Trying to figure out if I could be on the spectrum

[Streetwise]

Still have all her books -she loved biographies which she devoured from the library ,I think as she was in poor health no accommodations for back injuries at polytechnics in the 80s and after studying which made her shy of the course list of books biographies were a break
Of course she had to do entrance study to become a solicitor but didn't Have a law degree !so more University

Would recommend law if you don't want a social life not recommended for your mental health

 

[WittyAspie]

Pretty much! I like to think I've read all of the classics anyway




I'm currently still in school actually, but I should have my degree by this upcoming May!
I have no clue what a solicitor is, but good to know! I'll have to look into that when I start applying for work in a couple months.

So we will be graduating at the same time. I was going to ask if you had a specific career in mind, because I haven't got a clue.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Hi guys, I want to start this post off by saying I know at least the majority of you aren't medical professionals and aren't qualified to diagnose me or anything. I guess I'm just looking for opinions from people who know more than I do about ASD.


A bit about me:

-I'm a 21 year old female, currently enrolled in college and working part time (15 hours a week)
-I'm highly intelligent and do exceedingly well in school. That's one area that I excel at for sure, especially anything related to writing and literature. I can focus really well when I need to and almost never procrastinate.

I too am like this. Anything written is my forte.
I find myself procrastinating more these days though...

-As a child I used to have a lot of problems socially, never playing with or talking to other children even though I really wanted to.

Same. I had one friend at a time. I liked the thought of lots of friends but couldn't work out how to achieve it and I couldn't find many kids I actually liked enough to even want to befriend.

-I do have friends now, which I didn't start making until about 4th grade. I now have two at home and about three at school, who I am very close to.

I have acquaintances these days. One very good friend.
I seem to have a high expectancy of what a friend must be which results in people falling short. It's not judgemental as I do not think less of them, just means I don't put in the effort and get too invested.


-I have only seriously dated one person in the past for about 3 months, and he did not understand my need for quiet and space in any way, and I eventually had to break up with him. He wanted to party and drink and go out all the time, which is a nightmare scenario for me.

My relationships fizzle out for this reason too.
Most people like to go out and be social. If I am with someone I feel like I *am* being social. That is the social aspect, not being in public.



-I do like going out once or twice a week, usually shopping or eating out, but I hate super-crowded places. Parties and nightclubs are just awful for me.

I do not really care for shopping or eating out. Crowded places cause me anxiety. Parties are a nightmare.
I went to a nightclub a month ago and it was boring until I drank a bit and danced to songs I used to as a teenager. I had a great time but I think it really matters who you are there with. I would never have gone on my own.

-I am able to handle school and a job, but not without frequent bouts of anxiety. I did work full-time-ish one summer (about 36 hours a week) and I was near-breakdown almost every day. When I got home I would just start crying and lock myself in my room as I tried to muster up the energy to go the next day.

I do not find working anxious but people I work with and the type of job matters. People who I do not get along with are hard to work with or those who have a really high energy and seem to bounce around makes me feel sick.


-I find that I'm able to work up to 20-25 hours quite comfortably in my current retail job, a very quiet store which doesn't require much multitasking or pressure. I had to leave a bigger department store a year ago due to the stress of selling credit cards, the fast pace and constant interactions. I'm actually quite good at small talk but I do find it incredibly draining.

I'm alright at small talk. Sometimes. It is utterly draining as I'm constantly reading into everything they say, don't say, body language, etc. I'm also running conversations in my head whilst trying to have one in reality. Sometimes it is smoother than others.
It's a work in progress...


I also had a part time job as a receptionist that I had to ultimately quit because every time the phone rang I found myself panicking, and I also found my mind going blank whenever someone asked me something too complicated.

My first real job after uni was in an office. I thought I was going to be in a back room filing and not having to speak to anyone. But since I "looked the part" I was immediately placed on front reception.
I hated it. I was going to quit after the trial period but luckily was able to speak to the manager and we worked out another position.
I hated the unpredictability of the calls, the noise of the ring, the uncertainty of why they were calling, the thinking on my feet about a company I knew little about, having to learn the phone system, having to transfer calls to staff I did not know, the procedures, etc.

-I do kind of have "obsessions", but I suppose they're on the milder side. Basically I can spend up to 2 or 3 hours a day researching about my topics of interest (currently sexuality and mental health)

Lucky you. My 'obsessions' or 'passions' are limitless.
3 hours lost in research feels like nothing!
I skip meals and don't realise I'm hungry, tired, thirsty, need a bathroom break... madness.

-Common things like driving and paying bills get me panicking as well and totally overwhelm me. I only feel comfortable driving as far as 5 minutes from my house, and take the bus almost everywhere else.

I don't drive. I have my license but have not driven since I passed. Trams, trains, taxis...

-I get lost all the time, and when people ask me for directions even to places I know very well, even to my own house....I get flustered.

I was standing in front of the street next to my house and someone asked me where the street was. I said I didn't know. I really didn't. Talk about mental blank!

-I snap at people a lot when there are two people talking to me at once, I actually can't handle it most of the time.

I tend to keep quiet in these types of situations. Too hard to follow either conversation so I give up and just stand there mute. People must love that...

-I'm much better at written communication then verbal. I often struggle to put into words exactly what I'm thinking.

This is so frustrating! I simply cannot verbalise what I am thinking or feeling at the time. It seems to be a very common trait. A suggestion that has been put forward to me is to acknowledge when you are having difficulty and request time in which to respond.

-I have had to train myself to do things like eye contact, being warm and friendly with strangers, etc.

