I can recognize facial expressions and emotions

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Whathappened
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10 Dec 2014, 10:27 am

I actually do this EXTREMELY well. But I seem to fit Many of the other characteristics of asperger; like sounding overly clinical when I talk, or verbose and intellectual......sometimes weird social skills; they seem to go in and out and sometimes I'm okay even great. Other times ....I know I appear just odd or quirky, and there's nothing I can do about it to change it. It's very weird. I also stim like crazy, have ocd, and find small talk and large conversations uncomfortable and tense; I always never respond well to the small "friendly" quips friends and colleagues make as "endearments" to eachother. To me, they seem like designed as ego boosts and subtle ego attacks: which I think they are.

I tend to be a literal person. This doesn't mean I have no sense of humor. I actually have a very great and witty sense of humor. But these are things that actually cause me problems in daily life.


I'm also pretty athletic - I'm not the best, but I've done sports all my life and I'm very coordinated. I can hold my own in a game of basketball, for example. I like learning boxing and martial arts and I love exercising.



......this is just so confusing for me. Can anyone help me with ideas of what's going on? Thanks



kraftiekortie
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10 Dec 2014, 10:29 am

If you could afford it, find an autism specialist to assess you.

Otherwise: join the ranks of the "self-diagnosers." Do lots of research on Asperger's.



Whathappened
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10 Dec 2014, 10:40 am

I also meant to mention. I seem to be extremely ....I don't know, haphazard. I'll put my wallet down in my bag while someone is talking to me, and forget where I out it. While I'm searching for that, I'll lose something else ...or I'll do clumsy, stupid things like pace around a room until I can figure out what's going on. And people will just look at me.

Stuff like that. I wrote down an appointment (I'm now an insurance agent who sells policies) in the complete wrong month! Luckily I found it and corrected it. It's just "mindless" mistakes like this ....
I misplaced my cell phone the other day. I have no idea how! I'm still trying to find it.


I guess I'll try to do that. My one concern is that I don't want to pigeon hole myself into some label - if that doesn't fit me, and then start limiting myself by what I think.


Thanks



gamerdad
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10 Dec 2014, 10:41 am

Nobody has all of the same symptoms/traits. I don't have issues with facial expressions, though I do have issues with emotions, especially recognizing who or what those emotions are directed towards. Also understand that being autistic is not a binary or quantitatively measurable thing. I've seen three psychologists. Two have told me I'm on the spectrum, one has told me I'm not. That's about as much certainty as it seems I'm going to get on the issue.

If you do choose to seek the input from a mental health professional, you should probably seek out one that specializes in diagnosis for people on the spectrum and has had experience with "high functioning" adults. Someone who doesn't specialize in ASD is probably going to have a more "traditional" view of autism, and is going to have a difficult time spotting milder expressions of traits, especially in adults who have learned to cope and/or pass.



gamerdad
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10 Dec 2014, 10:48 am

kraftiekortie wrote:
If you could afford it, find an autism specialist to assess you.

Otherwise: join the ranks of the "self-diagnosers." Do lots of research on Asperger's.

I just want to note, these two paths aren't mutually exclusive. In fact doing lots of researchers on Asperger's is going to give you better a better understanding of where you do or don't fit, which can be very helpful for the diagnosis process. Often times, there can be a significant wait list for getting an autism assessment. Maybe go ahead and make the appointment, then while you're waiting prepare for it by doing the research and introspection that you would for a "self-diagnosis".



r2d2
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10 Dec 2014, 10:51 am

I think I learned how to read faces as I got older - just as I learned to make eye contact. I think the difference is that people on the Autism spectrum can acquire skills. But usually we have to work at these kind of things that come naturally and spontaneously for neurotypical people. But having said that - these issues on their own neither rule a person in or out of the Autism Spectrum.

Of course you can try one of the online screening test just out of curiosity - Of course these test by no means are an authoritative diagnoses - But they do serve a purpose in letting people know where they might be. Again these test do not rule a person in or out - it takes a psychologist or psychiatrist who is knowledgeable about autism to perform a thorough assessment in order to have a formal diagnoses.

Here is one of the more reputable screening test which is prepared by Cambridge University's Autism Research Centre:

http://aq.server8.org/

Here is another reputable screening test:

http://aspietests.org/raads/index.php


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kraftiekortie
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10 Dec 2014, 11:25 am

Gamerdad makes a good point. Formal and self-diagnosis are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Yep, R2D2---contrary to the opinion of some, people with autism could make a go of it in the world by using their cognition.



Paukipaul
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10 Dec 2014, 12:04 pm

I am diagnosed as in the spectrum, and I can mostly read face expressions and recognize emotions. This is more difficult with complex emotions, like jealously.

If i feel happy and fit, I look other people in the eyes.

Have you ever read something about ADD? That's also a possibility.

As my family members all appear to have ADD (without listening to what the doctors said to me), it is highly possible that I have it as well.

When you have a combination of Autistic traits and ADD, it makes you extremely volatile on one side, and extremely static on the other side.

