The AUTISM SPECTRUM Thread (Now with extra rainbows!)

[Andrew Ryan]

I guess I can take this opportunity to come out of the proverbial closet by saying I have mild aspergers. I was diagnosed when I was a month or two old by my mother (who is a licensed clinical social worker) and a friend of hers at the University of California Santa Barbra (who has a PhD in psychology and runs the Autism center there) Due to my early diagnosis, she and the good doctor literally did everything they could to rewire my brain to make it more normal. They made me touch objects weird textures such as lizard skin and pumpkin guts, played loud noises and music for me ALL THE TIME, put me through physical therapy to improve my balance and sense of direction, and took me to group therapy sessions where I practiced making friends, all before I entered the first grade. They literally tried every trick in the book to get me back to normal and to a degree, it worked, so much so that even my current psychologist doubts I can even be classified as even a mild asperger anymore. I no longer respond to different textures like I used to (except for things such as dirty dishes), loud noises barely bother me at all, I had a small but loyal group of friends in highschool, I even automatically use eye contact due to forced repetition and training.

But even all of that doesn't mean that the aspergers is gone completely, despite my psychologist's instance. I still have the urge to fidget with objects (such as twirling pens or pencils) or pace whenever I'm thinking or nervous, still LOVE the feeling of pressure (Orngjce, dentist's lead vests are THE BEST), still have a bit of social awkwardness and anxiety, and still am prone to bouts of anger that can turn me from an introverted guy into an irrational beast that only cares to maim and kill, in the vain of Jekyll and Hyde(I hate the word tantrums as it really understates the scope of the anger). Besides that though, I also have severe depression and suffer from bouts of paranoia, albeit infrequently.

Also, I'm a curie. Sue me.

[Gabu]

I find myself to be a very confusing toss-up. I was thought of as mentally challenged until I was placed in a special ed class in kindergarten in supplement to my normal AM class. I pretty much blew that hypothesis out of the water, so they just decided that they simply didn't know, but recommended I see a social worker throughout elementary school.

Since then about 10 people have thought that I had Asperger's. This included 3 doctors, my sister (who has a psychology masters and in fact became interested in psychology to figure out what the crap was wrong), at least one of my closest friends (I'm remembering 3), a guy I knew from school, and several others but can't remember who. I may also be mixing up how many people think that, though the essence is I'll run out of fingers. The second of those three doctors I discovered I had taken a neurological test, but was somehow ruled out. I plan on taking said test again to make sure since there just seems to be enough evidence and people who believe that I have this that not actually getting said diagnosis seems really odd.

On the other hand though, I've had a lot of anxiety throughout my life and it has impeded me from making a whole lot of friends offline (meeting people I've met online is an exception), and from really rising up to become more independent because of fears of failure. I've made progress in the latter, but it's nowhere near enough to meet my satisfaction.

Back to the first hand, it's more than possible that I developed anxiety as a result of whatever degree of Asperger's I may or may not have, from genetics, or both. And that my anxiety and depression are a result of being unable to really figure out other people and back then, since I was unable to make friends, decided that I didn't need them. I dunno, I'm starting to ramble.

It seems like my fear of socializing came soon after the realization that I was different in some way. Though until I can effectively get to the bottom of this I just believe it is more wise to simply call myself very fucking anxious about everything. Any sort of diagnosis or not. No diagnosis of any kind would be an empty explanation, but a partial explanation nonetheless.

tl;dr, might have Asperger's, everyone and their dog believes that, tests say no, I think otherwise due to the evidence I've found or learned about myself, though any diagnosis, even none, would likely suffice, but until then just calling it crazy-ass anxiety and reluctantly shrugging. Because I just want any logical and believable explanation so I can figure out who I am a little better and work with myself from there.

[SiriusBusiness]

I was diagnosed with asperger's as a kid.
But I was one weird-ass kid. I wouldn't be diagnosed with it now.

[innocuousRancor]

i dont have insurance because my mother is a drug addict bum so ive never been formally diagnosed but i have all the symptoms of aspies-- especially with textures. i cant walk on grass because it feels too sharp and while not in school i tend to stay in the same clothes for several days at a time because the texture change from changing clothes is annoying and uncomfortable

but i dont feel like its something thats been an obstacle because nobody suspected it until i was sixteen (last year). its more like it was an explanation, and knowing, i think, has actually helped me in the long run because i know that im not just a defected person. just mentally wired different.

come on lets bond my body is ready

[thehuw]

For some reason everyone I know seems to think I have Asperger's. Now I'm beginning to wonder if they're right.

