[Anonymous]

Anonymous PLEASE.

My Dad and little brother both have AS according to my mum. Neither of them have been formally diagnosed, but they seem like they are autistic.

I have not been diagnosed with Asperger's but I think I am autistic.

I have very focused interests (I call them 'obsessions'). These can be about a musical, and for several months this will be all I listen to. I will lean the harmonies, history etc. And then after a few months it will change. I often have obsessions about particular people as well, and spend months finding out all about them, finding excuses to be near them etc. I am also very pedantic about grammar and spelling, particularly the use of apostrophes.

I have always struggled in social situations. I don't understand social cues, metaphors or sarcasm and my girlfriend frequently gets upset with me because I fail to notice when she is upset, or to give her a compliment if she gives me one. Or sometimes I can recognise that she seems agitated but not know what to do about it, or be interested in something that I am doing so I don't want to do anything about it.
People often ask me if I am autistic due to the problems that I have in conversation and the fact that my speech is often very stilted and overly formal. Everything also has to be very precise. I really dislike situations that I can't anticipate. This means that I often decline invitations to other people's houses, because I haven't been there before and therefore don't know the layout and how to behave. Timings are also an issue. For example, on Sunday I will go out with my girlfriend. We have to have a table reservation, and I will plan our evening backwards from this time. It has to be planned in advance. I have also been told that I seem very naive. I sometimes have problems making eye contact, although this isn't as bad as it used to be. I enjoy social company, but struggle with large groups of people and after some time (about an hour with a large group, up to 5 hours with an individual), I feel overstimulated and want to get out of the situation in order to regather my energy.
When I was younger I had no friends of the same age. Most of my friends were 16+ when I was still 12. This has changed as I have got older, and I am now both able to maintain friendships with people my age, but also find them interesting.

I have many routines which I have to stick to. For example, for an exam my ruler is on the far left, with two black pens next to it. On the right I have my name sticker (pink), my duck rubber and a lucozade bottle with no label and a blue lid. If for any reason any of my routines is changed, or if a change occurs such as the rearranging of desks in a particular classroom, I can become very agitated.

My walk is awkward- I have been told that I look like a penguin when I walk.

I am highly intelligent- 15 A*s at GCSE and am predicted 7 As at AS, and have a good memory for facts and figures that I find interesting. I am also good at music and dance and enjoy writing stories and poems.

I am 17 and female.





There you have a brief overview of me. How likely is it that I may have Asperger's Syndrome? Is it worth me going to the doctor to ask for a diagnosis, and if so, how should I approach this. Is there any point to getting a diagnosis?
Feel free to ask if there is anything else you wish to know.

[Origami Bullets]

Quite a lot of the things her that you have described suggest an autistic-spectrum disorder (ASD), of which Aspergers Syndrome is one. The obsessions, pre-occupation with order, the social awkwardness are all classic symptoms, and some unusual walks (e.g. walking on tiptoes) are more common in people with ASD.

It might be worth talking to your GP. The fundamental point to getting a diagnosis would be that it would open up doors to you in terms of getting help where you need it, for instance with social cues. If you're unsure of what help might be on offer, how about talking to the National Autistic Society?

[~ Purple Rose ~]

You should see your doctor and ask to be referred for an assessment.

A few years ago my tutor suggested that I have Aspergers and the university arranged for me to be assessed at one of the Priory hospitals by a psychiatrist - it took a couple of hours of answering questions etc, and then he said that he didn't think I had it.

You should think about whether being diagnosed would have an impact, either positive or negative, on you, because it is a big thing so you need to think carefully before going any further.

[Moiraclaire]

so what if you are! Your life seems pretty sorted.
It's all a spectrum (as with dyslexia etc), a lot of people are do mildly something that it is not usually noticeable, and then of course you have those with severe autism who cannot function in any social situations. You may have aspergers, but it doesn't sound that bad to me !

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Anonymous PLEASE.

My Dad and little brother both have AS according to my mum. Neither of them have been formally diagnosed, but they seem like they are autistic.

I have not been diagnosed with Asperger's but I think I am autistic.

I have very focused interests (I call them 'obsessions'). These can be about a musical, and for several months this will be all I listen to. I will lean the harmonies, history etc. And then after a few months it will change. I often have obsessions about particular people as well, and spend months finding out all about them, finding excuses to be near them etc. I am also very pedantic about grammar and spelling, particularly the use of apostrophes.

