Yeah I think Aspergers makes sense.. so hello!

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Hello, I am very new to the idea that I could be affected by Asperger's. This morning I was reading an interview/discussion with David Byrne (big fan) and a neuroscientist. David mentioned that he thought he might have shown signs of mild Asperger's and I've certainly noticed I share some of his eccentric speaking and communication patterns and I identify strongly with something about the way he writes so I read more about it (obsessively today, yes, I haven't done a lick of work).... BAM! *lightbulb*

I've been diagnosed, incorrectly IMO, with depression, and I definitely have social anxiety, but its always been more than that. I watch and listen to people and try to mimic the proper behavior myself. I frequently miss out on subtleties, or what I would call subtle others might call blaringly obvious. I won't go on and on about why I think this diagnosis fits me, but it does - except for a few things that I wonder about:

1) lacking empathy and/or emotion? I don't lack empathy, an possibly have an overabundance, but more readily with animals. I spend so much time trying to understand people by attempting to think like them or put myself in their shoes.. I don't honestly think I have any clue but I try so hard, almost obsessively, that I am extremely sensitive to emotion. I just don't always properly interpret WHY the person feels as they do. I cry. Often. Sometimes inappropriately just because I am stressed by the environment, but also at appropriate times. The way it reads in some descriptions I would not fit. Its not that I don't understand people, its more like they are some other species that I am watching and trying to like.

2) lacking humor? I am funny. I love humor. I get humor, I make people laugh all the time, but my humor often alarms people too. I use humor to keep people at a distance and to cope. I tend to irony and sarcasm, or word play most.

3) functioning as an adult - Although I thought childhood and adolescence would never end, I've never subsequently had much of an issue with career success and am married (happy). I had trouble leaving home because I was afraid of new things and strangers and strange places. Once I left home, college was easy. School is easy. Learning is one thing I do very well. My job (bioinformatics research scientist) is very specialized, focused, and done mostly alone. And the people that are around are mostly socially inept scientists too, so its ok

Do a lot of people who are 100% SURE, diagnosed or undiagnosed, still feel like they don't perfectly fit the diagnosis? I would think so, the mind is very plastic and we are all so different, a product of our genes and our environments.

4) strange eating? I was very overweight, and am still moderately so. I do eat the same thing over and over again for weeks, but most of what I read is about people not eating. I never have that problem, even when deeply entranced in something. Eating was a coping mechanism for me.

I was, and always will be, a little professor. That fits. Almost all of it fits. Having a name for "me" is sort of cathartic and alarming at the same time. I am definitely different, I always knew that, but am I so different that IT HAS A NAME? My father, incidentally, fits the description to a T.

I took the test at Instructables and scored 153/200 very likely Asperger's, and 69/200 neurotypical. Well, its something maybe. But what do you do about it? I mean, how does naming it change anything? I don't really want to change anyway. I don't know, I guess I am having a mini-existential crisis today and what I really meant to say was Hello.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

The label doesn't change who you are. But, it can help to know that "normal" people don't think the way you do, so that interactions with others aren't so strained and awkward.

Welcome, cardamom! I'm diagnosed and it's my opinion that the "lack of empathy" and "lack of humor" diagnostic indicators are completely incorrect, and that anything that appears to be these things is a result of poor understanding of Asperger's/autism even among experts.

Welkome to WrongPlanet.

The WP Kink

Welcome aboard, Comrade.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajfvO5cvk-g[/youtube]

Hi and WELCOME!

I am Diagnosed Aspie, and all i can say is that theres a couple of things, about ICD10, that don't exactly match me either...

(1) I do have a bit of empathy, but in another way. First of all i dont like "humor" where the wictims are being bullied! ect.
But on the other hand i do have some trouble separating empathy and sympathy.

(2) I LOVE "black humor"! And british as well! ( Monthy Python ect...)

(3) Hmm in some matters (social) I have to admit, that my wife calls me our 4'th child!
And on the other hand, some of our friends (and my mothers family) says that I'm "wiser than my age" - and has always been...

(4) wouldn't know since my mother made a sport out of making all sorts of foreign foot, to trigger curiosity...

On Aspie-Quiz (same quiz?) my score was AS 152/200 and NT 53/200, but its not a a secure indicator! - Know of a diagnosed Aspie who scored nearly opposit!

Another thing is that my wife has stuck with me for over 17 years, and we have, as above stated, 3 kids! I'we do also have a job, that has lasted for 9½ year...
So the only way to be sure, is to se a specialist!! !

Best regards, and yet again, WELCOME!! !

To WrongPlanet!! !