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I think I have Asperger's. I have quite a few of the symptoms. I could use some advice.

I have trouble talking to people, mainly I can't think of stuff to say. I can talk to a few friends and my immediate family relatively normally, but I can barely talk to anyone else. I don't make eye contact. I'm obsessed with a particualr subject (film/filmmaking), but I'm also very interested in other subjects (History, reading, photography, and some other stuff). I have weird habits, such as continual finger cracking/fiddling, and I make weird hand gestures when I talk (I don't notice when I do them, but other people continually point them out), and several other habits. If I notice a small sound, such as a clock ticking, I can't fall asleep until I somehow stop the noise. But at the same time, large crowds or groups of people don't bother me (unless i have to speak publically), and most visual things, such as loud noises, bright lights, etc and other things don't bother me (except for the clock thing).

I may or may not have other symptoms, I only addressed the ones I know about. Do you guys think I have Asperger's? And if so, should I get a professional diagnosis?

I'm also wondering if I might have AS and whether I should get a formal diagnosis.

You can bet I'll be coming back to this forum to see what kind of answers you get.

Also, I too find clocks ticking annoying at night. I thought it was normal but now that I think about it, I don't know.

Sounds like there may be a good chance you have it.

If you have insurance I suggest you take full advantage of it and see a professional for their opinion.

Nonetheless, welcome

yeah, the clocks are a huge problem for me. They don't bother me unless I notice one, but If I notice the sound, even if only for a brief instant, I wiil here every stroke of the clock until I take out the batteries or move it.

You can read the clinical description that a professional will go by in the DSM-IV. You should be able to find that book in the library -- if not online.

Also, try Googling "Aspie Quiz."

dp

I just wanted you to know, that your avatar is orgasmic to me. I love nothing more than obsessing over the perfection of my cookies and their decorations, and that is the most perfectly decorated cookie I've ever seen.

I'm so weird

If you'd like to be more thorough with your own self-assessment without going to the step of finding a good expert at diagnosing asperger's, then either borrow or buy the book by Tony Attwood called, "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome." It's one of the best books out there and there are already plenty (unfortunately a lot of them are not good).

That's one of the criteria, right?

dp

I agree completely.

Try taking these two tests and see what kinds of results you get:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html
http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

What's the big deal about hearing clocks ticking? Doesn't everyone hear them?


I don't know if you have it or not because you only listed a few. Why do you think a diagnoses is important if you think you might have it?

I took the test, but the wired one didn't work. The other test worked, and according to it I probably have Asperger's. I'll check out that book that faithfilly mentioned. Is it worth it to get a proffesional diagnosis? Are there any benefits of getting a professional diagnosis? I have gotten along okay without help so far.

That's great! You've obviously got some coping strategies worked out for yourself.

If you don't want to leap straight into getting diagnosed, you don't have to. Except maybe for your own peace of mind, or because you need special accommodation - at work, for example.

If you simply want to understand more, have a look at Roger Meyer's site:

http://www.rogernmeyer.com/

Being based in Portland, he is not far away from you. If you do decide to be formally assessed, I reckon he'd be a good person to see.

Online Quizs are not perfect and I don't recomend them, there pretty stupid and I had an online quiz tell me once I was a slut in a miniskirt.

Yes, you sound like a classic candidate for our fraternity/sorority.

I suggest you find a good doctor, maybe one who's known for treatment of people with Asperger's and get diagnosed. It's not compulsory that you do so, but it'll probably help you to find the right course of treatment or at the very least, you might be able to understand why you have a tendancy to do some things.

Also, make sure you get the spelling right Aspeger's with a P... "Asperger's" is a bit of a sore point with a lot of Aspies (mind you, so is the word "Aspies") because a few of us have been teased for having ass-burgers.

However, when a lot of people say it, it really does sound like that, doesn't it?

Probably, but it doesn't annoy and distract most people to the point that they can't concentrate on anything else.