<p>Yesterday, my psychiatrist said that I have mild Asperger's Syndrome. He said this was based on my history and the way I presented myself. I have doubts because I have met a few people with this disorder and feel that my issues to too mild to be comparable to theirs. I don't think anyone would believe me if I said I had it. I was diagnosed with autism when I was two because of a speech delay, but I don't have speech problems anymore.</p>
<p>It is true that I have social problems, but it is mostly due to anxiety. I don't have many friends because I don't know how to hold a conversation. A hallmark of AS is an interest you're obsessed with to the point where that is all you think and talk about. I don't think I walk up to people and talk about my interests because I know that they probably don't care and even if they did, where would I start?
Although I do admit, that if you're easy to talk to and have a topic that's interesting and I'm knowledgeable I will make you the go-to person for the topic and not realize I'm rambling until you whine or snap at me.
He told me that people with AS tend to withdraw from social interaction because of failed attempts and then succeed in areas such as science. I told him that my abilities don't lie the sciences or math and I do better in English. Then he said that it is because I'm very verbal. </p>
<p>I'll also admit that I can appear more selfish than I really am. I always forget to think about others, even do simple things as thanking them. Then I kick myself in the face later because I forgot.
I distract the flow of conversations by sounding pedantic and I am able to read facial expressions and I'm aware that everything people say aren't literal, but I don't know how to react otherwise.
I also have echolalia where I repeat what someone has said to me sometimes and I don't realize it until I'm told. It must be a tic.</p>
<p>Also, I heard that AS manifests differently in girls. Could that be the reason, I'm a little confused about this diagnosis. I just want to know how I could deal with this in college. I would like a social life and have motivation for schoolwork. I saw the psychiatrist because of anxiety and my persisting disturbing thoughts. I feel like I'm really messed up and I'm embarrassed to even mention this to begin with.</p>
<p>"I just want to know how I could deal with this in college. I would like a social life and have motivation for schoolwork. I saw the psychiatrist because of anxiety and my persisting disturbing thoughts. "</p>
<p>This is the real chief complaint. Where you explicit about that? I'm not sure the label is going to help you much in that regard. Is the Psychiatrist also providing therapy? If not, find someone who does, explain the chief complaint and don't worry about the label. Having said that, helping someone find "motivation" is challenging, indeed!</p>
<p>Sometimes people like you are diagnosed with Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NVLD). It's more or less Aspergers Lite. A therapist has told me that NVLD is the diagnosis kids get around here if they look Aspergers-y but don't have the obsessions.</p>
<p>Don't be confused by the name. It sounds like people with the diagnosis are Non-Verbal. It's just the opposite; people with the diagnosis are hyperverbal and have problems with the non-verbal part of life.</p>
<p>You might want to read up on that diagnosis, and the suggestions for people who have it.</p>
<p>OMG! I just realized how atrocious my grammar was on my opening post. I'm usually not that horrible of a writer, I just had an unusually eventful day today and it must have made me too weary to notice all of those errors. I'm not surprised if anyone has taken me for an idiot already.</p>
<p>LOL Shrinkrap. I know kicking myself in the face is an idiom but if someone told me that, my facial expression will show that I'm thinking too hard about it which someone can misconstrue as I'm taking it literally.</p>
<p>The psychiatrist is not offering therapy, I'm trying to find someone who does. I already went to a psychologist and she said to find a mental health clinic, which is difficult at the moment.</p>
<p>Thank you Cardinal Fang. The disorder relates to me in every way except for the physical coordination part. My coordination is as good as anyone's. I'm still going to read the suggestions people have for it and I'm grateful I found out about it.</p>
<p>"LOL Shrinkrap. I know kicking myself in the face is an idiom but if someone told me that, my facial expression will show that I'm thinking too hard about it which someone can misconstrue as I'm taking it literally."</p>
<p>Stuff like that is why some of us go into Psychiatry!</p>
