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hartzofspace
Red Dragon
Joined: Apr 15, 2005
Posts: 3637
Location: In the basement, with the 'nomalies
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 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject: Do You Ever Wonder... |
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Do you ever wonder how many people are questioning whether they have Autism or Asperger's Syndrome, when they might be merely an introvert? Sometimes I read the posts on here, written by people who are suspicious that they might be on the spectrum, and when they list the suspect behavior, it sounds like they are just introverted. I am currently reading "Party of One," by Anneli Rufus, and it raised this question. After all, there is a big difference between a developmental disorder, and introversion. Just a thought.
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sounded
Blue Jay
Joined: Apr 25, 2007
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | After all, there is a big difference between a developmental disorder, and introversion. Just a thought. |
What makes you so sure?
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Prof_Pretorius
troubled Soul
Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Age: 50
Posts: 4634
Location: Hiding in the attic of the Arkham Library
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| sounded wrote: |
What makes you so sure? |
It's a multitude of details that those of us on the spectrum share.
Someone might feel 'picked on' or 'odd' or 'socially inept', but it's not until they really start reading the forums on this site, or investigating professional assessment that they'll KNOW they're ASpie. I think this is why we get so many 'drop-by' posters. People post a few times and totally disappear. Possibly because they realize they're not on the spectrum.
Remember, we're still in new territory here so it's only logical that people get terminology or symtemology confused.
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I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go. ~Theodore Roethke |
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hartzofspace
Red Dragon
Joined: Apr 15, 2005
Posts: 3637
Location: In the basement, with the 'nomalies
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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What I meant, is the difference between developmental disorder and introversion, is that we find it difficult, if not impossible, to read and interpret things like facial expressions, non verbal cues, etc. Whereas if a person is just introverted, they may be able to decipher these things, but just prefer their own company. Some of us on the spectrum (at least I did when younger) may genuinely wish to seek out the occasional social interaction, only to be confounded by this inability, over and over until we just stop trying.
I posted this because I see so many people stressing about whether or not they, or a child may have it. I honestly don't think introverts have it any easier in terms of acceptance in the mainstream.
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methinks
Deinonychus
Joined: Apr 07, 2007
Age: 40
Posts: 348
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Yes,there's chicken/egg forumlae with the spectrum,where most of us become intimate with our symptoms but more common explanations may leave us hollow.
As for deducing ideas of AS per posts here at WP,this forum both confuses and solidifies my notions of what "AS" actually is and what it means to me.Educationally I consider it but one source,albeit a sometimes invaluable one.If anything,WP shows how we all share atypical realities in very different ways,whether everyone here is actually on the spectrum or not.
I liked that Rufus book as mild entertainment,but I couldn't personally relate to many things she expressed,especially how she emphasized that being a "loner" was entirely her choice,nothing more or less.I like the idea of "choices" in theory,but my nervous system doesn't always agree. |
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blessedmom
Cynically Optimistic Daydreamer
Joined: Apr 10, 2007
Posts: 4266
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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I understand what you mean, hartzofspace.  I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, even though I have many of the same AS-like traits as my children and father. The main difference that sets me apart from them is that I can read non-verbal language extremely well. I am also extremely emotional and can empathize to the point that I take on the emotions and problems of others. I am very shy and introverted to the point that I don't want to socialize because I am afraid of the judgements of other people and I really prefer to do things that don't involve other people. I can function fine around others if and when I want to. Everything else about me fits the DSMV criteria for AS. My NT son also fits much of the criteria but is extremely social and empathetic. My daughter has exactly the same diagnosis as me.
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pluto
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 27, 2006
Age: 48
Posts: 1054
Location: Paisley,Scotland UK
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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That's a good point,hartzofspace.I can understand people who have just newly discovered
AS /Autism having questions about their own place on the spectrum,but if they still have
doubts even after reading extensively on WP or other sources then I reckon it means
they might just be introverted.
In my own case,I only had to read a different book (Tony Attwood's) and I was left with
no doubts at all that I have AS. It's not so much the formal DSM Criteria but all the intricate details,personal accounts and possible secondary traits that clinched it for me. The fact that the
book described exactly how I used to walk to school and how I can see numbers etc as
different colours gave me more insight than the standard criteria alone. I think the forums
here on WP give the same kind of insight.
