New member and a little lost

Post Reply New Topic

I just joined this forum and I'm not really sure how forums work (although I peruse them often, I never post ) - so as I write this I'm not sure if this is what I'm supposed to do (ie Do I start a new topic?? Do I write in this square box? etc.) I joined because a mental health professional suggested I may have Aspergers which I was unfamiliar with. After reading more info and reading others personal experiences I see similarities but some differences too. I scored 34 on the AQ which seems slightly in. I was hoping some of you folks could help me figure it out better. I have no insurance (U.S.A.) and so am unlikely to get any quality professional attention hence I've wandered here. Have trouble socializing, can't multitask, fairly logical, tend toward special interests. The big difference is my early childhood didn't seem exceptionally "Aspergery" and sensory anomalies are not very significant (very mild). Sorry for not being more specific - but if I do that I'll write ten paragraphs and I don't want to overwhelm my readers. I'll just need some guidance in how to proceed. Let me finish this entry by saying despite some differences I can very much relate (or think I can relate) to others experiences here.

Welcome aboard.

you're doing fine- as far as posting a message and starting a thread.

Many here are self diagnosed.

I was for a long time before I got officially diagnosed.

Which I recomend doing if you get the funding for it.

But anyway- ive taken those self diagnostic tests on the net, and I get ambiguous results ( not clearly one way nor the other) so if you dont get a definite score when you take those kind of tests dont worry. You still fit in here.

Welcome!

How you proceed depends on what you want to do or where you want to go.

In many places, once you get out of school there is little to be had in the way of government assistance. There are a variety of reasons for this--one is budget cutting and increasing need as more kids are diagnosed. But, perhaps the biggest one is that Aspergers is a developmental disability most easily diagnosed when you are young--once you get into adulthood you now have to differentiate Aspergers from mental illnesses. Actually, you have to in childhood as well, but you might say the odds are now flipped.

Also, assistance, if any, is largely geared to getting you employed in the work force--I've yet to hear of government assistance in dating and relationships--which is a big concern on this board. There are now some books on this topic that may help.

Welcome!

Hi Finndigg! Welcome to Wrong Planet! Check out the different forums here. They are interesting and helpful. You are doing fine your posting. You are among friends here at WP!

Welcome to Wrong Planet. Nice to meet you. I am new to this forum.

Clayton

if you want to start a new topic just click on "new topic", and for an answer "post a reply."
you can get on the internet, type the words "are you an aspie" or "am i an aspie" and you'll get tests, you can try those.
i'm self diagnosed myself, but i'm sure i have it, because i have so many autistic traits, especially flipping fingers, which i've never seen or heard an NT do.
you're gonna love this forum. it's fun. it's good to know there are others like you out there and they understand what you're going through. i used to feel like an idiot every time i made a mistake and misinterpreted people, said or did the wrong thing. now i feel much better about it.

Thanks for the welcome. To Felinesaresuperior I may not have strong or immediately obvious autistic traits - I suspect I look and act quite neurotypical to casual acquaintances - but there are things including (especially) "internal" things. One thing I do (external) is grimace and rub my hands together occasionally particularly when I'm angry or stressed. My best friend said she never saw anybody do that. I have to monitor myself when I catch myself doing it because I can press so hard I may strain my neck. Very few people see me do this, this but if you are around me long enough you will. One person I was around often at work stopped and asked "what are you doing - are you ok?" I couldn't explain. I don't know if this is "autistic" or not but yesterday I saw the famous Asperger surfer Clay Marzo in the video "Just Add Water" on you tube (check it out) and he was doing it. I don't know if it's the same but it looks the same. I don't know if he does it all the time - I only do it now and then. But what is it? Why does he do it? And I wonder why I do it?

Welkome to WP

Mick