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Am I autistic or just anxious?

Nikita4

Hello, Im new to this so sorry if I get anything wrong... 

Ever since I was little I felt different like everyone else would play and I would just sit and watch and I talked really quietly and would rather choose not to talk and just sat taking everything in most the time... As a kid I felt smarter than everyone else because I just took everything in, but also felt indifferent because my dad was not good to me.... And that also makes me confused whether it's from that I'm this way or something else...

From 11 years old I developed very strong anxiety and panic... I was comfortable with my closest friend but other people not so much? And even with my closest friend I'd sometimes get overwhelmed and panicked and hide from them so they couldn't play out with me because it felt like it was too much at that point... Then another day after rest and time alone I was okay?

I still have anxiety now (Generalised anxiety disorder) and I'm wondering if it's something more... As I enter situations that make me anxious I get dizzy, sometimes if I walk over a wobbly bridge ISweat smileet confused and feel dizzy and not just in the head but whole body? Sorry again if this isn't making sense Sweat smile I get really hot in social situations and tummy hurts etc (I know this can be anxiety too) but also once I'm comfortable with people I talk too much and talk over people or cut off when they're speaking but I've learnt to try and not to and apologise if I do?

I get an intense urge to do things at times like recently it's been  that I became obsessed with the idea of getting a lizard and would spend too much money just to make sure I can have one? Like IoseThinking control and desperately want things... 

Just wondering... Does it sound like it could be more than anxiety? I really get scared to meet new people... 

Thanks for reading 

  • in reply to NAS63410

    Thank you for your input, funny you say that because I was talking to my friend about how hugs make me feel safer sometimes but I have nobody to hug :') I am eating as healthy as I can but sometimes struggle moneywise as I also have a 1 year old son who is a frozen food boy ha but il try my best thanks. But I have found my body is actually more sensitive to too much veg and needs Carbs to slow everything down if that makes sense 

  • Hi do not get a lizard they are stinky slimey but try that vest for autism , for autism and for anybody who needs calming or anti anxiety help see autisticvest  online to get any sz you need plus they are weighted

  • Hello Nikita4  I can relate to everything you are saying and you are not alone there are many of us who feel like you do

    the thing is to relax feel calm and secure not to worry I find that wearing a compression / weighted vest really helps me stay relaxed and feel secure see it on line at autisticvest.com   this is not just for those of us with autism it calms down everyone who needs a hug plus it comes in kids sizes or adults and best of all its cute . aside from this do look into diet its really important to eat the proper foods for your gut to work and body to feel healthy .

  • in reply to DuckBread

    That's good to hear :) yes I'm good taking to a friend who also has aspergers so helping me :) 

  • in reply to DuckBread

    Hope you are well also by the way :) 

  • in reply to DuckBread

    Thank yo , I did end up taking the ap10 at the dr and got 9/10 so I'm probably going to get assessed thank you for the help

  • in reply to Nikita4

    I agree - it's really tricky.

    I think lots of parents worry about labels and it comes from a caring place, but we're fortunate to have grown up in a much more inclusive society than they did. 'Labels' can also mean you get the support you need, so I think that's a good thing.

  • in reply to DuckBread

    Hi thanks for answering again, I thought so too. Its been difficult to answer exams questions in the past even if I knew the answer just because they've been worded weird and I didn't understand it properly... 

    Yeah I get what you mean, especially with a later diagnoses, how are we meant to know something we consider normal isn't and therefore wouldn't even think to bring it up?

    Thank you, it's more my dad instilled fear in me that if you're "labeled" social services will step in or something >.< but I'm great with my son and he's happy and healthy so not sure why a 'label' would mean people would have to get involved :o

    Thanks again and you're very welcome

  • in reply to Nikita4

    The fact that you're unsure of how to answer the questions could be an indicator in itself - lots of autistic people struggle with metaphors like 'reading between the lines'. I also find it hard to answer certain questions about autism because the way I behave is all I've ever known; it's hard to know what could be considered autistic, what's just my personality, and what's just everyday human behaviour. Hopefully an actual autism assessment would be easier (at least you could ask the assessor to clarify their questions).

    Good luck with your doctor's appointment. I don't have children myself, but there are lots of autistic parents out there. As long as your children are safe and well cared for, that's what matters. If you want to check on your rights as a parent, it might be worth giving the National Autistic Society helpline a call - they should be able to give you more information.

    Thank you Slight smile

  • in reply to DuckBread

    Thank you so much for your response, I took the Autism quotient test online and got 33 and 8.0 for the AQ10 section.

    There are many reasons I think I might be but I sometimes struggle to understand what certain questions means such as if I focus on a big picture or detail or like if I can read between the lines. I doSweat smilen't get what that means Sweat smile

    I have self reffered to get CBT for my current anxiety but it will take 10 weeks for me to get a place, I'm going to the doctor tomorrow so perhaps I'll bring it up but I'm worried. Might sound silly but I worry they'll think I'm a bad mum or something will happen with my son if I say something :o

    I hope everything goes well with you and you find answers also 

  • It's possible to be autistic and have anxiety - they're common co-occurring conditions and they have some commonalities. Try taking a look at the information on this website to see whether you can relate to any of it. If you think autism is worth exploring, make a list of the autistic traits that you feel apply to you (again, you can get them from this website) and talk through the points with your GP.

    Whether you're autistic or not, getting support is the main thing, so a bit of research and a chat with your GP is a good place to start. If you find your GP isn't very helpful or understanding, you could try self-referring to your local NHS mental health service. My mental health assessor referred me for treatment for my anxiety and OCD, but he also referred me to the local autism service for an assessment (even though it's not a mental health condition). I talked to him about my reasons for thinking that I was autistic and he really made the effort to listen and build-up a case for my referral.

    Good luck with exploring everything - I hope you get the answers and support you're looking for.