Could I be an aspie?

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The suggestion was not that you go out and intentionally get drunk or stoned for the purpose of the experiment... it was to take advantage of such a state, should you end up in one, for the sake of scientific curiosity.

But in any case, it served its secondary purpose. Yes, you're Aspie, almost beyond doubt. That was a very, very classically-Aspie reaction (a fairly extreme one, in fact). You can buy your "I'm Aspie" T-shirt now in the gift shop with a high degree of confidence that it won't end up getting invalidated by a future official diagnosis.

I'm starting to wonder: is procastination related to Aspergers?

I should also mention... out of all the meds I've taken, only desipramine has ever really made a dent in my (non-)ability to start tasks I'm not interested in. It's possible that Strattera, reboxetine, or Wellbutrin/Zyban/bupropion might help, but IMHO, there's something special that TCAs do (when given together with stim meds like Concerta (absolutely the best form of methylphenidate... hands down, no contest) or amphetamines that isn't fully understood (yet), and really makes a BIG difference to executive functioning.

The truth is, the exact mechanism of TCAs is STILL being discovered today -- partly, because researchers discovered that they work as antidepressants 40 years ago, then the pharma industry mostly quit studying them at all (with the exception of a few Desipramine & Nortriptyline studies in the 80s and early 90s relating to ADD), devoted most of its attention to developing better antidepressants with fewer side effects. As luck would have it, one of those fortunate side effects for Aspies (when combined with stim meds) is improved executive functioning. Now, thanks to autism research, they're becoming interested in them again.

I got another question. I've noticed I have difficulty guessing which way doors open. I haven't read anything about this. And the tests I took didn't ask about that. I know that's pretty simple and maybe even insignificant. Anyway, do you think it has something to do with my possible "aspieness"?

I think Aspieness has something to do with it, because I'm *always* slamming full speed into the latched side of door pairs where only one side is unlocked because the employees couldn't be bothered to flip the two levers that enabled the second door to open as well.

In general, it seems like if you have a pair of doors that push open, the one on the left (facing in the same direction that you'd push) is usually the one that's unlocked. The problem is, to anybody who's not from Britain, that makes no sense at all. I think that's maybe why it bothers Aspies so badly. We look at the door, logically think "keep right" (if we're not British), and it ends up being the side that's almost always latched. So, to avoid it, we have to intentionally ignore everything we know about how the world is supposed to work, and correctly assume as an act of blind faith that the left side will be the one that actually opens.

I see. There are many things I considered to be weirdness and clumsiness, but make sense under this perspective. Or maybe I'm just weird and clumsy.

I think the fact that I'm daydreaming ALL THE TIME says a lot. There are too many things not to find AS is the reason why I'm like this. Could there be a degree? Do you necessarily need to show most of the traits to know you're an aspie?

IMHO, we (aspies w/ADD) have the same basic wiring as more 'classic' aspies, with one key difference: impulsivity (or, as I like to think of it, the "f**ck it reflex") that tends to save us from some of autism's more debilitating symptoms.

For example, socializing. The usual aspie response is anxiety & avoidance. But, when you pile impulsiveness on top, you end up with an aspie who's still socially-awkward, but occasionally managss to blindly (and often, successfully) stumble into social situations where a "normal Aspie" would never willingly go. And over time, the same "impulsive aspie" learns social skills he wouldn't have otherwise acquired & his anxiety goes down a tiny bit.

Here's another example: Aspies are commonly believed to "like rules, and only break rules they don't understand." I hate rules... sort of. I like rules applied to *others*, because it makes their behavior more predictable to me. I hate having rules imposed on *me* and chafe, but I also hate being held to ambiguous standards. If I'm going to break rules, I want it to be a deliberate act after logical consideration & analysis. As a child, though, I was a *hardcore* "rule nazi" & tattletale, and didn't really start to outgrow it until high school.

Likewise, I have a love-hate relationship with routines. I make detailed plans, then completely ignore them without fear or stress... as long as *I'm* the one who made the decision to deviate, and I feel like I'm firmly in control. When I'm *forced* to deviate, I get upset and drift into pre-meltdown territory. However, being *forced* to rigidly adhere to my own routine is *almost* as bad.

Look, the fact that you're questioning that something is different is the most important thing here. When I went for a diagnosis, I was wayyy off. I guessed I had dyslexia, adhd, anything except aspegers (well aspergers did cross my mind, but my mom shut that idea down). It's really up to a professional to decide what diagnosis you really fit into. Plus this is a spectrum. Any autistic-like symptoms could be anywhere from autism, to aspergers, to pervasive developmental disorder. The only way for you to get the help you need is to get a professional to decide which part of the spectrum YOU fit into. But the fact that you're questioning that something is different is a great first step, and the next one is to consult a professional. Good luck!

I think there are a couple traits worth mentioning. I have difficulty reading clocks. Pretty stupid maybe, but clocks and related stuff are sort of tricky for me. I also notice I do some compulsive movements which, apparently, make me look weird. Furthermore I must say some things like driving or even eating can be difficult at times. Basically I drive without thinking because I have my mind filled with other thoughts about the problems and topics (the ones I'm passionate about) I'm ALWAYS thinking of. Once again, it happens the same with eating. I forget about it while eating (unless I'm starving) because my thoughts distract me.

These are things I've always done.

The above reaction certainly is consistent with a person with Asperger's. Of course, not a doctor so this is just an opinion.
If procrastination=serving to protect your routine, than yes, it is.

Sincerely,
Matthew

Another fenomenon. I play music in my head and sometimes I can't stop it. Frequently It happens when I have exams. Usually it's heavy metal.