Fraser_1990 wrote:
Social Anxiety can fit into Aspergers Syndrome and in most cases too. (Although not all cases).
Social Anxiety is what it is. It's the over-anxious feeling we get when we're around other people. Usually it tends to get worse the more people that surround us.
Aspergers Syndrome is far more extensive than that. As well as suffering from Social Anxiety Disorders, people with Aspergers also have other issues, such as becoming fixated on a particular interest. Being unable to read and understand facial expressions and social cues. Unable to identify and express their own emotions to other people. Failure to grasp situations. Unable to break out of routines, or find it unbearable to do so. We can appear to lack empathy on the surface. Being unable to recognize subtle tone changes in speech which can lead to us taking things literally when they're not intended to be. Having language and logical intelligence that is considered advanced for our age level. Being unable to look at people in the eyes, or not realizing when we're staring. Possible delays in motor development, making it take longer to master physical tasks. Often becoming over stimulated, caused by things such as bright lights, touching certain fabrics, hearing certain noises..... etc
It's important to understand however that no 2 people with Aspergers are exactly the same. We're all unique in our own way and our disabilities/abilities can vary greatly.
"It's important to understand however that no 2 people with Aspergers are exactly the same. We're all unique in our own way and our disabilities/abilities can vary greatly."
I'm glad you said that, Fraser_1990, because everything you said above that is way smarter than anything I could say.
I'm going to repeat Fraser's message that this is my experience only, not everybody's.
I know and am friends with a lot of people who have social anxiety, and something interesting I've noticed is a big discernible difference between us is our ability to make phone calls. People I know who are on the spectrum but don't have social anxiety have great phone calls with me (and in person conversations too—we’re all on the spectrum), but our conversations with others in person tend to be very awkward. I know people with anxiety both on and off the spectrum who cannot make any phone calls with me or anyone because they're afraid they'll say something stupid and nothing will convince them otherwise. As a person without social anxiety but still on the spectrum, I actually prefer phone calls because there are no facial cues I'm expected to be able to interpret. I'm also a lot better at putting inflections in my voice than putting my emotions/intentions in my face. The “checking in” (i.e., “are you still listening?”) I do with people to know whether they are still listening is considered polite over the phone and weird/unnecessary in person.
In short, a difference I'd say is that anxiety, defined by NAMI as a mental illness, would involve
irrational barriers to talking to people whereas accommodations (specifically addressing those barriers others mentioned above) are necessary to make me the rest of us feel comfortable. I can only certainly speak for my case, of course, which is one of only minor vocal impairments (abstract thought and therefore abstract speech is hard for me unless I’m reading from a prepared script, in which case it is no longer abstract).
Hope this individual experience is helpful.
_________________
"Don't listen to them
What do they know
We need each other
To have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together"--You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins.
11 Dec 2016, 5:41 pm
