aspergers disorder

[Hollow]

Does anyone here have it or know someone who does? My dad realized i likely do earlier this year, so i did some research, and out of all the symptoms i found, they all intensely applied to me. there were all these things i've been doing forever but had no idea they were symptoms of a disorder. I've never really met anyone else that has it, so i can't see what kind of symptoms they have or whatever. yeah i post a lot of threads about mental disorders, i'm kind of obsessed with them being that i have so many.

[Chelsea]

Are you sure? Asperger's is a milder version of Autism.

Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".

By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.

At this time there is a great deal of debate as to exactly where AS fits. It is presently described as an autism spectrum disorder and Uta Frith, in her book AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, described AS individuals as "having a dash of Autism". Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability. AS shares many of the characteristics of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not otherwise specified), HFA, and NLD and because it was virtually unknown until a few years ago, many individuals either received an incorrect diagnosis or remained undiagnosed. For example, it is not at all uncommon for a child who was initially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD be re-diagnosed with AS. In addition, some individuals who were originally diagnosed with HFA or PDD-NOS are now being given the AS diagnosis and many individuals have a dual diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Hmm. If you think you might have it, go to see a doctor. They'll be the best to further advise you.

[Jo_Luvs_Ketchup]

My brother was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome so I know a lot about the disorder. It's kinda hard to talk about here so you can PM me or send an email to MissJinnyExstead@yahoo.com if you would like to ask me anything about the disorder.

~Kelly

[Janice]

It's tempting to self-diagnose, but never a good idea Sarah. I do know someone online with Asperger's Syndrome (no names guys...privacy), and from what I see sitting here on the sidelines indicates that you don't have this disorder. Now, there I go with a diagnosis, lol.

Only a doctor can determine your mental disorder if you have one. Good luck and keep us posted.

[I am Him]

Originally posted by safety pin
Does anyone here have it or know someone who does? My dad realized i likely do earlier this year, so i did some research, and out of all the symptoms i found, they all intensely applied to me. there were all these things i've been doing forever but had no idea they were symptoms of a disorder. I've never really met anyone else that has it, so i can't see what kind of symptoms they have or whatever. yeah i post a lot of threads about mental disorders, i'm kind of obsessed with them being that i have so many.

Hah! I knew you were crazy. <----safety pin smilie

[Chelsea]

Originally posted by Janice
I do know someone online with Asperger's Syndrome (no names guys...privacy), and from what I see sitting here on the sidelines indicates that you don't have this disorder.

That's what threw me for a loop too....Granted, it's possible to be gravely wrong about these things, but at least from what I've seen, there's just wild, vivid differences...Based on observations against a person online *I* know of who DOES have it (again, no names) - you just don't seem a personality match.

Of course, I'm not a doctor, I'm a (Writer/Webmaster/Political Junkie/Computer Repair Technician/Possible Law Student/Whatever I feel like that day), so my comments, in regards to medical relevance, should always be taken with a tablespoon of salt.

[Hollow]

Originally posted by Janice
It's tempting to self-diagnose, but never a good idea Sarah. I do know someone online with Asperger's Syndrome (no names guys...privacy), and from what I see sitting here on the sidelines indicates that you don't have this disorder. Now, there I go with a diagnosis, lol.

Only a doctor can determine your mental disorder if you have one. Good luck and keep us posted.

I know that when most people read symptoms of conditions they'll think they have it, because everyone somewhat shows symptoms of mental disorders. AS symptoms, every one of them i've seen, REALLY applies to me though, although i can't be 100% sure i have it.

[Brian]

Originally posted by safety pin
I know that when most people read symptoms of conditions they'll think they have it, because everyone somewhat shows symptoms of mental disorders. AS symptoms, every one of them i've seen, REALLY applies to me though, although i can't be 100% sure i have it.

I wasn't diagnosed with Autism until I was 11. Before then my parents and teachers knew I had a mental disorder but in those days there wasn't a lot of research done about cases like mine. Many experts thought that people who were Autistic were the ones who didn't speak, didn't express themselves, were extremely isolated, and basically entirely in their own world.

That wasn't necessarily true. Symptoms like those were characteristics of lower-functioning people. When I was little I exhibited these symptoms but I was a "high-functioning" case. Through years of therapy I improved tremendously. If you saw me in person you wouldn't notice whether I was Autistic.

I also agree that you should see a doctor before you come to any conlusions. They have spent years in medicine and are better equipped to know these things even better than I could.

[Hollow]

my dad looked up some more information and found out the symptom about showing odd interests, like spending time looking through a phone book, and realized that strongly applies to me because of my fascination with staplers and safety pins and other weird pointless stuff and the way i spend hours at a time watching infomercials and the tv guide channel. seriously, we got that channel when i was like 8 and since then i usually turn it on when i'm in a room with a tv and just watch it and it's never stopped. i've never really known why i watch it at all. i know all the reporters names, notice when they leave and when new ones come. i know what all the colors on the scrolly thing mean, what exact times they start showing what will be on in the next half hour. frankly i notice every little change they make. they show commercials i get sick of just from watching it so damn much.

hah, other severe symptoms i have are never having eye contact, doing things in a routine, not caring about being social or developing relationships, making repetitive body movements, constant fiddling with objects, etc. yeah i'm gonna see my psychiatrist in a few weeks to see if there's a way i can get evaluated or something to see if i have it.

[Hollow]

Originally posted by Seth Thrasher
Are you sure? Asperger's is a milder version of Autism.

i know. that's my main symptom.

[Chambers]

Originally posted by safety pin
my dad looked up some more information and found out the symptom about showing odd interests, like spending time looking through a phone book, and realized that strongly applies to me because of my fascination with staplers and safety pins and other weird pointless stuff and the way i spend hours at a time watching infomercials and the tv guide channel. seriously, we got that channel when i was like 8 and since then i usually turn it on when i'm in a room with a tv and just watch it and it's never stopped. i've never really known why i watch it at all. i know all the reporters names, notice when they leave and when new ones come. i know what all the colors on the scrolly thing mean, what exact times they start showing what will be on in the next half hour. frankly i notice every little change they make. they show commercials i get sick of just from watching it so damn much.

hah, other severe symptoms i have are never having eye contact, doing things in a routine, not caring about being social or developing relationships, making repetitive body movements, constant fiddling with objects, etc. yeah i'm gonna see my psychiatrist in a few weeks to see if there's a way i can get evaluated or something to see if i have it.

Haha, that almost sounds like me.

When I go through the symptoms of disorders, several of them apply to me, so that got me worried for a while. Eventually, I realized I shouldn't be worried about those labels, especially if the symptoms weren't bothering me.

But, of course, it seems like these things are interefering in your life. So, yeah, good idea to get a professional to diagnose you.

[Rebel Queen 1980]

Hate to ask but are you a hypochrondiac Sarah,Hypochondria
is a case of when people suspect they all kinds of syndromes
and diseases before they go to a doctor.Maybe that's what
the problem is .If this pisses you off,don't take my word for it!!!

[Hollow]

Originally posted by JoCool
Hate to ask but are you a hypochrondiac Sarah,Hypochondria
is a case of when people suspect they all kinds of syndromes
and diseases before they go to a doctor.Maybe that's what
the problem is .If this pisses you off,don't take my word for it!!!

No, i'm not. Like i said before i know it's normal to think you have a condition when reading the symptoms for it, because most people somewhat have symptoms of everything. It's only if they strongly apply to me that i take it seriously.

[Rebel Queen 1980]

Well hope you go to the doctor soon.Good Luck..