KinkyAspieDavid
Posts: 3
Joined: 6/23/2006 Status: offline
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Hi! Thanks for correcting the link! I was going by memory and forgot the 'wiki' part of the URL. Anyways, when I stated that I was self-diagnosed I should add it as tentative as I consider it highly likely that I do indeed have Asperger's Syndrome. However, it has only been recognised by the psychiatric community since 1994 (except for Germany and Austria) and since it is relatively new, many psychiatrists are unacquainted with Asperger's Syndrome and thus, there is a long wait to see a diagnostician for Asperger's Syndrome. I have been in Canada for only a year and before that lived in South Florida before that. I don't meet the popular Einsteinian stereotype of math and science savant. In fact, save for arithmetic, my math skills are indeed very poor. I have been unable to grasp algebra nor geometry. My areas of interests include computers and IT, politics and history. As for how I came to the conclusion that I likely have Aspergers: Well... I have been diagnosed with OCD (a co-morbid disorder). I first came across the very term of Asperger's Syndrome early in 2005 on an online political group. I typed in "Aspergers" in the search box of Wikipedia and read everything there on it, and then moved on to other sites such as OASIS. I read the diagnostic criteria and met all 6 of them and also fit more of the subcriteria than necessary for each criterion. Altogether, I meet all but one, or maybe two, at most, of the subcriteria. Logic therefore suggests I very likely do have Asperger's Syndrome. "Walk like a duck, talk like a duck..." As to the other conditions that are closely related: Autism - I am able to function socially, at least in a professional setting. I do come across as shy and reserved, perhaps even wooden, but I do interact with other people. I do prefer to be with a closed-circle of friends however. Asperger's in on the Autism Spectrum albeit much milder, relatively speaking than "classic" or Kanner's autism. Schizophrenia - I do NOT hear voices in my head and think logically and rationally. I am grounded in reality, perhaps too much, in fact. I also don't freak out in social settings, even though I might be nervous or uncomfortable if it's unfamiliar to me. I would like social interaction albeit it is very difficult for me as reading body language and many facial expressions are beyond my grasp. I tend to be 'gauche' socially and prone to making gaffes. All this combined and my life experiences all point to Asperger's Syndrome, both by fitting almost all Asperger's criteria plus not fitting the diagnostic criteria for related disorders. In my opinion, I believe logic and the process of elimination point to my social and inter-personal travails being caused by Asperger's Syndrome. Please respond with your thoughts and comments. -- David
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