Board index › General Discussion › General Autism Discussion

I'm doubtful of my ASD diagnosis.

Page 2 of 2 [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

Previous topic | Next topic

SplendidSnail
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Jul 2017
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Posts: 892
Location: Canada

08 Jan 2018, 10:06 pm

Quantum wrote:
Yeah, pretty much this. Borderline "normal" is what I feel because the symptoms are mild enough to be managed/dismissed, with difficulties of course. So that difficulty is something I live with everyday and it's tearing me apart, especially since there are more and more demands when getting older. Social situations become more complicated and so on.

Questioning your own diagnosis is actually a common reaction of someone with high functioning ASD, particularly if they received the diagnosis at an age old enough to notice that it doesn't "feel" any different to have the diagnosis - even though everyone else around you easily accepts and agrees with the diagnosis.

I received my diagnosis about 7 months ago at age 36, and still often still find myself questioning it, even though I've felt "different" all my life, and it was a great relief to find out why (after I'd gotten over the shock of it).


_________________
Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder


fruitloop42
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

Joined: 14 Nov 2017
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 65

08 Jan 2018, 11:49 pm

SplendidSnail wrote:
Lost_dragon wrote:
What exactly does it mean for someone to put themselves in another's shoes?

Does this mean a good ability to predict someone's thoughts when considering their situation? So you think about what that person is like, what their situation is, and then speculate how and what they would be thinking/feeling?

Personally, I'm not great at reading facial expressions and tone (better than I was though), but sometimes I can do it... and if the above is considered putting yourself in another's shoes then I'm good at that.

Reading someone's facial expressions has nothing to do with cognative empathy - that's affective empathy.

I'd say predicting someone's thoughts considering their situation instinctively is what cognitive empathy is about. If you're doing it using logic or by remembering a similar situation you were previously in, it's not cognitive empathy. That's why kids on the spectrum often fail the Sally Anne test, while grown ups usually pass it - the grown ups compensate using logic or their own past experience.

I'm not sure, but I think two ways my lack of cognitive empathy tends to manifest is:
1) I hate arguing, but I find myself doing it an awful lot, presumably because I have trouble seeing the other person's perspective.
2) When I see someone sad, or in some other state where they need comfort, I tend to find myself standing around awkwardly, not really knowing what to do, again, likely because, not being able to see things from their perspective, I don't know what to do to help.


Ah, this makes a lot of sense. I'm glad I read this, I'm going to note it down somewhere.

I can relate to your point 2) a lot. It's very frustrating because while I would really like to help, I end up being self conscious, wondering what to do and likely no use at all.



nca14
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,351
Location: Poland

09 Jan 2018, 1:58 pm

I think that OP has in fact autism, based on what he wrote in this topic.

I also have doubts about my diagnosis. I think that I am not on the spectrum despite receiving Asperger's syndrome diagnosis.



Balbituate
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

Joined: 13 Nov 2017
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 207
Location: New Zealand

09 Jan 2018, 2:11 pm

It shouldn’t matter if you truly have it or not. I was in the same position as you. I doubted if I have ASD or not because I can read body language and tone of voice. But a lot of my other symptoms fit like my obsessions. I’m also not that great socially. I personally believe my ASD symptoms are caused by chemical imbalances in my body instead of my brain being wired differently. I prefer not to tell people about my label because I don’t find it helpful when people see me as autistic. It just tends to confuse them more. I still find this forum helpful because I can relate to a lot of issues people with ASD have.



DancingQueen
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 3 Jan 2018
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Posts: 176
Location: UK

09 Jan 2018, 2:43 pm

Quantum wrote:
Nice, at least I have someone to relate with. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
:D


SplendidSnail wrote:
I'd say predicting someone's thoughts considering their situation instinctively is what cognitive empathy is about. If you're doing it using logic or by remembering a similar situation you were previously in, it's not cognitive empathy.
I thought that was how everyone, NTs included, empathised? That's why nobody truly understands until they have gone through the same thing. But that doesn't mean you talk it through to yourself in your head like a running commentary. It's more like a flashback. Your friend says they split up with their boyfriend --> you feel the feeling splitting up with your boyfriend in the past made you feel --> you feel pity for your friend. That takes place in a split second and no words have been thought, is that instinct or logic?

I'm terrible at comforting people too. I panic and can't think of anything to say and wind up hating myself for being so useless and not doing my duty of looking after them.


_________________
Aspergers
INFP


MagicKnight
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

Joined: 14 Mar 2016
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 463

09 Jan 2018, 2:48 pm

Quantum wrote:
Because I can read other peoples face expressions and emotions. I think there is a major requirement of not being able to do just that.


I'm highly empathic. I can read facial expressions, even if I'm not the best one at that sport. I can understand irony and sarcasm - to some extent. All that, and I was diagnosed with Aspergers by two different professionals anyway.



livingwithautism
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 Sep 2015
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,337
Location: USA

09 Jan 2018, 3:17 pm

Quantum wrote:
Because I can read other peoples face expressions and emotions. I think there is a major requirement of not being able to do just that. I have had delayed speech to the age of 3. I can't maintain eye contact with anyone since my existence. I do have narrow interests such as only computers and studying and nothing else. Basically almost every single part of the diagnosis I fit.

The problem is that I'm able to read other people's expressions and emotions, perhaps in an inaccurate way since I tend to misinterpret a lot of situations. I can also socialize without problems. Surely I can't maintain eye contact, I can't chitchat and I'm generally anxious, but I can still get friends and maintain that since I have done it. I'm mostly expressionless and when I'm anxious/stressed I become monotonous.

I do have a troubled history so I'm not sure if my issues are due to that. I'm also a generally emotionally unstable person, difficult to control and understand my mind.

Does this sound like ASD or something else?


Sounds like you could have some level of ASD and also depression. Everyone with ASD is different and not all have the same impairments. Yes, there are minimum requirements, but those requirements can be expressed in many different ways and still qualify.