Opinions on my potential ASD.

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I am 18 years old and a male from the United States. I've not much before the last year or so considered that maybe I have ASD/ Asperger. I have not been diagnosed and I don't think I will consult a doctor about the possibility. However I would like opinions on people from here. What originally made me question if I possibly have ASD was my life long habits paired with a recent interest sparked by a documentary on an Autistic Savant named Kim peck. I would assume some if not many of you are familiar with him.. Watching that, and hearing them mention some common traits of ASD/ Asperger made me wonder. And lately with my reading more and more on the subject it seems like it could be true. I demonstrate many of the symptoms associated. I have social anxiety and have as long as I can remember, although it has never been something I couldn't get past if I was with the people long enough. On my first day of Kindergarten I cried because I was in a room with strangers, even though all but the teacher we my age..I have always had trouble keeping eye contact with people and usually end up fiddling with my hands or clothes. I also have always had rather unusual although varied interest and often obsess over them for a long period of time until I saturate myself with information. I also often find artist, or even songs and listen to them endlessly. The last 3 months it has been Say Anything and the song Tickle me red 257 times. There are other things, but at this point I am rattling, I would just like others opinions as I am not sure. I have been reading a lot but I'd like to converse with some people who are officially diagnosed as I am not and quite possibly shouldn't be. I don't know.

Hi Gzac95! Welcome to Wrong Planet!

The things you have described sound like they could be Aspergers/Autism traits. I can't diagnose you or even know for sure if you have it. But I think it's really good that you are exploring this.

I was officially diagnosed with Aspergers a year and a half ago, but I self diagnosed myself 5 years before that when I was 12. I read a book about it and I really felt that autism explained so many different things about me. Even though I knew I had autism, getting an official diagnosis was really a life changing thing for me. I suddenly was able to get the support, help, and answers that I need.

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you think you should not get a diagnosis?

Still, whatever the reason, It's completely fine if you don't want to get a formal diagnosis. I just want you to know that it can make a really positive difference in a person's life.

Thank you for the warm welcome. =) My main reasoning is basically I don't think that it would benefit me personally. I feel, or think that I have been lucky or adapted well enough that while I do have certain traits maybe odd quirks , most people see me as more so of a simple introvert. I am generally quiet and reserved, and whenever I do speak up it is to try and get a laugh from people. That I think is how I have made friends so easily despite groups of strangers being terrifying at first. May I ask what book you read if you recall the title? And I bet you do. I would like to check it out. I've mainly been reading WebMD, Wikipedia and such. Consistent in their information but not detailed and I like details.

Well, you talked about social anxiety and fiddling... It doesn't exactly mean aspergers. I mean, I really can't tell as I don't know you but this could be lots of things including simply being an anxious introvert person. What are the other traits you have? Plus you said you make friends easily, that is really rare as we lack social skills (can't read people, say the wrong things, don't know how to keep the conversation flow etc)
my advice: go see a psychologist. You don't need an official diagnosis but if you have aspergers you have impairments; most commonly executive dysfunction, sensory sensitivity, meltdowns, being clueless socially. And the psychologist can help you! My life got soo much better after diagnosis! Trust me it is worth a try.
ah, and welcome!

Well I can make friends, however if I am in a group of unfamiliar people, I basically shut down and I have to focus either on an object or a thought to keep myself from basically crying. Although I can fight through this it is just difficult. I can't stand the texture of glossed paper, unrefined cotton among other textures they make me get a shiver down my spine. I can actually read people very well, at least I think I can. I often do say the wrong things, I am very blunt, if I think something I will make it known if prompted. If someone asks my opinion I have trouble making it less abrasive and stumble around until I find the sentence I want. I don't do to well in phone or face to face conversations with most people. I much prefer communication through text as it is less of a burden. I don't think I am socially clueles but I am unsure of what that entails. I was actually friends with everyone in school, but I think it was because of my sense of humor. I do however understand social codes I think as well as anyone else or close. I know what is ok and not ok in public. Which has resulted in me having a super polite personalty in person. I do like helping people, I do not like them acknowledging it. I had to look up executive dysfunction, I am not very good at organizing according to other peoples standard. For me, everything as I have it is just fine. I however was an athlete most of my life and developed good motor functions. Though my parents say I was a clumsy child.

I am glad that the diagnoses helped you. What kind of help did that bring?

Yep, not only do I remember the book, I remember the shelf in the public library where I found it! Honestly it most likely won't be all that helpful for you at this point, as it was a kids book which had pretty much the same info as Wikipedia, except that it was explained in a simpler way. The book was published in 2008, is part of a series called "health alert," and it has the simple title of "Autism." That book was just the start of my continuing interest in autism. But still, I was convinced I had autism after reading just that book.

