Unsure - Can you help me analyse these traits?
First time posting here. A little nervous about considering the possibility I have Asperger's. So I'm going to go through a list of traits that I had as a child, and ones I have now - I'd live some help and direction - Assessment and counseling costs so much where I am that I want some kind of direction first. Thanks in advance please feel free to ask anything!
Child Traits:
Highly intelligent, obsessed with nature - learned all latin names and specs of sea creatures and dinosaurs by age 3-4, overwhelmed at school, didn't know how to socialise, naive, would display innapropriate behaviours such as hiding behind a door when a friend was over, if I wanted time to myself. Developed severe ocd at 5-6. Bullied by teachers and students at age 4-9. Preferred hanging out with adults. Taken out of school and homeschooled until 13. Naive and didn't understand social skills when joined secondary school - first hour there all the kids were asking me very intimate details about myself and I'd answer honestly, not realising I shouldn't. Bullied a little more. Found some friends in the oddball/alternative crowd. Didn't understand boundaries well. Couldn't keep friends. Would act innaproptiately and not understand that specific friend wouldn't like me anymore. Didn't have any friends at college. Well, one or 2. Loved philosophy class as that's all I thought about anyway. Went to university and had social problems, although did have a few regular friends. Met my current gf who I have now been with 10 years. Adult life: work minimum wage, few close friends (still oddballs mostly), but very social. I learned a lot of skills and just grew up a bit. Still say innapropriate things sometimes, but largely my values are about helping people and being supportive and empathic. My key areas of study (and obsession lol) are psychology, personal development, communication and empathy. People say that I care more about people and do more (even though i'm quite blubt with it a lot) than anyone else - but that I can be naive with it. If people say I'm passive agressive sometimes, I'm literally completely unaware. But not sure whether I could have another mental health diagnosis instead (hopefully not the dreaded personality disorders lol). History of depression ocd and anxiety. Maybe I've just mimicked my way to posing as an almost perfect NT... but the one thing that makes me not think about being aspergers is my empathy and reciprocity. I had them even as a young child. Advice or thoughts welcome, Thanks!
You just might be merely a 'smart, gifted guy."
Impressive accomplishment for a 3-4 year old--taxonomy!
"Normal" 4-year-olds engage in funny behaviors like what you've described.
Teachers frequently bully "smart" students because they feel insecure.
Same with other students.
You seem to have some "Aspie" traits.
Many "smart" people enjoy philosophy
Have you considered going for a professional assessment?
Thanks guys! Yes I'm seeing someone for counseling soon but the assessment is vastly out of my budget for now. For some more clarification - as a kid I wanted to be able to express myself, but with complex feelings just couldn't. I'd write about 'emotion X' in a diary when I was 7 or 8, and made it my life's work to be able to express concepts and feelings in my head. This lead me to do a creative writing degree, and learn every aspect of personal development there is. I hope to be a writer full time in the future. It's also one of my life goals to be able to connect to people - I have these connections in my head that I want a friendship to go like, but it rarely if ever does - as I still can't seem to bridge the gap with people and have 'shared feelings'. However much I try, I'm just not able to do that 99% of the time. So as a result of always feeling alone (with a paradoxically high ability now to express concepts and ideals) my highest value is that others don't feel this way - so a lot of what I do is supporting others and helping them feel cared about - but my gf and a lot of others seem to miss the emotional intention and think I'm being cold or emotionless - which is part of the reason I'm here. Inside I'm full of emotion and empathy, but when I speak, apparently that doesn't come through in the way I wish.
I think looking up the diagnostic criteria is your best course of action. There's really nothing that can definitively say ASD or not. That's why you'll see some here that doubt their diagnoses, both self and professional. Asperger's is a syndrome which is essentially a collection of commonly cooccurring traits or symptoms, but not everything has to be present for a diagnosis to be given. As others will likely tell you, the only way to KNOW is a professional diagnosis, but for most it's cost prohibitive with questionable 'gains' to come from being diagnosed. Regardless, best of luck on the journey of further self discovery.

Thanks! much appreciated!
I've spent the last 6 months researching everything from traits to causes and have learned a lot of neurobiology along the way. The problem I'm having is determining whether the social skills and 'theory of mind' I have is based on logical deduction and systematising, or on intuitive understanding. As I don't have any frame of reference, it's impossible to say without speaking to those with AS, and NTs and comparing results.
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