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ASD traits and do you identify with my own?

zone_tripper

I was recently diagnosed as having Asperger Syndrome by two psychiatrists, after a suggestion from a psychotherapist that I might have Asperger. 

 

(The reason for my diagnosis was in relation to depression, home sickness, anxiety, inability to cope with changes in my life and work, etc.  Based on what I told a psychologist over a period of several weeks, she suggested that I might have Asperger.  This was supported by a more formal diagnosis by two psychiatrists.) 

 

Just like two non-aspies are not necessarily the same, I think that two aspies are not necessarily the same, either (although we do have similar traits). 

 

I am curious as to what traits other Autistic / Aspie NAS members have and whether any fellow Autistic / Aspie NAS members share some of my own traits? 

 

Here are some of my common traits:

  • Difficulty with handwriting (poor handwriting, having to write in capitals) and holding a pen or pencil in my own way and not like the normal way most people hold a pencil).
  • Difficulty in learning to ride a bike as a child; I eventually managed to, but after a lot of trying.
  • Inability to learn how to swim as a child and teenager (I still cannot swim).
  • Inability to catch objects thrown at me, such as a tennis ball, set of keys, and so forth. 
  • I get easily stressed, upset, anxious, etc, when faced with stressful situations.
  • Home sickness; after moving out of my parents home, I suffered severe home sickness and moved back in with my parents (possibly inability to cope with change and wanting the comfort blanket of the family home).
  • Not always looking at the person I am speaking to, such as looking left or right or with head bowed. 
  • Having an intense interest in hobbies and collecting; tabletop roleplaying games, collecting replica historical coins, collecting counterfeit one pound coins, BIG fan of Doctor Who (from 1980s to present day), limited interest in music but very intense interest in the few bands and solo artists that I am interested in, collected Doctor Who inspired LARP props, working as a volunteer for the same charity for 15 years, intense interest in reading about certain subjects rather than general reading, etc. 
  • In person, very quiet, stand-offish and reserved, not talking much, keeping to oneself; even in the company of some relations and friends, sometimes.
  • BUT… very communicative on social networking sites, Internet forums, email, etc. 
  • Difficulty with social interaction (see above) when in the company of complete strangers. 
  • Inability to cope with change and getting very upset and stressed and anxious in such circumstances.
  • Disliking physical contact when not wanted or asked for. 
  • In addition to disliking certain physical contact, I also have difficulty hugging people; I tend to hug people gingerly and nervously. 
  • Sometimes being unable to show empathy and unable to empathise with others, even though I know what it is to show empathy and how one does.   
  • Stimming; twisting and turning my head and neck, exaggeratingly nodding my head, rocking back and forth (especially when stressed or upset), scratching my arms, picking my nose (disgusting, I know), occasionally sucking my thumb, holding my forehead (when stressed, trying to think or when forgetful), amongst possible others. 
  • Possible hypersensitivity to smell or at least some smells (I hate the chlorine smell of bleach, for one example). 

I am politely curious as to how many of you share the above traits with me and what are your own traits, if not listed above? 

Parents

  • There is a real problem with the definition of ASD/Aspergers. On one hand there are difficulties suich as communication, sensory overload and organisation which ammount to disabilities. In coping with the resulting difficulties people suffer low self esteem or depression and have difficulty in living independent lives or holding down a job.

    However I perceive the medical definition of ASD/Aspergers is a psychosis or state of mind that makes it difficult for people to live ordinary independent lives. In this perspective the communication, sensory and organisational traits  result from the psychosis and can be used as diagnostic features. Treating the psychosis with drugs or psychotherapy automatically resolves the communication, sensory and organisational traits. I might be accused of over-simplification but that's what comes over in a lot of literature. Treatment of the psychosis is deemed an all round cure.

    People who have a mild psychosis and dont need intrervention only have mild aspergers, and their perceived communication, sensory and organisation problems are therefore insignificant.

    Although I recognise that my problems are at the mild end I perceive myself as having achieved something despite these difficulties.  Other people with more severe problems may not be able to achieve as much.

    People with dyslexia who have achieved in sport, arts or other professions are flagged up as exemplars of what you can achieve despite disability. Not so with ASD/Aspergers. We hear that Einstein and Newton had asperger traits. But had they been around today they wouldn't be diagnosed with aspergers because they achieved. Aspergers, treated as a psychosis, somehow precludes being able to achieve anything. Or else they would be on drug regimes or interventions that prevented them making the scientific breakthroughs they made.

    There seems to be a medical assumption that ASD/ Aspergers is just the inability to cope with things NTs find easy. If you manage to cope you no longer have aspergers. It isn't much incentive to try if successfully coping disqualifies you from having the condition.

    Until we recognise the communication, sensory and organisational phenomena as ACTUAL disabilities, we are never going to be able to progress the lives of people on the spectrum. Can NAS challenge the definition?

Reply

  • There is a real problem with the definition of ASD/Aspergers. On one hand there are difficulties suich as communication, sensory overload and organisation which ammount to disabilities. In coping with the resulting difficulties people suffer low self esteem or depression and have difficulty in living independent lives or holding down a job.

    However I perceive the medical definition of ASD/Aspergers is a psychosis or state of mind that makes it difficult for people to live ordinary independent lives. In this perspective the communication, sensory and organisational traits  result from the psychosis and can be used as diagnostic features. Treating the psychosis with drugs or psychotherapy automatically resolves the communication, sensory and organisational traits. I might be accused of over-simplification but that's what comes over in a lot of literature. Treatment of the psychosis is deemed an all round cure.

    People who have a mild psychosis and dont need intrervention only have mild aspergers, and their perceived communication, sensory and organisation problems are therefore insignificant.

    Although I recognise that my problems are at the mild end I perceive myself as having achieved something despite these difficulties.  Other people with more severe problems may not be able to achieve as much.

    People with dyslexia who have achieved in sport, arts or other professions are flagged up as exemplars of what you can achieve despite disability. Not so with ASD/Aspergers. We hear that Einstein and Newton had asperger traits. But had they been around today they wouldn't be diagnosed with aspergers because they achieved. Aspergers, treated as a psychosis, somehow precludes being able to achieve anything. Or else they would be on drug regimes or interventions that prevented them making the scientific breakthroughs they made.

    There seems to be a medical assumption that ASD/ Aspergers is just the inability to cope with things NTs find easy. If you manage to cope you no longer have aspergers. It isn't much incentive to try if successfully coping disqualifies you from having the condition.

    Until we recognise the communication, sensory and organisational phenomena as ACTUAL disabilities, we are never going to be able to progress the lives of people on the spectrum. Can NAS challenge the definition?

Children
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