Am I on autism spectrum ? You be the judge

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Years ago, when my wife asked me to purchase something at the store (e.g, eggs or hot sauce or whatever), I would say OK. Then, when I got to the store, I would see all the different brands/varieties. In the best case scenario, I would recognize what we had previously purchased and just buy that. Otherwise, I would study each of the brands/varieties, trying the figure out which one was optimal. Eventually, I would call my wife and ask her what she really wanted (for eggs – white versus brown; 12-pack versus 18-pack; brand A versus brand B).

I sense that this comes down to a basic failing of mine. Which is I hate making decisions. Unless, that is, I have all the information and the decision is obvious. To compensate, I always try to get complete “specifications” before going to the store.

Given this, if someone asked me to get a cake for an event, I would ask them to describe the various properties of a cake they were looking for (size, flavor, frosting, type, etc.). But, if when I got to the store, they didn’t have exactly what they specified, I would then prioritize those properties and choose. And that final choice (which would cause a lot of angst, given my dislike for making decisions) would ultimately be based upon my personal preference. Because I don’t have a good idea of what other people like. Primarily, because I do not pay attention to that type of stuff.

Most you guys have a lot of hate and respect-demanding for people on the ASD.
Demanding people to be "humble" in the face aggressive hateration is just a form of demanding respect just for the sake of demanding it. Similarto the deeply disturbed Emperor of Ancient Rome, Caligula, playing games with peoples lives, making his elite guards murder random people in the streets, kidnapping families and having them raped in front of each other for amusement, and demanding deference and humility in return.

My OP was apropos on the facts, without derision, and quite cut-and-dry.
If u go back and read the posts, you'll find I responded to each in kind.
If you respond with blame, hate, and separation, I respond in kind.
If u respond matter of factly without being rude (difficult proposition for most ASD apparently) I take it with a grain of salt, debate it a little, and apreciate it very much.

My purpose is to find answers, not blind/ignorant opposition.

I noticed many of you are quite young. Perhaps that's why many of you go for the jugular on the outset. Young & dumb never is an asset.

Is there a 35yo and above forum here on WP ?
Perhaps I'll reach more settled and rational people there.

To quote Fnord, "Only appropriately-trained and licensed mental-health professionals can make an official diagnosis of an ASD. We're just a buncha rank amateurs here, so our opinions won't mean much. Online tests can not provide an objective ASD diagnosis, either."


Go to: viewforum.php?f=32

There is one for those over 30 but it's probably not what you're looking for. Here's what its description is:

"In-depth intelligent discussion for the older adults who have been living independently. It's recommended that you are age 30 and up and have the experience of living independently or in long-term partnerships. Adults younger than 30 can participate but we ask that you respect the maturity level of this forum."

Link: viewforum.php?f=32

You told us to be the judge. Now you're telling us you don't want us to be the judge, but you want a judge who agrees with you. It's pretty contradicting if you ask me, but whatever.

I think you are being overly sensitive and reading into other people's responses too much.
I did not see any post in this thread that could be construed as hateful. And if anyone seemed "respect-demanding", it's likely because they felt you disrespected them first.

By the way, despite your claim you did ignore, or at least fail to respond to, quite a few of the "neutral" responses to this thread.

No one is "hating" on you. You were given a helpful reply and responded with hostility and now all you've done is badmouth everyone who has tried to help you as soon as they said something you didn't like or agree with. This thread is getting silly.

If you'd like to talk to older members, there are plenty, but I wouldn't expect different results.

I was diagnosed at 3 years old as "Genius with borderline autism". I fit all the current criteria for Aspergers Syndrome and/or High Functioning Autism. That said I am not qualified to give a diagnosis but can share my own experiences.

1. I also rock all the time when I am alone, and in public when I am anxious or overwhelmed. This is a classic form of self-soothing for many people on the autistic spectrum.

2. I also have a long list of allergies including sulfa antibiotics.

3. I don't experience heart palpitations when in confrontations.

4. I also get upset (and sometimes a bit paranoid) in social situations I don't understand. If I become overwhelmed I must escape to a quiet place to calm down. If I become frustrated I will spontaneously burst into tears.

