I just thought I'd actually post something here. I'm 22 and recently found out about Asperger's and was shocked how much of my childhood makes sense.
I've taken all the diagnostic tests and passed each one as "very likely aperger's" (or failed it by nt standards) some of them shocked me, others not really. I've not been officially diagnosed, but I'm fairly sure that I must be either HFA or Aspie... am thinking about doing an official diagnosis soon.
I am curious what you might think as to if I have asperger's or not. Here's what I've concluded and pieced together so far.
1- When I was younger my mom took me in for the first-year check up, at which point I had been working the television and computer and generally showing high intelligence for that age bracket, but when the doctor formed an "ok" sign with his or her hands and said "can you do this?" I refused to. Story has it that my mom got upset with me and told the doctor that I knew how to operate remotes without any help and "what good is it to make an ok signal anyways" the doctor asked to see me again later, but my mother never took me back.
2- I used to never look anyone in the eyes at all. Now I will if I know them well (like my husband or the guy I was obsessed with as a teenager) but if I do maintain eye contact it takes a lot of self coaching and effort. I originally thought that it was due to the fact that I didn't learn it when I was younger because I couldn't see people's eyes, as I was near sighted before I got lasik. However, long before I could read and before I was diagnosed as nearsighted (thanks to the school exams) my grandmother would sit down with me, tilt my head up at her and demand I look her in the eyes. I never did.
3- Most all my clothes as a child mysteriously lost their tags, despite my mother's disapproval of tearing out tags.
4- By the age of 4 I had attained the status of "motermouth" and I would be one rich girl if I have a single penny for all the times I've heard "You're too loud." "lower your voice" "let _____ speak too" ect.
5- Speaking of motermouth, I used to use mom's Video recorder (batteries not present) to walk around the house recording my life, as if I were making a documentary out of everyday things like making my bed or eating. I'd explain each step in great detail to the camera. This was my idea of playtime.
6- Up until I hit puberty I was prone to throw ridiculous fits (as my mother calls them) in which I often lost control of myself. For the most part this stopped at puberty and just developed into really heated arguments with my mother. She has always referred to me as a "difficult child"
7- I've never really had more than 2 good friend at a time, and they come and go quickly. Today I have no real life friends, and one amazing friend online who I've talked to for about 10 years
8- My childhood is littered with so many different "special interests: From Barney, coins (esp. the state quarters), TY beanie babies (i had over 150 at one point), Jimmy Neutron, Harry Potter, Nerfighteria, different authors (Jodi Picoult, John Green, Janet Evanovich), End Times/Left Behind, The Bible, Yo-Yoing, Chinese Jumprope, Cats Cradle, Writing, Pink Llamas, Web design... along with a few older adult interests.
9-I've often been told that I am argumentative, but I only argue when I know I'm right (which is often). My mother often tell my dad "Don't bother arguing, she is usually right."
10- I have a freakishly uncanny memory for anything I've read. ever. I just don't forget it. At first this is how I came to be known as a Harry Potter nerd, though I had only read the books once. Eventually I embraced the title and got into Wizard Rock and podcasts and such and really earned the title. But at fist it was just my memory of what I had read. This trait also causes my to absolutely despise re-reading something. If I've read it, I'm done with it. (With exceptions to Harry Potter and others that I find particularly enjoyable and thought-provoking
11- I'm an avid nail biter, and there are other stims that I have recently noticed (am constantly fidgeting with stuff around me, foot tapping, leg shaking, playing with my tongue web, and biting my lip/thumb and I'm sure there are some I don't realize.
12- I have felt for nearly my whole life like I was older than I am. Currently that means feeling like I'm a 27 year old in the body of a 22 year old, in the past it's been a 16 year old in the body of an 8 year old, or whatever. Usually a difference of 3-5 years.
I much prefer being alone (or with my hubby) and have known that something made me different from others my age since at least middle school. I've been told it's ADHD, but again no diagnosis. I think, after research asperger's is more likely.
I'm probably forgetting things... but that covers a lot of it. What do you think? Am I onto something or just crazy?
07 Feb 2011, 2:48 am
