When people say Asperger's is a 'mental health' problem...

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undefineable
Velociraptor
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20 Feb 2011, 11:47 am

XFilesGeek wrote:
undefineable wrote:
XFilesGeek wrote:

I didn't say I have absolutely no feelings towards anything...........and we clearlty differ on what constitutes a "feeling."

My impetus for getting up in the morning is "motivated" by very diffferent factors than what motivates most of the other people I know. You can derive motivation from sources other than "feelings." And a "problem" is a "problem" regardless of whether or not one has "feelings" about it, or, more specifically, whether or not one has the normal degree of "feelings" towards said problem in comparison to the rest of humanity and if the individual with said problem can articulate their "feelings" and respond appropriately.

My "feelings" are greatly reduced in most situations, non-existent in others, and/or highly abnormal. It hasn't made my life "easier."


As you say, we differ on semantics - Some would call motivation itself an emotional, or else (for smaller-brained animals such as insects especially) an instinctual process that a being is often aware of on some level. A problem, ofcourse, is only a problem for you if you have the goal of remaining alive, which is to say the feeling of wanting to remain alive, in mind. If you don't eat or drink, ofcourse, that goal becomes a sensation-related rather than emotional or motivational goal. I suspect more of us aspies are merely unable to 'articulate their "feelings" and respond appropriately', however much we may feel them in the privacy of our own bodies. Others observing us may be 'unnerved' by our demeanour as a result - For instane, when I discovered I was unable to socialise normally at age 19, my eyes usually bulged out of their sockets when I was around others, clearly indicating that there was something 'going on' with me on an emotional level.



questor
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02 Aug 2015, 10:33 am

Autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger's, are all neurological in basis, which makes them biological issues. However, some of the possible symptoms, such as stimming, social dysfunction, and depression, manifest themselves in a way that has psychiatric aspects, and thus, can sometimes benefit from psychiatric therapy.

Basically spectrum symptoms fall into several main categories, and then a number of subcategories from there. The first would be neuro/bio/neuro--yes a second neuro, the second main category is neuro/bio/physical, and the third is neuro/bio/social, and the fourth category is neuro/bio/psychiatric.

1. Neuro/bio/neuro covers brain processing issues, sensory issues, and some other traits.

2. Neuro/bio/physical covers motor skills issues and to some extent sensory issues--and yes there is some overlap with other categories with at least some traits.

3. Neuro/bio/social covers social skills issues. And again there is an overlap with category one, as this is at least partly a processing issue.

4. Neuro/bio/psychiatric covers major depression, bi-polar, and some of the co-morbids, like schizophrenia, OCD, ADHD, and others related to mental illness.

There is also a fifth main category:

5. bio/physical--many people on the spectrum have intestinal problems, and some have been found to have lung irregularities, and there may be other such bio/physical issues as well.

I believe, after studying it from the inside, that the co-morbid known as Executive Function Disorder (EFD) falls in the first category--neuro/bio/neuro. From my own experience, it appears to be a mental processing issue, so it belongs in this main category.

I have sensory processing issues, too. I am somewhat sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, and certain types of non loud noises. I also have skin sensitivity issues. From my own experience, I believe sensory processing issues fall into both main category 1, and main category 2.

My social issues fall firmly in category 3, and my depression falls in category 4. I also have intestinal problems, including IBS, and a kink in the bowel. I have a few other co-morbids, too, but these are the main issues. At least my depression is under control. Wish my EFD was, too. I do have some motor skills issues, but fortunately, they are minor. Unfortunately, I have symptoms from all five main categories. :( :roll:

So, yes, some of the symptoms of Asperger's put it in the mental health/psych category, but what it really all boils down to, is that our brains are wired differently (neuro/bio issues) which causes all kinds of processing problems. Many of them are bad, but at least a few of them can have beneficial outcomes, like being able to concentrate intensely on your special interest, especially if it helps you to earn a living.

Hope that clears things up some. :D


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