If you have Aspergers, post a reply

I have been a member of psychcentral for a little while but I never introduced myself to the AS community on here until today. I have Asperger's, Bipolar I, ADHD, OCD and a learning disability. I would like it if other people with Aspergers would introduce themselves to me. I am 19 years old and female, my interests are music and psychiatry. So if you leave a response, please share your diagnosis/diagnoses and your interests.

Hello, I have been diagnosed with a lot of thing in the past. At this point all I truly know is that something is wrong with me.

First it was learning disabled/show prepossessing/reading problems. Despite high IQ, what ever that means. Then I began have depression/ADD issues. Then I went to a psychologist, she said I had dyslexia. Many drugs and years later they figured it was not depression/ADD it was Bipolar. It was never really pin pointed to which type. 3 years later with a diagnosis of bipolar and ten thousand drugs later. I stopped taking meds. Again I met destuction. I maintained on low doses of Sarequel for a while with little help from doctors.
I think I have grown as a person in the past year but i still felt/feel like i'm stuck in a rut. Now I'm seeing a new psychiatrist and he think i may have Aspergers. I've read up and it seems right, and closer to my syntoms then anything else. But I'm not sure what to do about it and I feel vary frustrated with my life.

I'm 21 and I've lived probably my entire life feeling misunderstood. And half my life under the mercy of probably idiot doctors.

I've been a member of this site for a while but I haven't used it at all. I'm having a bad week or so. So tonight decided to try it again. I when on to see if anyone has a similar stories and feelings. I didn't mean for this to be so long. but i figured you might get it, having a diagnosis of bipolar and aspergers.

What's your story?

I was bullied for being different and I didn't even know I had AS back then.

Hi there and warm welcome!

I am 36 and just dx AS 4 months ago. I am currently getting specialised help after 20 years of being dx incorrectly, or dx with disorders that explained some things but not others. It has been quite an isolating life.

Oh and my interests cover a few things. Quantum physics and atomic theory, vampires, reading, software programming, Theology, Philosophy and the natural world. Tell us more about your music. I love meeting creative people (probably because I don't have a creative bone in my body)

Glad to meet you.

Michah

Hi, I was wondering if there's any defining characteristic one could have that tips the scale to aspergers vs. everyone else. My doctor say I may have it. And from what I've learn I think it possible but I don't really know. The biggest thing is that I know I suck at relationships in general, I can't stand crowds, parties etc.. And I make terrible impression off on people I just meet because my anxiety is in full force in social situations.

Oh and I play guitar in a band. I don't know how I pull off working with people in a band but it works.

The repetitive behavior criteria tend to distinguish AS from simple social anxiety--that is, the repetitive physical movement (for example, rocking, hand-flapping, finger or foot-tapping, etc.), as well as having very, very strong hobbies that pretty much take over your life, and/or are very unusual (for example, being fascinated with blenders, or spending ten hours a day playing Tetris). Transitioning issues are also common--that is, being very badly thrown off by unexpected events; or being unable to switch from one thing to another. Children with AS may, for example, have a tantrum because someone is throwing a surprise party for them, or cry when they are told that math period is ending and they've got to go to lunch, because switching tasks is so difficult for them.

Oh, incidentally: I'm autistic, of some sort or another, depending on the psychologist observing. My own research says that my case either barely fits classic autism, or else drops into PDD-NOS territory (the uncharted diagnostic wasteland where most cases, under current criteria, are dumped); but I've also been diagnosed with Asperger's because I fit the "verbal" stereotype (I can speak well, though very formally).

I have never been formally diagnosed but I have many symptoms of Aspergers. I wish I knew for sure but I guess it is just a label. What can you do if you do have it?

I originally went in for an ADHD evaluation and the results of that were ADHD combined type and OCD as well as nonverbal learning disability. I was also diagnosed with depression/probable bipolar disorder at the same time. about 8 months later I was retested and, in addition to my original diagnoses I was confirmed Bipolar I and for a while up until that point the word aspergers kept getting thrown around. I was actually diagnosed with aspergers before bipolar and several professionals confirmed the diagnosis.

I play the drums but I've had no luck with forming a band

Thank You. That was very helpfull

Well I play the drums pretty much on my own cause I have no friends or networking abilities. I also like to listen to music mostly metal, funk and some jazz. I'm also very interested in psychiatric meds and how they work and I know alot about them and I'm interested in human behavior and what influences it and what motivates change. What kind of specialized help have you been getting?

