Currently, I am in the process of trying to seek some type of diagnosis to see what IS wrong with me. I'm not specifically hooked on trying to get someone to come up with an Asperger's verdict, though.

I have a friend...she works as a monitor in a mental health facility. I figured that she would have access to psychologists, psychiatrists, and even neurologists who can render some diagnosis - good, bad, or indifferent.

I started with Asperger's and described what I thought were the telltale signs. I went further and suggested PDD-NOS, Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), Social Anxiety, OCPD, and some other possibilities for good measure.

Can't recall if I gave her Schizoid Personality Disorder or not. I don't think I have that because in many cases I wish I could interact better, but I simply do not know how to. It's like working a full-time job trying to do that! I can see the similarities, but there's a point where the description no longer applies - like where they talk about not wanting interaction with others.

The problem - especially with friends, is that they tend not to take you seriously. In this case, she smiled and said, "I don't think anything is wrong with you." And I gave my usual reply, "Woo woo woo...that's so nice of you, but I need to know so that I can possible salvage the rest of my LIFE! There is DEFINITELY SOMEthing wrong with me."

She promised she would ask one of her co-workers.

The next time I saw her, she said that she spoke briefly with someone where she works, but that person said that we ALL have some traits of those disorders but that it's probably nothing to worry about.

Maybe in their cases, but in mine the problems ahve always been so pervasive and destructive as to severely impair my ability to make a decent life for myself.

Thank GOD for WrongPlanet where others have gone through the same thing (many times in some cases) before finally getting a proper diagnosis. Otherwise I would have given up off the flip!

Thanks to everyone at WP for the support you give. And if you don't mind, I'll keep comin' back!

It is true that "we all have some traits of those disorders"... and there are thousands of such persons in the criminal correction system, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, juvenile detention centers, etc. across the USA. However, it is the smart persons, like yourself, who recognize their difficulties and get help. I commend you! Still, the BEST source of "help" is right here on Wrong Planet...

^^^^Agreed!

...about THE BEST HELP being WP!!!!