What Does This Seem Like?

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So, I was wondering about my dad. He plans his weekends like crazy. He ALWAYS has to be doing something. He can't just relax at home. Ever. For example, he'll work on a Saturday, then go out to a concert that same night. Then the next day he'll go to the beach. He tries to force the same extremely social lifestyle on me.

As an Aspie, I am extremely uncomfortable with doing something or going somewhere at every waking moment. And despite his push for me to be with friends or doing something all the time, that will just never happen for me.

The actual point of this post is: Does it sound like he has ADHD? I've only had real experience with Asperger's, so I only have a slight and vague idea of what ADHD is. If there's anything else that he sounds like he is, let me know.

I apologize if there's not enough information to really say what he is; I tend to do that a lot...

thanks for answering!

He is a high sensation-seeking individual, that's for sure. That might be related to some dopamine imbalance, just like ADHD is.

But for him to have ADHD, he needs to also show symptoms of inattention, distractibility, restlessness and impulsivity.

It seems that ASDs and ADHD share some genes, so it's not uncommon for families to have members with AS, ADHD or with AS + ADHD.

I have ADHD and I am a high sensation-seeking individual too. My brain is always hungry for dopamine and is always willing to do whatever it takes to stimulate a litte more the dopamine release. It's not that obvious though, since it's mitigated by my Aspie traits. So I go through days when I just run around, get highly stimulated (ADHD) and then get overwhelmed, go into sensory overload, crash and then retire to my solitude and stimming (AS). Hard to live such a lifestyle...

_________________
Probably 75% Aspie, 25% NT... and 100% ADHD

Aspie-quiz results:
Aspie score: 138 of 200 / NT score: 78 of 200 => Very likely an Aspie.

Thanks guys.

Dirtdigger, he actually doesn't know I have Asperger's yet. But I would still agree on counseling

Steven_Tyler, a dopamine imbalance could be it. And that does sound like a very contradictory lifestyle

Also, the reason I haven't told him about the Asperger's is because he grew up with a very black-and-white lifestyle, if that makes sense. Like, he assumes you're mentally normal, or you're not. He probably knows nothing of the autism spectrum and will just think I have full on autism or something. Basically, he won't understand. He also won't accept my research as self-diagnosis and try to get me diagnosed by a professional. Getting diagnosed at this point would be counterproductive for a number of reasons.

Your dad sounds like a classic extrovert. He's always got to be doing something, he craves stimulation and socialization. If you're an introvert, that may be a cause of confusion between the two of you. But there's nothing wrong with being an extrovert. Just remember that you two are different. If you can live with that, then you and your dad will get along just fine. You might want to sit him down and explain that you know he likes to always be doing things and always be with people, but that you're an introvert and you like to do quieter things by yourself or with small groups, that you like to get to know people one-on-one instead of in a big crowd. He probably means well trying to get you into big social events like that; he enjoys it himself and probably figures you would too if you could just "get over your shyness". But perhaps if you explain it to him that you really prefer the smaller, quieter ways of talking to people, he might understand that you're different from him, and that that's okay.

Sounds exactly like my old landlord/friend. It's just an extrovert personality doing what he enjoys (they gain energy from this stuff) bit like me when I'm working on a special interest. They get a sense of accomplishment for every thing they do and it makes them feel good and gives them more happy/energetic. They care enough about you to want you to feel good like you do, they don't really stop to think that your different.

Callista and DrPenguin: You just gave me a new perspective on him. Thanks a lot!

Naaa, nothing wrong with him, that's just his personality.