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Trying to Understand - is that normal?

KeyboardWorrier68

Hi,

Have been doing OK until yesterday evening when my mood took a dive and I'm now feeling quite down about things in my life (not so much as I'll do anything, don't worry).

I was talking to a work colleague about my psychotherapy sessions, telling her about my suffering with a lot of childhood anxiety. Unprompted she mentioned her friend's twin 19 year old sons who have been diagnosed with Asperger's and how they basically weren't very good at coping with life, and suggested perhaps I had something similar.

I know something I've been doing a lot is asking myself about my behaviour, going back over so much old ground trying to understand who I am, if I have any sort of ASD issues, etc, and I've read that trying to understand this and not accepting that I am just the way I am is an ASD trait. I also frequently struggle with being able to identify how I am feeling, and with making decisions, even on pretty trivial things, e.g. people get frustrated with me when they aks what I want to eat because I just reply "I'll eat anything" - they can't get that I don't have any huge preferences.

I still haven't sought a diagnosis because I keep having a few close people telling me that I am just 'uniquely me', and thus shouldn't worry, but the idea of an ASD diagnosis still keeps coming up, even if only so that I can eliminate it. Not sure that'll make me feel better though! :-(

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Blues said:

    I scored 36 whatever that means. These tests are only a guide arent they?

    That score means that you probably have significant autistic traits. It doesn't really say much about whether you have a significant problem as it isn't really trying to measure, or identify, your problems. However, people with higher AQ scores tend to be more likely to have problems that need help.

  • I scored 36 whatever that means. These tests are only a guide arent they?

    I get the feeling low and down, its my life. But i can also be amazing and do great things. you can too. If in doubt, check it out. Listen to your feelings, if you feel that there is more to it than not, go for it. And if your wrong so what least you would know.

    Good luck!

  • It's true what rbs said. Anxiety has many causes and being autistic would certainly qualify as one of them, in my view. People who are autistic are very good at worrying and perhaps if someone who was autistic could suddenly become NT then that person might not experience the degree of anxiety they do, it's hard to tell.

    Your history is obviously an important thing to consider as you might have had a number of very unpleasant experiences which are contributing to your anxiety but even more so if you are autistic as well.

    This is why, in your case at least, it would be a good idea to get assessed because without doing so you would never really know what was at the root of your problems. You would be trying strategies to manage your anxiety which are meant for NT's and as a result not receiving the appropiate therapy.

    It's a bit like trying to repair a radio without having a diagram of its basic circuity - how would anyone really know what the problem was without understanding what they were dealing with at the outset?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    NAS18906 said:

    Being anxious is a common consequence of ASD but it is not necessarily part of your natural make-up. Autism leads to a lot of conflict and misunderstandings in social dealings. Anxiety (and depression etc) can flow from this in a similar manner to PTSD. After a number of traumatic incidents we cannot predict what will happen next and we become anxious in response to that "clattering about". If you can understand your autism better then the world becomes a more comprehensible and predictable place and your anxiety may gradually subside.

    This. ^

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Being anxious is a common consequence of ASD but it is not necessarily part of your natural make-up. Autism leads to a lot of conflict and misunderstandings in social dealings. Anxiety (and depression etc) can flow from this in a similar manner to PTSD. After a number of traumatic incidents we cannot predict what will happen next and we become anxious in response to that "clattering about". If you can understand your autism better then the world becomes a more comprehensible and predictable place and your anxiety may gradually subside.

  • Hi Paul,

    I've done it a few times, never scored anything less than a score that would put me in an 'autism likely category.

    KW68

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous

    If you do have Asperger's it's not the end of the world but it could explain some of your difficulties.

    You could try the AQ test. Let us know your score. I scored 44.

    aspergerstest.net/.../