There are so many books out there. Anything by Dr.Temple Grandin is fabulous. Autism Aspergers Publishing Company has tons of really good ones as well. Some blogs by people with Aspergers o Autism can also be really helpful.



You might be surprised at how helpful a diagnosis can actually be. I was 17 and a half when I was diagnosed finally and I never could have ever imagined the difference it has made. I too had developed a lot of coping skills, but I had no idea that I could improve on so many things. But this is still just my story, and everyone's stories are different. What was helpful for me might not be the something that will be helpful for you. Also, not everyone has to know about your diagnosis. The only people that technically have to know are your doctor and yourself.

What helped me was that my family understands me now. I mean, they really do. One thing is that I have improved a huge amount in my ability to communicate and to understand social interactions. I have pretty good social skills for an aspie, but with the help of my mom and my therapist, I have learned that there are many areas that need work, and now I hardly ever have a misunderstanding with my mom. When I got the diagnosis, I was planning on going away to college the very next school year. But the diagnosis mades us stop and look at where I was socially and developmentally, and we realized that I wasn't quite ready to make such a big step. Three days ago I finished a year as a commuter in a special program to help students on the spectrum to adjust and provide whatever other supports needed, at a local university. In the fall I will now be going away to the college that I had originally planned on attending, except now I know I am ready for it. Those are some of the more obvious and tangible changes that have occurred as a result of my diagnosis. But there are so many that are so much more subtle and yet at the same time just as life changing.

By the way, all the things that you mention in your third post also sound a lot like Aspergers/Autism to me too.

Oh I see, I suppose I'll look into others book then thank you. Thank you for all the advice it is appreciated, I might go to a psychologist if possible couldn't hurt. I just don't want them to medicate me, is that something that is done for AS? Because I took anti depressants before and I am done with prescription meds like that.

Mind if I ask what your intended major is?

Don't worry, AS is something they virtually never medicate for, primarily because there are no medications that ease or treat any of the symptoms. You may get diagnosed with co-morbid generalised or social anxiety disorder (anxiety is extremely common among autistics; the two disorders practically go hand in hand) and that is something they may try to medicate you for, however, you have the choice as to what you do and don't want to take; no one can force medication on you (with the exception of doctors in mental hospitals doling out antipsychotics).

Part of the treatment plan written up upon my diagnosis was psychoeducation (which I didn't need because I was already an expert on ASDs by the time I went in for testing) and the book they reccommended was "The Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome" by Tony Attwood. I've never read it, but it's the one the experts suggested, so there has to be some merit to it.

You sound as if you're functioning well at the moment, so the expense and time of a diagnosis may well not be worth it right now, just be sure to keep monitoring yourself and your symptoms to ensure you become aware if your functioning level changes.

It probably sounds like we're all trying to foist the idea of getting a diagnosis off on you (and we're not, I promise) but I will say that before my diagnosis, I felt like I was stuck in limbo, not truly belonging to the NT crowd or to the AS one, and getting my condition documented officially put my mind at tremendous rest, knowing where I really belonged. You know yourself best however, and if you don't feel like you need a diagnosis, then you don't, and that's fine. The only real reasons for an adult to get a diagnosis generally consist of: self-validation, or work or government aid, and if you feel your condition is valid enough as it is, and you don't need any outside assistance, there is no reason to get one.

Welcome to WP by the way

For me it sounds like social anxiety, not aspergers. For instance you said your social problems is that being in a group of people you don't know makes you want to cry, otherwise you are fine. That is social anxiety aspies have social problems because we can't interpret body language and lack social skills.
but we don't usually get medication, don't worry! I never took those kinds of medications and wouldn't anyway.
I didn't take many sessions yet but we are currently working on calming down techniques (for anxiety, meltdowns, etc. Really useful) and then we are going to work using social stories. They are like a role play that you practice with the psychologist for when you have to interact in real life. I think this is a good idea because all our skills can be developed, so why not practice?
but one of the greatest changes for me was the better understanding of myself and feeling like I have a support. And now my mother is doing research on aspergers and our relationship improved a lot. It is really worth it for personal identity, family understanding and support.

No they don't medicate just for autism or Aspergers. Like StarTrekker said, they only medicate if there are comorbid disorders like an anxiety disorder or depression, and even then, no one can force you to take any sort of medication if you don't want to.

I'm a special education major which I started to be interested in after I learned about autism. I want to work specifically with kids with it.

they do for most of us with LFA,medications help our autism in many ways from eye contact,to interaction,to severe autistic based anxiety,to severe challenging behavior,to communicating,to coping with change better than we woud do without meds,to interacting,to emotional regulation,to meltdowns, to severe sensory issues etc, it thankfuly doesnt cure our autism but it helps us have a quality of life that we woudnt have without the medication.

That's very interesting, I didn't know that.