I need some help regarding my mental health - possibility of having ASD.

[Liam_]

Hi.

My name is Liam, I am currently 18 and I just joined this forum. I hope you all are having a good day and I hope I can use this forum to find out more about my mental health.

3 years ago, my nephew was born and ever since my sister and my brother in law had procedures in place to find out he was autistic, which we discovered he is in fact on the spectrum around a year and a half ago.

Our family never really studied autism as a possibility for any of us, but ever since my nephew was born there were different things to consider, which were, in fact, good or bad. My sister studies biology (or something similar, I don't know much about Science to be fair), and she has said I have quite a few traits and believe I have at least a mild "version" of autism. Not only has my sister said it, but my friend who has AS suggests that I also have AS, as well as other people that have mentioned something very similar. My teacher when I was in pre-school or sometime before primary school also commented on my work in my booklet mentioning that they suspect I have ASD, although it was a teacher's note and was not taken further since it was around 12-14 years ago.

I plan to get tested - although I'd really appreciate anyone who could give their opinion to my characteristics and see if they can notice anything that could lead me to belong somewhere on the spectrum, or not at all. Whilst I do also know the spectrum is really big and subjective, I would still like to know so I can bring up some possibilities for when I do get the appointments for... Well, just checking up whether I belong on the spectrum or so I can get diagnosed.

I've used different articles online to find symptoms of autism and different types of autism to see if I can develop characteristics that can further develop into symptoms. Here are links to those articles/pages.
Symptoms
Does My Child Have Autism? Recognizing the Early Signs and Symptoms of Autism
What Are the Symptoms of Autism? | Autism Speaks
https://www.medicinenet.com/asperger_syndrome/article.htm

I've also used open source autism tests on the internet and here are my results:
Quick Autism Test - 2 Minutes, Instant Results. - score: 35 - Autism likely
https://www.additudemag.com/screener-autism-spectrum-disorder-symptoms-test-adults/?tos=accepted score: 76%
Autism Spectrum Quotient - Your score was 37 out of a possible 50. Scores in the 33-50 range indicate significant Austistic traits (Autism)


Because none of you personally know me, I have identified some of these symptoms myself as well as my mother which has helped identify some I may have missed.
From the NHS problems, I have discovered that my mother believes I have pretty much everything with dyspraxia and that I had depression at a very young age. I personally also believe I have sensory problems with light, but nothing too problematic, as well as sensory to sounds with certain sounds. Such as bus and truck noises when they drive on the road, as well as the sound of polystyrene (as an example.) In addition, I somewhat have communication issues where I cannot really verbally speak decently. I have random slurs and random moments where I have to pause because I cannot directly think of how to express anything on the topic, and therefore cannot really socialise.

I also cannot do the following:

• Maintaining a conversation
• Cannot (ever) maintain eye contact with someone - always turn head to the side when talking to someone or listening to someone.
• Cannot understand jokes, sarcasm, facial expressions or body language. - Furthermore, I take things literally.

In my personal life, I never ever go outside and socialise with friends and therefore have a secluded life. The closest thing I've ever done is go out to a cinema with a friend for his birthday and that is pretty much it. I've never had a social life other than talking to good friends on the internet. I also get upset when I do not do things the same exact way I have always done it. For example, whilst this is a totally random example but also personal for me, I get upset if I have to go to a different toilet whilst I'm at college compared to the one I always go to because then I gain anxiety and feel lost entirely. I also get super anxious when people such as family arrive at my house without notice, and therefore conflicts my own personal schedule. I also repeatedly spin on my chair without intentionally doing so, which can inflict on "Repetitive body movements (e.g. rocking, flapping, spinning, running back and forth)", as well as being overwhelmed by other people and social interactions in general. In addition, I get paranoid/upset if I don't take the same way to college and feel lost when I cannot do so.


From the friend who has AS, he has mentioned and giving me a list of some stuff he has thought I have in terms of having a form of autism. This includes:

• Lack of understanding people's emotions.
• Not interested in relationships.
• Obsessive interests.
• Being very systematic.

The whole point of this thread was just to ask if anyone here believes I have some form of autism on the spectrum with some of my symptoms above. In no way am I using this to self-diagnose myself, but getting feedback from you all that I presume have experience with this problem can help identify if I do in fact have it.

Thank you if anyone could assist me with this problem. Love you guys and have a good day

 

[Bolletje]

You could be on the spectrum, but we can’t know for sure.

 

[Liam_]

You could be on the spectrum, but we can’t know for sure.

Oh RIP, sorry if it's too subjective or wide of a spectrum. I just hope if I got some opinions from people who've had experience with the problem I'd be able to find a solution. Thanks for reading.

