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Hello - new to forum

runningman
over 8 years ago

Hello all,

I'm a runner and was reading an article from Bob Brown who is a UK endurance runner. he went on to say he suffered from alcoholism, social anxiety etc while still functioning as a PE teacher. I saw a lot of similarities between us. He further said a friend suggested he might have AS, and took the AQ test getting 56. 

This got me thinking and I took the test last night and got 36. My wife was with me and she was giggling because she was seeing so many things that relate to me i.e no empathy, avoiding eye contacted, not liking social situations etc. I have previously done some googling on Social Anxiety Disorder, and past a test with flying colours. So sort of knew there was an issue there. I suffer greatly with IBS (undiagnosed), whenever i get anxious I have diarrehea. I'm permantley on Immodium. My stomach is in knots if I have to go shopping, or anywhere where's there are people. Funny, because I hide it well from my family. Apart from the wife.

The fact is, I'm quite a 'normal' person on the outside, after reading some discussions, i pretty nervous about going to the GP who is probably going to look at me and think there's nothing wrong with this bloke.

Just wondering if anyone else has anxiety issues, which connects to AS.

Sorry, it was supposed to be an introduction. lol

  • over 8 years ago

    Hi runningman,

    I finally got my referral via a therapist I was seeing for MH problems - specifically anxiety and depression.  She recognised other traits and got my GP to refer me to a local Autism Unit.  I finally had my diagnosis last year, after a 2-year wait from the initial assessment.  I scored highly on all the tests. The final diagnosis was a wonderful thing to have!  Suddenly, my whole life (I'm 57) makes sense - all the difficulties I've had with social situations, relationships, making friends, eye contact.  Why I've always preferred solitary activities.  Why I find co-habitation difficult.  Why, when I'm with people - even those I know well, like at work - I'm constantly anxious.  The actor Paddy Considine has Asperger's.  There's a snippet on YouTube of a radio interview he gave where he talks about it.  It's about 4-mminutes long - but everything he says I could have said myself!

    I'll check out those books that have been recommended - thanks Pixiefox  I'm currently reading 'Autism - A Very Short Introduction' by Uta Frith and 'Neurotribes' by Steve Silbermann.

    See you around!

    Tom

  • over 8 years ago

    Hi, this was helpful as I also have the same problem that I just can't manage with anything like meditation and fine the sensory problems really difficult. Hadn't thought about books. 

    Ive just been diagnosed although close family and myself have known for a while. But it still seems like an adjustment. The psychologist was amazing I got to see to have the assessment and has told me there is lots of help that will be available so it should be worth it in the long run.

    one doctor laughed at the idea I may have had aspergers but I found online a self referral service, along with another gp who's been amazing. If you feel it's a path that will help, persist as ther seems to be a lot of help, it's just finding the right people :) 

  • over 8 years ago

    Hi Pixiefox,

    Thanks for your reply. It would be nice to get some sort of confirmation. I dont particulary like going to the doctors, so I'm unsure about a referral, will see at the time.

    Thank you for the book titles, I have looked on Amazon and they are both on there. I will grab myself a copy.

    I really don't know how to calm myself. I'm a 44 year old male who still gets embarrased when talking to new people. Interviews are a nightmare. Even family gatherings get to me, and I need to lean on the alcohol to be able to socialise. I've not got the patience for meditaiton, as Im acutly aware of sounds, and always have music going on in my head.

  • over 8 years ago

    Hello runningman and welcome to the forum. 

    Yeah, anxiety seems to be one of the biggest issues for those of us on the autism spectrum.

    I didn't know I was an aspie until recently, at the age of 55. I cope OK most of the time and I don't have a "formal" diagnosis - GP offered me a referral but I declined as it wouldn't really achieve anything.

    I have always had intestinal problems, including IBS. I find that eating less bread and potatoes helps,, but I can still be affected that way by anxiety and stress.

    I've found that reading about aspergers has helped me deal with stress more successfully, as I'm now aware when it's starting to affect me and I've developed coping strategies to calm or distract myself. 

    I also found it useful to find out how we're different to neuro-typical people (those who aren't on the autism spectrum). Two books I read recently are "A field guide to earthlings - an Autistic / asperger view of neuro-typical behaviour" and "The Guerilla Aspies Handbook".