I have always struggled in social situations. I don't understand social cues, metaphors or sarcasm and my girlfriend frequently gets upset with me because I fail to notice when she is upset, or to give her a compliment if she gives me one. Or sometimes I can recognise that she seems agitated but not know what to do about it, or be interested in something that I am doing so I don't want to do anything about it.
People often ask me if I am autistic due to the problems that I have in conversation and the fact that my speech is often very stilted and overly formal. Everything also has to be very precise. I really dislike situations that I can't anticipate. This means that I often decline invitations to other people's houses, because I haven't been there before and therefore don't know the layout and how to behave. Timings are also an issue. For example, on Sunday I will go out with my girlfriend. We have to have a table reservation, and I will plan our evening backwards from this time. It has to be planned in advance. I have also been told that I seem very naive. I sometimes have problems making eye contact, although this isn't as bad as it used to be. I enjoy social company, but struggle with large groups of people and after some time (about an hour with a large group, up to 5 hours with an individual), I feel overstimulated and want to get out of the situation in order to regather my energy.
When I was younger I had no friends of the same age. Most of my friends were 16+ when I was still 12. This has changed as I have got older, and I am now both able to maintain friendships with people my age, but also find them interesting.

I have many routines which I have to stick to. For example, for an exam my ruler is on the far left, with two black pens next to it. On the right I have my name sticker (pink), my duck rubber and a lucozade bottle with no label and a blue lid. If for any reason any of my routines is changed, or if a change occurs such as the rearranging of desks in a particular classroom, I can become very agitated.

My walk is awkward- I have been told that I look like a penguin when I walk.

I am highly intelligent- 15 A*s at GCSE and am predicted 7 As at AS, and have a good memory for facts and figures that I find interesting. I am also good at music and dance and enjoy writing stories and poems.

I am 17 and female.



There you have a brief overview of me. How likely is it that I may have Asperger's Syndrome? Is it worth me going to the doctor to ask for a diagnosis, and if so, how should I approach this. Is there any point to getting a diagnosis?
Feel free to ask if there is anything else you wish to know.

Must try harder.

Joking aside, you seem to have the hallmarks of AS, but whether you get a diagnosis is up to you. Is there any benefit to getting yourself formally classified as AS? Well, it might save you some time/give you some credibility when explaining your difficulties to people, but aside from that I'm unsure of the benefit in this case.

[OU Student]

(Original post by Moiraclaire)
so what if you are! Your life seems pretty sorted.
It's all a spectrum (as with dyslexia etc), a lot of people are do mildly something that it is not usually noticeable, and then of course you have those with severe autism who cannot function in any social situations. You may have aspergers, but it doesn't sound that bad to me !

Mild Autism is noticeable. I have recently been diagnosed as high functioning. To some people, it really is noticeable. Heck, I was out last year and it was the first question I was asked.

As for it not sounding that bad - any idea what it's really like to struggle in social situations? It's so awkward when you're the last one to get a joke. Or any idea what it's like when obsessions take over your life and your school work suffers?

OP - not all PCTs / doctors are willing to refer people for assessment. A lot of their argument revolves around there being no treatment (but you may get therapies for some problems you have) and if you're an adult, you should have adapted by now.

[DeadGirlsDance]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Anonymous PLEASE.

My Dad and little brother both have AS according to my mum. Neither of them have been formally diagnosed, but they seem like they are autistic.

I have not been diagnosed with Asperger's but I think I am autistic.

I have very focused interests (I call them 'obsessions'). These can be about a musical, and for several months this will be all I listen to. I will lean the harmonies, history etc. And then after a few months it will change. I often have obsessions about particular people as well, and spend months finding out all about them, finding excuses to be near them etc. I am also very pedantic about grammar and spelling, particularly the use of apostrophes.

I have always struggled in social situations. I don't understand social cues, metaphors or sarcasm and my girlfriend frequently gets upset with me because I fail to notice when she is upset, or to give her a compliment if she gives me one. Or sometimes I can recognise that she seems agitated but not know what to do about it, or be interested in something that I am doing so I don't want to do anything about it.
People often ask me if I am autistic due to the problems that I have in conversation and the fact that my speech is often very stilted and overly formal. Everything also has to be very precise. I really dislike situations that I can't anticipate. This means that I often decline invitations to other people's houses, because I haven't been there before and therefore don't know the layout and how to behave. Timings are also an issue. For example, on Sunday I will go out with my girlfriend. We have to have a table reservation, and I will plan our evening backwards from this time. It has to be planned in advance. I have also been told that I seem very naive. I sometimes have problems making eye contact, although this isn't as bad as it used to be. I enjoy social company, but struggle with large groups of people and after some time (about an hour with a large group, up to 5 hours with an individual), I feel overstimulated and want to get out of the situation in order to regather my energy.
When I was younger I had no friends of the same age. Most of my friends were 16+ when I was still 12. This has changed as I have got older, and I am now both able to maintain friendships with people my age, but also find them interesting.