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hartzofspace
Red Dragon
Joined: Apr 15, 2005
Posts: 3637
Location: In the basement, with the 'nomalies
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| No matter what, I am always glad to have found WP. Because regardless of what we find to be the truth about what makes us tick, the validation found here is priceless. I have learned so much more about myself through the sharing of others. And it's especially refreshing that one spectrum size does not necessarily fit all. The richly varied input that I find here is endlessly interesting. |
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wendytheweird
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 10, 2006
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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I have had people tell me that I can't possibly have AS b/c I make good conversation and good eye contact. I am self-diagnosed, btw, 9mos ago. And every once in a while, when people say things like that, I second guess myself and think maybe I don't have it. But I'm very sure I do. And whenever I see people who know a lot about AS, they try to diplomatically tell me they think I have it, and I always laugh and say, Oh, I already know I have AS, you don't have to hint around like that. Like my son's OT. Or other parents of aspies I meet at groups. Everyone else just thinks I'm weird and obnoxious. I'm definitely not an introvert. I'm more in your face.  |
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calandale
Stellar's Jay
Joined: Mar 10, 2007
Posts: 15131
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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Didn't wonder one bit,
until I noticed NPD. Still,
too many things seem
classic AS in me. Way
too many. |
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wendytheweird
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 10, 2006
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| what's NPD? |
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agentcyclosarin
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 26, 2007
Posts: 891
Location: Above
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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We do not know the history of every individual.
We have not seen how they act.
We have not known them, observed them
studied them.
I do agree however, there are people here from the information presented that seem not to have AS. This does not make it fact. When I come here though I don't think, "I'm talking to aspies." I look at a thread and give my input on the thread. The who is not concerning unless it interferes with the what.
We can tell much from what they present but if they are not presenting things that could lead to AS as a conclusion than no, we would not know whether they do or do not. Also, many may not even notice things they do out of it becomming just so habitual. Such as, when I first started looking in to AS I never thought I stimmed. While I don't hand flap and I don't extrovertedly stim too much, I do stim and I stim a lot more introvertedly. Some people start with the end.
With me,
yes, I am very introverted.
I'm not always very introverted.
Sometimes I can come off as very extroverted.
Situations depend, I have a complex system if you will.
Point aside, there is clearly things I miss
and things I clearly do not understand
and things that I have clearly always had problems with
symptoms that are very obviously aspergers related.
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skahthic
Phoenix
Joined: May 11, 2007
Posts: 849
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| wendytheweird wrote: | | what's NPD? |
It's the police department.
Really, though--- how is one to tell anything without going to a doctor, and even then any diagnosis is based on what you tell them and the Sx you show while you're there? They need to put hidden cameras around and see what a person's life is like OUTSIDE the doctor's office.
At times I am introverted, and other times I can be quite loud and out there--- but i never could be like everyone else. I sometimes feel like being around/with other people, but after feeling like a 3rd wheel and/or not melding with them it gets old and tiring. I can read certain body language real well ( I can see crying as sad and smiling as happy) but sometimes the subtle things (like people getting bored with one of my stories or disinterest) get totally lost on me. It's EASIER to not be bothered TRYING to fit in--- that's why most people either love me or hate me, since I just don't give a crap anymore and people just have to deal with me as i am.
I've felt like this my whole life, it's not a recent thing. I've had times in my life when I've done better than others, depending on the people and circumstances surrounding me. |
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janicka
Jedi Violinist
Joined: Sep 12, 2006
Posts: 2174
Location: Mountain Paradise
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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ASD's are a "spectrum", so some people will be milder than others. I can think of no objective cut-off to distinguish between an introvert and spectrumite.  |
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hartzofspace
Red Dragon
Joined: Apr 15, 2005
Posts: 3637
Location: In the basement, with the 'nomalies
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, that's just it. I can't think of one, either. I guess, in the end, it only matters that we understand ourselves, and what it will take to get along on the planet. Doctors can only take you so far. I had one Social Worker suggest AS to me, but had to go through about three different so called mental health experts before I could get a diagnoses.
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