What is the " norm " for you?

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I know my boyfrinds patterns and habbits pretty well. I've never really found them odd or anything, just different. Not in a bad way, just in a " huh that's different " kinda way.

My question for AS members is what is the " normal " for you?
More so I'm asking like what are your tics, habbits, patterns, special interest, things of that nature.
I'm also really interested in what is the socail norm?

Anything you want to say about having AS would really be interesting to me. I know I've been posting a lot, but I just really want to learn about it. looking stuff up online is different than holding a discussion with someone who has it.

I want to learn everything I can, the good and the bad of AS. The struggles and the happy moments too. So basically anything you want to tell me about having AS would be benifical to me.

Thanks for your time.

This is a very good question. I hope that you find the information I provide to be helpful in some way.

Tics - I have a verbal tic called palilalia, which basically means that I repeat my own words under my breath. I will think I am finished speaking a sentence, but my lips will keep mouthing the words all over again. It must look like I'm a character in a badly-dubbed foreign film when I do this.

Habits - Physical - I do a lot of finger-flicking, and I made up a drum pattern that I like to tap on my legs or various surfaces. I really like the sound and feel of retractable pens, and I spend more time clicking them than actually writing with them. If I see water on the counter near the kitchen sink, I get the urge to draw shapes in it. I like pacing while listening to music and walking on my toes, and when I do this I hit my shoulder with my left hand. If the weather permits, I like to run in circles with my music on outside. I have a lot of trouble sitting or standing completely still, and I sway, rock, walk in little circles (if standing) and shake my legs and shift positions a lot (if sitting). Social/verbal - I have an imaginary world that is based on my special interests and I will occasionally slip into it while talking to other people, which can happen unpredictably. Sometimes I will even forget that the other person is even there when I do this. I will also repeat things I've said earlier in the day to the same person and they will have to remind me that I've already said that.

Special interests - My primary (most intense) special interest is the movies the Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have collaborated on. My favorites are Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Dark Shadows.

My secondary (less intense) interest is Monster High, a line of dolls and online episodes about the school lives of the children of famous monsters. I don't own any of the dolls yet, but I love the online episodes.

stims: rocking back and forth, twisting my fingers (especially if standing) foot tapping, hand swinging, clicking my teeth,twisting my hair.

habits/interests:getting ready in the morning I have to get dressed, do my hair first,then brush my teeth, then put on mascara, then put shoes on. If I do it in any other order it ruins my day. If I go to a restaurant I get the same thing every time. I can't stand movie theaters (to loud). I always wear sunglasses because every thing is soooo bright. i tend to walk on my toes with my hand curled up by my chest and I twist my fingers. I always seem to tell some one something twice. I can't recognise faces or body movements easily.

Illeism is one of my traits. When speaking I typically refer to myself in the 3rd person. I've also written some posts on WP in 3rd person. As it turns out, my illeism aggravates people, and this is whether I'm writing or talking.

Physical: it's normal for me to flap when I'm feeling happy or excited, I shake my head and twitch a lot of the time, this gets worse with stress, im constantly moving around
Habits: I pretty much live with music playing either on iPod or out loud, most of what I consume is close to room temperature, I have routines with pretty much everything showering etc, nobody touches my books, I love my space especially after a trip or day out
My hearing is quite sensitive and blinking lights annoy me so much...
I love science and will generally explain in detail dare you ask me

The norm for me is having interests that I'm passionate about. Another thing about me is that I have a stronger personality than most people. Mick Avory hair is also normal for me to have. I've had it since I was 9. Dressing to suit myself instead of today's trends or my gender is also normal for me, as well. Another thing that I do that's normal for me, is sleeping with a night light. I also burn candles down as soon as I get them, for good luck. My obsession with Canada also seems normal to me, being that I live in Canada. Spending a lot of time on WP and the Internet is also normal for me, as well. Liking the 60s and especially The Kinks seems normal to me as well. A lot of people like the 60s and The Beatles, Kinks, Who and Rolling Stones are the 4 most remembered and liked bands of The British Invasion.

I've got my "weird" hand stuff, facial expressions, disembodied phrases and the other "usual" stuff, but the most pertinent issue, I think, relevant to your post & relationship, is special interests. It's very very difficult to disengage on the topic - whatever it may be - and although I am quite aware that I am fatiguing others' with my constant talk, I always seem to have one more tangent to add. This can wear down the partner. Especially if the special interest turns to a subject the other person does not like. When I met the woman who would become my wife, I was in over my head with Byron which, being a history major, she liked; when I turned to Karl Marx for 5 years, the rich girl in her was not pleased. So, for the NT partner, the challenge is to somehow participate in steering the special interest towards something he/she can live with. Good luck, it's a stubborn steer.

Couldn't tell you in regards to what people observe of me. I don't pay all that much attention to how I am.

I will say that most things I do are planned and part of a routine. I find that I can't really do something if it's not planned and apart of my routine.

self stimulation - since I was a kid I scratch incessantly to the point I bleed. I also have a phobia against cleaning fluids.

I will preface this by saying I am not officially diagnosed with an ASD, so this may just be my ADHD traits.

I talk to myself all the time
I twirl my wrists while talking to myself and trying to figure things out.
I bounce my leg
I wiggle my feet in bed
I sometimes find myself rocking, but it is fairly rare. (Sometimes I do it on purpose as it is wonderfully relaxing.)
I can wind up going off on odd tangents in conversations, often mid-sentence.
I go on and on about my special interest du jour
Interests include: Cars, Economics, Politics, Religion, Science, History, and human rights.
I used to bring my laptop with me if I got invited to a party so that I would have something interesting to do. I have since learned it was considered anti-social and cut back on it. Then again, I have also cut back on social gatherings as well.
I dislike roller coasters.
I do not drink or smoke.
I suffer from severe depressions with suicidal lows, mostly stemming from social rejections.
I am highly disorganized and start more projects than I ever complete.
I have to put some things into a routine so that I do not miss a critical step due to poor short-term memory.

Socially, I can sympathize with others so long as I have proper context to know what is going on. However, it is difficult for me to read situations unless they are blatantly obvious. Reading things from minor facial expressions is exceedingly hard for me and can just as often wind up in a misunderstanding as it can a connection. I also try to do my best to help others with their needs when I know of them. This can include fixing someone's car for free if I know they don't make a lot of money and can't easily afford to pay me. All I ask for is that they cover the parts and sit and talk to me while I do the work. I don't like being alone all of the time and actually enjoy teaching someone something I know and am good at.

WP is one of the few places where you can talk about your severe depression with suicidal lows and no one will berate you for it. Isn't that nice? Try that on FB. People will be jumping out the windows de-friending you left and right.

People unfriend because of suicidal posts and stuff? Depression too?... That's a little odd.

Thanks for all the replies

I gave up on social networking a long time ago. The way I see it, if someone is really my friend, they will either call me or try to come see me in person. The people who don't want real contact with me and just want me as a number on their Facebook page are not really my friends and I don't have time for them. Plus, I don't like the fact that FB LOVES to sell all of the data you will give them to the highest bidder. Then there is the whole possibility of being misunderstood about something by law enforcement and getting in trouble just for having an oddball opinion. No thanks, it's too big a mine field for me to want to bother with.