Dared wrote:
I struggle with 3, 5, 7 and 8 on occasion. I particularly tend to talk about my interests excessively and have been told so by other people... it's interesting because when I struggle with eye contact i just feel like a deer in head lights like i can't focus my eyes on the other persons face. I get a sensation where my mind just goes blank for a minute and everything feels like it's rushing in at me. Definitely very overwhelming but I don't know if social anxiety could cause these feelings as well? As for sensory issues, I wear the same clothes everyday. If it's cold out I wear sweat pants and if it's warm I wear basketball shorts. The reason is that I do not like the way tight clothing feels on my skin. Other then that, the only other thing I can think of is my eyes sometimes are sensitive to light. I have hearing loss in both ears so I am unsure if I have any sensory issues with that. Is it possible to teach yourself how to act like an NT to an extent? I've been exposed to lots of people throughout my life due to the fact that my brother and I are only two years apart. He always would bring his friends over to our house when I was younger and we would play video games, smoke cigarettes etc. I now have a girlfriend of almost three years. Needless to say, I've probably had significantly more social experiences than the average aspie. Also, for what it's worth, my therapist sited limited facial expressions, lack of hand gestures, limited eye contact and narrowed interests among other things as some of the reasons for my apergers diagnoses. Sorry for the book.
What you are describing sounds like ASD to me.
A lot of people didn't really believe me when I told them, because I have learned many things, and because I'm actually somewhat outgoing and friendly. But I'm friendly in an awkward way.
I always said really inappropriate or blunt things, didn't use small talk until 2-3 years ago, didn't ask people questions about themselves until 2-3 years ago. Always give entirely too much personal info. But I am friendly, and that doesn't seem like ASD, I guess. I have no friends, either.
I have definitely learned a lot in the past 12 years or so, which may give the appearance of being NT. But I can't fake it for long. I've been told that I do seem odd to most people.
My facial expressions are actually exaggerated, and I'm wondering if it's because I had to teach myself to make them. I know that I didn't use them as much as would be expected as a young child. I use exaggerated gestures at times, but gesture less than others in general.
Anyway, the point is that yes, many can learn to socialize. But not everyone can. I guess it depends on the severity of the social deficits.
04 Feb 2016, 1:19 pm