Is you are concerned. Finding the right people for a band is very difficult for anyone. Not just people with social issues. It's taken me 7 years to do so, and I went through a lot of people. If you are passionate about it, it will happen. And don't stop.

This is interesting, You a lot like myself.

Nice range of musical interests you have. I started listening to metal when I met my fiance. I especially like Metallica. They are very musically gifted. Keep playing the drums. The social networking does improve as you get older, I have found. Mind you the older I get, the less socialising I am driven to do.

I was originally dx by my primary psychologist(T) after 2 years of intensive therapy and nutting things out from all the confusion of the past. She then decided to offer me the opportunity to see a T that was more specialised in AS so I was referred to a clinic here called Hearts and Minds with Prof Tony Attwood http://www.mindsandhearts.net/. I have excellent social skills from years of learning how to read and understand people, but I really struggled with actually instinctively understanding the social dynamic. In other words I am great at delivering a service or solving problems in the work arena, but not very good in gauging correct social cues and so on. So this new T will help me get my confidence back and provide myself and my family with some skills to cope with the not so nice side of AS. I tend to have really bad rage attacks. They have tapered of as I get older, but the world is still as frustrating as it always was. We also talk about managing sensory issues, self-care and so on.

I am currently on disability as all of this gets sorted out. I just "stopped functioning" at the end of 2007 and slipped into a severe depression and psych unit stay. I couldn't stay at my job and I had to defer from my bachelor. Depression and anxiety are common comorbids with AS. Do you feel that you need some support in your situation? CBT(Cognitive behavioural therapy) may help with some of the more frustrating and confusing aspects.

Take good care and keep playing your drums. It is important to keep doing the things that you love. Feel free to ask me other questions if you have any.

Michah

yeah i have aspergers :/

yeah i have aspergers :/
the fun of it

Hi,
I muddled through life with AS and only realised I had it recently. Yet life has been good to me. I had all the symptoms you describe, yet people liked to work with me. I played various team sports and had few problems. My only regret is not realising how peole feel around me. I always thought the best of everyone.
I do suffer with compulsive hobbies! Never been without one. Currently making musical instruments for my own enjoyment.

Hi there. I was diagnosed with Aspergers a few years ago. It's taken me a long while to actually properly accept the diagnosis and understand what it means.

I have also had depression and anxiety.

My main interests are reading, writing and photography...

I'm a suspected Aspie. I'm trying to get a real diagnosis, but that's hard w/o a parent at my age.

Stuff you can do with an AS diagnosis:

• Get help at school or work
• Get counseling, social skills lessons, organization lessons, or other special instruction related to daily life skills (in general, Aspies don't need help with the more basic things, but are very likely to need extra help with learning more complicated things like cooking, shopping, paying bills, learning to drive, or finding a job)
• Go on disability, if your AS prevents you from working
• Get help from your local vocational rehabilitation office, to help you get a job, or job training (much preferable to going on disability, needless to say)
• Take advantage of AS support groups and social organizations (though many people do this if they have just autistic traits or a suspected possible diagnosis)
• Get accommodations that help prevent overload, such as permission to wear earplugs in a noisy environment, bring your own lamp to your office instead of using overhead fluorescent lighting, or reduce exposure to strong smells
• Be protected under laws like the ADA or the IDEA, which guarantee equal access to work and school for disabled people and allow you to report discriminatory practices

Maybe I should ask for some of these services. They won't even test me for AS... but they admit I have bad social skills and fixations (they say bad social skills is mental illness and fixations is a personality thing)

Sadly, my nearest AS support group is well over an hour drive away from here.

Hmmm....

I'm currently not professionally diagnosed with asperger's, but all the quizes I take, all the information I read, they all say it's very likely. Even my boyfriend who has aspergers says it's very likely I have it too. So, just wanted to say that

Best you all,

Anive

My psychologist says she's almost certain I'm on the spectrum, but there's been little on the psychiatry side [one pdoc dismissed it without wanting to hear me out, the other has been more focused on my primary DX], so officially I don't have it on paper. I suspect that this might be as far as I can go in terms of getting an ASD DX, as most assessment services here are focused on children and early intervention.

I do address my issues in therapy and that's all it matters.

I'm diagnosed with autism, but it used to be Asperger's, and I view Asperger's as part of autism. I live a pretty reclusive life, but I love having friends.