Hi,
My name is Tom, I am 28 and I live in Liverpool, originally from the Midlands.
Whilst I have not been medically diagnosed with ASD, I have been asked by a number of people over the years if I have Aspergers, usually in the form of them screaming at me "What's wrong with you?". I have however been diagnosed with ADHD, generalised anxiety, depression and most recently panic disorder.
I have been looking into this issue recently after a moderator in another forum I use told me I was upsetting people (I wasn't, everything I said was factual) and suggested I might have Aspergers after consulting with friends of hers who were medical practitioners in the field and showing them my posts.
I only know 1 person with Aspergers in real life - I can talk to him for hours, but other people say he is boring and weird and don't understand why I am friends with him - perhaps I relate to him. I watched a couple of videos on youtube and they made sense to my life.
I have done several tests online and they all put me at the base score for ASD, but I find the tests confusing as many of the questions are not yes/no questions and lack the levels of detail required to make a competent answer. Also, whilst I match a lot of the symptoms criteria, there is also a lot that I don't fit at all.
For example:
I have no interest in numbers, but I have a massive interest in words and language and debate and logic.
I have no interest in collecting information about things, but I do have a fascination with maps and cities, rivers, countries and things. I have a photographic memory for maps and can bring up maps in my mind - I never get lost and can always plan a new route just from a map I saw many days before.
I don't have a problem understanding humor or sarcasm - I make a lot of people laugh - but I often use it inappropriately and upset people without realising.
I don't have a problem going to work, but I always end up getting fired and I never understand why.
I don't have a problem in socialising with friends at parties, but I struggle with people I don't really know.
I have no problem talking on the phone, unless it is about myself or I become self conscious about my voice - I can't speak properly.
I have no problem going to concerts or clubs, but I can't stand being in crowds in the street - they freak me out.
I can have no issue talking to people normally but in an argument I always try to follow a logical course and say things that are true and then other people get upset.
I like listening to loud and noisey music, but other times I require complete silence and isolation.
I like being intimate with people and being in a relationship, but I can also find it too emotionally or physically intense and try to push it away or end it - upsetting people again. It always seems to surprise me that ending a relationship means not seeing that person again, when I just want them to go away for a bit.
I am very reserved and maybe a bit wooden/awkward, but sometimes I can just explode at people and I don't really know why.
ANYWAY
With all of this is mind, I am here looking for information, advice and support on the subject and also networking.
I really don't know where I am with any of this - please help me if you can. Thanks