03-01-2008, 05:43 AM
Hello all.
A while ago it was suggested to me by a friend that I could have AS. I had thought of this possibility when I read about it but I wasn't sure if I was just finding some similarities because I was reading about it. I started reading a little more about it after someone mentioned and I found too many of the characteristics fit me. I would appreciate your opinions.
Thinking back to my childhood, I either had one friend or none since I really didn't get along well with them. I could engage in some social activities in play but a lot of them didn't make sense. Girls would talk too much about fashion and boys and the boys would either ignore me for being a girl or because I wasn't interested in football (soccer). There were countless of lunch breaks where I'd be more than happy to chat with some adult/teacher or solving maths problems that were meant for older kids. I was the odd girl, the one who walked funny and 'knew too much'.
I don't really like social interactions (non electronically based). If there's a lot of people I get tired easily and it's very stressing. It's not until I know someone that I talk to them (and sometimes too much). Going out to crowded and noisy places makes me tired, nervous and sometimes I just feel like hiding somewhere to escape the overload.
I'm too sensitive to light and noise. I can hear things nobody hears and sometimes high pitched noises can drive me off but nobody seems to mind or hear them at times. Touch is interesting since being touched in the back without warning is very upsetting but other times it feels like some parts are numb.
I don't have a particular definite 'obsesion' that takes most of my time, but I have many interests. I collected coins and bills when I was a child and I love to read and know about some subjects (to the point of being upset when people are ignorant about a matter.) I love to find patterns everywhere. It comes easily and it's fun as well. I can be a little obsessive, however. Lining up things, like books at libraries and book stores. I -must- eat some foods in certain ways and won't have them any other way. Or would eat the same foods every week or every day (for months or years). I could rip pages off my notebook if the writing wasn't just right.
I don't like to make eye contact much. I know it's expected and I do it even though it causes me great stress. Got in trouble for not 'paying attention' to people so now I try. But it's so overwhelming at times.
I fidget and move my feet a lot. I try not to flap/rock/shake my hands too much in public but I might if I'm alone. Otherwise they stare at you and ask you if you're OK or sick.
As I grew older I realised that there are some things that are not acceptable. People don't like to be corrected even if you can't help doing it at times. They think you're being a know-it-all or want to make them feel less intelligent instead of helping them. Being honest and saying the truth sometimes is not something people like and it's likely you'll be called blunt, rude or a cynic.
I am one that's easily teased since I don't really 'get it' when people are joking and I can take things too literally. Never really understood how to identify or create metaphors and some sarcasm escapes me. Sometimes it feels like you have to act to get through your day. For that I use a lot of automated prhases. For example on the phone: "Hello, how are you?" to which answer "I'm fine thanks, and you?" ... But sometimes they don't do their part well and only say "Hello". They grow silent or laugh when my answer is "Fine thank you, and you?"
I can be creative and create stories about subjects I enjoy. I also consider myself intelligent and problem solving comes easily. I've been told that when explaining I can be very technical and a little droning. When I'm telling a story, though, I can make sounds and almost act out what I'm seeing in my mind. I can tease people at times though and joke with them if the timing fits (sometimes it doesn't) and make different voices to speak.
I also have a very bad sense of time and my sleep pattern can be all over the place but I don't know if this applies.
Does this all sound like I could have AS? I don't think I want an official diagnosis as this might not be good for work and I wouldn't really like to change me. But there's always been this feeling of being different and would like to just see if I fit this or if I'm just an NT with some odd behaviours. Thank you.
A while ago it was suggested to me by a friend that I could have AS. I had thought of this possibility when I read about it but I wasn't sure if I was just finding some similarities because I was reading about it. I started reading a little more about it after someone mentioned and I found too many of the characteristics fit me. I would appreciate your opinions.
Thinking back to my childhood, I either had one friend or none since I really didn't get along well with them. I could engage in some social activities in play but a lot of them didn't make sense. Girls would talk too much about fashion and boys and the boys would either ignore me for being a girl or because I wasn't interested in football (soccer). There were countless of lunch breaks where I'd be more than happy to chat with some adult/teacher or solving maths problems that were meant for older kids. I was the odd girl, the one who walked funny and 'knew too much'.
I don't really like social interactions (non electronically based). If there's a lot of people I get tired easily and it's very stressing. It's not until I know someone that I talk to them (and sometimes too much). Going out to crowded and noisy places makes me tired, nervous and sometimes I just feel like hiding somewhere to escape the overload.
I'm too sensitive to light and noise. I can hear things nobody hears and sometimes high pitched noises can drive me off but nobody seems to mind or hear them at times. Touch is interesting since being touched in the back without warning is very upsetting but other times it feels like some parts are numb.
I don't have a particular definite 'obsesion' that takes most of my time, but I have many interests. I collected coins and bills when I was a child and I love to read and know about some subjects (to the point of being upset when people are ignorant about a matter.) I love to find patterns everywhere. It comes easily and it's fun as well. I can be a little obsessive, however. Lining up things, like books at libraries and book stores. I -must- eat some foods in certain ways and won't have them any other way. Or would eat the same foods every week or every day (for months or years). I could rip pages off my notebook if the writing wasn't just right.
I don't like to make eye contact much. I know it's expected and I do it even though it causes me great stress. Got in trouble for not 'paying attention' to people so now I try. But it's so overwhelming at times.
I fidget and move my feet a lot. I try not to flap/rock/shake my hands too much in public but I might if I'm alone. Otherwise they stare at you and ask you if you're OK or sick.
As I grew older I realised that there are some things that are not acceptable. People don't like to be corrected even if you can't help doing it at times. They think you're being a know-it-all or want to make them feel less intelligent instead of helping them. Being honest and saying the truth sometimes is not something people like and it's likely you'll be called blunt, rude or a cynic.
I am one that's easily teased since I don't really 'get it' when people are joking and I can take things too literally. Never really understood how to identify or create metaphors and some sarcasm escapes me. Sometimes it feels like you have to act to get through your day. For that I use a lot of automated prhases. For example on the phone: "Hello, how are you?" to which answer "I'm fine thanks, and you?" ... But sometimes they don't do their part well and only say "Hello". They grow silent or laugh when my answer is "Fine thank you, and you?"
I can be creative and create stories about subjects I enjoy. I also consider myself intelligent and problem solving comes easily. I've been told that when explaining I can be very technical and a little droning. When I'm telling a story, though, I can make sounds and almost act out what I'm seeing in my mind. I can tease people at times though and joke with them if the timing fits (sometimes it doesn't) and make different voices to speak.
I also have a very bad sense of time and my sleep pattern can be all over the place but I don't know if this applies.
Does this all sound like I could have AS? I don't think I want an official diagnosis as this might not be good for work and I wouldn't really like to change me. But there's always been this feeling of being different and would like to just see if I fit this or if I'm just an NT with some odd behaviours. Thank you.
