Aspergers or social anxiety

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Ok I am still pondering whether or not I should ask for a reassessment of my symptoms to conclude whether or not my diagnosis of Social Anxiety and Depression is correct or if I may possibly have an ASD, ergo I would like to run a few things past the members of this board if I may.

Social anxiety, Depression or Aspergers trait (some may be obvious but I want to list everything as I don't like to leave important details out...this tendency for people to ignore detail is irksome and results in inaccuracy!)

Feeling nervous when talking to people (due to a history of bullying and being ostracised or thought of as 'weird/odd/eccentric/bizarre/not mentally all there' etc)

Finding it difficult to initiate conversations, continue conversations and end conversations (difficulty knowing how to go about doing this, trouble thinking of things to say, taking a long time to think of a reply to something, feeling as though you are having your thoughts interrupted by chit chat when you would rather hide out in your head pondering whatever is interesting you most at that moment in time).

Difficulty reading peoples intentions but not so much difficulty reading basic emotion or body language (ie I can see if someone is obviously angry or sad or happy but can struggle outside of that and can't always tell what they want from me. Why is this person initiating contact with me? A literal question, not because I think people shouldn't chat to me due to not thinking I am worthy or some bollocks. I can also see when someone is beckoning me through a door or if its my turn at the check out but may not know what someone is implying if they cross their arms etc).

I can walk up to people and chat to them if I can think of a way to start said chat in the first place...I usually ask a question such as the time (although it often does not go further than that most of time) and have no problem approaching people to ask for information but I do have trouble making friends. I don't seem to know how to go about this successfully.

I have trouble following conversations if the subject is not something I find interesting and can get distracted by things I do find interesting instead. I have a tendency to wonder off sometimes if I spot something I want to investigate and can forget to tell people where I am going. This results in them frantically searching for me because I have become separated from them or the group again.

Sometimes the distraction is mental so my body stays in place but my mind wanders off instead.

I can't hear what people are saying to me in a crowded room or where there is a lot of background noise.

I am bothered by background noise, certain lights, certain textures (food, material etc) and so on.

I hate crowds for the above reason. I am not really concerned with what people are thinking about me, I am bothered by noise, pushing, shoving, and so on. If I passed out in a supermarket (a common social anxiety fear it seems) and someone laughed at me I would think they were a nincompoop, I would not feel embarrassed...

There is more in regards to sensitivities, hobbies and routines/samenesses but I will add it later.

We're discussing this over in the Comorbids and Alternate Psychological Conditions forum. Your lack of social skills and other traits sound Aspie. However, all the overt bullying in childhood and covert bullying and failed personal relationships as an adult feed an ever growing social anxiety and tendency to withdraw and isolate one's self to avoid pain. I've consequently recently received a diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder on top of ASD and clinical depression. In other words, ASD can generate social anxiety disorders and the two can reinforce each other.

When I read your posts and your blog I "hear" Aspie.

As mentioned in another thread of yours, I'd push for a dx and keep pushing.

How aspie do you "feel"? Cos a self dx can be just as validating in terms of basic perception of self and identity.

You in ESA support group? You know that access to support group is about passing basic criteria, rather than points? What criteria got you into SG?

I was awarded ESA because I don't cope well with social interaction and change.

I don't know if I am aspie, I don't feel NT, I don't identify with them. They think weird, people with AS do not (usually).

The ESA SG MH descriptors could almost be written for aspies. I'm in SG also thanks to them.

Depression and anxiety are all very well as dx's but they don't address the "why" question. How well do you think an aspie dx might address your "why" questions?

No sharks here in west wales, but we have buses and dolphins. My daughter and I were paddling in Barmouth many yrs back when a pod came in really close. Dolphins, not buses.

My mother was part Welsh, but she was also part Irish!

I bet you have a porbeagle or two, not to mention a sea life center, they seem to have black tip reef sharks and in Norfolk a bonnethead.

Dolphins are beautiful critters too....

If your dad were a scot then you have a close to perfect celtic heritage.

Never seen a porbeagle nor a sea life centre. Had a family of polecats in the house once...

Actually there are some 30 to 35 species of shark found in waters around the British Isles.

The shark trust site as a fact sheet listing them and a database for sightings.

Shark Trust Website

You can also adopt a great white shark if you want to. Toothy below says 'Yes please' as it would make him very happy!

[img][800:1200]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0yr4_LZYHs/Uigxe2h9cYI/AAAAAAAABSc/7R58HUBhX6k/s1600/31857n7rf24mnxn.jpg[/img]

Toothy say thank you

Last edited by bumble on 05 Nov 2013, 5:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I so don't want to make him miserable

LOL that is probably very wise of you!