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Poohbah
Member Since May 2014
Location: Betelgeuse
Posts: 1,472
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#1
I have been asked on more than one occasion by people who know me if I have Asperger's. How would I know if I did? I was a teacher and I had students with all sorts of disabilities but I never identified with any of them except for the ones with ADHD.
I am 60 years old now and 100% disabled. I am beginning to wonder if maybe I do have Asperger's and that's why I can't cope with my other disabilities like bipoar 1 and CPTSD. I keep thinking that with as hard as I work at getting better I should be better by now, ya know? Any thoughts, anyone? __________________ You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~ Pink Floyd |
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Aurelius710, CANDC, Discombobulated
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Super Moderator
Community Support Team Community Liaison
Chat Leader Member Since May 2014
Location: Northeast USA New England
Posts: 17,454
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#2
@Werewoman I am sorry you are having the challenge of disability and find it difficult to cope with other mental health issues.
I do not think self diagnosis is easily done or reliable. No one asked me growing up about disabilities because I was functioning well in the school system. I think even if I did know what the diagnosis was, it would not help me cope better today. I am trying to focus on what I can do and be grateful for that no matter how small it is. Some days I am thankful just to wake up. Hope you find ways to cope with things. @CANDC __________________ Super Moderator Community Support Team "Things Take Time" |
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Discombobulated, Werewoman
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Werewoman
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Elder
Member Since Oct 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,634
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#3
Autism was always a diagnoses bandied about with me. Every few years, it would be brought up and dropped. I was tested for Autism, but scored so close to the baseline they couldn't really do much with it. I never really connected with it, but I can see some of the characteristics with me. For instance, when I was younger (and to a certain extent, now) I would hyper fixate on certain topics (like the Civil War or the Titanic). I would learn everything I could about them and once I had my fill, I moved on to the next topic. I gravitated more towards adults because, to me, they had the more interesting conversations. General interests were always out of sync with my peers. Socially, for a long time, I had a script that I would use to talk to people. I would switch out words to keep it from being robotic, but it was always formulaic. If I couldn't anticipate and react to what was being said, I was lost. Acting in school plays helped out a lot there. I learned how to have a normal conversation basically. Social cues that I could bring out to the "real world." I don't know, maybe I am on the spectrum!
You could probably get tested for it if you wanted to. I would ask a doctor or therapist. If nothing else, it would provide clarity! __________________ "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." -Litany Against Fear (Dune) |
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Discombobulated, Werewoman
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Werewoman
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Poohbah
Member Since Feb 2012
Location: Eastern MD
Posts: 1,481
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#4
I am in the same boat as you. I also have depression, PTSD and was labeled asberger's syndrome while I was inpatient but I don't know if it's a correct diagnosis or not.
A psychologist told me the difference between asbergers and regular people is those with asbergers don't like people. __________________ I know why you wanna hate me! Cause hate is all the world has seen lately! - Limp Bizkit |
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Werewoman
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Werewoman
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Poohbah
Member Since May 2014
Location: Betelgeuse
Posts: 1,472
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#5
Quote:
That describes me pretty well. Lol! __________________ You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~ Pink Floyd |
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Apr 2013
Location: Ontario Land
Posts: 3,558
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#6
No one said anything to me until I mentioned the possibility that I may have this cognitive style. The reactions of people really surprised me.
A social worker at a community health centre admitted that she noticed the traits in me when she was seeing a family who had a child with Asperger's. She told me she saw similarities but never mentioned it feeling it wasn't her place. I remember how surprised she was when I told her. My mother told me I had Aspergers when I asked her about it. She said she realized it after learning about it through her job in education. She admitted that she discussed it with my older sister and stated my childhood development supported it. This was enough for me to contact my old psychiatrist via email. She replied. From there I was able to get an assessment. I don't doubt the diagnosis now. It fits and describes me, my entire life. I really wish it was diagnosed a lot earlier. I always felt different and never understood why I couldn't relate to people and make friends. It's a theme in my psych records. Unfortunately Aspergers/ASD wasn't recognized in the mid to late 1990s when I was using the General Hosptial's psych service. I got misdiagnosed with BPD, a diagnosis that nearly killed me. Getting diagnosed with this changed my life and put me on the path to recovery. __________________ Dx: Didgee Disorder |
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Discombobulated
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Discombobulated, Werewoman
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Poohbah
Member Since May 2014
Location: Betelgeuse
Posts: 1,472
9 1,217 hugs
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#7
Quote:
I think I should look into it. I think my 29 yo son does as well. Thank you!! __________________ You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~ Pink Floyd |
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