Autism and Obsessive–compulsive disorder Questions

Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 

ShyChristianGirl
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 30 Nov 2011
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 126
Location: Somewhere in the U.S. of A. (Still kind of shy, but I am not religious anymore. I am one year younger than what it says.)

30 Dec 2011, 10:26 pm

Whats the difference between an Autism spectrum disorder and Obsessive–compulsive disorder when it comes to repetitive and obsessive behaviors? How does repetitive and obsessive behaviors affect both of those kind of disorders? How and in which kind of ways? What would be some examples? If anyone has some examples. Please explain.

So how would someone know which of those disorders they had or is it possible for someone to have both?

If someone worries so much and obsesses over their problems and negative type things that it seems so hard to focus on anything else as much as they try, the person just keeps repeating the same things over and over again and keeps talking about it then what would that be?

Also I have another question. Exactly what does it mean when it says someone with an Autism spectrum disorder has trouble with social cues? What is a social cue? And what does it mean by lack of empathy? I need some examples.



bumble
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Age: 49
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,073

30 Dec 2011, 10:33 pm

I experienced a brief episode of OCD many years back and it is vastly different. The compulsions and obsessions are unpleasent and unwanted such as repetitively flicking light switches (in my cas anyway). It was also not a choice and was very distressing to me. It was mental torture in some ways actually.

With reptitive things like listening to the same song over and over again I actually enjoy doing that, I don't find it distressing and if I get bored with the song I can stop listening to it. The same with my interests...it is a choice that brings me much pleasure as I become intensely passionate about them.

I can, however, assure people that I was not passionate about flicking light switches etc at all! Drove me nuts actually.



Phonic
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 3 Apr 2011
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,329
Location: The graveyard of discarded toy soldiers.

30 Dec 2011, 10:43 pm

People with OCD get no pleasure from their repetitive behavior and rituals - on the contrary, they hate it. People with ASD's enjoy their repetition and rituals.

Quote:
Exactly what does it mean when it says someone with an Autism spectrum disorder has trouble with social cues? What is a social cue? And what does it mean by lack of empathy? I need some examples.


A social cue is "implicit" language based on assumed social rules and norms. Missing a social cue would be like not understanding the point of a joke, not realizing that you're standing to close to someone, or that you're asking questions that are too personal.

"A lack of empathy" is when you cannot feel emotions based on what happens to other people - but that's just my definition and it is the opinion of many medical professionals and people on this forum that autistics do not lack empathy - they simply have trouble understanding their own often sensetive empathy.

phonic.


_________________
'not only has he hacked his intellect away from his feelings, but he has smashed his feelings and his capacity for judgment into smithereens'.


Dunnyveg
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 5 May 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 370
Location: Deep in the heart of Texas

30 Dec 2011, 10:47 pm

Christian, Bumble's definition is also my understanding of OCD. Imagine for a moment that somebody does something very cruel to you. It's perfectly normal to entertain brief thoughts of what you'd like to do to that person--at least until you calm down. Now imagine that you're plagued constantly with thoughts of killing people in gruesome ways. I'm guessing you'd be horrified, meaning those thoughts are obessesive because they are constant and unwanted. They are intrusive.

Obsessions can also be behavioral. If you play video games twelve hours a day and love it, that's a preoccupation. If you play video games twelve hours a days because you feel driven to but really don't want to, that's obsession.

Social cues are messages not verbally said, but understood by most people. Aspies are at one end of this spectrum, and the best politicians are at the other. The best politician is one who can pick up immediately upon what you want. Aspies have to have things spelled out.

Empathy means that we are distressed when we see other suffering, and are happy for others when something good has happened to them. It's the ability to put yourself in another's place.