some new person with questions

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I just realized tonight that I could have some autistic traits, and am wondering if I'm just being a hypochondriac or if there really is something like this that makes me so different from other people.

I would appreciate some feedback on this, even if it's just: No, you're just weird! Laughs.

I have previously received treatment for mental illness, but haven't responded well to it. I don't think I have an illness, I just think differently than other people. Though I have some issues with things:

* textures bother me a lot sometimes. It's like I take in too much vision information, and get dizzy & nauseated and stuff. This usually happens when at the library or groceries shop, but can also happen at home.

* I think I understand body language, but have difficulty responding to it. It is hard to change tracks, when I'm on one.

* I function much better online, and have few r/l friends. When I drink alcohol I am more able to communicate with people. It's like it's a depressant that makes my mind think less. But now I don't drink alcohol for other reasons.

* I have compulsive thoughts, but don't organize things

* non 24-hour sleep disorder

* Everyone tells me I'm strange. I had a psychiatrist at the hospital that said I wasn't schizophrenic; just the strangest person he's met. I hate it, and have tried to be normal, but not able to. It took me a long time to realize that to me I'm normal, and they are strange.

* I have problems understanding irony, and find practical jokes horrifying.

...the list goes on. Does anything of this sound familiar? As I said, I'm happy with my brain most of the time. But as the website title here is, I often feel like I'm on the wrong planet. I would like to feel connected.

Yes, it sounds like you could very well have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. You are also, very smart to stay away from alcohol. Alcohol causes one to
drop their personal defenses and become less inhibited...that's why you found it more easier to engage in conversation with other people. It is also,
why alcohol can make people do stupid things.

Some of those things suggest Aspergers traits. For a more rigorous analysis, you might like to try these tests:

http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

http://www.piepalace.ca/blog/asperger-test-aq-test/

The second test is the shortest one, but some users find they don't get a score - depends on what Web browser you're using, apparently.

Thank you guys. Yeah, the alcohol is very bad for me, even if it feels good at the moment I drink it.

I took that test, and got:

Your Aspie score: 117 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 91 of 200
You seem to have both Aspie and neurotypical traits

I know it's just a online test, though. But it does clarify things a bit.

*edit*
On the second test I got 34 (scores over 32 is high functioning or Asperger)

The most important thing for you to know is that you are not sick, and that you should celebrate (if you can) your differences from others. It's what makes you you. Trying to be someone you are not is when you run into problems. Certainly we all have challenges, and hopefully getting a bit of a broader picture will help you understand your nature a bit better.

Don't dwell too much on whether you are "officially" AS or not. It really doesn't matter too much for us folks who consider ourselves mildly Aspergian, unless you really feel that you need professional help (in which case you need, in this society, a diagnosis first...).

Good luck!

The test results seem to be telling you that you have at least some neurotypical abilities. If you look at the pie-chart and its groupings, you may get some insights into your strengths and weaknesses, which may in time help you to work out what kind of situations to avoid or develop coping strategies for. Don't worry about understanding all the categories though - some of them are pretty strange (e.g. "Aspie hunting") because part of the test is research-based, all about the notion that Aspies may be a throwback to Neanderthals.....

It's also often worth just looking over your answers to specific questions, which will also give you insights into strengths/weaknesses - as somebody said, it doesn't matter much whether they can be called autistic or not, and I agree with that, these syndrome labels and diagnostic compartments can get pretty cloudy, but the individual traits remain objective.

And you're definitely welcome here

Thank you guys.

This was very helpful as a method of understanding, especially because I was worried it was other things. Sometimes I feel kinda stupid, and now I sort of have way of thinking of it that doesn't make me stupid in my own mind. The worrying part was about the oversensitivity to sight especially and the problems associating with people and making friends.

I won't be seeking an official diagnosis, because I'm ok with my brain. It has benefits as well as some issues at time.

Thank you!