[WatercolorMush]

I've been diagnosed with Asperger's, and I think I'm completely crazy. But I don't know.

[The Infernal One]

Aspergers.

I has lots of them.

[Wycca]

I'll just come out and say that while I've never been diagnosed with it since my parents believed I was just a late bloomer I'm certain I have mild aspergers. Some of my teachers and friends believe it as well. When I was younger I didn't start to talk until I was four. I started just before my dad was going to send me somewhere to find out why and I can't help but wonder if I might have been diagnosed if he had. In school while I got straight A's with a few B's without much effort everything else was a struggle, and the special classes I had to take for my speech issues and lack of focus didn't help.

Of course the social problems are a big issue. I can't stand crowds at all and try to avoid them as much as possible. I don't like being touched by anyone and feel really weird afterward if someone does bump into me or whatever. That and I just can't read people at all. What ever emotion I think they're feeling I can guarantee you the real answer will be just the opposite. I also have a bad habit of coming off as angry or snappy when I I don't mean it at all. That's why I get along with friends I've meet online then I do IRL because I can think before I type and I can't miss any little supple clues or gestures that will tell me something important. There is one person I don't have these issues with and that's by best friend who for some reason I can figure out much easier than most.

Now that I'm in the work force I've discovered a couple problems besides the social issues that this has caused. I work in fast food I'm lucky that the fact that I get tongue-tied easily and quiet voice keeps me off the cash register but I can't stand loud and or repetitive noises and every time one of the things beeps I cringe and lose my train of thought. Much to the dislike of my managers who think I'm just lazy and spacey. I try but I just can't focus on more than one thing at a time without forgetting something. For these reasons I'm trying to get a new job. Thanks to clinical rotations in college I've learned I can do just find if I don't have all the noise and people yelling at me to hurry up or telling me I can't do anything right every five seconds. I really don't like people yelling at me.

[MeiMei]

Hey hey female aspies represent.

I guess I'm pretty much the similar story to many.

-I'm academically oriented in school and I'm better off alone than in a group. In fact, most of my classes are honors courses.
-I have some mood swings when I get overwhelmed by thoughts or commands or other confusing things.
-I cannot function easily in social situations, I'm pretty much on the same level of interaction as a vase of flowers when I'm out with people.
-My mind is highly imaginative, I think in pictures.

You know, like that. Luckily, my I was diagnosed with it early on, so I can function with it better than I used to, though this is completely dependent on my emotional state. Cause I can be a total sweet-if shy and softspoken- little bunny if I'm happy, but I can also be a quiet nexus of seething hate and cynicism if I'm the littlest bit off-balance.

However, I've found acting to be a great help for short-term interaction, where I can just 'slip' and pretend I'm someone else long enough to pass as at least an average-ish person. Also having headphones to stick in my ears when I get socially disinclined is great too, since I really just prefer to just observe. But, ironically, I love acting and being on stage. It's so much fun to be in the spotlight, though it's usually just for a few moments, I never get the best parts.

Gahh I'm rambling but also sometimes I can't speak when I want to say something, so I'll just type it on my phone or something to help me speak, so to speak.

[SpearmePlease]

I guess I will make a short post here at least.

I was diagnosed with Aspergers when I was in Elementary school. They put me in a special program to help develop my personal skills and other things like that, and I guess today I do pretty well, though even up through College I was always given the right to ask for extended time on tests, due to how long it takes for me to process concepts.

I am still always the last one to 'get' something in a lot of cases, and I have a lot of problems with socializing. I think the biggest problem for me though is noise volume. Not the loudness of noise in a given room, but the prevalence of noise. When a room is full of nothing but noise everywhere, I get a little freaked out and can't function properly.

This is especially bad in large, crowded areas. Though only really when it is a lot of different noise sources. So a huge group of people carrying on several conversations while I am in the middle trying to listen to one is an impossible thing for me, but when it is simply loud noise, that is easier to deal with for some reason.

Anyway, that's what I have to say on the matter.

[The Infernal One]

AHHHHHHHHHH all these TLDR posts.

Honestly, I can just sum this up into a few sentences: I'm psychotic, but I kick ass at science.

[Kaage Ryoko]

i have aspergers
-i think in ways others simply cant
-i am a leader but can be in a group
-i am looked to for help in school
-i am actually very good at math art and science
-i am an avid gamer and anime freak
-i am who i am
why am i different when everyone is?