I usualy do not stim, or very moderate. Vocals stims sometimes. I daydream A LOT. To the brink of harming myself (not going to work because I wanna be left alone with my thoughts).

Well.



EzraS
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10 Dec 2014, 12:41 pm

I think not being able to read facial expressions is just one of the things in autism.
Just because one thing doesn't apply doesn't mean anything.
It's all the stuff that does apply that matters.



Whathappened
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10 Dec 2014, 5:45 pm

I took the first test. Scored a 35 - it said, the score most people with Asperger or High Functioning autism get.

The problem with these, and these tests is that...the older you get, the more coping skills you learn to offset these painful things; you learn denial that forms over like a solid crust, year after year..to cover your true self. Some things really stand out to me still, others - .

I've always had problems with relationships. I've been dying inside for my whole life for lack of it. It's really, very sad. ..As I see it, I'm such a beautiful person, but misunderstood by the world. That I've always known, I didn't need to know about autism to know that I've felt that.
Like I said, denial covers a lot of things, rationalizations, the artificial images we prop up around ourselves in direct proportion to the differences we have. I knew as a kid I liked to 'play with others', but if I can be honest with myself I never really liked playing WITH them. I always liked controlling them, having them do what I was doing. As a result of this I was called a natural born "leader" by the adults that took notice. Kids followed me. I also tended to be quite charismatic it would seem. Kids actually DID want to do what I was doing... many of them anyway. I was such a headstrong little personality.

I dunno..... this is a lot for me. I'm sad. I think that I will always be lonely.
I'm at least glad I'm getting back to understanding my true self, again. That, though extremely painful at times, is healthy for me. It has to be a start...



cakerake
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10 Dec 2014, 6:43 pm

You may have a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder? it's very common condition although often missed & often misdiagnosed - Yes! I'm looking at you ADHD & Autism, it often gets diagnosed as a mental health problem although there is a very high co-morbidity with FASD & mental health issues, especially if undiagnosed with inadequate understanding & support.

I think there is a fair portion of all cases of Autism including what was known as Aspergers that is in fact due to exposure to Alcohol during pregnancy, though you can suffer with "Autism" due to having an FASD - the labels can coexist, unfortunately FASD doesn't qualify you for much support atm as far as I know so Autism is a more helpful label for services, benefits etc, although the tide is turning & FASD is receiving more recognition, which is great news.

This might interest you Clinical Implications of a Link Between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Autism or Asperger’s Disorder

along with this Study Debunks Autism as a Primarily Genetic Disorder



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10 Dec 2014, 8:59 pm

If you can detect and respond intuitively to a variety of emotions (especially displayed non-verbally) it is unlikely that you are autistic.

I'm not autistic but I often sound overly clinical, I am definitely verbose, I wouldn't quite call myself an intellectual but I do enjoy arguing when I'm bored. My social skills are bad, I have OCD as you do, hate small talk and large conversations.

Your tendency to be literal could be an obsessive need for precision, provided that need occurs as any OCD obsession would and remains ego-dystonic.

Athleticism opposes Asperger's in a general sense.


I would say that you are almost definitely not autistic strictly from the description you have given. You have said that you stim, but what exactly do you mean? What stims?


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BeggingTurtle
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10 Dec 2014, 10:13 pm

Clinical studies have been done to reveal it's not because we are autistic, but because we don't look into people's eyes, where emotions are derived.


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gamerdad
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10 Dec 2014, 11:08 pm

Whathappened wrote:
I took the first test. Scored a 35 - it said, the score most people with Asperger or High Functioning autism get.

The problem with these, and these tests is that...the older you get, the more coping skills you learn to offset these painful things; you learn denial that forms over like a solid crust, year after year..to cover your true self. Some things really stand out to me still, others - .

I've always had problems with relationships. I've been dying inside for my whole life for lack of it. It's really, very sad. ..As I see it, I'm such a beautiful person, but misunderstood by the world. That I've always known, I didn't need to know about autism to know that I've felt that.
Like I said, denial covers a lot of things, rationalizations, the artificial images we prop up around ourselves in direct proportion to the differences we have. I knew as a kid I liked to 'play with others', but if I can be honest with myself I never really liked playing WITH them. I always liked controlling them, having them do what I was doing. As a result of this I was called a natural born "leader" by the adults that took notice. Kids followed me. I also tended to be quite charismatic it would seem. Kids actually DID want to do what I was doing... many of them anyway. I was such a headstrong little personality.

I dunno..... this is a lot for me. I'm sad. I think that I will always be lonely.
I'm at least glad I'm getting back to understanding my true self, again. That, though extremely painful at times, is healthy for me. It has to be a start...

Just FYI, the second yes he linked to accounts for symptoms that were present when you were younger but you've learned to cope with. Chances are, though, if you scored above the cutoff on the AQ then you're going to score above the cutoff on the RAADS-R as well.



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10 Dec 2014, 11:09 pm

Whathappened wrote:
I can recognize facial expressions and emotions. I actually do this EXTREMELY well.

Are you sure about that?


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