duuuude. is this possibly a mild form of autism, or what?

[veridikus]

I just feel so incredibly alienated by watching people "loving up" their social conventions. I've been told I'm articulate but that's not a trait that really flies so well within the typical work and family milieus. Even when writing things out I sort of labor over exactly how it is that I'm going to put things into words. I always figured that expressing myself in a unique way was just something I did to keep myself entartained, but its pretty much compulsive at this point. Holidays and other rituals are pretty much meaningless to me. ("duuude duude 4:20 duude" "oh shut up and toke!")

also I'm always put off by trendiness/or trends.

also I have the offbeat sense of humor thing going too and often find myself the only one laughing at certain things. and I laugh LOUDLY too- I am known for my raucous laugh - another thing to feel self-conscious about! the reason I don't like my laugh is it sounds to me like nothing but nervous energy escaping.


anyway I was posting to find out whether there'd be a "me too" or whether anyone would reinforce my suspicion of this being a potential flag for asperger's or something. We all learn from each other, right?

[veridikus]

I don't know how the pothead theme got in there, I haven't smoked in ages!

[shy_chick]

I think there's a link about Asperger's syndrome (mild side of spectrum) in secondary disorders part of forum.
Can't answer your questions though.

[veridikus]

I realized a bit late this might be the wrong forum, my apologies.

[Atticus]

I think it works in this forum, too. Maybe one of the mods will move it if need be.

Anyway, I think most disorders, autism included, exist on a continuum. I think I have some tendencies that put me on that continuum, maybe at a 2 or 3 out of 10. I work with people who are diagnosed as autistic, most of whom are at least moderately mentally retarded also, and one of the prevalent features is an inability to read people's social cues. This really kills their interest in socializing, even accounting for other deficits they may have. I have that big time.

The people I work with also have a tendency to interact with things , and in a manner, that appear meaningless or ineffective. I'm there, too.

[melancholy]

I've pondered whether I may Asperger's syndrome... but if I do, it's probably a mild form. I don't really know how to socialize the way most people do because I really don't like what everyone else likes. I could care less about the popular shows on TV... like Lost, or American Idol, or any of that stuff... if I watch TV at all it's like, the Discovery Channel, History Channel or Animal Planet. I hate "popular" music for the most part... I hate small talk... I really don't have much to talk about with my peers. Often times I'll just say something that I think is funny and people look at me like I'm crazy. I also have sensitivity to loud sounds and florescent lights... and a bunch of obsessive thinking/habits... and a lot of stuff that I don't really feel like getting into right now. But maybe it's Inattentive ADD or OCD... or something else entirely... like just being "individual"

[philipgarret]

I could have written the original post verbatim and every word of it would be true.

Socializing would be so much easier if it wasn't for other people.

[D.B. Cooper]

Eh, aspergers is very over diagnosed these days. Autism even in its weakest form is very serious and shouldnt be diagnosed all willy nilly. Anyway, yes i went through a time where i belived i could have a form of autism but really it just turns out im a dysthymic with inattentive ad/hd.

Things like small talk drive me absolutely nuts and i have a problem identifying with other people. When people say things like "im lonely" or whatever i have no idea what they're talking about...i would be glad to be alone all the time if possible.

[ghostgurl]

I would suggest you read some of the people's experiences on this forum: http://www.wrongplanet.net/forums.html

It confirmed for me that I'm on the autistic spectrum. I've also done a lot of reading about it online and it seems the more I read about it the more it seems like me. They also say the best way to know about a disorder is reading the experiences of people who actually have it.

[veridikus]

I'm pretty suprised to have gotten a positive response to this at all... in that I never expected anyone else to mirror my own feelings or experiences.
It's strange how I could have written either response by DB or Melancholy as well. Point for point, same thing here.

I've looked into asperger's and I share some of the social traits but not enough to make me want to rush and self-diagnose.
Maybe I've just been unlucky. Unlucky and stubbornly individualistic. Life's course has brought me to a point where I can't tell whether it was an inattentive add problem(or is most of social reality really just that boring ?) that lead to a cyclothymic/anxious personality or vice versa? I suppose a mental health professional could help sort it out somewhat but I'm leery of psychopharmaceuticals.

Trying to salvage an optimistic outlook on all of this but---it takes so very long...sorry to sound like such a downer.

Know what else is the kicker? When I finally do meet a person that seems to have an intelligent and refreshing way of approaching the world more often than not I become too self-conscious to try to establish any sort of genial relationship- I sort of tell myself I'd prefer to wait until things "get better"... ah well.
Things are sort of looking up I spose, I've finally got a job I'm halfway satisfied with for the first time in years and think of it as one of the preconditions I'll use to try and get through all this b*ll****.

Thanks for listening, guys.

[veridikus]

also thank you for the link ghostgurl...I've found much interesting reading there- was a bit hesitant myself to actually look into exactly this sort of thing, as it seems to be a bit of a trend for people to be "catching" AS these days.

[Bittersweet]

Holidays are pointless and meaningless and just a way for companys to make money and people to get gifts and get a day off.

I laugh really loudly and can't control it. I saw a lady in the store with rollers in the store and cracked up and went to another isle and was laughing so hard i leaned against the shelves to stay up and not drop the juice i was holding(which was shaking). It hurts I laugh so hard sometimes.

And I don't think things other people think is funny is funny. Watching comedy movies is a waste of my time.

Trends are for evil posers and fake people in general cause they don't want to stick out and they can't think for themselves and buy magazines like People which tell them what is like SOOO in and what is like SOOO out.

But what does any of this have to do with mental retardation.
Everyone who watches crap like desperate housewives and think it's like so cool and meaning is retarded.

[Chrysalii]

I've thought about SA being a form of Autism (an ASD, as they would say). there are many similarities, but then again many personality types share some common characteristics to autism, so I'm leaning against it.
Also for those suspicious of being an Aspie, try this quiz.
http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

I took an older version of this a while ago, I'll have to try the new verison out.

[Noca]

Originally Posted by Chrysalii

I've thought about SA being a form of Autism (an ASD, as they would say). there are many similarities, but then again many personality types share some common characteristics to autism, so I'm leaning against it.
Also for those suspicious of being an Aspie, try this quiz.
http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

I took an older version of this a while ago, I'll have to try the new verison out.

Your Aspie score: 146 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 69 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

[Eraserhead]

Your Aspie score: 108 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 92 of 200
You are both Aspie and neurotypical

I shouldn't be surprised. I've always been a weirdo

[prisoner_of_myself]

What does this test mean??
I just took it and it said I was both Aspie and neurotypical. Does that mean I have autism?

[njodis]

Looks like I am neurotypical

[Message]

Sorry, I know it's an old topic.

Your Aspie score: 145 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 85 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie


...but holy crap at my Aspie score! When I first heard of aspergers I looked it up and compared myself to the symptoms... but figured I wasn't even close. But when answering those questions I was surprised at how the questions fit. Especially when it came to valuing personal interests more than anything else, and feeling completely frustrated when interrupted while engaged in said interest. Also the complusive rocking, pen clicking and fear of touch.

[quiet_one]

Your Aspie score: 162 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 60 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

- Hmm; if I have this it would explain a lot of things about me; it's a really high Aspie score.

[ebolarama]

Your Aspie score: 131 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 85 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie