Some symptoms fit, others not. I don't know

Post Reply New Topic

Dear all,

I've been told I might have Aspergers, but after some research, some symptoms resonate strongly with me whilst others just don't. I'm confused and a little distressed, and don't know what to think. Any help would be greatly appreciated

For a long while, I've recognised something in myself that stops me functioning effectively, and I often feel like an outsider in the world. Its been enough for me to quit good careers twice, and now i need just to understand what it is so that i can move on and choose a directions that suits me. Do these symptoms fit ASD? I just need to understand. Thanks.

My symptoms
Socially quite isolated, don't understand social situations and often say stuff which offends, although I now hold back on saying lots of things. I thrive in conversations about me, or my interests, or something I'm interested in, but cannot pay attention otherwise and tune out, no matter how hard I try to listen.
No interest in social niceties, gossip or chit chat. Prefer my own company, and have little desire to do things in groups.
Middling student, high academic achiever, with all effort and learning coming in few weeks before exams, or final months in case of my PhD. A distinct feeling that my faculties sharpen and my brain is in overdrive when the pressure of failure is upon me.
The experience of trying to do something and no matter how hard I try, I just cannot do it. Like reading a text book, or a repetative task at work.
High enthusiasm at outset, and quickly become bored or burnout, unable to sustain effort.
Obsessive interest in various ideas, people or pursuits, but these change regularly, often on a daily basis. become obsessive to point where other things fade away into insignificance, including relationships.
no desire to master any skill or subject. Just want to understand it, and then move on to next interest. No desire to keep doing it.
Easily distracted, e.g. Reading, with be distracted by things moving in peripheral vision.

Things about me that dont fit
On the other side, i have characteristics that dont fit as aspergers symptoms. I show no motor troubles. I play football, although only got good at it when I was much older, and I dance. I have no patience for choreography, but am a good freestyle dancer. I also meditate and have developed a reasonable body awareness. I also connect well with people in a non-conversational manner, e.g. through dancing, and I'm quite tactile enjoying touching and being touched.

Thank you for your patience, and any help or even reassurance you can offer.

Well, it's pretty normal that not all the symptoms fit. Especially for women, as often looks a bit different. I didn't fit all the symptoms either (I didn't have strong special interests before I joined the autism community etc). Not all aspies have motor troubles and problems with body awareness, I know a few athletic aspies too (but they are a minority). If you feel that asperger's perhaps doesn't give the whole picture, you might want to rule out ad(h)d, ocd and tourette, as they have a high comorbidity with asperger's. When I was diagnosed with as, I felt it explained a lot, but not everything. The picture became whole when I was diagnosed with add a few years later.

Not every trait is required in order to have a disorder or disease. Like a previous poster said, you may have co-morbid conditions with a milder form of Asperger's. I have Asperger's with Avoident Personality Disorder (AvPD), Executive Function Disorder (EFT), and chronic low grade depression as co-morbids. I think the EFT gives me the most trouble, followed by my Asperger's.

The EFT leaves me, my home, and my life, a disorganized mess. My Asperger's causes some problems dealing with people and life in general, but my AvPD lets me be okay with being a hermit, so I don't care as much about my Aspie problems. The chronic low grade depression kind of gets lost among the rest of them.

OP, Those things you've listed sound almost exactly like me. I dance too. But, I don't have a diagnosis either, so I'm not much help. My 6yr old daughter is being assessed just now and she's like me in many ways, although she has behaviour problems (not so much now), which I never presented with. She won't fit the criteria for Aspergers and seems to have very mild autism, combined with very high intelligence, (even that can result in similar issues to autism). As Heidi80 says, ADHD might need to be ruled out too. The same could be said for my daughter and I. We could tick all the boxes for ADHD (inattentive), but we both have traits that can't be accounted for by that. Concentration is a major issue for both of us, but I managed to conceal my difficulties. She hasn't, which is actually quite good, as it's the main trait that has caused her to be identified so early on (especially for a girl). This place has been great for tryng to get my thoughts in order and speaking with people in similar situations. You'll only find out for sure, by getting properly assesssed. Good luck

Yeah. A diagnostician worth his or her salt can't give a diagnosis off the internet. As a side note, aspies can be pretty high achievers. Their special interests can lead them to not only completing text books but also to garner diplomas and degrees in their field of study. Others are so focused that they can write books, create albums, paint and sculpt great works of art, and so on.

Thank you for your responses. I feel reassured that im not making things up, and that someone can relate to what I'm feeling. I feel less anxious about my referral now. Thank you.

Well, I was formally sort of an athletic Aspie ( I really hate that this cutesy term!)in my twenties. But it was not at team sports, as I never could be a team player. And I started out extremely clumsy, & still am. But I could run & jump like crazy. In sports where I could compete against myself I was moderately good at. I also like becoming a Scuba diver because it fit in with a couple of special interests/obsessions.
So having some athletic ability certainly does not rule you out of the Spectrum!

Sincerely,
Matthew

Yeah, I can relate. My body works fine. My mind, well, most of your list sounds like home.

you sound alot like me and i have a diagnosis so i gues your also one but the defenitions are blury and to be one or the be a other one realy isn't that much of a difference.