My name is Christine and I am 27 years old. When I was 15 years old and in the 9th grade I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and was given medication for that. But, it was making my appetite go away and I ended up weighing under 100 lbs. Then 3 years later when I was in the 12th grade I was diagnosed with depression. And in addition I have a hard time in social situations and talking to people especially if there are a lot of people and making eye contact is also difficult. And I also need a ton of personal space and feel uncomfortable hugging my own sisters and need a certain amount of space from people when sitting next to them. in addition I hate loud noises especially if I think people are arguing or fighting and are going to raise their voices so I go up to my room and try to put my headphones in with my music on to block it out; and this hatred of noise had been going on ever since I was a kid and as a kid I would go into my closet an close the door and put my hands over my ears to try and block it out. For years I’ve also had obsessions even as a kid I would be obsessed with Barney and watch as many movies and the tv show as possible as well as Disney movies. And I’ve also had obsessions like rituals such as making everything even when folding my clothes and redoing it if it wasn’t done the same exact way or if it was uneven. Even to this day I only have 1 best friend that I talk to every day. But I’m also very good at remembering the dates of birthdays for my siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and family; in addition I’ve also been extremely interested in World War II that I know a lot of information about the year it began, when it ended, what happened before the camps, etc. In addition I will sometimes get really upset for no reason whether it’s due to something someone said or if it’s something new that’s going on. Such as when I had to fly to India for my sisters wedding since her fiancées family lives there and because it was such a big change with traveling, the weather, the time change, the food, and all the people I just had a meltdown one day crying saying I just wanted to go back home. I also shake my legs very fast for no reason. Does anyone think this maybe high functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome from allthe information I have provided?
Thank you for your post. It gave me a very clear picture of your 'self'. It will help me understand the children I work with in school.
Could you go back to the Dr who suggested ADHD and ask them? It could be useful for you to have a 'label' so others can understand you better. In the meantime, or if the 'label' wouldn't be helpful to you longer term it sounds like you are on the right track - see your traits and preferences as part of you, just as everyone has them, but don't give yourself a hard time if they don't seem to match other people's. Try to accommodate your social links but give yourself lots of support - quiet times, sensory stimulation, whatever you need - especially at overwhelming times. And don't be hard on yourself when things don't happen as you wished - it happens to us all!
Well I have a different doctor from the one that diagnosed me when I was 15. And right now I’m supposed to be moving soon for a new job and am currently living with my parents, but my parents have guardianship of my brothers 4 kids and so I have to share a room with my 2 nieces. So I don’t start a lot f quiet time and I don’t have a lot of stuff to help with my sensory stimulation. And i don’t know if this could relate to Aspergers or not but I shake both my legs a lot all the time and I don’t realize it sometimes, so I’m trying to figure it out.
I think it’s worth getting yourself checked out and don’t forget that it’s not uncommon for depression or ocd etc to occur along with autism so it may not all tie up in one neat package.
I’d say you’re pretty convinced you’re on the spectrum and looking for confirmation. And there’s usually a good reason for doing that.
You can go to the hospital, many drugs can help treat high functioning autism. But many studies have shown that in order for drugs to perform at their best, drugs must be combined with behavioral therapies.
Autistic women are far more likely to be undiagnosed because even now, most doctors are not aware of the true nature of autism. And unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get a diagnosis as an adult, although it is possible. I suggest connecting with the autistic community online and in person. For example, there’s an autistic women’s sub-Reddit, there’s some good Facebook groups, and hopefully there’s a support group near you (check out Meet-Up; they might have listings). I think you sound like a good candidate for autism. But you don’t have to have a diagnosis to get support from other autistic people.
Well i was a thinking maybe it’s more Asperger’s syndrome than high functioning autism
I have Aspergers Syndrome. I wasn't diagnosed until my 50s. Despite having problems as a child and not coping with school, there was no such thing back then. They couldn't even recognize dyslexia. I left school aged 15, disillusioned and feeling school had been a waste of time. Girls are normally better at covering up. I was. I always got on better with boys than with girls. I was bullied and not popular at all. I have had problems all my life. I find it hard to relate to people unless they have something in common.
Best to ask your GP to refer you to be tested. Everyone is different. So what fits for one person, doesn't for another. Boys and men tend to stand out more. I don't shake my legs. And not one person has ever suggested I had Autism. And because I come across as intelligent, I had a woman tell me, no you don't have it, when I told her I was. She obviously didn't have a clue about the condition. Or more accurately, a way of life. I don't see things the same as others. I struggle to show my feelings. I can bore people to tears with subjects I am mad on. I do not fit in with fashion or society or any group of it. I dress to suit myself. My style. I do not follow others. Everyone I have ever met with Aspergers has been different from each other.
Depending on where you live, the waiting lists can be quite long in areas. And some GPs can refuse to refer, as I found. But I tried again with a new younger GP a few years later. I have not been put on medication for it, as it is not an illness. And medication unless severely depressed is of no help. Doctors now prefer to send people for CBT. Antidepressants can been quite harmful and addictive. With nasty side effects.
Hi my son has high functioning autism, they’ve taken ‘Asperger’s’ out of the DSMV diagnostic criteria so autism is a huge spectrum. You should get an official diagnosis as I have adhd and you sound like you may have that or sensory issues which come with both . It’s common to have autism and adhd together. I disagree there are drugs for autism unless you’re depressed then there’s antidepressants. My 22 year old son was recently offered quetiapine which is an antipsychotic which was offered to ‘control ‘ him as a toddler which I personally disagree with, autism is a different way of thinking not a mental illness. Your hatred of noise fits autism and adhd and you specialist subject fits both too as does your dislike of social situations. What sounds more like autism is your good memory of dates . My autistic son has a photographic memory of his specialist subjects ( F1 racing, football, game shows ) I’m on stimulants and lost 2 stone very quickly but am slowly putting it back on and apart from it only works for about 7 hours a day it really helps, you didn’t say if it helped you ? I was misdiagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar for 17 years! I think the older you get the harder it seems to be to get a diagnosis ( I’m in the UK) as a lot of symptoms cross over but your difficulty in making eye contact definitely sounds more like autism but I’m just a mum not a psychiatrist and even if you don’t get an official diagnosis it doesn’t mean anything is ‘wrong ‘ with you, as other people have suggested try to connect with other autistic people. I go on quora a lot as my son is highly intelligent but struggles with communication and doesn’t even have a friend who isn’t online. It helps me to talk to older autistic people who’ve been through what he’s going through. I hope you find the answers you’re looking for and the coping mechanisms that will help you
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