Yeah, me too. Eye contact is really hard. I lose my train of thought if I have to look at someone. I can look at them when they are talking but have to look away when I respond.
I settle for being polite to strangers. I think warm and friendly should be reserved for those who have earned it.


So...is there a chance I could be on the spectrum? Is it likely or unlikely? Am I overreacting and this is all just part of my anxiety? Where do I go from here? Any input is appreciated. Thank you all for reading through this ridiculously long first post!

I relate to just about everything you wrote and I recently sought an official diagnosis.
I am really optimistic about your future as you will not experience your 20s like I did. There are a number of books which I found very enlightening prior, during and post diagnosis. The ones written by females with ASD are the most informative. There are light bulb moments and offer validation for thoughts and feelings I often felt were mine alone.

In particular: SISTERHOOD OF THE SPECTRUM by Jennifer Cook O'Toole

Research "Aspergers in girls / women" and you will find many interesting stories, articles, etc that will blow your mind. In a good way

Good luck!

 

[S0093679]

Hi Jackie and welcome

Take a red toy car, a toothbrush, a slipper, a barbie doll, three marbles, a big big, a little book, an umbrella and a bucket of water. Make up a story about them using them as props. This kind of thing is one of the tests which explores how your mind works in terms of aspieness. If you fancy it go ahead, would be interesting to see what you come up with. Just for the record I cant do it at all!!

 

[Streetwise]

I relate to just about everything you wrote and I recently sought an official diagnosis.
I am really optimistic about your future as you will not experience your 20s like I did. There are a number of books which I found very enlightening prior, during and post diagnosis. The ones written by females with ASD are the most informative. There are light bulb moments and offer validation for thoughts and feelings I often felt were mine alone.

In particular: SISTERHOOD OF THE SPECTRUM by Jennifer Cook O'Toole

Research "Aspergers in girls / women" and you will find many interesting stories, articles, etc that will blow your mind. In a good way

Good luck!

Ah Groucho marx

 

[Streetwise]

Hi Jackie and welcome

Take a red toy car, a toothbrush, a slipper, a barbie doll, three marbles, a big big, a little book, an umbrella and a bucket of water. Make up a story about them using them as props. This kind of thing is one of the tests which explores how your mind works in terms of aspieness. If you fancy it go ahead, would be interesting to see what you come up with. Just for the record I cant do it at all!!

Please oh please what is a big big? Thanks

 

[S0093679]

Bahahaha silly typo, I meant a big book ;-)

 

[Jackie338]

So we will be graduating at the same time. I was going to ask if you had a specific career in mind, because I haven't got a clue.

Hmm, well I've considered working in writing or editing definitely, I also would not rule out going to grad school to get a master's in library science

But don't worry, Im still more or less clueless myself...we still have plenty of time!

 

[ems]

Hi guys, I want to start this post off by saying I know at least the majority of you aren't medical professionals and aren't qualified to diagnose me or anything. I guess I'm just looking for opinions from people who know more than I do about ASD.


A bit about me:

-I'm a 21 year old female, currently enrolled in college and working part time (15 hours a week)
-I'm highly intelligent and do exceedingly well in school. That's one area that I excel at for sure, especially anything related to writing and literature. I can focus really well when I need to and almost never procrastinate.
-As a child I used to have a lot of problems socially, never playing with or talking to other children even though I really wanted to.
-I do have friends now, which I didn't start making until about 4th grade. I now have two at home and about three at school, who I am very close to.
-I have only seriously dated one person in the past for about 3 months, and he did not understand my need for quiet and space in any way, and I eventually had to break up with him. He wanted to party and drink and go out all the time, which is a nightmare scenario for me.
-I do like going out once or twice a week, usually shopping or eating out, but I hate super-crowded places. Parties and nightclubs are just awful for me.
-I am able to handle school and a job, but not without frequent bouts of anxiety. I did work full-time-ish one summer (about 36 hours a week) and I was near-breakdown almost every day. When I got home I would just start crying and lock myself in my room as I tried to muster up the energy to go the next day.
-I find that I'm able to work up to 20-25 hours quite comfortably in my current retail job, a very quiet store which doesn't require much multitasking or pressure. I had to leave a bigger department store a year ago due to the stress of selling credit cards, the fast pace and constant interactions. I'm actually quite good at small talk but I do find it incredibly draining. I also had a part time job as a receptionist that I had to ultimately quit because every time the phone rang I found myself panicking, and I also found my mind going blank whenever someone asked me something too complicated.
-I do kind of have "obsessions", but I suppose they're on the milder side. Basically I can spend up to 2 or 3 hours a day researching about my topics of interest (currently sexuality and mental health)
-Common things like driving and paying bills get me panicking as well and totally overwhelm me. I only feel comfortable driving as far as 5 minutes from my house, and take the bus almost everywhere else.
-I get lost all the time, and when people ask me for directions even to places I know very well, even to my own house....I get flustered.
-I snap at people a lot when there are two people talking to me at once, I actually can't handle it most of the time.
-I'm much better at written communication then verbal. I often struggle to put into words exactly what I'm thinking.
-I have had to train myself to do things like eye contact, being warm and friendly with strangers, etc.

So...is there a chance I could be on the spectrum? Is it likely or unlikely? Am I overreacting and this is all just part of my anxiety? Where do I go from here? Any input is appreciated. Thank you all for reading through this ridiculously long first post!

Stop depending on doctors to validate what you already know, because you are the one and only expert in who YOU are!

 

[Streetwise]

thanks I feel so behind the social media generation, I always wonder if I'm losing my mind and I don't know new words

Bahahaha silly typo, I meant a big book ;-)