[Theswweet]

I have aspergers... huh, I guess that means a lot of us bronies are aspies :/

The funny thing is, I hardly show it online... but the moment I step outside...

[OrangeAipom]

I'm just derping a lot because that's what I do.

[The Infernal One]

i have aspergers
-i think in ways others simply cant
-i only work alone
-i am sometimes looked to for help in school, but not nearly as much as I once needed to be
-i am actually very good at math art and science (I am good at doing math in my head but despise showing work, I am very good at drawing but wish to stick to my own style and not take lessons from anyone else, I know hundreds of interesting science facts but nothing to pass a test with)
-i am an avid gamer and tokusatsu freak
-i am who i am

[Theswweet]

i have aspergers
-i think in ways others simply cant
-i only work alone
-i am sometimes looked to for help in school, but not nearly as much as I once needed to be
-i am actually very good at math art and science (I am good at doing math in my head but despise showing work, I am very good at drawing but wish to stick to my own style and not take lessons from anyone else, I know hundreds of interesting science facts but nothing to pass a test with)
-i am an avid gamer and tokusatsu freak
-i am who i am

...are you me?

[Kaage Ryoko]

i have aspergers
-i think in ways others simply cant
-i only work alone
-i am sometimes looked to for help in school, but not nearly as much as I once needed to be
-i am actually very good at math art and science (I am good at doing math in my head but despise showing work, I am very good at drawing but wish to stick to my own style and not take lessons from anyone else, I know hundreds of interesting science facts but nothing to pass a test with)
-i am an avid gamer and tokusatsu freak
-i am who i am

...are you me?

I think hes me and also you and everyone here. face it, if you have aspergers and are on this site that is who you are.

[Theswweet]

i have aspergers
-i think in ways others simply cant
-i only work alone
-i am sometimes looked to for help in school, but not nearly as much as I once needed to be
-i am actually very good at math art and science (I am good at doing math in my head but despise showing work, I am very good at drawing but wish to stick to my own style and not take lessons from anyone else, I know hundreds of interesting science facts but nothing to pass a test with)
-i am an avid gamer and tokusatsu freak
-i am who i am

...are you me?

I think hes me and also you and everyone here. face it, if you have aspergers and are on this site that is who you are.

._.

Hey, if that means everyone in this thread has a varied taste in games, then I'm not complaining...

[The Infernal One]

Meh, I mostly just liek Tekken. Even though I suck at it and just press the same button over and over again, I just liek to kick ass. *derp*

[Theswweet]

I'm more of a BlazBlue fighter myself, Taokaka rocks.

[epic_houseplant]

I do not have Aspergers. My little brother does, and it can be a challenge to help him, but that's about it.

Doesn't mean that my brain is wired as 'normal'. I'm cross eyed dominant (left eye, right hand, makes shooting interesting), my gross motor functions leave much to be desired, I had to get extensive speech therapy as a child and last month I was formally diagnosed with ADHD. Apparently neither my right nor my left hemisphere of my brain is dominant, so I can art and science at the cost of having trouble keeping my shoes tied and being bad at sports like basketball and football. Running, swimming and marksmanship are fine, but in the first two cases I'm just manipulating my body and in the third I'm simply using my well developed fine motor control.

The ADHD explains a lot, and it can be a pain, but since I've gotten the right medicine focusing in class, listening to lectures and sleeping on a scheduled have been a lot easier.

[The Infernal One]

I want an exoskeleton. NOW.

[noppa354]

a quiet nexus of seething hate and cynicism if I'm the littlest bit off-balance

That's me too, odd. I'm pretty sure I have either high-functioning autism or aspergers, I'm not sure. I am sensitive to some things, like the feeling of clothes (ARGH THE SOCKS HAVE TO BE PUT ON EXACTLY RIGHT! (if the wrong part of the sock is in the wrong place, it's TOTALLY ANNOYING))
and THE STUPID SCRAPING SOUNDS! I am probably too intelligent for my own good, I DON'T WANT FRIENDS, I'm no good at being social anyway, I jump from subject to subject sometimes but other times I can hyperfocus. (My brain=wiki walk sometimes, other times not)
There's more, of course, but I can't remember it all. (Did I use caps and parentheses too much?)

[The Infernal One]

I only listen to really depressing music, and yet I always look on the bright side of everything.

[Kaage Ryoko]

I'm willing to listen to anything, but prefer metal. Also, huge fan of TCG's and halo.