What is Autism exactly?

How you experience problems and wish to describe yourself is a very subjective thing, and difficulties are experienced on a qualitative, experiential level - it is hard to categorise and objectivise them.

Most people do not score in an 'Autistic manner' in all questions, yet they might be severely affected by the traits that they do have. For example, I can hold conversations with people (albeit a skill that has only been learnt comparatively recently); can engage with people; do not display obviouslly socially inappropriate behaviour (most of the time); am very self-aware; and have attained a University Degree. An observer who does not experience my condition, may well think that I only have 'mild' Asperger's. And yet I score quite severely in the ritualistic, repetitive and obsessive part of the Asperger diagnosis. Consequently, although I have never been depressed, I endure a lot of anxiety. This anxiety is not psychological; it is part of my Asperger condition - it is a biological product of the way my brain is wired. This does not mean it can't be ameliorated - with the right support and environment, this is very possible. But I will always be anxious and prone to obsessive thinking, and this is what disables me.

Socially, although I appear quite 'high-functioning', I am easily overloaded by social events, and this prevents me from making friends -I have not had any real friends since I was 13 years old. Becauuse social demands have increased, in some ways my Asperger's has got more severe over the years, while I have improved in other  areas - notably, better empathy and self-awareness.

How you experience problems and wish to describe yourself is a very subjective thing, and difficulties are experienced on a qualitative, experiential level - it is hard to categorise and objectivise them.

Most people do not score in an 'Autistic manner' in all questions, yet they might be severely affected by the traits that they do have. For example, I can hold conversations with people (albeit a skill that has only been learnt comparatively recently); can engage with people; do not display obviouslly socially inappropriate behaviour (most of the time); am very self-aware; and have attained a University Degree. An observer who does not experience my condition, may well think that I only have 'mild' Asperger's. And yet I score quite severely in the ritualistic, repetitive and obsessive part of the Asperger diagnosis. Consequently, although I have never been depressed, I endure a lot of anxiety. This anxiety is not psychological; it is part of my Asperger condition - it is a biological product of the way my brain is wired. This does not mean it can't be ameliorated - with the right support and environment, this is very possible. But I will always be anxious and prone to obsessive thinking, and this is what disables me.

Socially, although I appear quite 'high-functioning', I am easily overloaded by social events, and this prevents me from making friends -I have not had any real friends since I was 13 years old. Becauuse social demands have increased, in some ways my Asperger's has got more severe over the years, while I have improved in other  areas - notably, better empathy and self-awareness.