Ilov80s
Footballguy
There’s plenty there to suspect you may be on the spectrum. It also could be other things. I was just trying to understand that anecdote. It doesn’t sound particularly odd to me. I have no idea and would never even begin to say whether you do or don’t have X. I’ve never met you so my point is certainly not to discredit your self diagnosis. I am not arguing with you, just having a conversation.I guess I don't see how that is abnormal though. I've had conversations with people where I walked away unsure how serious they were about what they said. We all don't have the ability to perfectly read the intentions and motivations of other people. I am sure everyone has misread situations where we thought someone was kidding but they were serious or vice versa.Are your parents still alive. If so, have you ever asked them about your early childhood? Was your speech delayed? Did you not babble? Did you show interest as a baby in other people? Unusual eating and sleeping habits? Repetitive movements? There's a whole bunch of early developmental things can also help diagnose if your parents can remember and are willing to complete a checklist. If you see someone who specializes ASD or diagnosis, it should be pretty easy to get evaluated. Though that won't really solve anything. There's therapy and lots of strategies that one can use to try to improve certain areas. I guess the more important question than are you on the spectrum is what about yourself would you like to change?What are the signs you see that make you think you are on the spectrum?@caustic THANK YOU for the thread. It motivated me to get an appointment set up for next Thursday.
Update:
I went to a few sessions but didn’t really come away with anything and wasn’t enamored with the therapist.
I just called and emailed two others who specialize in diagnosis - i’m starting to strongly believe that I have autism and not ADD/ADHD.
ETA - this isnt a hey look at me post, but more of an attempt to inspire others to get treatment for themselves.
Ive always felt different than everyone else.
Socially I can mask but its incredibly hard.
Hard to make and keep friends
Mostly want to/prefer be on my own
Incredibly blunt or "rude". I call it being down to earth or honest but others do not see it that way
Difficult to judge others sincerity.
I notice things others dont seem to
Im not a pessimist but I see the flaws in EVERYTHING. I should be a companies go to for critique - its a super trait of mine.
Odd topics of interest that I get obsessed with WWII, Apple Computers (from 1979), pre-merger NFL stats, rosters, teams,players.
Incredibly sensitive to smells
I dont like to be touched
Not making eye contact
Excessive fears, worries, thoughts. I think about things that have happened, Ive said or to others, even years, even decades later.
I blurt out comments
Talk over people
I just feel different than everyone else and I have never understood why. Others seem to grasp things as if theyre obvious but I kinda pretend to.
People will thank me or give me a compliment and its almost off putting.
Example of something/situation that happened in 2001 - I was at a party at a friends house, he wasnt there but his roommate was. This was our friend group thats why I went. The roommate kept saying and talking crap about my friend, his roommate/owner of the house so I got upset and left. I just came to the conclusion that he was joking about the insults because theyre still friends. (Im still not 100% sure but it only makes sense, right?)
There are just some of the reasons I suspect.
Also your story about leaving because someone is making fun of your friend doesn't seem all that odd to me. Seems like a very normal reaction to that situation.
It wast that I left, it’s that to this day I still don’t know if he was serious or not. I think he might have been joking, I dont really know.
You asked, I answered. I gave you 17 examples and you chose one that you seem to mildly disagree with or don’t understand.
I don’t know how to convey to you what I mean and I’m too exhausted to try.
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