I have many routines which I have to stick to. For example, for an exam my ruler is on the far left, with two black pens next to it. On the right I have my name sticker (pink), my duck rubber and a lucozade bottle with no label and a blue lid. If for any reason any of my routines is changed, or if a change occurs such as the rearranging of desks in a particular classroom, I can become very agitated.

My walk is awkward- I have been told that I look like a penguin when I walk.

I am highly intelligent- 15 A*s at GCSE and am predicted 7 As at AS, and have a good memory for facts and figures that I find interesting. I am also good at music and dance and enjoy writing stories and poems.

I am 17 and female.





There you have a brief overview of me. How likely is it that I may have Asperger's Syndrome? Is it worth me going to the doctor to ask for a diagnosis, and if so, how should I approach this. Is there any point to getting a diagnosis?
Feel free to ask if there is anything else you wish to know.

You do seem to have a lot of the symptoms. You could always try asking to be referred for a diagnosis. Even if you did get diagnosed with Asperger's, would it really make a difference to your life? You said that you have 'obsessions', do you find that you talk about them a lot and don't always listen to what other people are saying in a conversation? You'll find that it is a lot harder to get diagnosed as an adult so if you did want to be then try sooner rather than later.

[translucent]

I'm not entirely sure you're aspergers, you do fit a lot of symptoms - but it's a lot more complicated than that. I'm 17 and also female, and will soon be getting a diagnosis, it's very mild, unnoticeably mild and have only discovered I was Aspergers not so long ago, the only (and few more) reason I'm getting a diagnosis is so I can get extra time in my exams, which I desperately need, I over think, read a single question over 20+ times, panick because everyone's writing and turning pages, sensory issues etc.

A diagnosis will be a massive relief, that painful longing to be normal is no longer destroying my life, hopefully my depression will no longer haunt me

[Moiraclaire]

(Original post by OU Student)
Mild Autism is noticeable. I have recently been diagnosed as high functioning. To some people, it really is noticeable. Heck, I was out last year and it was the first question I was asked.

As for it not sounding that bad - any idea what it's really like to struggle in social situations? It's so awkward when you're the last one to get a joke. Or any idea what it's like when obsessions take over your life and your school work suffers?

OP - not all PCTs / doctors are willing to refer people for assessment. A lot of their argument revolves around there being no treatment (but you may get therapies for some problems you have) and if you're an adult, you should have adapted by now.

That does not mean that some people do not have it very mildly? SPECTRUM. I did not say that you can't have it more seriously, people have it to varying degrees ? OP is clearly not as bad as these autistic people you see on TV who cannot care for themselves and are violent, yet her complaints would indicate a degree of aspergers.

[KeepItSecret]

It would appear you have signs of autism, some of the things you have listed are very similar to my elder brother who was diagnosed as autistic when he was a child.

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autis...diagnosis.aspx

This page may be helpful: it outlines how to go about getting diagnosed, as well as some of the difficulties you might find being diagnosed at an older age.

You will still count as a child up until your 18th birthday, which may make it slightly easier to be diagnosed.

I hope everything works out for you, take care.

[acgs]

Well, well worth getting a diagnosis, both for the reasons above and the TONS OF FREE STUFF. Another guy at my college and I are both diagnosed and we were given Disabled Student Allowances which paid for computers, printers, I got a monitor and piles of software. They are ridiculously eager to throw money at peoples' problems, even if they're mild. They'll also pay for mentors but I doubt you need one. Also the needs assessment can contain a recommendation that you get en-suite accommodation where available throughout your course, which got me (and the entire group I was balloting with, they're pretty happy about that) moved to the top of the ballot for next year. Also you might be able to get extra time.

So... yeah there's a point getting a diagnosis :P you'll never have to tell a soul if you don't want to, it'll go into a file very few people will see unless you want them to.

[Phantom Lord]

(Original post by Martyn*)
.

You have it right..