Could I have AS?

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I have to say, this is not entirely a topic I ever thought about, but it is a very interesting question that came about from a discussion with one of my friends. He said there are starting to be links between ADHD and AS, and he also said he always viewed ADHD and ADD the same disorder.

I have ADD. I've been through a huge amount of pain in my past, due to a father that abandoned me and my family, and on weekends my mom tried to shove me on his doorstep despite all my pleas of "I don't want to go." I've been doing some research, and the symptoms I have seem to be leaning more towards Bipolar II Disorder, with BPD added in. I tend to be extremely emotional because of this, to the point I fear failure, and I see any instance of failing as a sign that I could be abandoned once more. I don't always open up to my friends, yet I tend to be an open book when pressed for questions. I believe I can understand emotions very well, because I tend to figure out by the wording of what someone gives as a basis to form a thought of what emotion they could have. I've also been called a "seer" in that respect because I tend to turn into a sponge with emotions and actually absorb other emotions others show as my own.

I love computers, hardware and software. I don't look into it all the time, but I try to make my computers function the best they can. I also like to write, draw, and talk to friends. I talk to my friends more than I do anything else, literally spending day after day trying to keep in touch with them all.

I don't entirely know if I have AS or not, but if so, it must be very mild or it would've been discovered a long time ago. I'll be 21 soon, so I don't know how that will affect things. Does anyone have an opinion? I've always been seen as "normal" or NT all my life, though when I was younger I had a speech impediment with making "S," "Sh," "C," and "Ch" sounds. I don't entirely know what to do, though if I am, I don't care too much. I've always been seen as weird, so I doubt I'd be phased much by this. But again, what do you all think? Feel free to ask questions; I have no reason to hide anything.

Well, AFAIK, the term "ADD" has been superseded by ADHD, so in a way your friend is right in they both reference the same thing. There's a distinction between the hyperactive and inattentive versions, but they're all referenced under the same term. I haven't read into this too much but it's not uncommon for people with ASD to also have ADHD. That being said, not everyone with ASD has ADHD, and not everyone with ADHD has ASD.

From the information you've given, I would be surprised if you were on the spectrum, but then again I'm not a diagnostician so take those words with a grain of salt. I don't know how you were/are like socially, for instance. Did/do you have any obsessive interests as well?

There's some online tests you can use as a guide to whether you might have ASD traits or not. It can be found here: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt113459.html. Mind you, they are online tests so they won't be 100% accurate but it might help in giving you some direction.

Also, if you have concerns that your BP and/or BPD, then it's best to talk to a doctor.

It is impossible to tell based on the information given, and even so, an internet forum cannot dignose you. First, look up the diagnostic criteria for AS and, if you think you fit them and need appropriate services, see a good psychiatrist or neuropsych and ask them if you can undergo the ADOS (basically the gold standard for ASD testing). If you function well in day-to-day life and do not need services, there is really no reason to seek a diagnosis.

ADD is no longer a diagnostic term, although it is frequently used by lay people. In 1994, it was changed to ADHD (PI, PH, or both).

You mention having lots of friends. That would make me question whether you have AS. I know some AS people are a bit more social than others, but as a whole, from what I have read, they don't seem to have LOTS of friends.

You mentioned "BPD"--short for borderline personality disorder? Because what you're talking about seems to match pretty well with borderline personality--the way you are frightened of losing your friends and spend all your time trying to keep in touch; the way you "absorb emotions" from other people...

I've talked to a doctor about a week or so after making my first post, and he recommended that I talk to a psychiatrist or councilor, to see if I do indeed have ASD. I knew it wasn't my doctor's specialty, so it could just be that he has no idea, or he may really know something. He did ask a few questions (like if I ever wished to drive, or if I had any profound interests) and while I would like to drive a car or something, I don't really know if I'd be able to handle it that well. I told him about my extreme liking of computers (though not in-depth) and he seemed to think it was necessary for me to have it checked out.

I took a couple of the tests, and I checked the one that looks at those that are highly sensitive...I scored a 19. I don't remember the other scores, but it does seem like I may be in the spectrum. I'll be looking into it more when I'm on my university's campus since this is something I really want to find out. It may explain a bit more about me.

I also have a split personality. My "other side" as I call it actually is a lot more emotionally sound than I am, but it is a bit more cold. It doesn't actively try to hurt anyone, and I've made quite a few of my friends aware that it exists. It only comes out when I allow it and I feel there is a true need, but other than that it doesn't come out that much at all.



I wasn't seeking an actual diagnosis from here, I was actually seeking validity in my thoughts. I've looked into it and done some research (Wikipedia, if that counts, but then again I'm not writing a report) and I do match a bit of what it describes. The main reason I'm looking into this, as I just explained above, is so I can figure out more about myself. I'm always trying to figure out how to explain what anyone does; always looking behind the actions themselves and trying to find out causes. I also want to see if I can get some grants for college (I'm pretty far below the poverty line and I had to take loans for college, so I don't want to fall even lower). I hope none of that makes me sound horrible...



I tend to be more withdrawn when I'm up close, in person, but when I'm online I'm very social. It's harder for me to think of what to say when I'm face-to-face with someone than when I'm in front of a computer. I've got over 100 people that watch me through deviantART, and believe me that was not just because of the things I've written, and definitely not because of my artwork. But in person, I have very few people I really talk to, especially on a constant basis.



Yes, I believe I do have that. I always fear failing my friends, because I really don't want to disappoint anyone. I don't want to see anyone in pain at all, it hurts me very deeply when I see one of my friends in pain, especially if I'm the cause of it. I just want everyone to be happy...so I try my hardest to be perfect in making my friends happy, but I can't do that because I'm not perfect...I realize it logically, but emotionally it still hurts. I just don't always know what to do...I'm usually really good at helping, but lately I've become so stressed out that I just want to be alone anymore, at least for a little while. Of course, it's very hard for me to just shut out my friends because I know they're in pain...but I just can't do everything for them. Then sometimes they point out how I "wasn't there for them this one time" and then I just start crying...because I become so gripped by my fear of them leaving me that I just can't think of how else to fix it. I'm close to tears right now, just thinking about it...

Oh well...I hope this helps...if you have more questions, I will answer to the best of my ability. Sorry for such a late reply, just been busy lately.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aspe ... perger.htm