Asperger's Disorder Symptoms

[ChrisHop]

My psychologist has suggested that I have Aspergers syndrome. I can talk to people and work out what I need to do but it is very draining and causes lots of anxiety. It looks like my threshold for communication is about 20% of an average person. Can anyone suggest how to make it less draining and reduce anxiety besides avoiding social situations?

[fracturedstory]

Originally Posted by ChrisHop

My psychologist has suggested that I have Aspergers syndrome. I can talk to people and work out what I need to do but it is very draining and causes lots of anxiety. It looks like my threshold for communication is about 20% of an average person. Can anyone suggest how to make it less draining and reduce anxiety besides avoiding social situations?

Limiting exposure to social situations. Knowing when to get out when it gets too much.

Work out whether it's just social anxiety or sensory anxiety, i.e sounds being too loud, visual clutter, bright light etc.

With me I don't have a lot of social anxiety because I don't do a lot of it and I don't dwell on what I said wrong or what I should have done better but I have a lot of sensory issues which creates anxiety about being exposed to it.

It depends what you want to get better at. Do you fail to join in on conversations because you have little to say? Is a group overwhelming? Do you do better talking one on one?

I seem to be able to follow some things people talk about because I have many varied interests. Sometimes I just don't' want to talk when under stress or not on medication.

If you are on the autism spectrum all the knowledge in the world might not help some days when you just can't join in on a conversation. I recommend you don't 'fake it' because people will think you are more capable than you are and think that there's nothing wrong with you which gives you little support and when you're really struggling they will either 1)not believe you 2) be at a loss of what to do.

[fracturedstory]

No. Because it doesn't sound like stim or even a tic. It depends what you got done. Maybe the surgery left your shoulder feeling uncomfortable. Maybe it's phantom pain, i.e the pain the surgery took away is still registered in your brain.

No need to abuse them for asking the question. They probably thought 'repetition' = AS symptom. Not every one knows that AS symptoms start in the early years of brain development, or that repetitive moments are usually a way to calm oneself down.

Also, at least I can read their post once and understand it.

[ellie jade]

I do a lot of these things but haven't been diagnosed. It's hard for me when someone interrupts me. I stick to a routine and can't adjust when there's a break in it. And I sometimes have anger/behavior issues. Just to name the most obvious :\

[ChicharitoFan14]

Can I ask what are the symptoms of AS?

[psilocybe27]

i fit the description, but i can cope with. Maybe i'm just a very mild case. I didn't realize until the age of 16 though, that i have trouble reading body signals. I have to put forth a very conscience effort to understand people in social situations. I end up over analyzing the situation though.

[fracturedstory]

I cannot read the body language people are trying to convey, but can see the body language they are trying to hide. I'm like an organic lie detector. It helps to have some background with the person though.

[podsofwh]

There is a good lecture podcast on childpsychmed.com by an expert in Asperger Syndrome who talks about what it's like to have it and how to diagnose it.

[kpoupart]

ok, so I don't like when people joke with me sometimes because I'm gullible, I've always been really gullible, and I don't understand certain things and I don't know how to feel bad for people if I am not directly associated with the situation, I can't feel bad for someone if they are crying and I laugh a lot and I feel weird because I laugh, and I don't understand, why I do that?

I want to because I know whatvim supposed to say when someones said but i don't actually care? I often get yelled at for pushing conversations and jokes too far so I tried stopping I do that a lot though, I can only focus on creating things like drawing and art I love art all types I like using my hands, I like playing my guitar I draw too much though, I have a lot of friends though, i feel like I'm to right sometimes, I correct them a lot , and I annoy them when they will say something and ill tell them everything I know about it but why?!

I'm just trying to share what I know I feel like they don't know it or they would have told me first, I also don't realize I'm annoying them until they yell at me to stop, I like to write as well I have books filled with writing the only thing I don't like about writing is not being truthful I write about people and their lives and I like that, I like writing songs but I only like folk music only some kinds though most music I don't understand the lyrics or the metaphors I looked up what they mean to try to understand some, I wanted this to be short, my favorite quote is "to think is to live" its one of the only metaphors I understand so I like it a lot, because it means if you think and you understand what's going on, you are living and you have a life.

I understand as much as I can I just get stumped sometimes, Its like I have hiccups and I stop and I don't realize I'm doing a certain thing until something bad happens, I don't like tv because things don't make much sense my favorite shows are the news and sports, but I don't like CSI I don't understand those shows, they make me feel weird like I don't understand I don't like not understanding, I feel like I know what I'm supposed to say sometimes and I say it but I never mean it, I never do, like when someone's sad I say " I'm sorry" but what does that mean really?

I only say it because I don't want them yo be sad anymore I don't like when people are sad because I can't tell them things I know, they don't want to focus when they are sad, or angry, they can't I learned that a while ago, it just takes me a long time to correct things about myself, like when I try to tell people things about me and what I know because they need to know, and I don't like when people tell me to stop talking when I'm talking I can't and they get mad at me when I don't stop I try to think about things and if I think about them to much I get mad at people if they try to break my focus, I hate when people do that, when I'm focused I don't hear much, like when I'm in sports, but I only do sports because I like them because they keep my minds busy.

