Wanting to know more...

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My name is Bradley and I am 20 years old, and though I haven't officially been diagnosed with Asperger's, I have been startled by similarities to myself I have seen in postings on this forum. I was hoping to start some sort of general discussion, maybe some questions I could answer to not only let you know more about me, but also to be more sure of whether or not I have Asperger's.

So far I have yet to find a situation on here or any other website where I do not act and feel almost exactly the same way that somebody diagnosed with Asperger's does. I know that I should probably speak with a professional and be officially diagnosed, but I figured this would be a good preliminary step, to at the least figure out whether or not that would be necessary.

I'm sorry for being so long winded, but I would LOVE any help any of you could offer me.

Online quizzes are no substitute for an official diagnosis - at least that's what those who guard the diagnosis carefully say. That said, from my results on a few online quizzes, and my accumulated experiences over the years, I have scheduled a professional evaluation for myself in May.

"The Aspie Quiz" is generally considered to be a good indicator.
http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

It's a very good idea to learn more before deciding to see a professional; diagnosis can be problematic, so it's best to understand yourself some more and know how to find a professional who would be qualified and experienced enough to diagnose adults (hopefully in your area).

What have you learnt so far? As for questions, fire away! Ask anything you can think of.

sup, man. welcome to WP!

To WrongPlanet!! ! ......

Who? Where? Your post was unnecessarily brief. Being long-winded is an Aspie specialty. Don't get me going on any of my favorite topics.

Not necessarily. It depends on what you hope to gain. Some feel strongly that they are better off without a formal diagnosis. Insurance and career issues. They talk about confidentiality, but there's really no way to control such information once it's out there. If it's just for your own quest for understanding, you can get just about anything you might need from the internet. As an intelligent adult, you are a better judge than any stupid shrink. All they want to do is sell drugs for depression or anxiety. Which might be a good idea if you need it, but they'll carry on as though you don't have a choice. Or a brain. And as though the stuff is not seriously dangerous.

Also, think twice about telling friends, family, employer. Some say it's good, some say it's bad.

Hang out and don't be in too much of a rush.

So, what's your thing? Your special interest?
Are you still in school? Do you live with family or far away?

Seriously, that isn't long-winded. Methinks you've just gotten so used to apologizing for being long-winded that you do it by default!

Anyway, welcome. You may have AS; you may just be on the AS side of typical, but we've got lots of both here so you should fit in OK. Well, as much as someone in a bunch of social misfits ever does.

Thank you all very much for being so understanding. It's relieving to be told that these behaviors aren't wrong, just different. I took the Aspie-quiz and received a score of 177 out of 200, and discovered that my walking on tip toes may be a result of AS. I'm also not comfortable seeking a diagnosis just yet, as the realization that I MAY have AS has been life changing enough.

I'm hoping to respond more to questions that other people have, because I fear that otherwise I might be more biased in the details I give out, as I believe I have AS, and when I believe something I tend to want others to believe the same thing.

As for interests, I have always been interested in music. I play most standard rock instruments (bass, guitar, drums, piano/keyboard) as well as a little accordion. I'm also very into programming and composing music digitally. I LOVE television. I believe it's such a better medium than film because of the longevity and potential for more character/story growth and development.

I am not currently in school, but hope to go back no later than next fall. I live with my half sister and (half?) brother-in-law in Oregon, and my parents and grandparents are in California.

Did you have in mind going through the diagnostic criteria and the extent to which they apply to you? I'd feel odd asking such questions myself, but would contribute to any discussion initiated by you or others.

Aside: I thought this might be useful to you (the Cambridge Autism Centre tests page): http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/default.asp