I probably misunderstand the whole idea of an autism spectrum as a whole, but worth creating a post just to find out how people generally view things.

 

[Bolletje]

Oh RIP, sorry if it's too subjective or wide of a spectrum. I just hope if I got some opinions from people who've had experience with the problem I'd be able to find a solution. Thanks for reading.

I probably misunderstand the whole idea of an autism spectrum as a whole, but worth creating a post just to find out how people generally view things.

Thing is, you could be on the spectrum, some of the things you list surely fit the bill. But you could also be a non-autistic clumsy, socially awkward introvert with a special interests. Your lack of interests in relationships could be from being aromantic or asexual. I could theorize until my teeth fall out about your hypothetical autism, but it won’t really make a difference because I simply can’t do telediagnostics

And it being a spectrum, there are so many people who are on the spectrum who don’t share all of the traits you listed. Those are pretty stereotypical, but the stereotype doesn’t do justice to how varied people on the spectrum are. Quite a few of the people on these forums are interested in relationships and are in a relationship or marriage. Quite a few of these people do understand emotions and can read faces.

What I mean to say is, it’s not impossible that you’re on the spectrum, but it’s not the only explanation.

 

[Pats]

Hi Liam. You, indeed have traits that would lead one to believe you were on the spectrum. Many on here are self diagnosed and don't need an official diagnosis. I think what Bolletje is saying is that we, nor anyone else who is not specialized, can give a diagnosis. You've read through the articles, you've tested yourself, you have reason to believe you are on the spectrum and you can answer that better than anyone else can.
There are so many articles and videos for more information. I was diagnosed at 58, not 60 and still look up specific things to see whether it relates to autism or if it's a normal thing - usually to find it relates to autism. One of my daughters and one of my sons both realize that they are ASD but neither feel a need to be officially diagnosed, and just take it as they are who they are. I personally feel in the case of a grandson that I have no doubt about that it's important to know to help him through the struggles and learn how to control meltdowns and possibly unaccepted behaviors, like hitting people. There are certain do's and don'ts that everyone has to learn and I think some of these things are more difficult for some on the spectrum and there my be better ways to teach them than the typical approach. I don't know - just all my opinion. I just know the struggles I had getting through life and if I could make it easier for my kids or grandkids I want to. But on the other hand, will it make them weaker and give them excuses for unacceptable behaviors? It didn't take me long to learn to control meltdowns when you see your dad pulling off his belt saying, "I'll give you something to cry about". Thus, my meltdowns are pretty controllable. lol
I also feel that you're comparing traits to autism traits. That's what professionals are going to do. Can they really diagnose 100% without physically looking at your brain function - just like ahlzeimers they don't know for sure unless they look at the brain tissue and they can't do that if you're alive, so while they can diagnose based on traits, all they can really say is, yep, you have the same traits, which you already know. Just saying and don't know why I'm throwing all that in there. It's just where my mind happens to be going.
You're looking for a definite. Most of us on this forum have probably read so much on the subject we could easily become experts if we went for certification. LOL
Welcome to this forum. You'll learn a lot. Go through and read some of the threads others have posted about specifics and see how much you can relate to those things. That also gives a lot of the "Oh wow"s and "that's so me"s.

 

[Liam_]

Thing is, you could be on the spectrum, some of the things you list surely fit the bill. But you could also be a non-autistic clumsy, socially awkward introvert with a special interests. Your lack of interests in relationships could be from being aromantic or asexual. I could theorize until my teeth fall out about your hypothetical autism, but it won’t really make a difference because I simply can’t do telediagnostics

And it being a spectrum, there are so many people who are on the spectrum who don’t share all of the traits you listed. Those are pretty stereotypical, but the stereotype doesn’t do justice to how varied people on the spectrum are. Quite a few of the people on these forums are interested in relationships and are in a relationship or marriage. Quite a few of these people do understand emotions and can read faces.

What I mean to say is, it’s not impossible that you’re on the spectrum, but it’s not the only explanation.

