Asperger's syndrome.

My boyfriend was diagnosed when he was very young as having Asperger's Syndrome. One of the symptoms found in people with this (but not all) is that they sometimes say mean, sarcastic things without knowing they're being mean or trying to be mean. My boyfriend does this and recently a woman in my class told me her husband had Aspergers too so she suggested i read up on it so i know how to respond to my boy.

Well.. the goal was to try and help my bf out, but.. after reading, I started to wonder if I perhaps had Aspergers as well. I do not have the insensitivity symptom like he does, however I noticed I have many of the others. For example, I am very awkward in social situations. I get nervous even paying at the register, making phone calls, ordering at a restaraunt, etc. I also cannot make eye contact. I avoid it because looking into people's eyes intimidates me. I also have SEVERE issues with understanding sarcasm, jokes, and tone of voice. I get offended very easily and cannot take a joke and often cry if someone says something as simple as "wow you're pyscho." My roomie just told me i'm a nut for liking football and THAT offended me. Also, i tend to have difficulty making friends and tend to have more friends online than in person, and tend to get along better with adults than people my age. I also have always been VERY uncoordinated. When I was in kindergarten i saw many different counselors and they couldn't figure out what exactly it was other than the fact that i was definitely different, lacked communication skills and coordination skills. I was put in a "special" gym class in elementary school along with regular gym to try to help with my coordination skills. I still to this day cannot catch a ball, trip over my own feet, etc. I even fell down the stairs the other day while holding the handrail. The therapists discovered when i was 5 that brushing me with a soft brush on my back and arms helped calm and soothe me. I didn't know this until a few years ago cuz my mother didn't want to upset me but I was almost held back in kindergarten because my severe lack in social skills but my mom wouldn't allow it because I was arguably the smartest in my kindergarten class. The teachers all said I used big words and had a wonderful brain. I also have always been extremely sensitive with strong smells, tastes, and to light. When I was little, loud noises bothered me more than others, for example, I'd have to leave the parade before the fire trucks came. I took two quizzes, one was on a medical site, and both gave me results of possible Aspergers. I scored a 31 on one of them and 34 and above was "likely", whereas 30-33 was "maybe."

I have been reading a book about a man who didn't realize he had aspergers until he was forty, and much of his issues as a child/teen remind me of myself.

here is just one of the many sites (i also am reading a book) that lists symptoms: http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/tc/aspergers-syndrome-symptoms

The reason I posted this was not to be paranoid or annoying or anything, but simply because I was curious if any of you had it or knew someone that had it or even have studied it and could give me some insight whether it be on knowing how to properly talk to my boyfriend or perhaps knowing if maybe I had some form of it too. I plan to get tested when i'm done with college in january but just want some feedback. Honestly, I'd be relieved to finally know exactly what my deal is.

Niki,

I wish I knew something more about this but I honestly don't. Not sure if I have ever known anyone with it personally. I may have but don't remember. You should definitely get checked for it though. Hope all works out well, wish I had more to offer though

The autism spectrum encompasses a lot of different syndromes - Asperger's being one of the more 'high functioning' forms of autism...I think the best way to know is to have an assessment done. It might help you figure out how to help yourself better A lot of the symptoms you listed run parallel to people who have some form of Autism, but I'm no doctor. Like I said best thing to do is get checked out.

Thanks guys.

Niki wrote:

For example, I am very awkward in social situations. I get nervous even paying at the register, making phone calls, ordering at a restaraunt, etc. I also cannot make eye contact. I avoid it because looking into people's eyes intimidates me. I also have SEVERE issues with understanding sarcasm, jokes, and tone of voice. I get offended very easily and cannot take a joke and often cry if someone says something as simple as "wow you're pyscho." My roomie just told me i'm a nut for liking football and THAT offended me.

I myself am intimidated in public or in large crowds. I don't like to go places by myself if I don't have to. Why? Cause someone might look at me lol I smirk as I type this cause it sounds so absurd but it is true. I can't remember the last time I had to put gas in a car, it literally has been years cause Boyd always puts gas in our cars so I don't have to. If I am with friends or family or Boyd, things don't bother me as much. It's when I am by myself somewhere, makes my anxiety level raise.