5. I also have a variety of special interests, and cannot tolerate the boredom of things I am not interested in, including most people and the inane chit-chat they seem to enjoy.

6. My energy fluctuates and when it is "down" I have no motivation to do anything. Even just sitting in a chair seems like too much work.

7. I have a poor filter and have to concentrate to say appropriate things to people in public. I have learned to chit-chat, but when I am stressed I tend to speak very bluntly, which can offend people. My default mode is blunt and honest.

8. I have chronic low energy. I have to pace myself each day on just how much work is possible for me to accomplish. I have found that for me it is useless to try and "push through". My experience has been that when I try to push myself all that happens is I become overloaded with sensory stimuli and meltdown.

9. I have periods of deep depression (in the winter time when the days are short and cold and there is very little sunshine). During this time I also sleep 10- 12 hours per day. I consider this normal for me and have arranged my schedule so that I can "hibernate" in the winter months.

10. Loud noises are the bane of my existence! I cannot tolerate loud noises and sudden loud noises infuriate me. They are SO painful that I react instantaneously by plugging my ears and often swearing loudly.

11. I also require long periods of what I call "alone time". I genuinely enjoy being alone. So I schedule it and have found that when I don't get my alone time I am more likely to have a meltdown.

Hope this helps! Understanding the unique neurobiology of the autistic brain has made it easier for me to navigate in the NT world. I know what to expect from myself, what my strengths are (great with details!!), and what is just not going to happen no matter how hard I try.

For the record,
ASPartOfMe was the best, most objective, and to-the-point reply of the whole thread.

Bravo !

Exactly what I was looking for.
I think it's no coicidence he's (or she maybe) is 52 years of age.

Is it too much to expect most of the replied to be like ASPartOfMe's ?
Apparently so.

Starkid gave you a very detailed and thorough response. He used up time and energy trying to help you out with an honest answer, and you, in return, were rude. Also, you come off as very condescending to everyone here. "Young and dumb never is an asset." You're back-handedly insulting us. When have we called you dumb? We're being honest with you, and you're insulting us and complaining because you're not getting the answers you want.

I say write down what you've written in the original post, and show it to a professional. You seem to really, really want to be on the spectrum and are upset that we're not confirming that wish.
We don't know you, so all we can give you is an opinion based on what you've written in your original post.
It seems to me you could very well possibly be autistic, although some of what you listed seemed slightly vague (and that's okay). I think it would do well to ask others to give you an honest account of your quirks from their perspective and record it and write it down, maybe take a series of online tests and print the results, and present them to a professional along with the list you've shown us. But don't take my word for it (points at imaginary disclaimer tattooed across my forehead); he he.

[quote="CryosHypnoAeon"]I think it's no coicidence he's (or she maybe) is 52 years of age./quote]

And you accuse us of being rude while invalidating our response because of our age.

You came here with the intention of us telling you that you're autistic and be welcomed. Since that is not what happened, you are now trying to discard what we said due to us being below 35. What the actual f**k?

Thank you so much CatLady2323

I know I'm not misguided or crazy. I know myself and I know how to do research online. Some of these repliers purposely (and mostly subconsciously because of their young age, I guess; that or they were born without the sympathy gene, an NT trait to be sure) disregard and deny many of my most obvious ASD symptoms, then proceed with the "you're not in our club" agenda. Really disheartening and sad to see. Maybe thats what they want, they're so angry at life they feel the need to cut someone down and deny them. It's safer for them.to see me as an NT, otherwise their world doesn't make sense.

Anyways, glad you're on here, WP.

Get over yourself

i'm 58. did you see my previous post? i tried to be helpful.

I just do not understand why you created the thread in the first place if you're already completely convinced that you are, in fact, on the spectrum.

I know what you mean.

OP asks for our opinion, for us to judge.

We say what we think and why.

We get told we're too young and have no idea what we're talking about.

We get told OP knows everything there is to know and OP is sure they are autistic and that we're ignorant.

We get told we're essentially gatekeeping.

Really all he was looking for was us to say what he already decided, and that we're wrong otherwise.

yes, I did see that, thank you, cathylynn