gotSTEAM?
Branch Line Engine
Still dreaming <3
Posts: 1,234
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Post by gotSTEAM? on Sept 26, 2007 3:50:18 GMT
Yeah, all throughout school I think I wanted to murder over 200 people... guess being in a Chicago gang school with something that nobody there had heard of made it kinda easy to craft a hit list... I didn't kill anyone, but I sure got into my fair share of fights ^^' I still wish those people would meet a horrible fate... my doctors and parents call it perseverating on the past... dang, another Asperger's thing... perseveration ^^' What really gets to me, however, is that in 1998, when I was diagnosed (a correction of my earlier belief of 1999, as I was corrected by my parents), there was NO information out there about Asperger's. It really wasn't until 1999 (and by this time I had done something so horrible I won't discuss it here), that my mom stumbled across this holy grail of information, that finally she had some answers. And now, post 2000, our B&N has a whole section of stuff on Asperger's/Autism. Where was this stuff those years ago when I and my family needed it??? Boy, I'm on a tangent today... XD ~Elizabeth
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Post by FlyingScotsman on Oct 17, 2007 19:49:15 GMT
I just got diagnosed with it myself. A friend was diagnosed, and suggested that I might also have it. She lent me a book on the subject, one which is used by psychological healthcare professionals, and it was extremely disturbing to see how precisely I fitted the characteristics. So I got myself checked out, and there it is. I must say, I almost feel angry about it - I've spent the better part of a quarter-century thinking I was weird, stupid and even a bad person.
For instance, I quite often say things that appear insensitive or callous, which always confuse me because they didn't seem so at the time. I've been accused of appearing insincere and mysterious, and even had people say that the emotion I'm displaying is different to the one I claim to have. Well, turns out all this is fairly typical of your actual high-functioning Aspie (I hate that term, but it's convenient). Emotional display and reading of emotions are both typically stunted. I also have difficulty forming close emotional bonds, but make friends very easily.
I tend to be clumsy - embarrassingly so. It's a thing that friends often joked about, which frankly I found a little upsetting. It's not like I wasn't watching where I was going, I just couldn't coordinate myself properly. Again, this is a common symptom.
Aspies often learn to mimic the reactions of others in order to fit in. Many become actors as a result, and because they feel more comfortable adopting a personality. As people who've read my stuff on here will know, I'm a big fan of drama and have done a lot of acting.
Aspies often tend to talk in a distinctive way. Exhibit A - everything I've ever posted on SIF.
Aspies tend to become depressed because they never quite fit in, and immerse themselves in fictional universes or the sort of topics that require attention to detail. In fact, the book I read specifically talks about trains as a typical example.
Anyway, the list goes on. I've learnt an awful lot about the condition. Most notably, the whole "socially awkward, likes computers" stereotype commonly used is too simplistic. The reality is far more complex, and I would recommend that anyone who thinks they have the condition get themselves professionally checked out before leaping to conclusions.
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Nanaki
Main Line Engine
Just wolfing around.
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Nanaki on Oct 24, 2007 14:56:13 GMT
Oh wow...I'm really sorry you had to go through that, FS. D:
I met another kid with AS recently. The difference between him and I is that I can control it. This guy, we'll call him Rob, will talk FOREVER about South Park or Family Guy, and his only real friends are his teachers. Other than that, he's kind of seperated himself from everybody else, unless they mention one of the two subjects above. Once he does go on and on about FG or SP, however, it becomes irritating and people generally stay back.
For me, I had to train myself not to let my AS pop out of me like candy from a pinata. To do that, I met another person with AS, my friend Steph. She points out EVERYTHING you do that seems AS-ish, and she'll keep telling you to stop until, over time, you actually do.
So for me, the best way to become more social while being AS is not by denying that you like the things you do, but instead, get into something that non-AS people like as well, and get to know them. Anime is usually a good example of this; lots of people like it, and not all of them are AS.
To do this, however, don't blurt out something like "OMG you like Naruto? SO DO I!!!!" Instead, try something like "Oh dude, you like Naruto too? That's pretty cool," and then stay a short distance away; not too far away, but not directly next to the person. This way, the other person will know your there and might even come up to you and talk about Naruto (or whatever else it may be).
After that, if it works out, you may end up liking something else, and have more things to create a good friendship. Maybe they'll even turn out to have more friends and they're all hanging out on the mall Saturday, and ask you to tag along. ^^
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Post by Halstead on Jan 13, 2008 20:20:16 GMT
Autism Spectrum Quotient TestI found this somewhere else on another board which may be appropriate on here. Basically you fill in a number of questions concerning your life and see what score you get as a result. I got 34 which is fairly high in my standards, but I'm not really worried about it as autism is something I've had since the beginning, you can't get rid of it and yes I do like collecting maps.
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Post by Chris The Xelent on Jan 13, 2008 21:06:02 GMT
I got 21 which is scraping the 'Below Average' category. Although I knew my case was a fairly mild one, the score was better than I was expecting.
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Post by chrisburrell on Jan 13, 2008 21:22:08 GMT
I got 29, which just about goes into the 'Above Average' category. Not too bad, considering my case is supposed to be pretty mild...
