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Andicel
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31 Dec 2012, 5:13 pm

I've always felt that I'm a bit special. Especially from 2nd grade. I had a really low self control and would rage for a lot. I didn't learn to swim for real before 5th grade and I still am bad at catching balls even though I'm playing handball. I've had various "obsessions", such as from 3rd to 6th grade I played this game called Habbo really much. I played all day when home from school, even got "sick" for one week to play it. At night when I was going to sleep I would think about stuff I would make in this game. In school I was by myself a lot and got bullied for a while. People would ran away from me because I was odd, and bully me because I played this game and talked a lot about it in school. At that point I got obsessed to Donald Comics and read them for about 3-4 hours everyday, this made people call me a geek. Every time we visited the food store I would ask for a Donald magazine and I used all my cash on old Donald Pockets when there was flee markets. The next year I got really founded to drawing and made a lot of good, realistic drawings. I even got a drawing tablet for using on the computer. Was good for a while, but when I try to draw now, I always hate my work, and I never like the results. I'm still quite good at it, but I don't enjoy it much anymore.
from 6th grade to 8th I would go trips and play weird stuff by myself while studying the nature, instead of visiting friends. When I started middle school I tried to get into this group of people who were cool, but I just stood there not saying a thing. After some time I found out they didn't want me there, and I quit. Now I have "friends" but I'm still quiet most of the time. I get quite good grades in school btw. Also pretty much everyone in my class things I am crazy. Acting a bit odd at the moment because I'm scared of becoming invisible again, but it's just acting and I say the weirdest things all the time. I'm a bit more social now, but I'm just reading about computers when at home, instead of being with others. People have told me that in 5th grade I never said a word. I can, however speak with family members, but I'm never capable of starting a conversation.
Also read that aspies learn certain things really slow. Such as I learned swimming in 5th grade, still eat like a pig, drink weird and suck at catching balls. I'm also very clumsy, like horribly.
Now I'm quite obsessed with electronics and read the whole 70 pages with electronics related stuff when we won't have that topic before next year. I'm visiting sites about electronics everyday and I'm quite good with computers now. I also feel a bit obsessed with aspergers right now, but that might be because I'm wondering if I have it. Took some online tests. Got 34 on AQ test 32-50 are likely to have aspergers and got 137 of 200 points on an aspergers test, both said that I'm likely to have the syndrome.
One of the major problems is that I have no idea how to tell my parents I believe I have aspergers, as they will say it's stupid. Also a bit awkward if I'm mistaken.



emimeni
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31 Dec 2012, 5:22 pm

The only person who can decide whether or not you have Asperger Syndrome is yourself. Even diagnosticians, who are qualified to make an ASD diagnosis, can make mistakes. Whether you have an ASD, you are welcome here.


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TheTrade
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31 Dec 2012, 6:39 pm

If I had to guess, I would say very likely. A lot of the things you do sounds similar to what I've done in the past.

But as the above poster has said, qualified professionals make mistakes all the time too.



Valkyrie2012
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31 Dec 2012, 6:39 pm

when I first read about aspergers it was as if most of what I was reading could have been written just for me. I felt it in my bones. Thus began my official journey of learning and becoming recognized as an aspie. But I can tell you, if they came back telling me I was not - I would tell them they are wrong. That is how much learning about ASDs has helped me grow and understand the elements in my life that didn't seem to fit otherwise.

I think you just "know"

Good luck with the parents thing... that didn't go over to well for me... they rather see me as "Gloria being Gloria" and that is frustrating.



redrobin62
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31 Dec 2012, 8:24 pm

Welcome to WP. Do you also stim, have poor eye contact and are prone to saying the wrong things in a social group that ends up alienating people and making them disappear?



Jasmine90
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01 Jan 2013, 12:01 am

I think you're better off visiting your doctor and maybe getting a referral. That is if you're actually troubled by the possibility.
It's possible you do have it, it's possible you don't. We're not doctors here, so we can't give you a definitive yes or no answer.

I'm guessing the game you mentioned is Habbo Hotel? Which is primarily used as an interactive social tool for teenagers, or at least was when I last checked it out. Probably not the first place I would look for someone with autism, but hey, we often hide in strange places, finding unconventional ways to connect with others.

You say you're into electronics and read a lot about it, obsessed even? So does a friend of mine, several actually, who otherwise don't necessarily relate to an autistic diagnosis, so you haven't really given enough information about your obsessions for me to actually understand to what extent you are obsessed with them.

I've discovered that most people are obsessed with something, even small things, it's what enables a medical student to succeed and become a doctor after 12+ years of hard and relentless work and study.
Same with a law student, same with a mathematician, same with a computer programmer, etc...
Just because you have passion, that does not mean there is something wrong with you, or even different, or as you put it "special".

Online tests are also very biased. That's a computer generating scores for you, and a computer is by no means, able to detect when you are emotionally vulnerable, or nervous, or focused, etc... Take it all with a grain of salt. It's easy to believe and pursue something when even the simplest thing as an online test tells you that you are different.

Obviously you feel you are different, so you want to understand why. Everyone wants a simple, convenient answer to this question, but they're not always willing to accept that maybe they just are different for no apparent reason at all, or every reason in the world.
I don't know your family history, whether or not there is autism in your genes, or some other thing that might better explain your differences. Either way, maybe some good people to ask (if you are able to, of course) are your parents, and your doctor?



InferiorityComplex
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01 Jan 2013, 12:27 am

Yep



emimeni
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01 Jan 2013, 1:24 am

Jasmine90 wrote:
I think you're better off visiting your doctor and maybe getting a referral. That is if you're actually troubled by the possibility.


