors and myself - to have it, never been diagnosed, so... an all-round no. I am asexual, though. :)

[Beatrice_Otter]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was 13. However, I don't believe the diagnoses are accurate. While nonverbal communication can be a pain sometimes for me, I am miles better at it than the majority of Asperger's Syndrome people. Plus, I'm neither obsessive about my interests nor insistent on sameness. People are always shocked when I tell them that I was diagnosed with Asperger's.

Funnily enough, even when the doctors did diagnose me as having it, even they weren't sure about it. Try getting a label of "extremely mild/borderline atypical Asperger's Syndrome with some traits of nonverbal learning disability" :P I mean, what is that even supposed to mean?

How long ago were you diagnosed? Asperger's has been the "trendy" diagnosis, particularly for children, for the last ten to fifteen years. IOW, it's what people (professionals and laypeople) are looking for when you've got a kid who doesn't fit in the "normal" box. Now, this means there's more awareness and people getting diagnosed who otherwise wouldn't--but it also means people getting misdiagnosed because the psychiatrist/psychologist/therapist/whoever found what zie was looking for.

One of my kid brother's friends was diagnosed with Aspergers, and his parents tried all the therapies/coping tricks they could find, and were tearing their hair out because none of it was working and some of it made his symptoms worse. They took him to another doctor who listened, did another evaluation, and said that the reason none of it was working was because the kid had Tourettes, not Aspergers. So they started trying the stuff for Tourettes, and wonder of wonders, it worked.

You may be an aspy. You may be neurotypical. You may be something else entirely. Who knows--it's not like there's a blood test or anything to "prove" it one way or the other.

[Beatrice_Otter]

Was told by my psychiatrist that I 'show all the markers for Aspergers' (whatever that means. He says he prefers not to use the diagnosis professionally, but told me that if I went to a different psychiatrist I would certainly be diagnosed with the syndrome.

I'm reluctant to change shrinks because he's been very good over my schizophrenia and we worked hard over several years to find good medication. I don't want to undo that or start again with a new doc.

Problem is that now I'm in limbo. I can't access any services because it's not official but I'm too scared to take steps to make it legit.

What services for Aspergers would you need? As someone who is definitely an aspy, I don't really need any services most of the time, except counseling in times of stress--which you probably have through your psychiatrist. When I was first diagnosed I did some work with a counselor on appropriate social behavior, but honestly most of what I need I've gotten from friends and family. I tell people that I'm an aspy, and to let me know if I say/do something weird. When I'm not sure what the "right thing" to do is in a particular situation, or if what I want to do is socially acceptable, I call one of my friends or my Mom (the only neurotypical person in my family) and ask. That's about it. I needed the diagnosis for professional reasons, so I got it, but it didn't really affect much. I mean, it's not like there are any medications or anything for autism spectrum disorders. Honestly, I had more trouble learning to deal with the repressed anxiety I had about my social deficits than I did with the Aspergers itself. Now, your situation may be completely different, particularly if you have other mental health issues. I'd say you're probably right in sticking with the doctor you have if he's good with the other stuff.

If you want to learn more about the autism spectrum, the best book for laypeople explaining "what are the underlying causes and how does it affect people's lives" is called "So Odd A Mixture: Along the Autism Spectrum in Pride and Prejudice" by Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer. It gives a clear description of the various cognitive "problem areas" shown by people on the spectrum (and how they can affect behavior), and then goes through 8 characters in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen that she's ID'ed as possibly on the spectrum and shows what's going on beneath the surface, why they act and speak as they do. It's good even if you don't like Jane Austen, and it's awesome if you do.

[NamTar]

Yes. I have been officially diagnosed (e.g. by a doctor). I'm asexual

My therapist pretty much told me that Asperger's was the reason I'm not interested in sex, and the first time I saw someone identify as asexual was on an Asperger's/autism board, so I wasn't surprised when I came here and saw so many other people who had it.

Mine said it was the reason I'm not so much interested in interpersonal relationships, and that I seem so unemotional. It's not that I don't have emotions, they just aren't so much connected to people, as it is with many other people. I do get obsessed with things and ideas.

I resisted it at first, because I can function quite well in a social setting. However, I don't form close relationships, ever. My social skills are something I learned, it's not something that came naturally or that I profoundly enjoy or seek out. Eye contact has always been a problem of mine.

Then there are things I don't agree with, such as use of language. I studied foreign languages in college, have lived in other countries, worked as a translator, and I feel I understand nuances and metaphorical language pretty damn well.

For me, it's mainly a social/relationships thing. No idea to what extent my asexuality is involved here. I know that people consider me emotionless and overly rational, and I do have trouble with some social cues like flirting.

[000000000000000]

I'm asexual but not autistic. My brother has Asperger's, but I'm not sure if he's asexual (11 years old might be a little too early to tell) I don't see him interact with other kids that much, being in another school and all, but he's never shown any interest in people outside of family. I'm not about to randomly ask him if he's ever had the hots for anyone (he'd just answer with computer game stuff)...so I guess only time will tell? :P