Probably Just Odd

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How realistic or accurate are some of the online questionaires? I took the Wired test and scored 30, and I took the rdos test and scored 70. So, I might just be "odd" rather than have Asperger's. A lot of the questions were bang on and described me perfectly, where others were just strange to me and foreign.

I'll explain on trait, or practice, which isn't mentioned in either of the two questionaires:

For as long as I can remember (I'm in my mid-30s) I have had conversations in my head. I'm not talking psychophrenia - these aren't voices in my head outside of my control. Rather, I visualize someone (perhaps someone I know, perhaps not) and then "I" will have have a conversation with this person (who is also conscioulsy me). If goes on non-stop. I think that perhaps this is my way of thinking. I'll debate or hash things out this way. I also think that this may be something that developed as a coping mechanism, since growing up I was always a loner without friends (or without many friends, or without any friends for long stretches) and didn't have many real-life social interactions with people. Does that make any sense? Does this sound at all familiar?

Occasionally these conversations will drown out a real-life conversation that I am taking part in, but that's rare, and for the most part my busy head isn't an inconvenience.

As a general comment, I cope well (job, wife, kids) and while I often don't click with those around me or with society, I'm okay. So, even if I do have Asperger's (which the tests seem to deny), I don't know what difference a diagnosis would make at this point in my life. Comments?

Oh the joys of the skull contained conversations... heh. I do that. Perhaps some of the best conversations I have had have taken place in my head. I rather enjoy being able to do that... except when I have insomnia. Yes, it sounds familiar and it makes sense.

I am curious, which things described you and which things did not? That might give those reading a better idea of what you have going on and better help them to respond. I think, in the end, it all comes down to impairment in social interaction and the tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors.

As for seeking a diagnosis... the pros and cons are different for everyone. Some opt not to seek one as it can place restrictions on their lives, others welcome one as it can provide closure of sorts. Others self diagnose as they likely know more about the disorder than those who would be administering the tests. Heh. Me? I fell into my diagnosis completely unintentionally as I went to see a therapist for something else entirely and she brought it up to me. I opted to pursue it as for the first time in my life, something about me made sense. It fit. I wanted something I could hold onto as I had been misdiagnosed before and I wanted the right thing in my paper trail. It also benefited me as some people in my life would not have taken this seriously without the formal diagnosis. Another plus for me is that I do have issues associated with this disorder, and having the diagnosis gave me a starting point to work from to make improvements within myself. I had a lot of reasons, but in the end I think it came down to something simple, I wanted to know for certain.

Anyway it goes, whatever you opt to do, welcome to Wrong Planet. This site is a great resource, me thinks. You might enjoy browsing the forums and check out what people have to say... you might find yourself in their words. I hope you enjoy your stay.

Hello ericfromcowtown, welcome,

I scored positive on the AQ test and EQ-SQ test, but negative on the RDOS test, but I agree with my psychologist and psychiatrist that I have Asperger's Syndrome.
For me, I think having a diagnosis is good.
It helps me understand myself better and helps me explain about myself to others.

Anyway, enjoy your stay on the Wrong Planet!

I whined and pleaded with my psychiatrist NOT to diagnose me with Asperger's - 'I don't want to have something that has no cure; I don't want to be considered ret*d; besides, I don't have any fixed interests and I don't lecture people with monologues blah blah blah' ... but he insisted on diagnosing me Asperger's co-morbid with schizotypal personality disorder and high-functioning (very high IQ) - basically I'm clever but I can't get along with people, despite really WANTING to, deep down. It's a double-whammy because my schizotypy often leads to paranoia and mood swings in addition to autistic thinking and inability to respond properly to social cues.

Plus, I am totally brutally honest ... even in job interviews ... except when trying to express my feelings.

But I am resolved not to seem weak and dependent ... I am determined to be master over my own destiny. At the moment I am trying to take control using drugs and books; I am trying to expand my mind and mend my broken neuronal circuitry.

Wish me luck chaps

I just took the Wired test again. This time is came out to 35. But, I find a lot of the questions I would rather list N/A to than either "slightly agree" or "slightly disagree."

I definitely agreed to:
#8 When I'm reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like.
#22 I find it hard to make new friends.
#26 I frequently find that I don't know how to keep a conversation going.

and I definitely disagreed to:
#5 I often notice small sounds when others do not.
#10 In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people's conversations.
#11 I find social situations easy.
#17 I enjoy social chitchat.
#24 I would rather go to the theater than to a museum.
#34 I enjoy doing things spontaneously.
#38 I am good at social chitchat.
#41 I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of cars, birds, trains, plants).

