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marshall
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15 Jan 2009, 10:55 am

Spokane_Girl wrote:
It's about the Aspergers itself that makes it mild. If you have other conditions like Bipolar or depression, anxiety, it will make it seem like it's worse but it's not because it's your other conditions.


But I feel like the aspergers causes those other things for me. If I was more NT I doubt I would be as depressed and anxious as I am. The way I'm sometimes very unmotivated to do things that don't interest me is directly tied in to how I used to be so obsessed with various special interests I had over the years. I have a very "one track" mind which is a major trait for some aspies.



marshall
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15 Jan 2009, 11:16 am

anna-banana wrote:
I consider myself an ADHDer with mild AS symptoms. I function pretty well in society although my executive dysfunction is rather severe. I am socially rather inept, either scaring people off with too much random talk or just by not paying any attention to them. I'm spaced out a lot and I can't concentrate much on group conversations. actually, I can't concentrate on them at all.

as to sensory issues- mine are quite mild. they get more noticeable in the summer (I strongly dislike sun and heat and humidity) but most of the time it's not THAT bad.

I'm not really big on routines either. I have to have a plan for everything and always need stuff organised my way, but that's about it. I do hate change that I have no control over though, most of my anxiety comes from that.

I have very few friends and very little desire for human contact. I'm quite overwhelmed already now when all my friends have new partners and there's always new people around when we meet. so I try to limit socialising because it makes my anxiety increase.

my special interests definitely take up a load of my time. I could probably look for a job much more effectively if I wasn't so concearned about the stuff that I just have to do, and that would probably seem pointless to a NT. I spend hours cataloging stuff and making iTunes playlists and tags and so on.

I stim quite a lot but in a way that doesn't make me stand out that much. people just assume I'm nervous (I'm not) because I bite my lip a lot, tap my fingers, bite my knuckles, just move around a lot.

and I am a total utter fail in relationships.

but to sum up- I don't think I'm that much affected. if you'd remove the executive dysfunction I would've been pretty happy with my life as it is.

I think I'm very similar to you. Executive dysfunction is by far my worst symptom. I simply can't deal with transitions. Once my mind gets onto something I can't get it off even when I know I need to do something else. I can be the worst procrastinator in the world.

I can also handle social situations if I put effort into them. I'm more self aware than the other aspies I've met IRL (i.e. I know very well what makes me look different). Still, sometimes I just can't help monologing - going into depth about the stuff that interests me in a vain attempt to get others to find it interesting too.



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15 Jan 2009, 11:27 am

Greyhound wrote:
I have difficulties socially but I can do it. I find it harder than many, I get confused easily, I sometimes don't realise when someone's joking and I get tired very quickly from it, sometimes needing a long recovery period. But it wouldn't be seen as 'qualitative impairment'.

I also do not have a 'special interest', i.e. I have no restricted and repetitive interests and behaviour. I have interests which come on strongly and then disappear, but I'm not very good at them and I don't spend hours completely absorbed in them. They tend to repeat themselves, for example I liked heraldry, went on a 'learning spree' then that faded and I liked buses and photographed them and wrote down fleet numbers etc. That died down again and the heraldry interest came back strongly again (I'd always liked it, but the bus interest overrode it). But it's not obsessive in the Asperger syndrome sense of the word.


Greyhound, you sound almost exactly like me!

My problems are more on the social side than anywhere. I don't take things literally as in being unable to identify something as being simply a figure of speech (indeed, I like using metaphor) but I have difficulties knowing when a person is joking or being serious unless they speak with an obviously 'humorous' manner - or, on television, I can see the joke being set up. Other people tell me I was rude or unfeeling when I was simply stating a fact, and I often don't realize someone is upset or wanted attention until they tell me or someone else reprimands me for not doing it. In general, speaking for me is a method for obtaining or comunicating new necessary/interesting information; I don't see any point in just 'chatting' when there's really nothing new to be said.

I have trouble relating to a lot of people - especially other women - emotionally; don't understand why they get so bothered about the things they do and rate them as so important.

I do also become regularly obsessed with things and find it hard to think about or concentrate on anything else. Sometimes I find something new, become obsessed with it, and then it goes away and I never really think much about it again. Sometimes I'm always interested in it to some degree, but every so often something reminds me of it or brings it to the forefront of my mind and I become totally obsessed again.

What I would call 'physical' Aspie traits - sensory issues, stimming, etc - I am mild on. I do stim, pacing and chewing things, but I can control it to a degree and it's not particularly obvious to an observer. I always feel that my 'Aspieness' most manifests itself in my social interaction, interests, and ways of thinking.

I think that I come over as at least somewhat peculiar to other people, as they tend to initially approach me normally, but then, after a few minutes of interaction, begin 'talking down' to me in a way that's hard to describe, and continue to do this ever after. Something clearly says to them that this person is 'not quite right', and they begin speaking as they would either to someone much younger, or somebody who they knew had a learning disability.



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15 Jan 2009, 11:36 am

'very mildly aspergers' will mean someone who just has the core/minimum traits of aspergers and in a mild way,as they wouldnt be able to be diagnosed with a specific label if they didnt meet the minimum stuff.


