Hello - new to forum

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

Parents
  • 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". 

Reply
  • 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". 

Children
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