I have an autistic friend who is both highly gullible and highly imaginative. Sometimes it gets him in a lot of trouble, embarrassing situations or overloads of stress. For example, one time his mother was upset with him and he was panic-stricken for weeks that she was going to send him to Guantanamo Bay by framing him for a crime. She didn't even make such a threat or joke about it and he just thought it up on his own and convinced himself of it (his mother would obviously never frame him and even if he somehow felt that she could, he's never left the United States and he's Jewish so Guantanamo Bay shouldn't seem like a possible destination for him...). Sometimes it's much weirder--he'll believe he has strange abilities or that there are monsters. etc. He also believe he is an autistic savant, claiming he has immense poetic talent and strong empathetic power, although his poetry sounds like it was written by someone half his age and he is incapable of empathy most often (even less capable than many other HFAs, much less NTs).
I don't mind him thinking that he is "gifted" as long as it doesn't put him in a compromising situation, but the other things scare me a lot. I know that this issue makes it impossible for others to take him seriously or even regard him as high-functioning and even for me it's a struggle sometimes to take what he is saying seriously (although I'd never be patronizing, etc.).
Is this something common among people on the spectrum? I know gullibility is but I didn't know whether his own strange convictions were actually related to something else (that he might not have yet been diagnosed with).
Does anyone have any advice for telling him that his reality is distorted? I don't want to be disrespectful and I definitely don't want him to think that I think that he's crazy.
He sounds a bit paranoid to me, believing he's going to Guantanamo and that there are monsters.
Trouble is, that could a symptom of a whole lot of other things.
You could try re-assuring him that these things aren't true... Though nobody likes to be told they write bad poetry.
The solution to the poetry, if you can pull it off, is to suggest he talk to someone he holds in high regard about his poems, an english teacher perhaps, as "anyone has room for improvement"; just make sure the person will be gentle with him and not tear him down.
As for the paranoia, yes, that could be a symptom of all manner of things but is not a "part" of autism (so far as I know). Does he see a psychologist? Would there be anyway you could suggest to this person, or to his mother, that he be evaluated for some other condition on the basis of his paranoid delusions? (not to say he's crazy- that is the proper term for these fits, which I have experienced myself due to BPD)
Maybe just the way he is expressing himself is distorted to you.
How old is this person?
He's 18.
Sometimes it's not paranoia (or just paranoia, at least)...he thinks he defeated vampires and that he can control certain elements (e.g., heat).
I don't think he discusses any of these things with his shrink or counselor. The odder things he doesn't even discuss with me and I only see them on his postings on message boards. He usually gets mad when I tell him I looked at the postings, thinking I've started stalking him (even if they're on friend networking sites like facebook or myspace...).
If he's younger than 12 or 13, I doubt there's anything wrong with him besides a slight lack of perspective and a tendency to get carried off by his fantasies. If he's a teenager or an adult, you might want to suggest to him that he get tested for Bipolar Disorder. A lot of people either become extremely paranoid or have a grandiose self-concept ("I can do ANYTHING!!") when they're in a manic phase. So it sounds like it could be that, but I don't know nearly enough about this guy to leap to that conclusion.
He's 18.
Sometimes it's not paranoia (or just paranoia, at least)...he thinks he defeated vampires and that he can control certain elements (e.g., heat).
I don't think he discusses any of these things with his shrink or counselor. The odder things he doesn't even discuss with me and I only see them on his postings on message boards. He usually gets mad when I tell him I looked at the postings, thinking I've started stalking him (even if they're on friend networking sites like facebook or myspace...).
Oh. Yeah, that sounds a bit paranoid, then. Especially the 'defeated vampires' part; where'd he get that idea? Are you sure he wasn't just talking about a videogame or something? Is there even a slim possibility that he was actually telling the truth? I mean, it's incredibly unlikely, but not impossible.[/i]
I really appreciate the advice -- I didn't realize that it was probably paranoia.
He thinks a psychic vampire tried to kill him, but he defeated it and stole his psychic abilities. i don't personally believe in psychic abilities, but that's not what scares me (I treat most of his beliefs in the supernatural respectfully like I would beliefs for any conventional religion that I don't partake in). He wasn't referring to a videogame (but I suspect that one or a scifi movie or something inspired his imagination). No one was ever trying to kill him, much less a psychic vampire, and he definitely didn't receive any psychic abilities.
To me this sounds like something more than autism, possibly schizophrenia (it's not too rare for this to be comorbid with autism). I don't know what advice to give you though, it seems like he freaks out whenever you confront him about it.
That said, I sort of understand his reaction to the online forum thing. I say things online that I would never want people in real life to read (personal things).
BPD
Does BPD = Bipolar Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder?
To me this sounds like something more than autism, possibly schizophrenia (it's not too rare for this to be comorbid with autism). I don't know what advice to give you though, it seems like he freaks out whenever you confront him about it.
That said, I sort of understand his reaction to the online forum thing. I say things online that I would never want people in real life to read (personal things).
He's 18 you say. and the things you mentioned all sound like possible paranoid schizophrenia which can appear at his age and a little older. Try to get him help especially if he expresses thoughts of violence.
A local boy here was not helped in time before he stabbed a person he thought was trying to kill him when he was convinced he was some medieval character. His behavior was odd and his friends just hought he was way out there. He even wore a medieval cape. It is so sad he will be facing murder charges of some sort soon. I do not know any more details on it other than it happened in western MA a few months ago.
The boy I am describing changed. He was not always odd and paranoid, his paranoid schizophrenia symptoms developed over a period of time in his late teens.
I suggest Google "paranoid schizophrenia" and approach his mom with it if it seems probable. Keep your friend talking to you, and help him feel safe talking to you. Do not tell him things that make him feel alienated or paranoid of you to be able to keep the line of communication open is what I would do.
Sincerely,
Advocate for children
He's 18.
Sometimes it's not paranoia (or just paranoia, at least)...he thinks he defeated vampires and that he can control certain elements (e.g., heat).
I don't think he discusses any of these things with his shrink or counselor. The odder things he doesn't even discuss with me and I only see them on his postings on message boards. He usually gets mad when I tell him I looked at the postings, thinking I've started stalking him (even if they're on friend networking sites like facebook or myspace...).
Oh. Yeah, that sounds a bit paranoid, then. Especially the 'defeated vampires' part; where'd he get that idea? Are you sure he wasn't just talking about a videogame or something? Is there even a slim possibility that he was actually telling the truth? I mean, it's incredibly unlikely, but not impossible.[/i]
That sounds quite schizo-typal to me.
There is a huge difference from someone just having some secret game on the internet and someone proclaiming that they have super powers to their friends and family. When people start expressing their delusions and paranoia publically (not just on the internet), you might pay attention.
I have some really weird theories about stuff and I am not insane. I know the limits. He might just be creative. Unless it is really bothering him and impairing his ability to function in his life, then he does not need to know you have been snooping into his private world.
BPD
Does BPD = Bipolar Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline Personality Disorder.
I think your friend needs professional help and it's certainly better to get help at this stage before his behaviour becomes more erratic. I would suggest talking to your friends parents and make sure they are aware of his behaviour.