Aspies For Freedom

I've been thinking a lot about whether I'm an aspie or not. I'm not diagnosed, and I've never even been properly screened for it.

Reasons I think I might be an aspie;
-Online tests say so.
-I'm always tired after a lot of socialising meaning I sometimes make excuse for getting out things.
-I really need to spend quite a bit of time on my own.
-I hate it when people move things without any prior warning; a perfect example of this is that recently my dad moved loads of the stuff around on the computer desk, freaked me out for days.
-I really NEED to know everything that's going to be happening in at least the next 24 hours, who, when, where etc. Any changes for this and I get moody.
-A lot of my childhood play involved lining things up and making lists, for example how many red cars I had, how many blue etc. I also make hugely elaborate models out of Lego or stuff called K'nex which obsesses me for a few days (making me forget about other stuff) but then after the model's done I don't touch the stuff for another few months.
-I rock back and forth often, which has ocassionally got me odd looks.
-Some sounds I really hate, to the extent of them being in a way painfull; coughing and babies crying drive me insane and I can't stand hearing them.

Reasons I think I might NOT be an aspie;
-I do enjoy socialising, even if it is in small amounts. I have half a dozen good friends and have good conversations with them, and barely ever say anything "socially inappropriate", I understand most unwritten social rules and cues.
-As far as I can remember my parents and teachers have never suspected anything "different" about me/my behaviour, hence no proper tests for aspergers ever taking place.
-Apart from the the thing about certain sounds, I have no sensory problems or overloads in crowded areas.
-I started walking and talking right on schedule.
-I have average hand-eye coordination and balance and I'm not noticably clumsy.*
-I have a lot of imagination and imaginative play.*
-I have empathy.*
*I know some aspies have these in common, but I'm going by wikipedia here, sorry.


Sorry this was such a long post going on about myself... but what do you think? Aspie? Hypocondriac?

Wish I could edit the post...
Anyway, another aspie big thing; I barely desire any physical contact whatsoever, and though I tolerate hugs I don't like people to spontaneously hug me, or hug me from behind. I can't remember the last time I initiated a hug of my own free will. Also I'm asexual.
Can't believe I left that bit out.

I think you are!

You fit in with us well!

-Steve-, for what it's worth, you sound a lot like me!  

Disclaimer because I'm still thinking my way through this and may not know what the heck I'm talking about...

I'm of the thought that it is most likely not one small set of accute sensory receptors and/or lack of intersocial perceptions which make someone an 'aspie' but rather a very broad list which when someone has enough of them are put together begin to make it difficult to figure out how to cope with behavioral expectations.

And on top of that - BEHAVIOR may or may not correspond to being aspie or 'how autistic' you are because you may be taught or learn by trial and error how to modify your behavior.  But another person with the same perceptional difference who has not been taught, has not yet learned or maybe just not CHOOSEN to modify their behavior could act completely different.

In other words - sure you are, and don't feel bad just because you don't struggle in the areas that others do or because you can't shed some of the things you struggle with. We're all different.

*coming from someone who is a definate maybe herself*

Some of that made no sense... why oh why no edit???

But I also wanted to add to the second paragraph that some may NOT BE ABLE to modify their behavior.... sometimes it's a matter of learning or being taught or choice, but sometimes it's not and I didn't want anyone to think I'm saying that conforming to societal behavioral expectation is a simple learn and choose thing - it's not and while some may be able to learn, not everyone can.

Thankyou for your responses... I think I probably am an aspie then.
Anyway, I really support this whole anti-cure ideology and would do even if I wasn't an aspie.

You're welcome!

Sounds very Aspie to me.

You definately sound aspie to me.

I don't know whether an aspie exists that has every single little thing associated with AS. I for example don't really mind the noise of crowds (Infact I like to listen to it. It has strange properties) and I don't really mind being touched. But I have enough to make me aspie.

Steve, many of these things sound like what I have and I'm officially diagnosed with Aspergers. So, it's very likely that you have it too.

Sounds like me, tho I dont like socialising unless it is with 1 person only and for a short time, and involves watching a film or listening to music lol. And I am not so good on empathy.

Steve, what you describe is very similar to me aswell. From your post I get no feeling that you are unhappy about your symptoms and I think thats good. I only became concerned about my symptoms when they started causing me physical problems and that began interfering with my daily life. It might be worth visiting your Doctor and telling them what you think because maybe if I had known about Aspergers when I was at school and got some help with it my life at this stage might be happier. Then again it might not.

how about me?
-can socialize perfectly well as long as with <4 people
-even then I'm very stressed out/tired after socializing
-loud noises bother the hell out of me to the point of not being able to get anything done
-musically gifted (isn't this common in aspies)
-often offend people by saying something socially incorrect
-I HATE being touched about 99.9% of the time
-I can feel empathy but I am unable to express it
-For whatever reason I am completely unable to cry when sad though my eyes water often in other situations
-I'm not very good at sports and I tend to drop things though I am extremely comfortable on a bike (I race bmx)
-I constantly click my pen in class, bugs the hell out of everyone
-I am the only one who has suspected anything aside from borderline ad/hd
-I love to examine my own thought patterns
-I notice random information about dates (such as palendromes, consecutive numbers, etc)
-I seem to remember the most random things
-I sometimes walk in a pattern when on tiled floor (my current favorite is walking in a pattern like a chess knight)
-I get really pissed of when my routine is abruptly changed
-I have always felt that there is something different about me
-I also used to make huge lego models and occasionally still do
-I walked and talked a little early I think
-I have always had a very large vocabulary and I read a lot and read books way out of my age level (speaking of which has anyone read george orwell's  1984... great book)
-I tend to go off on a tangent as my mother says... I believe that you've seen that in my other posts
-I like web design but haven't done any for a while nor do I know any true programing languages
-I do a bit of 3d modeling, my friend (he isn't aspie but he definitely isn't NT) is teaching me