Hi Tisha,
I may or may not have AS as well. But to get a diagnosis of something would be a great comfort.
on to the subject of lack of empathy: That's one of the "symptoms" of AS that I don't seem to fit in with. It's weird. I feel I have too much empathy but I have trouble showing it. Call it "pychic feeling" or what-have-you, but I tend to feel what others feel. I always say to myself that I feel so much for people that it makes me completely numb. And then it looks like I just don't care. But inside I'm crying.
Tisha, almost everything you have described sounds like your are an aspie to me. My husband thinks he might have AS and he doesn't have half the stuff you do. He has little empathy, but not the extent that you describe. He also like pulling things apart and putting them back together. You two have the same interests. He gets absorbed too in what he enjoys doing and loses track of time just like you described. It is the sensory issues you describe that really convince me you have AS.
Has anybody noticed how little thought is given to the sensory issues we have ie. we are told to just "put up" with excessive noise, too bright lights, and so on. I fully realise that sometimes nothing much can be done but other times, other people don't even want to try.
My big sensory issue is noise, now I am realising what bother's me, I thought it was just that I couldn't focus and listen to what I want to if there is other noise. Now I feel panicy and jump when I hear a sudden load noise, like at a party they were popping party poppers close by me (almost in my face) everytime I jumped and felt like my head would explode. Then loud piercing screams and crys of children really get me, had to work out of the shop because of it. Makes me feel nervy, always has done. It drive me crazy. At home I can shut a lot out, switch pc off if want to watch TV, listen to my fav music and relax. When I was in a relationship it was a different story, I was so frustrated I went to the doctor (turns out I am sensitive to high pitch poises and had the same tests as a child that revealed the same thing - this may be the best medical factual backing I have that proves a developmental problem for diagnosis do you think?
Probably - sensory sensitivities are a know aspect of autism. I wonder if kids were always as noisy as they are these days? It didn't seem to be so much of a bother until I became a teenager.
I'd say so, but maybe more so now a days? My sister had what would probably be seen as ad/hd now (never disagnosed) her behaviour always stressed me out when we was a kid and still does now. Just wanted her to stop screaming and crying from the minute she was born. Thought it was her with the problem. It highly likly it is her, she does not seem to have the same social issues but I was told by a colleague of mine that my sister does the same thing with eye contact (I had never noticed her do it - that wouldn't be a suprise though).
I another thing as come to my attention, my facial expressions make me look as if I am miserable when I am not, at best I maybe bored because I can't or don't want to join in the conversation. They tell me 'what's wrong' and I protest nothing. It happened at a party, I said just becasue I look miserable it does not mean that I am, then found someone who was willing to be silly with me and talk crap and mess around I was soon laughing and smiling (I was chasing a few liked minded guys around with a whip and having water fights and generally being one of the guys). The person who I said to their is nothing wrong got all defensive and said well excuse me I won't ask (I was like that's the point I am making don't ask if I am upset or that bored I'd go home or say something - tendency to be honest!)
Lol I have so figured myself out and there is one person who totally understands what I am going though and he came out as gay a year ago. We work together and its cool because he gives the best advice. I know I can chat to him freely without fear of being told I am a hypocondriach, that I am just lacking confidence, am shy etc all the stuff I'd imagine I do not even need to tell you guys. I have figured no body knows me like I know me, so stuff em. Also don't hold it against them as they fear what they do not understand and leave it to the professionals.