Hi Liam. You, indeed have traits that would lead one to believe you were on the spectrum. Many on here are self diagnosed and don't need an official diagnosis. I think what Bolletje is saying is that we, nor anyone else who is not specialized, can give a diagnosis. You've read through the articles, you've tested yourself, you have reason to believe you are on the spectrum and you can answer that better than anyone else can.
There are so many articles and videos for more information. I was diagnosed at 58, not 60 and still look up specific things to see whether it relates to autism or if it's a normal thing - usually to find it relates to autism. One of my daughters and one of my sons both realize that they are ASD but neither feel a need to be officially diagnosed, and just take it as they are who they are. I personally feel in the case of a grandson that I have no doubt about that it's important to know to help him through the struggles and learn how to control meltdowns and possibly unaccepted behaviors, like hitting people. There are certain do's and don'ts that everyone has to learn and I think some of these things are more difficult for some on the spectrum and there my be better ways to teach them than the typical approach. I don't know - just all my opinion. I just know the struggles I had getting through life and if I could make it easier for my kids or grandkids I want to. But on the other hand, will it make them weaker and give them excuses for unacceptable behaviors? It didn't take me long to learn to control meltdowns when you see your dad pulling off his belt saying, "I'll give you something to cry about". Thus, my meltdowns are pretty controllable. lol
I also feel that you're comparing traits to autism traits. That's what professionals are going to do. Can they really diagnose 100% without physically looking at your brain function - just like ahlzeimers they don't know for sure unless they look at the brain tissue and they can't do that if you're alive, so while they can diagnose based on traits, all they can really say is, yep, you have the same traits, which you already know. Just saying and don't know why I'm throwing all that in there. It's just where my mind happens to be going.
You're looking for a definite. Most of us on this forum have probably read so much on the subject we could easily become experts if we went for certification. LOL
Welcome to this forum. You'll learn a lot. Go through and read some of the threads others have posted about specifics and see how much you can relate to those things. That also gives a lot of the "Oh wow"s and "that's so me"s.

Thanks, both for the advice!

To be honest I didn't really know what to dedicate myself to find out how to find these things out, especially since these test websites. I don't really know much of the spectrum (as clarified) and I appreciate you educating me more about it. Especially since you've lived your life and everything you do is your own normal. Fair enough of speaking your own experience, as that is what I'm also looking for.

To be entirely honest, I am hoping to get a diagnosis from a doctor to help with my college and possibly with work, which just in case is if I do in fact have some form of it. This is also because I feel like I am struggling because of it, but would like a definite answer. I also just would like to know if I have it from a professional standpoint as anything from the internet can be manipulative in my opinion. The tests I have done however seem to be at an extent valid and I hope to print it off and mention it to my doctor when I have my appointment booked, which is the advice I had got from my sister.

Also, thanks so much for welcoming me to this forum. Nice to meet you all and thanks for answering my query.

 

[Tom]

Exposure to others on the spectrum can be helpful. Participating in threads that interest you, or starting new ones, asking specific questions. No one knows anything about autism at first, so don't feel bad about that.

Coincidentally, when a nephew of mine was diagnosed, led me to my first suspicions (I was in my late 30's) I was on the spectrum as I read about it to learn about him. I always knew I was different and people occasionally called me that but we did not know about HFA back in my day.

 

[Liam_]

Exposure to others on the spectrum can be helpful. Participating in threads that interest you, or starting new ones, asking specific questions. No one knows anything about autism at first, so don't feel bad about that.

Coincidentally, when a nephew of mine was diagnosed, led me to my first suspicions (I was in my late 30's) I was on the spectrum as I read about it to learn about him. I always knew I was different and people occasionally called me that but we did not know about HFA back in my day.

Exactly what I was doing. I wanted to bond with my nephew more despite being very antisocial and try my best. My sister mentioned it towards me that she sees a lot of traits in me, but because it is my own normal I didn't really think the possibility. Glad that you have a very similar experience!

 

[Nervous Rex]

@Liam_, you may or may not be on the spectrum - that's for the doctors to determine.

But don't let that stop you from coming here, asking questions, and participating. Maybe you can get some useful advice or coping tools for particular issues. I know a lot of people here are willing to share what works for us.

 

[TempeFan]

It's great that you have joined us. It seems you are willing to learn and understand. Whether or not you are ASD, you have a family member who will benefit greatly from having an uncle in the know.

 

[Liam_]

Sorry I have not replied in a while. Been sick since Thursday (and still sick )

@Liam_, you may or may not be on the spectrum - that's for the doctors to determine.

But don't let that stop you from coming here, asking questions, and participating. Maybe you can get some useful advice or coping tools for particular issues. I know a lot of people here are willing to share what works for us.

Thanks! I hope I can find some of this useful or try to find something useful for other members.

It's great that you have joined us. It seems you are willing to learn and understand. Whether or not you are ASD, you have a family member who will benefit greatly from having an uncle in the know.

Yeah haha , just trying to understand but I'm also doing it for myself. I've been told I have had ASD from primary teachers and through years after that, hence why I joined the forum to ask the question.

But yea! Thanks all for the answers. Again sorry for not replying in a while.