Co-morbids or aspects of autism?

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Lately, I've been struggling with a couple of issues, though I haven't spoken about them here on Wrong Planet.

I've always had trust issues, but recently it's almost as if it's manifesting as a form of paranoia. I am not particularly close to anyone, aside from my mother. There are no friends, there are no acquaintances. I barely ever speak to my relatives, although I live with two of them. I have fairly unhealthy thoughts when it comes to guessing the intentions of anyone. Often, I am proven wrong in my assumptions as to these intentions. I sometimes think people want to do me harm when there is no such thing going on.

Also, I seem to experience intense highs and intense lows. Typically, it used to move in two week cycles over the last couple of years: two weeks feeling sad and apathetic and generally not doing anything, and two weeks feeling positive and trying to be active with my hobbies and productive on my job. However, lately I have been on a manic spell, putting lots and lots of energy in my attempts at learning Mandarin Chinese, and progressing in this by leaps and bounds as a result- but at the same time, I have recently been hit by major reactions to this of extended hours of apathy and just a general feeling of pointlessness, mostly related to my failure to find a job the past two months, despite my efforts in job hunting.

Also, I sabotage myself a lot, almost as if it's a thrill for me to make myself fail just to see how I'll manage to get out of my predicament. This results in money problems, cancelling appointments, and generally failing important tasks related to doing chores for others.

So I guess my main question is, given the intensity at which these phenomena occur, are they aspects of my autistic disorder, or are they co-morbid disorders? I have only been diagnosed for autism when the psychiatrist tested me, her report say nothing of co-morbids. Then again, I am questioning her judgment because she has diagnosed me with autistic disorder on the DSM-IV while I had no language delay. Everyone, either online or offline, who's familiar with ASDs and whom I've spoken to, say that the diagnosis is absurd and should have been Asperger syndrome under the DSM-IV.

Also, does anyone else who has not been diagnosed with other disorders beyond autism, sometimes feel as though there may be some other psychological complexes occurring within their heads?

Self-defeating personality disorder might come to mind for what you go through. not officially in a Diagnostic manual last I checked, but may people do things like you describe to see how they can get out of a situation. It's not healthy in the long term... not one bit. You still have to maintain healthy balance of friendship, time to self, and work

I am only diagnosed with autism, and I don't have these traits.

This might sound crazy, but I've been tracking my cycles for years, and they follow the moon's phases. (Manic at full moon, depressed at new moon.) I'm convinced that the moon has some kind of influence on my energy levels. Maybe something like that is going on with you?

I've been diagnosed with Bipolar 2 as well as Asperger's, and I definitely have all the textbook symptoms of both conditions. I think that paranoia is related to Bipolar Disorder as well (and it's something I struggle with too) – so that might be worth getting checked out?

Those do sound like co-morbid issues to me and I think it's worth seeing a doctor about them. I have some co-morbids too, a lot of us ASDers do.

Self has a form of autism and some anxiety.

Indeed you sound like a lunatic My insomnia gets a lot worse when the moon is full.

Haha - lunatics unite! I've asked around, and it seems to be very rare, but I do think some of us are sensitive to the effects of the moon. Just like some people are affected by the seasons, but most aren't.

The moon thing isn't a detectable statistical trend, but if you're particularly sensitive to light, especially if you're sensitive to whether it's light enough to see outside at night, then you might associate the full moon with feeling one way or the other. You know how you feel happy when you smell your favorite food? It would be kind of like that, like a reminder that activates various ideas in your brain--you look out, you see the unusually bright night of the full moon, and it reminds you of things. At least, that's my theory. Are you guys night owls? If you are, then you probably notice moonlight on a fairly regular basis.

Second the idea about bipolar disorder. It sounds like one of the milder versions because you're not getting totally manic, nor is your depression extreme, but it sounds like your moods are kind of swinging up and down and it's getting in your way. Yeah, get checked out for that. Even if I'm guessing completely wrong here (and I could be, because, y'know, not actually a psychologist), you're describing some symptoms that do cause difficulty for you, and that's enough reason to ask for help whether you have a hunch what's behind it or not.

Not sure how to do the partial quoting, without failing at it.
CyclopsSummers wrote:
"I've always had trust issues, but recently it's almost as if it's manifesting as a form of paranoia. I am not particularly close to anyone, aside from my mother. There are no friends, there are no acquaintances. I barely ever speak to my relatives, although I live with two of them. I have fairly unhealthy thoughts when it comes to guessing the intentions of anyone. Often, I am proven wrong in my assumptions as to these intentions. I sometimes think people want to do me harm when there is no such thing going on."


I have AS and I had a traumatic event occur, a few years, ago, which left me with PTSD symptoms, and the same, paranoid thoughts/assumptions regarding the motives/"intentions" of others.

Just throwing this out there, so please don't be offended (and if you are, I apologize): have you ever thought about Borderline Personality Disorder? I have traits, as my mother is Borderline, and traits can be learned, like bad habits. So I understand it a bit better than others. My mother is very paranoid and has HUGE trust issues as well (can't go into it, but trust me, she has issues).

I can't say whether or not your paranioa related to ASD, because all of us are, as they say, on a spectrum. It's hard to pinpoint those issues as they manifest differently for all of us.

And the language delay sounds like Aspergers, but now would be ASD. Autism diagnosis also depends on the level of function.

I tend to go through 2 week cycles as well -- highs and lows as you describe. I'm still trying to figure out if it's a co-morbid or ASD. I'd be interested to hear what you figure out.

I have the same trust issues as you, I sometimes suspect family members, close friends and others of plotting against me in secret or talking behind my back, though I'm self-aware enough to usually dismiss the feeling as dumb and to avoid it affecting relationships. I've always assumed it to be part of AS to be honest, given we generally find other people hard to understand it makes sense that we might start to worry about them having hidden motives.

Thanks for the input, you guys. I'm taking it all in. I actually like Ashariel's suggestion that it might be related to the moon's phases, though I myself haven't tried to figure out if full moon is related to highs and new moon to highs.

I'm confused, though, since pretty much since I registered here at Wrong Planet, I was in control of things most of the time with regard to my autism. Yes, there was a time of depression in late 2008, and there has been the occasional meltdown. But the odd thing is that I have switched from a socially less stable situation (living with an addicted relative for years) to a more stable situation (living with my aunt and cousin) last year. So one would think that this would go hand in hand with my mind being more at ease. But instead, I'm just as antsy as ever, I'm restless, and I get these extended bouts of cynicism.

I have to say that I've rejected seeking professional help most of the time since reaching adulthood, but the few times I did seek professional help because I felt I was in huge emotional distress, I have been very disappointed in the quality of the assistance I received. Therefore, as it seems that I can function at least at a minimum level without therapy or medication, I'm trying it on my own. I read threads on Wrong Planet a lot, and I get a lot of inspiration and insight out of them, but sometimes it feels like it just isn't going anywhere. And then it gets hard to maintain the attitude of positivity either offline or online.

Oh I can definately relate. It also seems to cause me to lose many co
petitive games I have partaken in my life.