[Jigamako]

I have searched through the net and have found innumerable websites concerning the characteristics of both autism and ADD. I have looked through these traits and have thereby concluded that I may have these abnormalities. I judged this by having over 50% of the listed symptoms.

http://www.tacanow.com/aboutautism.htm

Now, this site regarded autism as its general focus. I have read through its traits and I do know that I have over 50% of them, which are:

-Desire for the same daily schedule, toys, type of clothes or an insistent on “sameness”
-Repeating words, phrases in place of typical language or conversation
-Much difficulty expressing needs – they may use pointing, gestures versus words, or tantrums
-Finding situations funny or laughing at times when it is inappropriate (i.e. laughing at a baby crying.)
-Excessive or Frequent tantrums
-Prefers to be alone – may have social skills deficits
-Autistics can act deaf or be non responsive to verbal cues (an example for me would be someone telling me something with me asking, "What?" even though I heard them quite clearly)
-Odd play such as; spinning objects, or using toys for something besides there their intended purpose or using an odd attraction to an item that is inappropriate for age
-Non existent or poor eye contact
-May respond negatively to crowds or not able to mix well with others
-Difficulty with holding a conversation (Severe problem for me)
-History of chronic ear infections as an infant
-Lack of imaginative play or imitation. (I do have a broad imagination, but I keep it in my head)

Now, going on to ADD:
http://add.about.com/cs/foradults/a/10favorite.htm

I have the following:
-Hyperfocus (I only focus on things that I find interesting)
-Great imagination
-Creative thinking, problem solving
-Creativity
-Humor
-Great passion for interests

It's summer now and all I find myself doing is either doing my uninteresting summer assignment (which is primarily all I do constructive-wise), browsing through interesting themes I am passionate for, just sitting in my room doing nothing, or playing the same PS2 game all day (I played for about 7 hours straight today; yesterday, I played for 9). I'd rather sit at home on my computer or do something concerning the TV (gaming, or just plain television). I have very few friends, which I try not to bore to death. Everytime I start out a conversation, it ends quickly with one of us ending the line with an excuse, such as the subject needing to leave, where I already know that the conversation ended out of ennui. It's sort of hard to think of something to say.

A lot of the symptoms mentioned in the sites are sort of difficult to understand, so I may still have them. I'm open to any suggestions with relation to this. Thank you.

Hey. If you want someone to give you a label / dx then you really need to go and see a health professional who is qualified to do so. The DSM is a handbook that lists dx criteria and you can typically find the criteria online... Trouble is that people often end up with something that medical students find... Tendancy to think they meet most every dx category in the damned thing. There is a caveat in the front of the DSM. Dx's can only be made by health professionals for a reason... You need someone to assess your symptoms objectively rather than dxing on the basis of self report.

If you are concerned... I'd go have a chat to your GP or p-doc or therapist if you have one...

[darkeyes]

special k, si completely right.
You can look at articles,read books,and to learn stuff is good, but don't try to "self-diagnose", you need a pdoc to make the exact evaluation, and if needed write you a script for meds or a med if he or she feels necessary.
Gp's are alright to get referral, but really are not qualified to make the true,exact DX for mental disorders.
For awhile my GP/Internest, would claim I was depressed and hand out and try different SSRI's on me, when actually I was mildly Bipolar and mildly ADD, the ADD I suspected for years,but the other I never noticed, nor did the GP. I finally gotten bad enough (depression) that I went to a psychologist who then refered me to an excellent pdoc, she and him,concluded the same things from their professional findings, and a mood stabilizer at a low dose is all I needed, besides some talk therapy to help along with some family issues that had seem to be triggering all this.
I'm episode free and have been on a very low dose of my meds.
I know I got a little lengthy here, but main point I'm trying to make is see a mental health professional, and stop self-dxing, it will produce the "what ifs and maybes it's this", which is uneccessary anxiety.
Just my 2 cents.

[hillbunnyb]

Yo, I'm with specialk, the overlaps of symptoms of different dx's make self diagnosis pretty impossible. Not to mention being a little too close for objective observations of behavior to get the big picture.... my shrink and I debate some of my dx's after 9 years with her.

Our brains/emotions/beings are unbelievably complicated. Hang around here for awhile and you;ll get some perspective on where you fit, but only a Dr. can diagnose you for real.

[jennie]

Jigamako . . . I don't know much . . . but I'm certain you'd not be classified as ADD by the symptoms you listed.

Creative individuals are very unique. If you are introverted, then that may explain some of your preferences in relating to others. But it's not a "disorder."

[Rapunzel]

How old are you? Some of what you are describing could be age appropriate. Autism kind-of has to show up by the time you are three years old, and it severely impairs your ability to communicate and relate to other people. There are milder forms of autistic spectrum disorders though, so there is a possibility that some of that could apply. You could look here http://www.thegraycenter.org/autismdisorders.cfm and see what you think. Some hyperactivity symptoms can be similar or coincide with autistic spectrum disorders too. It really sounds to me like most of the hyperactivity symptoms you are describing are based on positive attributes though. And there often are positive attributes of both of these sets of disorders or traits.

One thing to consider is how are the symptoms you are concerned about impacting your life? Is it distressing to you or others, and does it interfere with your ability to do the things that are important to you? That is one of the most important considerations in diagnosing mental disorders. It's only a disorder if it is a problem for you or for someone else. Lots of people have traits that resemble various disorders, and that is normal and okay.

If you are concerned, and this is interfering with your life, then by all means you should get an evaluation by a professional. That is something that is really your call, unless you are a minor and then you have a say but the decisions fall to your parent or guardian.

Good luck, and feel free to ask more questions if you like.

Rap

[razeljenny]

Rap said: If you are concerned, and this is interfering with your life, then by all means you should get an evaluation by a professional. That is something that is really your call, unless you are a minor and then you have a say but the decisions fall to your parent or guardian.

Rap- I feel functional finally with my so called disability. Yes, most of the time I function good. I am weird but I function pretty neat and being different makes the world mostly appreciate it. I recommend personal journaling and good therapy if it can be found. Having mental questions about function crop up so much in this world and I needed so much help before I got my self esteem back. Man did I lose it and was so embarrassed , I am kind of Bi-polor and socially retarded too and man I just fell apart for years about myself but now I like the way the world is accepting diversity and it is about time. Too, like I said, I am FINALLY ACCEPTING MY 'DIVERSITY"tHANKYOU FOR THE POSTS