First Post: Can anyone relate to this?

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Okay, so I'm 28, but I just started reading about asperger's, and I SERIOUSLY think I may have this. If anyone out there knows about it, can you tell me if this sounds right?

I'm an intelligent guy, but only about things that are concrete. More abstract things, primarily social interaction, confuse me. Its really frustrating, cause I cannot for the life of me, "get," other people. I feel like I should, like its not that hard, but it is that hard! I cant read body language or voice inflection, and I feel like my tone and mannerisms are misinterpreted by others.

Ive read tons of books on social skills, but it doesn't click. If I try to break down people into concrete "machines" to read and figure out, but there's too much info for me to keep track of and process, and I can't keep up, usually resulting in me acting even stranger than usual. I think it may even come across as manipulative, but I can't tell.

Needless to say, I have no confidence, which isn't irrational, cause I don't trust myself to be "smooth" enough to not come across as weird. I usually try to err on the side of caution and straight up ask if I'm being rude, but then I come across as SUPER insecure which is bad, too.

There are other things, too, but I'll stop here. Anyway, can someone who has and/or knows about Asperger's tell me if I sound like someone who may have this condition?

Yes I can relate. But there is a bit more to Asperger's, see http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/P ... px?rid=97#
Also http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/P ... px?rid=489
Welcome to WP hope you find what you're looking for

Oh yikes, you may want to look into it more.

Welcome, by the way.

Hi baaaark,

Pretty much everything you have written rings true to my experience. And I do believe it all fits well into the profile of somebody with AS. As mar00 wrote, there are more elements to an Aspergers diagnosis than those that you have described so far, so you might want to investigate a bit further to exclude other similar conditions.

However, I started out recognizing pretty much the exact same stuff you have described in myself. When I looked more deeply into the elements of Aspergers, I began to realize how many of them seemed to describe my situation to a T. If you check out the links mar00 posted, you will see the list of different criteria that must be met for a diagnosis.

For instance, one of four elements in set "B" of the new proposed diagnostic criteria (2 of which must be met) is "Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus". I realized how true this has always been with me - I have always fixated on a couple different very specific interests or topics and spent hours, days, and weeks investigating them. Then I have proceeded to essentially lecture other people I know on these topics for hours on end, boring them to death quite often. These topics of interest can rotate in and out every few months, though some last longer. This is also true of my taste in music - I will fixate on one band for several months, learn every detail I can about them, try and talk to others about those details, and then somehow I am surprised that they don't share my interest. (Despite the fact that I know am aware of this pattern, I still find it repeating too, which is a bit frustrating.)

Anyhow, welcome! (and you might also want to take the Aspie Quiz to get some idea of where you might fall on or off the spectrum - it's written in more specific and relatable language than the DSM manual).

Thanks guys. I know there is a LOT more to Asperger's than what I wrote, but I just learned what this was yesterday, and i didnt want to write an essay, lol. But what I have read seems eerily familiar. For example, I have issues with people touching me when I don't expect it (I jump out of my skin a lot of times, even when it is a hot girl or a friend ) I have other things too, but I'm writing too much probably.

I'll keep researching, and get a professional opinion if I still feel this way after learning more about it. Thanks for answers, feel free to keep them coming.

I was diagnosed at age 28 (I am 31 now) and I never had thought about Asperger's before that. Now, however, SO MUCH makes sense about my experiences in life.

Sorry to double-post, but someone mentioned a quiz. Where is that?

I suggest using WP search on top right corner with 'aspie/asperger's quiz/test'

Thanks. There is a sticky too for "tests" but I was looking for a "quiz" and didn't see it, lol.

Did I mention I take things very literally?

Literally is good
Look for aspie quiz. Whoops I've just done that, so http://rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php is rather long but interesting. And just to say that don't take these tests for granted; as with everything with a pinch of salt.