In my opinion (and it's just an opinion!), there's three reasons to do this:
(1. To get accommodations and/or benefits.
(2. To participate in research
(3. Self-validation ("Oh, so it isn't my fault that...").

The point I'm trying to make is, sometimes it's actually appropriate to not get a diagnosis, even in the absence of obstacles (lack of finances, lack of support, etc.)

It's a lot to process. I know. In any case, I want to emphasis that the op is welcome here no matter what!


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Jasmine90
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01 Jan 2013, 1:46 am

You forgot another reason. Doctors and specialists and the like have the ability to rule out certain things. So if it's not aspergers, it could be something else that might be treatable, or aided with cognitive therapy or whatever. I'm not a doctor or a therapist, but I know they have helped me in the past, even if it has been in little ways.

There are plenty of good reasons to visit your doctor in any case, they have access to resources that are active in your area (support groups, good therapists etc...), they will be able to give you helpful information and/ or refer you to someone else who can give you helpful information. They're not there simply to diagnose you, but to help you as well, especially with any concerns or curiosities a person might have.



Noetic
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01 Jan 2013, 3:19 am

redrobin62 wrote:
Welcome to WP. Do you also stim, have poor eye contact and are prone to saying the wrong things in a social group that ends up alienating people and making them disappear?

You make that sound like accidentally casting a spell to make people *actually* disappear.



Murderface
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01 Jan 2013, 3:29 am

redrobin62 wrote:
Welcome to WP. Do you also stim, have poor eye contact and are prone to saying the wrong things in a social group that ends up alienating people and making them disappear?

WOW do I ever


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Murderface
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01 Jan 2013, 3:35 am

I have no idea on what to tell your parents. Mine just said oh no you don't. I understand alot of what my 2 ASD children project and what little they do say. Go to the pros on Awe-tism get an eval and see what they say.


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Andicel
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01 Jan 2013, 5:53 am

redrobin62 wrote:
Welcome to WP. Do you also stim, have poor eye contact and are prone to saying the wrong things in a social group that ends up alienating people and making them disappear?

I don't really have good eye contact, And I say the wrong things a lot. I'm also quite sensitive to light, And usually I have trouble falling asleep at night. I wake up in the middle of the night very often, and When I was younger I would wake up before 8am, no matter When I went to bed.

About the obsession stuff:
I remember Habbo as my home. I would much rather do stuff there, than in real life. At Night I couldn't fall asleep because I really wanted to play the game. I almost sneeked out of bed at night go play it, But I believe it was closed at night. When I didn't get to play it, I started crying and would run to play it when my parents didn't watch. I got banned once, and cried because I couldn't play the game. I visited some people in my class, but we didn't speak . All I did was playing this game, even forgot to eat at times. I stayed home from school for two weeks, told my parents it was because I got bullied, but it was just because I wanted to play this game. I played for around 8 hours straight, and my only breaks was when it was dinner. I usually came late for those dinners. My obsession with Donald Comics costed me about 400$, and now they just stand in the bookcase, And I never read them. I also was obsessed such this game called Team Fortress 2. I played it all the time, and rushed to be able to play it. I wasted about 30$ on this game, And I studied the characters instead of sleeping. When we were playing handball, I would act like the characters, and daydream a lot. Now I hate the game..

I know that obsessions like this may be normal, But I feel I'm a bit extreme about them. Like I usually read about electronics instead of going to sleep, and that is the only Topic I talk about.

I know that obsessions isn't necessary to be an aspie, but I thought additional details were needed. Sorry for my horrible writing, using my phone..



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01 Jan 2013, 6:49 am

Some people have sensitivity to light for no reason.



whirlingmind
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01 Jan 2013, 6:53 am

You do sound as if you fit the profile from many things. When I first came to WP it was like coming home. I spent time reading peoples' posts and stories and it sounded so much like my life and perspectives and feelings. It was the only thing that fit who I am. Sometimes all you have is your instinct to know. It's very true professionals make mistakes. A psychiatrist I saw only went as far to admit "overlap with autistic spectrum behaviours" but fell short of a full diagnosis for two ridiculous reasons, which I have since found a lot of information on to show that he made a mistake. I did get tested and assessed by an AS expert who found that I do have it, and both my children are being assessed for it too. It's only a matter of time before I get a full clinical diagnosis. If it bothers you to the point that you need to know, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, even if it's family, get assessed. You could tell your parents that it seems to fit, and you want to "rule it out" so it's like you're not looking to get diagnosed with it if it makes them feel better, and makes you feel less embarrassed if you don't turn out to have it.

I would not agree with what Jasmine90 said about other people being obsessed to become a doctor or lawyer being comparable as a way to explain away obsessions. There is a big difference between the obsessive mind, and the mind that is just very interested in pursuing a career because it appeals to them. Yes they have to put in a lot of hard work in and study etc. but that's because to achieve their goal they have to. They are looking forward to a career in something they like and that will pay well, as well as the social status it gives them. And yes they can become very focused on their career and love to talk about it but it's not the same as an obsessive mind.

Either way, you will feel at home on WP because whatever the name for your set of traits they appear to match those of AS and therefore you will identify with others here.

PS not everyone with an ASD stims or has issues with eye contact. They are not diagnostic criteria! Also, some of the replies seem to be picking out bits of your traits and saying that people without ASDs can have them as if to explain them away. It's the combination of all the traits that add up to AS, that's why it's called a syndrome (look here to see what the definition of a syndrome is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome)


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Andicel
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01 Jan 2013, 12:03 pm

Thanks a lot for all the replies. I will try coming with a list of symptoms I have/don't have.
Still no idea how to tell my parents.