I suspect that on most of the social type questions (do I like mindless social blabber) I was consistent with AS answers, but I don't seem to have some of the "quicky" traits such as collecting information about categories (#41) or noticiing patterns when others do not (#6, #23) and I don't think in pictures (definitely auditory). I guess I'd put #5 above into the "strange questions" category. I don't engage in repetitive behaviours.

On the RDOS test I found a lot of the repetitive type questions (repeating vocalizations, fiddling, talking to oneself [I guess I do that in my head all the time, just not out loud], tap your head or eyes, certain routines that need to be followed, mimicking animal sounds) don't apply to me. However, a lot of the social, organizational, or physical awkwardness type questions were right on. According to the RDOS test I'm ISTJ on the myer-briggs chart.

I haven't taken the ES-SQ test, and it appears to be down right now, but I'll add it to the list.

Welcome greetings to the Wrong Planet neighborhood, eric.

To WrongPlanet!! !

I have done this too sometimes. It might just be an inner role play. I find I have had these conversations when something is really bothering me that I just cannot verbalize. Sometimes it is wishful thinking- the conversation will be with someone I know I will not or cannot speak to (someone out of my life or passed on).
I don't know if this is a trait of someone with Asperger's, but I am starting to lump many of my odder traits in that category. I score really high on those tests, and all of my research has convinced me that I have some sort of ASD.

I talk to myself (and sing to myself sometimes, which is fun for my work colleagues!) a lot of the time. I'm told I sometimes talk in my sleep too. I don't really have conversations with myself, though I have a bad habit of vocalising my thoughts - this has caused me problems in job interviews. I really have to watch myself then.

The constant noise in my head is music. I have a good memory for music and it's somewhat alarming to realise how many of the songs on my iPod (around 4700!) I actually know to at least some extent. It's like a neverending mix tape in my head. I can usually think different songs but I have a tendency for them to occasionally stick. This can get annoying. One way I can fix it is to play actual music - it gets something else in my head, and I usually can't think of one song while another is playing.

Welcome to WP!

Are you from Fort Worth? (referring to "cowtown")

Welcome to WP!

I am also undiagnosed but find that the female asperger's traits chart describe me perfectly and I came out on the RDOS test as likely to have Asperger's. I am strongly considering getting diagnosed to then work on some of the issues I am having to provide a better quality of life - would really love to get my anxiety under control. However, if you are managing just fine then there is no reason to get diagnosed except to get a better understanding of yourself, which you may find helpful.

Oh GOD what a RELIIEF! Me too, and all my life. I thought it was a sign of being pathetic and bad with people. Endless dialogues, often to finally and irrevokably prove my point, or to go over all the permutations of some social situation, or to placate or please someone... Yes, it's not like that type of schizophrenia (what a terrible illness that would be - I can't imagine the horror of real, intrusive voices in the head) it's always quote obvious that all you're really dong is telling yourself stories. Actually, I do like to write: someting similar happens when I'm trying to imagine dialogue between two characters. So I tell myself it's creative.

But there's also the rather dank feeling that in your head you have control over what people say, and in reality do you NOT. Maybe it's just another AS way of shutting out the chaos of the world. In which case - hey, why not. We have tough lives. Whatever works.!

No, Calgary, Canada. Cowtown North.

I think I've taken all the tests now:

AQ 29
EQ 18
FQ 41
SQ 24
SQR 50/150
RDOS 75 - ISTJ

Totally understand what you mean. Same, exact thing with me. I just made a post about it recently in the Haven section. A huge relief to hear someone else describe it out like that!



I have been obsessively focusing on this tendency of mine lately, and I was just earlier today considering the origin of it for myself... I was an only child, and had only one friend from Kindergarten until grade 6, so I used to play multi-player board games, etc, as though I had an opponent. But an opponent would also maintain conversation throughout play, yes? Okay, then. I'll make that part up, too! Just a guess though, really...

Now, as an adult, I definitely use it to "hash things out," as you say. I do it fairly frequently (sometimes odd, funny little daydreams), but it more often asserts itself when I'm faced with (or could be faced with) an issue with another person, and I think it's my way of preparing. Preparing for what they might say, do, and how I would react. I'll go over the same scenario several times, with different results, so I can be prepared for everything Funniest part is, at least one of the scenarios I run through in my mind will actually come to pass. Almost to a T. And then I feel so calm and cool, because I know what to do. What to say.



I wish I enjoyed the inner dialogues more. My trouble is, I have a strong tendency to be more pessimistic than anything else, and am more inclined to daymare rather than daydream. Been trying lately to just stop it altogether. Really proving to be quite the challenge...