I have a lot of things hanging on my walls so my eyes don't search to much and I can sleep, I memorized everything that's on my walls and when I used to not be able to put things on my wall I would look at the 16 spots on my roof and the hole in my closet door, I don't like being in big public places where I DONT know anyone because people don't like when I talk to them only older people like that younger people don't for some reason but when people in big group i getting reactions from people it makes me feel good, and I don't like people don't like the things I like, because I like to talk about them a lot and if they don't want to talk about it ill still talk about it so they can like it and they don't like it, it makes me frustrated and Ill get mad at them.

I like when I can be right, it makes me feel normal. I don't think my parents understand what I know, I want to tell them because they tell me I'm normal but I don't think I am so I want them to know I'm not, I'm usually the last one to laugh at a joke, but I try to understand it later and I just laugh because i finally get it and it makes me feel good,I like understand I want to understand what Is wrong. thank you.

[mirandatoritess]

Originally Posted by Imnapl

Does your shoulder hurt?

rotator cuff problems? My mum had a problems with that.

The most common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:

Pain at rest and at night, particularly if lying on the affected shoulder
Pain when lifting and lowering your arm or with specific movements
Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm
Crepitus or crackling sensation when moving your shoulder in certain positions

When one or more of the rotator cuff tendons is torn, the tendon no longer fully attaches to the head of the humerus. Most tears occur in the supraspinatus muscle and tendon, but other parts of the rotator cuff may also be involved.

In many cases, torn tendons begin by fraying. As the damage progresses, the tendon can completely tear, sometimes with lifting a heavy object.

There are different types of tears.

Partial Tear. This type of tear damages the soft tissue, but does not completely sever it.
Full-Thickness Tear. This type of tear is also called a complete tear. It splits the soft tissue into two pieces. In many cases, tendons tear off where they attach to the head of the humerus. With a full-thickness tear, there is basically a hole in the tendon.


Acute Tear
If you fall down on your outstretched arm or lift something too heavy with a jerking motion, you can tear your rotator cuff. This type of tear can occur with other shoulder injuries, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.

Degenerative Tear
Most tears are the result of a wearing down of the tendon that occurs slowly over time. This degeneration naturally occurs as we age. Rotator cuff tears are more common in the dominant arm. If you have a degenerative tear in one shoulder, there is a greater risk for a rotator cuff tear in the opposite shoulder -- even if you have no pain in that shoulder.

Several factors contribute to degenerative, or chronic, rotator cuff tears.

Repetitive stress. Repeating the same shoulder motions again and again can stress your rotator cuff muscles and tendons. Baseball, tennis, rowing, and weightlifting are examples of sports activities that can put you at risk for overuse tears. Many jobs and routine chores can cause overuse tears, as well.
Lack of blood supply. As we get older, the blood supply in our rotator cuff tendons lessens. Without a good blood supply, the body's natural ability to repair tendon damage is impaired. This can ultimately lead to a tendon tear.
Bone spurs. As we age, bone spurs (bone overgrowth) often develop on the underside of the acromion bone. When we lift our arms, the spurs rub on the rotator cuff tendon. This condition is called shoulder impingement, and over time will weaken the tendon and make it more likely to tear.
Risk Factors
Because most rotator cuff tears are largely caused by the normal wear and tear that goes along with aging, people over 40 are at greater risk.

People who do repetitive lifting or overhead activities are also at risk for rotator cuff tears. Athletes are especially vulnerable to overuse tears, particularly tennis players and baseball pitchers. Painters, carpenters, and others who do overhead work also have a greater chance for tears.

Although overuse tears caused by sports activity or overhead work also occur in younger people, most tears in young adults are caused by a traumatic injury, like a fall.

[Spacemaster]

I cannot read the body language people are trying to convey, but can see the body language they are trying to hide. I'm like an organic lie detector. It helps to have some background with the person though.

Why do you suppose that is?

I am like that too. In a social setting, where I am in a conversation, I just have no clue. Is it because it takes too much mental focus just to have the conversation? Or is it like when you feel like you're put on the spot, so your brain just freezes. For example, when you are asked "who was in that movie", and you know it, but just can't remember at the time?

Does that even make any sense? When I'm engaged in socialising with someone, it's like I'm suddenly so self-conscious, that I can't manage anything beyond figuring out where to put my hands, and do they think I'm crazy?

OR, I'll talk about a subject to death. I'll go on and on and on, and get really animated, and I don't really notice that I'm getting that "polite smile" until I've already said so much that I feel sheepish. I did that once to an ex-boyfriend's family. I was talking about cooking and eating food, which I love, and I just started rambling about it. His sister finally said, "Well, it sounds like you know a lot about food." Uhh, oops,sorry.

