I finally found a good list for Aspergers or High Functioning Autism Diagnosis -
http://www.mkdowney.com/characteristics.html
Before that list, I had a lot of trouble trying to work out the key behaviors that differentiate an autistic from an NT. After reading that I actually do think that I fit. Previous to finding out about Aspergers, I just thought I was stupid sometimes. I've said some stupid things socially and gotten confused in new situations in ways that I could never understand. When I first went overseas I landed in Gatwick Airport in London and couldn't work out how to get out. It was only two floors but I kept walking up and down and asking people, until after quite a while I finally figured out I had to go through the small customs exit. I've always tried to work out rules for how people communicate, but I just thought everybody did that. I deviate from looking people in the eyes to no eye contact at all. I'll even be looking someone in the eyes and not realise that I'm making them uncomfortable until they look away. I just think that looking people in the eyes is what you do in conversations and I still can't work out how people seem to know how much eye contact is warranted. Things like when to say hello to someone and how often in an office environment you are meant to acknowledge them always confused me too. I also have this thing where if I am speaking to someone with a different accent, I start talking in the same way automatically and have to think about it to stop myself because it sounds like I'm imitating them... particularly people from England. I also have nervous stims and concentrating ones, they are slightly different. So from all these things and a few others too, I've decided that I am an Aspie.
*grins* Looks like I wont be able to offer advice on AS/NT relationships anymore...
*grins* Looks like I wont be able to offer advice on AS/NT relationships anymore...
*smiles* It is most likely obvious, but if it isn't, EvilZakkie is my husband.
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LOL!
I'm curious, if you don't mind telling, but how did you find out you were aspie? For me, until now I just thought I was shy and had developed an anxiety because of that.
I deviate from looking people in the eyes to no eye contact at all. I'll even be looking someone in the eyes and not realise that I'm making them uncomfortable until they look away. I just think that looking people in the eyes is what you do in conversations and I still can't work out how people seem to know how much eye contact is warranted.
Oh... I didn't know they were looking away because they are uncomfortable... that changes things...
learn something new everyday I guess!
I'm not sure if that is always the case, the looking away thing is just my cue to try to look for any other body language factors that might suggest they are bored. It is sometimes hard to tell though, so mostly I go on how much they put into the conversation,
I'm not sure if that is always the case, the looking away thing is just my cue to try to look for any other body language factors that might suggest they are bored. It is sometimes hard to tell though, so mostly I go on how much they put into the conversation,
On a side note though - I don't always care that people are bored if it is a topic that I think is important and something they should know. *smiles* Politics is one that I like to educate people on, but I still try to keep things short.
I self-diagnosed about 10 years ago but it came to a stage where if I didn't have an official diagnosis, I would not have been satisfied. There were still far too many people expecting things of me that I simply could not fulfil and without the diagnosis, I would have lost my job and not been eligible for assistance in finding another.
The self diagnosis was a useful first step but eventually I needed the absolute certainty of an official diagnosis. This might not apply to all other people and self diagnosis might be enough for them.
I've had some disagreements with a couple of other aspies who said I shouldn't "label" myself but it's my life and it's not a "label", it's a definition. Having this "label" has provided a sense of identity and so I don't see it is a negative thing. If others see it is a bad thing for them, that's their business as long as they don't try and force it on me.
I've been trying to get professionals to refer me to an Aspergers Specialist, but so far all I've got to is a psychologist who specialises in anxiety and has treated people with Aspergers... so I'm not sure if he will be helpful yet.
Most doctors I speak to don't understand the label Aspergers as actually being helpful. I agree with you, it is helpful to me as well.
Have you (anyone) ever had anyone tell you to stop thinking so loud?
That's happened to me a couple of times.
What does that mean?
I think it meant that someone was uncomfortable with some sort of intensity or force field they were picking up from me.
Hmm I dunno. Maybe you should ask next time what they mean. All anyone has said to me about intensity is "Don't squint" or "You look intensely worried about something. Relax!"
I hate it when someone commands you to change your facial expression.
"I hate it when someone commands you to change your facial expression. "
Me too - why should I do a fake smile just to make you feel more comfortable with me?
The Aspie Death Stare is a good one Silky.
I have a habit of talking to myself too Sarah. Sometimes I don't think about it until someone asks if I'm talking to them.
quote=timhomer2007]
I have no idea how to self-diagnose people, even though I am formally diagnosed.
Tim
[/quote]
I think it is up to people to diagnose themselves, after all, we know ourselves the best.
Bella, you're in Brisbane aren't you? I thought Tony Attwood had a clinic there? Then again, I also hear there is a long waiting list for people to see somebody there.
Yep, I'm in Brisbane. It costs a lot to go to Tony Attwood's clinic without a referral. I tried to get a psychiatrist to refer me recently, because I think I actually got him to understand that the label is not a negative thing. Instead of referring me to Tony, he referred me to a psychologist who deals with Anxiety. He wanted the psychologist to give me all sorts of tests. I can get an Aspergers test from the psychologist, so maybe I can get him to refer me eventually to get an actual diagnosis, depending on the results of the test. Just have to play it as it goes. I don't have a job right now, so I couldn't afford to just go and get a diagnosis and I don't know why the psychiatrist didn't refer me. He did tell the psychologist that he didn't quite understand all my symptoms and wanted him to look into it further... I knew more about Aspergers than that psychiatrist though. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
I'd have to agree with you on that one. I've seen a few doctors and psychiatrists so far and all of them when I mention the possibility of Aspergers only seem to talk about problems with understanding emotion. That is pretty much all. When I first saw a psychologist about my anxiety problems and mentioned Aspergers, she interviewed me about my anxiety for the whole session, then showed that to a friend who specialized in Aspergers. She came back and said it's ok dear, you don't have anything as serious as this, you just have a little bit of anxiety. I didn't bother explaining to her that I had been telling her about my anxiety and the man could not say I didn't have it just by viewing information about my anxiety. That woman was useless. I even knew more about anxiety then she did.
It's amazing how difficult it is to get through the people who don't know what they're talking about to someone who does.
It would be cool if there was some visual way to spot other Aspies, though.
Tim
I don't think there is any real appearance differences between Aspies and NT's. The only way to figure out that someone may have Aspergers would be to talk to them, and even then it may take a little while of knowing them to come to any conclusion. Bear in mind that a lot of Aspies know how to blend in to the crowd.
I went to a psychologist, and I then looked him up on the computer and it said he specializes in ADHD.I was thinking, "So, when did you become a specialist on Asperger's Syndrome?, 2 weeks ago?" He knew nothing about AS or PDD-NOS. He just kept looking in a book, I was certain I knew more than him.( I had a book with me, HE ASKED ME IF HE COULD SEE IT.)I was thinking, "I'm not going to get a proper diagnosis from him." I can't even express to him all the problems I have, so I'm about to get stuck with Social Anxiety Disorder, which I believe, for me, is a co-morbid to PDD-NOS. The psychologist is stuck on me not having fixations or obsessions, he thinks because at the moment I don't have a special interest, I don't have autism, when like everything else fits(I obsess over certain ideas, not a certain topic). Too bad I can't tell him all the problems that I have. I don't believe I have AS, but PDD-NOS, yes.I'm so mad, he doesn't know anything.