Are you AS or MILD AS?

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Actually I am diagnosed HFA. I'm not really worried about peoples perception of me here, just intrigued at the idea that I come across as angry and bitter, it's a little bit funny. If you were me, you might think the same thing! I just don't think I've typed in an aggressive manner, I've been logical and matter of fact at all times as far as I can see. I have made negative comments about certain things, but I don't think that makes me negative or bitter. I do not like the flavour of chocolate, but if I express that, am I bitter and angry about chocolate, or am I perceived to be? I am HFA after all, and I still have the deficit of not always understanding how I come across, even though I try to be careful.

I had moderate depression when I was 16 according to my shrink I saw then. He had me do a little test on depression by filling out a questionare and he added up the total and told me it was moderate. I didn't even know mine was that bad.

Heck there is a member on here who claims to have moderate AS and she has said she thought hers was mild but her doctors told her it was that bad.

You are stubborn, and even worse, unnecessarily defensive.

I'd say I had mild to moderate AS. I clicked mild AS because its technically more closer to the mild side. I can also justify why I am mild. I have little to no sensory issues. Im very high functioning, Im in college out of state for one, living on my own, Im very organized, and right now Im doing fine. My main problems are socially, mainly eye contact, and greetings. Otherwise I can hold a conversation and I've learned how to read people much better.

I think most people would say there mild AS. Im guessing cause we can still technically function in society there just those subtle differences. Yet thats one of the characteristics of AS. Techically AS is a mild form of autism. We are not a full blown "disorder"(or whatever you wanna call it). I question whether the majority of people with AS are actually "mild".

princess, at your age I had close friends, a boyfriend, a family, a brilliant career and a huge salary. Now, 26 years later, I have no friends, no relationship, no contact with family, and I'm applying for disability because I'm constantly fired or don't pass the personality part of the interviews.

I am not saying, GOD FORBID, that this may happen to you, mind you!! !!

What I mean to say is that you have the perfect right, should you ever wish to, to claim that AS is AS and that there's no such thing as mild or strong, and that AS may manifest bigger difficulties in some stages more than others, some places more than others, some circumstances more than others, and that the fact that you weren't strongly affected at a certain age and place and circumstances doesn't mean you don't deserve full consideration of your AS at any point before that or after that age or in different circumstances.

i chose mild AS because there's quite a few traits of aspergers that i don't have, and i seem to have made it to 26 with no diagnosis. but i have enough to have been made fun of through school by my peers and even some teachers, and to struggle with my work history now because i've walked out on jobs because of conditions and people i felt like i could not cope with.

welcome aboard, boomshika.

You look so lovely in that photo! *looks at shabby self with disgust*

right now, i'm kind of at a similar point in my life. i graduated from college with a degree in graphic design in may of 2008, and since then have not been able to get my career off the ground. i suspect it is my AS (in addition to the economy, lack of experience, etc.) that is the cause of this. so in the past year, i have gotten (and lost) little minimum wage jobs here and there. i actually have an appointment at my local voc rehab center tomorrow.

about the personality part of interviews: i've mastered these because i lie, plain and simple. i look at the answers that really reflect my personality, and generally pick the opposite. LoL. so voila, i love working with people, i'm always positive, keep my issues at home. yeah right! LoL

I find it hard to view myself objectively....but most likely mild...AS...I have some friends and relationships(albiet ASish ones)..I am able to manage helping run 2 businesses....Some of my sensory issues have dulled over time..My social functioning fluctuates...

While AS symptoms are present, I am much more severely affected by my ADD symptoms...Those are a pain in the ass....

thanks for the compliment on my pic! by the way, that is a pic of me done up for the outside world. ironically, i am different from most aspies in the sense that i love to shop and love putting together outfits, but i also get into modes where i'm lazy as hell and don't give a damn. right now, i'm looking shabby as well. my hair is a mess, and i'm still in the shirt i slept in last night. (it's 2:30pm here! )

Sarcasm doesn't mean saying something you don't mean

Well, in that photo everything matches perfectly and your hair is perfect...! However, it's the beautiful smile that would make it hard getting a diagnosis with one of the superficial/stereotyping specialists... LOL

These are excellent points. I might also add to the list personality aspects such as drive and determination. Some people will give up easily in the face of even a small challenge, others will make it a mission to succeed despite overwhelming odds, and most others may be anywhere in between. In general, the determined set will appear less severe, simply because they persevered through "difficult", stopping (eventually) only at "impossible".

My recent experiences illustrate your first point. Many years ago, with a university degree and the first couple of qualifying examinations, I still had to interview numerous companies before stumbling across one that used an esoteric programing language which I happened to know. Once "in", I quickly became known for my technical abilities, as well as ability to visualise and model complex things. This kept me comfortably employed for over 20 years. However, as management changed and I reached a level more visible in political circles, things fell apart quickly. Now some former colleagues and I have started a new company. Instead of being largely based on concrete or technical things, most dealings at this stage are about purely presentational or interpersonal things. As you move up in a profession, particularly a technical one, it is natural to go from positions where autism enhances your abilities to positions where autism impairs them. In my case, the difference between strength and weakness (as I am discovering) is immense. As a result, I have appeared to go from a confident master and teacher of things technical to being confused and lost in every meeting. I am extremely fortunate to have a close friend and business partner who helps me prepare for these encounters, without which I would be in major trouble.

I try not to think of what I might encounter if I ever had to seek conventional employment, at my age in a youth- and male-dominated field, in a world much different from 25 years ago where solid technical credentials and basic interpersonal skills were sufficient for at least some prospective employers.

I have mild AS.

Melissa, I can totally understand what you're going through, and that's indeed what I meant by that point. And perseverance is indeed one of the factors, though Aspies in general are perseverant by neurology, as the specialists say.

I have very mild AS....