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Diagnosis and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests, or activities.

Jay

Hi all

I am hoping to be referred for assessment soon and am wondering about repetitive behaviours.  I don't fit into the stereotypical box of having huge collections or an encyclopaedic knowledge of dinosaurs or trains but I'm sure I'm being too narrow in my view of what Autism is (but I worry that the people who decide whether to refer me or not might be too). 

I used to be a bit obsessive (collecting films and posters) about a few film stars when I was young but that's probably normal.  Now, the main thing I guess is that I'm a bit obsessed with updating my accounts on Excel which I do most days.  The workbook has 25 sheets now and is pretty complicated.  In the past, I've also documented other aspects of my life there such as the amount I'm sleeping, drinking or using my phone (anything I have trouble with).

Has anyone had experience of diagnosis when they don't have any special interests?  I also feel like I put off indulging some interests as I'm just so busy with life, not to mention anxious and occasionally depressed which reduces my desire to spend time on my interests.  I also don't like to spend money so avoid buying all the books I would really like to.

As I love an online quiz, I did the RBQ-2A and score around 27 to 29 which is just above the diagnostic criteria.

I'm just trying to understand as much as I can as I'm not sure whether I meet the ASD criteria.  Reading the DSM 5, I would say not but all the quizzes and discussions on this forum suggest yes, as well as some family members independently suggesting I am and that my father is (I'm quite sure that he is as well).

Thanks for any input.

Jay 

Parents

  • I read some newspaper articles in the past few weeks. Each profiled neurotypical people, and every one of the three was frighteningly driven and/or was obsessive about their chosen activity. One was a skateboarder, another a cyclist and businesswoman, the last a 'railfan' (a person who is extremely interested in trains and related aspects of rail travel).

    Two of these folks sustained terrible injuries, and yet continued to compete while injured or else returned to their sport against medical advice:

    'In May last year, she fell head first from a 4.5 metre ramp. She suffered multiple fractures to her skull, a broken left arm and hand, and lacerations to her heart and lungs. She was back on her skateboard in two months.'

    All three were lauded by the journalists for their fanatical determination and their supposed successes or even their general contentment. The words 'strange', 'reckless', or 'crazed' were never published, let alone were the words 'possibly autistic'. Because the default prism is a NT one, instead these people were held up as admirable and 'normal' if focused and passionate. They may be all those things; but they also enjoy the benefit of a prism which too often casts we autists as mad or drab or useless.

Reply

  • I read some newspaper articles in the past few weeks. Each profiled neurotypical people, and every one of the three was frighteningly driven and/or was obsessive about their chosen activity. One was a skateboarder, another a cyclist and businesswoman, the last a 'railfan' (a person who is extremely interested in trains and related aspects of rail travel).

    Two of these folks sustained terrible injuries, and yet continued to compete while injured or else returned to their sport against medical advice:

    'In May last year, she fell head first from a 4.5 metre ramp. She suffered multiple fractures to her skull, a broken left arm and hand, and lacerations to her heart and lungs. She was back on her skateboard in two months.'

    All three were lauded by the journalists for their fanatical determination and their supposed successes or even their general contentment. The words 'strange', 'reckless', or 'crazed' were never published, let alone were the words 'possibly autistic'. Because the default prism is a NT one, instead these people were held up as admirable and 'normal' if focused and passionate. They may be all those things; but they also enjoy the benefit of a prism which too often casts we autists as mad or drab or useless.

Children
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