I was talking to Thian just the other day on AIM and was telling him that there is an online game that I want to play online. It's a MMORPG and it's free to play, I told him I was nervous about signing up and he asked me why. My answer was something along the lines of "there are other people that I don't know there", I even asked him jokingly if he wanted to sign up with me. lol But that is just an example of my irrational anxiety. Another example which many of you already know about, is that I dont like Mass chats!!!! Too many people together on AIM in a mass chat intimidates me. I dunno why. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

Boyd jokes around with me a lot, cause he is a funny person by nature. But because of my emotional sensitivity, I often mistake his teasing and joking with me and take it wrong. I get my feelings hurt very easily and because of this reason I am careful about who I let myself get close to. On the other hand, I am a very social person. I make friends easily. I love to be around people, at parties, concerts etc. People usually get along with me easily and find that I can be a good friend.

BUT ANYWAY. My whole point to this post Niki, was to share with you some of my own personal issues. I doubt that I have a condition that can be diagnosed such as Asperger's. But it is easy to see similar symptoms sometimes when doing research. As I have gotten older my issues haven't been as bad as when in my teenage years, but they're always there. I realize most of my problems stem from my childhood, self esteem and self confidence. To be more specific Niki, don't get discouraged if a doctor can't point to a certain problem/diagnoses.

I remember talking with you about this a little while back. If you wanna chat again I'd be happy to. Best method is email, since I'm not really on AIM a whole lot anymore.

cam.mcbrearty@gmail.com

Amanda wrote:

Niki wrote:

For example, I am very awkward in social situations. I get nervous even paying at the register, making phone calls, ordering at a restaraunt, etc. I also cannot make eye contact. I avoid it because looking into people's eyes intimidates me. I also have SEVERE issues with understanding sarcasm, jokes, and tone of voice. I get offended very easily and cannot take a joke and often cry if someone says something as simple as "wow you're pyscho." My roomie just told me i'm a nut for liking football and THAT offended me.

I myself am intimidated in public or in large crowds. I don't like to go places by myself if I don't have to. Why? Cause someone might look at me lol I smirk as I type this cause it sounds so absurd but it is true. I can't remember the last time I had to put gas in a car, it literally has been years cause Boyd always puts gas in our cars so I don't have to. If I am with friends or family or Boyd, things don't bother me as much. It's when I am by myself somewhere, makes my anxiety level raise.

I was talking to Thian just the other day on AIM and was telling him that there is an online game that I want to play online. It's a MMORPG and it's free to play, I told him I was nervous about signing up and he asked me why. My answer was something along the lines of "there are other people that I don't know there", I even asked him jokingly if he wanted to sign up with me. lol But that is just an example of my irrational anxiety. Another example which many of you already know about, is that I dont like Mass chats!!!! Too many people together on AIM in a mass chat intimidates me. I dunno why. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

Boyd jokes around with me a lot, cause he is a funny person by nature. But because of my emotional sensitivity, I often mistake his teasing and joking with me and take it wrong. I get my feelings hurt very easily and because of this reason I am careful about who I let myself get close to. On the other hand, I am a very social person. I make friends easily. I love to be around people, at parties, concerts etc. People usually get along with me easily and find that I can be a good friend.

BUT ANYWAY. My whole point to this post Niki, was to share with you some of my own personal issues. I doubt that I have a condition that can be diagnosed such as Asperger's. But it is easy to see similar symptoms sometimes when doing research. As I have gotten older my issues haven't been as bad as when in my teenage years, but they're always there. I realize most of my problems stem from my childhood, self esteem and self confidence. To be more specific Niki, don't get discouraged if a doctor can't point to a certain problem/diagnoses.

Wow. This helps a lot!!! I am the SAME way about pumping gas. I have my dad or bf do it. I know how to do it cuz my dad taught me BUT the part that makes me anxious is the parking/pulling up against the pump. I hate parking, I always park in giant lots near the back cuz I'm scared of getting hit. And I love concerts too but feel awkward in large classes talking aloud with people I don't know well. I also always have to sit on the inside of a booth in a retaraunt or at a table in the seat in the corner cuz having people look at my back makes me anxious.

Doggerz wrote:

I remember talking with you about this a little while back. If you wanna chat again I'd be happy to. Best method is email, since I'm not really on AIM a whole lot anymore.

[email=cam.mcbrearty@gmail.com

cam.mcbrearty@gmail.com[/quote[/email]]



Yup. Back then it was about dealing with the way my boyfriend acted. He's honestly gotten better atleast.. he now realizes that his condition causes him to make certain comments and apologizes for them.

But yeah.. after researching the condition, i started wondering maybe i had some form of it.. of course, i dont make rude comments but the whole eye-contact, clumsiness, shy thing sounded like me among other things.. however, as mandie said there's a good chance i don't have any condition, just different quirks that make me, me.