Could this be autism?

Hi

First I would consider to go through your reports if you have any to suggest you something.

I might be wrong about the social anxiety thing. I'm no expert. They would obviously find interaction difficult due to the anxiety but I don't think they'd have the same problems with language etc.

To be autistic you have to meet criteria in 4 areas rather than all of the criteria. One is communication, one is social anxiety, one is sensory and the other is rigidity of thought. Routine and obsession both fit into rigidity of thought. I certainly don't think every person with autism has big obsessions. The things you listed in your original post sound like obsessions to me. You don't have to have a strict day to day routine to be autistic but generally I think most people with autism have some degree of difficulty with unexpected change or not knowing what to expect. A liking for rules or a dislike of people breaking rules can also be part of rigidity of thought.

I have massive problems with executive function, especially tidying!

Hello again and sorry for late reply. I didn't know social anxious people knew how to interact. That's interesting. I also have another questions if you don't mind to answer.

1. Can you be autistic if you don't have obsessions or routines but you meet the other criterias? 
2. Do you have problems with executive functioning? Like having problems with cleaning your room, cooking, taking care of yourself and eating? 

I did a sensory processing quiz and I scored high on it. 

Thank you alot! 

A large number of people with autism will have social anxiety due to their struggles with social interaction so I guess that explains that. I guess the difference if they don't have autism is they'd understand how to interact they would just be anxious about it. Where as the AQ test is also looking at things like your ability to follow a conversation and know how to take turns.

I think it's probably fair to say that a lot of people would be a little bit annoyed/upset about their routine being disturbed but it's more significant if you have ASC and people with ASC have a bigger need for routine than NTs. I personally think it also about expectation rather than routine. NTs tend to be better at imagining what is going to happen. I want to be told exactly what is going to happen and be very clear on the details.

I agree there should be more about sensory issues though. I guess sensory issues are so diverse it's too difficult to record in a quiz like that. Because it can be hyper or hypo and because different people have issues with different senses. There is a sensory processing quiz that I scored scarily high on. It is intended for sensory processing disorder I think but it would be worth taking to see how you score on sensory issues.

I thought It can also be applied to social anxiety. And it was mostly about social stuff and I wanted more about sensory issues. I find it hard to understand and would like some examples to clarify so I don't misunderstand the question. I thought this could be applied to everything and everyone and everything mentioned was normal but maybe I don't understand what the normal is. Like I wanted it to include certain scenarios we can relate to or dismiss. For example like when you said about hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity. And about different senses. There were stuff about routines but I felt like everyone when distrub will be upset so I don't really know. And yes I agree about the neither option. 

Well it definitely sounds to me like you could be on the spectrum. The not getting people's intentions and not knowing how you come across is called mentalising. My report said I have significant difficulty with it so yes that can be part of autism.

Above you said you found the aq test too general. I'm intrigued which questions you didn't like. I found the aq test difficult because I found the terms slightly agree and disagree stupid and I wanted a sometimes or neither option.

Hello and wow this is really helpful! Thanks alot. 

Hm yes I can relate a bit to the routine thing and I'd say I'm not too rigid also. Like when my sister suddenly wants to go to grocery store I'd get a panic attack because I didn't emotionally prepare myself. So I'd need one more day but now she doesn't do this anymore and we go the  same time every week. This also happens in sudden appointments and change in schedules of classes.

As for the social skills I'd say most things apply for me. I suspected I have social aniexty but I definitely relate more to the social issues of autism.

Like

• I can't maintain eye contact especially when I'm talking. I can try when listening to someone but I would be too focused on the maintaining the eye contact that I loose concentration of what they are saying.
• People say I'm rude and I get mind blown all the time. Even when they explain it I don't quite get it.
• I don't get peoples intentions. This may make me sound so stupid. When I was in highschool I was getting bullied. I didn't know I was getting bullied because I thought they were joking and having fun.
• I can't start or maintain conversations.
• I don't have empathy. Can't relate or understand or put myself in someone else shoes.

Last academic year I was in college and some guy stopped me in the streets infront of the college asking for my number and saying "we have classes together and I want to be friends. So how can we communicate?" I was shocked and said some gibberish words but managed to give him my number hoping I might get a friend for the first time. But he was too touchy, creepy and came on too strong that I kept getting panic attacks. I couldn't sleep for two months and I got really bad acid reflux and back pain because everything changed and  he wanted to meet everyday and I just wanted everything to return the same it was before. One time he creeply said "let's go to my house. Its sooo big and no one is here". Because of him I almost failed and getting kicked out from college because of attendance and grades. But I managed to pull a pass. So phew.

Thats all come to mind right now. Thanks again. 

You certainly have traits. Sensory issues can be hypersensitive or hyposensitive so not being able to taste food could mean your hyposensitive to it.

The sponge bob bit definitely sounds autistic. Kind of thing I would have done.

Routine can vary for different people. Some people with autism need a very rigid routine that they always follow like eating at the same time or doing things in a particular order. Others need their plan for the day written down. I don't find my need for routine as rigid as that but I do like having some structure. I work in a school which means I have a timetable. I think I'd find a job without this challenging. I don't really like things happening unexpectedly. If I go to work and they tell me I'm doing something different that day I can find it quite challenging. I like special occasions to have a routine. Christmas is the same every year and I'd be upset if it wasn't. I like to know what to expect from everything so I find anything like a hospital appointment where I don't know what is going to happen.

What is your communication like as this is another section of the criteria?

Have you also considered looking into adhd? Only because you mention fidgeting and concentration. I do have issues with both these things but my assessor ruled out adhd as I can concentrate on things I enjoy. Might be worth thinking about though.

I understand you wanting to be sure before looking at being assessed but from my experience you'll probably continue to have doubts until you take that step.