<p>TA3021 ... my son was diagnosed with high functioning AS 4 years ago. Most folks do not believe me until they get to know him. He attended social groups but most of the other folks were very AS so not helpful for my son. I recommend reading as many books about AS folks ...including a few autistics such as Temple Grandin. To be honest, it sounds like the right diagnosis. To find friends, I suggest you find other AS folks ... lots of them around but will take looking. Is there anything on Facebook? My son is much younger than you but he has learned social skills on the internet via interactive gaming ... I am hoping he finds his crowd ... maybe in the theater group?</p>
<p>I have some experience with family members diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (and they are in your same zone of people may not believe the diagnosis). My suggestion is to not focus too much energy on trying to figure out whether or not the diagnosis fits. Take the parts that fit and see what knowing about them does to help you gain self understanding and find help. </p>
<p>Asperger's and autism is a huge spectrum and it may not help a whole lot to compare to other people with the same diagnosis. There are many very highly functional, successful, happy people who have been diagnosed with Asperger's (or easily could be). So, I encourage you not to let this diagnosis interfere with your positive sense of yourself. As you said you are a person who would like friends and is motivated to do well in school and there is every reason to believe those things can happen for you.</p>
<p>You mentioned anxiety is the most pressing complaint. I would suggest finding a therapist who can help with cognitive behavioral therapy and to consider antianxiety medication if you haven't already done so. </p>
<p>I agree with the other posters - find a therapist who will work with you on the social anxiety and on social skills. It might also help to read a book on nonverbal communication. These things can be learned. </p>
<p>Don't despair over the diagnosis. Look at it as a tool for understanting, not as a label. BTW, I remember reading something in Time or Newsweek about how Bill Gates probably has Asperger's.</p>
<p>Another trait of HFA is thinking about one thing and being obsessive about it. I know for a fact that when I have certain worries about things, I sometimes can’t stop talking about it and prevents me from talking about other stuff, especially when I am at home (■■■■■). But hey, sometimes I tend to get overly worried about things, but hey whether you are NT or non-NT, don’t we all get worried about things.</p>
<p>My parents would never take me to a psychiatrist but I’m sure if they did I’d be diagnosed with some sort of disorder and my bet’s on high functioning autism or AS. And I think if you just talk to more people, you’ll eventually find some more friends. I don’t really have a lot of friends either because people say I’m too weird but that’s OK with me. I didn’t learn to speak until a late age and I didn’t really talk in kinder or 1st grade. I used to have obsessions with puzzles especially(sitting for hours doing them and I’d do them over and over) and a variety of other thins, but I don’t really have a strong obsession about anything now. I don’t know if a therapist will help you with social skills, because it seems almost contradictory; instead you can go to places with lots of people and initiate conversation there. I tend to either dominate the conversation, completely withdraw, or make an awkward situation out of them. I’m sure a lot of people suck at making conversation in real life, it’s just that it doesn’t show because they don’t talk. At least you have good social skills on the internet. It’s good practice, right?</p>
<p>I agree with the many others who are saying not to fret about the diagnosis and get treatment for anxiety. I think anxiety can cause behaviors a lot like Asperger’s in people who don’t have it.</p>
<p>Therapy did not work for me. My phsyc’s idea of ‘theraphy’ was throwing me in ‘group theraphy’ with children that hand no issues at all (after about 10 weeks of this you realize it). It did not work. Needless to say, i’ve yet to go back to any phsyc.</p>
<p>Anxiety can be a *****. In my case it causes my stomach to go insane, causeing me to become very sick. It sucks but what are you going to do? I dislike taking any type of medication, so i won’t willingly take the stuff. I do use ‘distration theraphy’ that my phsyc hated sooo much. It works well for me.</p>
<p>Every one is diffrent. Every person with AS is diffrent.</p>
<p>You could probably tell i had it by looking at me (social stuff, eye contact, shifting uncontrolably). But with some you can’t.</p>
I LOVE WRONGPLANET! it is so supportive and gives me a ton of virtual “friends” who have the same issues as me. I strongly encourage making an account there. Their forums are fantastic. intense endorsement! do eet!
I know that this post is old and the OP is probably gone by now, but I just wanted to say that the first psychologist I went to thought I had aspergers (especially since my brother is autistic and it runs in families) but I actually just have an anxiety disorder. So it is possible to be wrongly diagnosed.