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Post by CPK on Jan 13, 2008 21:30:45 GMT
It gave me a 14, which is just slightly below what most people get. Some people think I may have Autism, but I've never really seen why. I just have a habit of not liking certain people.
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Post by Devious Diesel on Jan 13, 2008 21:32:02 GMT
Mine's 22, which is average. I've always known that my autism has never affected my learning, just my temper control.
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Davey
Goods Engine
V
Posts: 488
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Post by Davey on Jan 13, 2008 21:35:16 GMT
I got 14, which is average. To be honest, I have always wondered if I had Autism, as it would explain my interests in trains etc. While I'm pretty sure I don't have it, it has been something that I've wondered about for quite some time. I guess this means I don't have it, but if that test had given me a higher score, then I would probably have wanted to have a professional test.
Although I thought a couple of questions in there were slightly odd to be honest. Question 20 especially;
"When I'm reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions"
That could be down to the way a character is written in a book, its not neccesarily down to weather or not the reader is autistic. If I'm honest, I found a couple of questions there difficult to answer as they seemed a bit vague and dependant on situation.
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PC Stratford
Passenger Engine
I'm a walking television show. I can't get away from it.
Posts: 755
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Post by PC Stratford on Jan 13, 2008 21:39:27 GMT
My score was 29 (above average) which I suppose isn't too bad. I think I'm starting to accept the whole Asperger thing that is in me. I notice the little quirks I have and how I eat my food in a certain way/order. Still, it doesn't get me down!
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Nanaki
Main Line Engine
Just wolfing around.
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Nanaki on Jan 13, 2008 22:12:56 GMT
I got a score of 21...funny, that's actually my birthday and lucky number. This might be weird to say, but I like being AS. I couldn't possibly imagine having my head work any differently than it does now. I've learned to hide my AS though...most people don't realize that I have it unless I tell them. xD
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Post by Ryan on Jan 13, 2008 22:21:17 GMT
Scored 15, but I suppose it's mainly down to personal characteristics and traits really. Often wondered if I do, but really I suppose it's just down to certain minor factors, like finding a lump and thinking it's cancer.
Regardless of whether I have it or not, it's a non-issue for me, would change nothing.
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Post by Cläy on Jan 13, 2008 23:41:23 GMT
I scored 33, which was a bit of an eye opener. I have suspected for some time that I have a form of Autism or Aspergers (my brother was tested for it about 18 months ago as well), so I wasn't totally shocked. It doesn't really make any difference - hell, the whole idea of sydnromes and whatever is a bit iffy. Why classify someone as Aspergers, or Downs Syndrome, or exceptional at football or something like that? It just dehumanises the human. Sorry, bit of a rant there...
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douglas
Main Line Engine
Posts: 2,256
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Post by douglas on Jan 13, 2008 23:42:39 GMT
I got 17, which is perfectly, mediocrily (word?) average for men. I'm antisocial at times, awkward sometimes in conversation, and a writer type.
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Post by Halstead on Jan 14, 2008 0:04:09 GMT
I got 17, which is perfectly, mediocrily (word?) average for men. I'm antisocial at times, awkward sometimes in conversation, and a writer type. I'm mostly like that too. I can also be very bad tempered sometimes and get angry if my brothers and sisters call me dan. However what I find strange is that while I don't generally like speaking to my brothers and sisters (and others), I seem to get on well with my cousins and the rest of my family and enjoy a good conversation with them. Also I can be more talkative after two beers...
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Post by Aidan on Jan 14, 2008 1:47:19 GMT
I'm about average with a score of 21.
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Post by Kate669 on Jan 14, 2008 2:10:05 GMT
I got a 25...above average.
Never really thought about it before...I was diagnosed with Tourette's/ADHD when I was in the fifth grade or so, but neither autism nor Asperger's were ever mentioned to my knowledge. Still, like Ryan said, it's a non-issue and shouldn't really change anything (although it might explain a few things).
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Post by Kyle on Jan 14, 2008 2:11:42 GMT
I just did the test to see what it was like, and it gave me a score of 10 (low). Still, I think that it doesn't matter if a person has ADD, Aspergers, Autism, or any other disorder/condition/etc, just so long as they are a good human being is all that should matter.
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Ronnie
Passenger Engine
I'm Great Western!
Posts: 727
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Post by Ronnie on Jan 14, 2008 2:48:03 GMT
I got a 26, which was a bit surprising for me. The thought that I would score something that high never really crossed my mind. Still though, I don't really care. A disorder like autism or aspergers really shouldn't make a difference to anyone in terms of how they view themselves (or others).
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D. Hay
Goods Engine
Posts: 203
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Post by D. Hay on Jan 14, 2008 3:30:04 GMT
I got a 32 on that, which is very high from what the numbering says. I'm certainly surprised. No wonder I feel like I'm not being treated properly at the high school, not to mention all those notes from the Teens with Autism Support group. I want to be respected at the high school like a mature and sensible student who isn't someone that can be simply brushed aside after a conversation. I want to be respected for the way I am, and not by my social activity. But it's not so.
Maybe I'm sounding out of my mind here, and I'm sorry if I am to you guys, but I don't want to be treated like trash.
Edit: But I do know that I have to make myself known by letting my voice out, instead of others coming up to me and doing so themselves.
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