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15 Jan 2009, 12:09 pm

KazigluBey wrote:
kittenmeow wrote:
Anyone here that can explain what exactly very mildly aspergers is? Does that mean one or two traits? Does it mean all traits but very mildly?

If you think of yourself as very mildly affected by aspergers can you explain what it means in your case?


I have an actual diagnosis; however, there wasn't any degree given. On the other hand, from what I have read thus far, I would say I am more on the mild side.

1 - I have a good sense of humor--though quite often it goes well beyond the appropriate limits.
2 - While I do take things literally, I often am able to distinguish between the literal understanding as opposed to the intent of the words (though not always).
3 - In most settings, I do okay socially--but I can be difficult to understand and get along with.
4 - My most difficult time exists with my wife (who is NT). This is where Asperger's fits me precisely.


I'm the same with 1, 2 & 3. I can't say that your forth point counts for me because I don't have a wife :lol:



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15 Jan 2009, 12:19 pm

My Autism is probably anything BUT mild...however...

Would an overall very 'girlish' or 'boyish' personality, naturally, count as 'mild'? As I have read somewhere once, I think...that Autistic people CANT be too overall 'boyish' or 'girly' in their overall life span growing up.

That's all I want to ask at the moment now...so yeah.



history_of_psychiatry
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15 Jan 2009, 1:10 pm

I was officially diagnosed with "high functioning asperger's" a couple of years ago. My social and organizational skills are poor, yet still somewhat better than the typical aspie's is from what I gather. The people who gave me the tests said that I was smart enough to go to medical school...as long as someone came with me to do my organizing. I sometimes picture myself as an aspie embassador because I have asperger's but can function more NT than many other aspies.


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15 Jan 2009, 2:10 pm

Double post.


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15 Jan 2009, 2:10 pm

My son is considered "mild" AS and, I guess, I've taken that to mean that his autistic traits aren't as severe or impairing as they might be. He can be very self-aware of his AS traits, and capable of controlling or mitigating them, although it is much better that he not be forced to, since doing so is very stressful, which creates its own problems. As long as he can be "free" with certain AS traits, he functions really well in the NT world.

Pragmatic speech is an issue, but he doesn't have problems with metaphors or similies like many AS do.

His largest impairment is a co-morbid, the loose joints and disgraphia, which is quite severe. If the co-morbid had not existed, there is a good chance his AS would never have been noticed. He just would have been considered quirky and probably nerdy.


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15 Jan 2009, 4:56 pm

I have it mild, so none of my NT friends know because they probably haven't noticed, although they do commet on my shyness.

Most of my asp friends have it more than me, except for about 1/2 who are on the same level (I have about 5 altogether)

I have functioned pretty well in an NT world but my organisation can let me down and I have to get reminded all the time but all in all I've done well.


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theQuail
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15 Jan 2009, 5:45 pm

The psych said I was mild, and I'd definitely agree. While I do have social problems of course, they wouldn't be nearly as bad if I wasn't so shy and introverted and got more practice with socializing. Also, I don't really have problems with routines, and my interests and sensory issues aren't as impairing or obvious as in typical AS. To be honest I'm not sure about the severity of the social problems because I always been asocial to some degree (more social a few years ago, and not at all of late). I think I usually come off as a shy nerd...



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15 Jan 2009, 7:04 pm

I really don't know where I fall. If I am truly an aspie, I think I might be an Atypical one, since I am of relatively average intelligence...and tend to fall on the Right-brained artsy side of things...and since the assessment was pretty informal, I really just don't know.

Before I was assessed, I figured I was possibly PDD-NOS or an ADDer with AS traits.

The notion that I am most likely on the spectrum would explain a lot about the way I was when I was young. My odd development, the way I walked on my toes, my other really poor motor skills, the way was a late-bloomer in so many areas, my complete social oblivion, the way that I was an information sponge outside of school, but in school was too overwhelmed to concentrate...and all this other stuff.

I tend to be somewhat socially dynamic at times in my own sort of way, what with performing in bands for more than half my life and running a venue and whatnot.
Also, I have no trouble with romantic relationships. I kinda have the opposite of that...Right now I have two.

Of course, I need a lot of help with certain things.
I may never have a drivers license.
The majority of the friendships I do have are more like long-term acquaintances...
I have a sort of arrested emotional development, so I still can't quite make it out of my teens in a lot of ways
I have pretty severe executive dysfunction, and deplorable organizational skills, despite the fact that I am always trying...there is a part of my that is perpetually railing against it..

I may participate in limited and repetitive behavior, but my routines, though existant, are not THAT rigid. I will get upset when plans are suddenly changed. I MUST have directions thoroughly explained to me. I cannot tolerate uncertain answers...

I don't have too many issues with foods...I don't mind them touching...etc..
Um...

My sensory issues have evolved over time, so there is a lot more that I can tolerate, but certain things can still really bother me. Sometimes the level at which they bother me is inconsistant..

I am not sure HOW mild I am compared to other AS females.
I know that there are AS females who are much more educated and intellectual than I am, and hold normal jobs and have kids and drive cars and are organized and all this other stuff...

But I am more mildly affected than some I have met..and everyone has their own set of strengths and weaknesses.