I tend to pick up on other people very well. I only have to spend a few minutes with someone before I have a pretty good understanding of what kind of person they are. I know that sounds dumb and arrogant, like lots of people say that. I've spent many years being a very quiet observer, though. Even as a kid, I liked having adult company come over to the house, so I could sit and listen to their conversations. I never said a peep, unless I really had a tidbit I wanted to add. I like observing people.

I'm just wondering, is this body language blindness something that happens, because we are personally involved in the interaction? Like, it's all of a sudden not just an objective observation. You actually have to participate.

I don't know, I'm far too tired right now. I've been driving all evening in blizzard-like conditions and icy-snowy highways. My nerves are shot, and I'm up far too late.

[kimical]

I'm starting to think I have this. Here are my symptoms according to the OP.

*marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction

I never look people in the eyes. I have been told numerous times I have this problem. I'm incredibly uncomfortable around people I don't know.

*failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level

All of my "friends" I've ever had have told me I'm weird and never really talked to me all that much. That or I never talk to them because we have nothing in common. I have a difficult time finding people who share my interests.

*a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)

I don't really care to have friends unless they share the same interests as me. Even then sometimes they just get in the way. This may sound cold but it's true. I stopped playing wow with a friend because they didn't like pvp. Why even play an mmo if you don't like pvp??

*lack of social or emotional reciprocity

When communicating I usually don't understand what the other person is feeling and I typically offend. Which may be another reason I don't have friends. Oh well.

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

I'm very much like Dr. Sheldon Cooper. For those of you who know of "the Big Bang Theory". Minus the physics.

*encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus

One of the things I hear most from people is, "I'm sick of hearing about this".

*apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals

See above statement about Sheldon Cooper.

*stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

Why would the last thing listed be related to the first thing? I wring my hands and mess with my fingers. I mess with stuff if that is what the last thing means.

The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Already addressed. I can't really be a cashier because talking to people gives me panic attacks.

There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

I started talking at a normal age. I think I will mention this to my therapist on Wednesday.

[Slang Tang]

Being an Aspie adult is, for many people, harder than being an Aspie child. Yet all the focus on autism paints it as a childhood disorder.

I've never been formally diagnosed but cried upon discovering Asperger's syndrome online for the first time at 18. It explains sooo many idiosyncratic problems that depression and anxiety never could account for in me. Not that I DON'T have those disorders too, but they're inextricably linked to the AS.

The only psychologist I've mentioned Asperger's and ADD to insinuated that these disorders would've been "caught" by my teachers long ago. What rubbish. My school is a wasteland of failure (recently got a D grade by the dept. of education) so they're not exactly concerned with diagnosing people. I was diagnosed with a math learning disability in 10th grade and my teachers STILL refused to accommodate me as required by law.

Just wish so-called professionals would take Aspie adults seriously instead of discarding us like lost causes.

[Fortune]

Originally Posted by Slang Tang

The only psychologist I've mentioned Asperger's and ADD to insinuated that these disorders would've been "caught" by my teachers long ago. What rubbish. My school is a wasteland of failure (recently got a D grade by the dept. of education) so they're not exactly concerned with diagnosing people. I was diagnosed with a math learning disability in 10th grade and my teachers STILL refused to accommodate me as required by law.

Many people believe that one could not possibly miss being caught if one has one of these conditions, but I find the reality is not nearly so cut and dried. I've seen people online who were autistic, who didn't speak until very late (one as late as nine, I think) who were not caught and diagnosed. The belief that "if you have something obvious going on, it'll get caught" just doesn't hold up under scrutiny, nor is the assumption that because something is obvious to one person that it would be obvious to everyone. Or that even if it is obvious to everyone that it will be interpreted the same way.

[EstrangedDecoy]

Hello all, This is my 1st post btw... I have SEVERE adult ADHD and I am 99.9% sure I have Aspergers as well. As for it NOT being picked up when I was a child? I am shocked, jaw still dropped, just as the day it was suggested for the 4th time this year. One must consider that it can be a ambiguous syndrome, and the "traits", or symptoms fluctuate from what I see. Also, misdiagnosis, often including ADHD, and sometimes a personality disorder are common. regarding my case scenario, again, I'm thinking WtF!?!, I, was never diagnosed with Aspergers!? ...Are u kidding me?? HOW on earth did this pass the conscious mind of these professionals? It will.always be beyond me. My point is you never know.
I have a Neurologist apt. on Fri., I am going 2 finally address my concern and speculation. I can only hope and pray This Doc is a good one. One who is slow to listen, oh and I really hope she treats me with medication that is intense, like my suffering. Adderall 30mg. Ir isnt cutting it anymore and I need stronger medication. Since There is NO higher dose, I want/need 2 adhd meds. Im thinking (due to severity, tolerance, and past experience) Concerta, and adderall ir. I have nothing but lossitive effects from stimulants, so this proposal is one I am anxious About.
Fellow adders, I did TRY to be concise, thia being my first post and all. Any and all advive is welcome. Thank you. Peace.