i think i may have aspergers, i'm 17 male, and untill i came familiar with the term, i thought it was social phobia or even obsessive neurosis or OCD. i don't know though!! my main symptom is social awkwardness and lacking of sommunication skills. i don't seem to exhibit strong signs of sny other symtom however. i have started to get deeply depressed of this social avoidence i have developed and the other day started thinking of death (i sucide; i don't think that is to serious though). apart from my social incapability, i have been severely bullied (i feel for know reason, as i am smart, atractive, athletic). i seem to be better then most at sports, a contradicting symptom from what i heard. i seem to excell at chess, and other strategic games, eg age of empires. and from reading can relate this to AS.
i guess i have always felt different, at one point i was the 'popular kid' at school, prior i was reserved and bullied, and wanted to become popular to avoid this. i don't think i've ever really been open with anyone, even relatives and family i have minimal convisation, and fell pressured to stimulate the converse. what makes me feel i have AS over social phobia is the fact i can be loud to fit in, and often try to interact in social situations, but to no success. 1'm 17, i have an IQ of 138 (i dn't kniw what that means...somewere i read AS wern't that bright in IQ tests).
i guess i learned to walk and talk normally, but was average (or slightly below) at english in primary school. i seemed to be good at maths and science. from tutoring, i then became good at english, and took out the academic achievement award in year 6. now i'm in year 12 and first or second in most my subjects, ranging from visual arts to physics...i don;t know if that may help you to answer my question.
i seem to be oversensitive to critisism, a symptom of both AS and social phobias. i mentioned above i was the 'popular' kid at one stage in high school. i then chose to choose other firends, as i realised i din't like what those kids stood for, eg. judgemental, 'fake'. And started hanging around other people, not because i related to them, but because i hate isolation. that kinds backfired, and now i have know genuine friends. theres people i call friends, and people who call me a firned, but i don't see them as beening 'proper' friends. i have now become socially withdrawn, from a period of regular partying and drinking (not alcholism however, i was always in control).
i badly want to stop this isolation and depressive state i have become. i want friends, relationships, etc. but am to afraid to see my school counsellor at the moment. away from the depression, i always feel more comfortable by myself, then in the presence of others. i know its long, but if you've read, please answer. does this sound like AS, social anxiety, or just a lack of social skills?
i guess i have always felt different, at one point i was the 'popular kid' at school, prior i was reserved and bullied, and wanted to become popular to avoid this. i don't think i've ever really been open with anyone, even relatives and family i have minimal convisation, and fell pressured to stimulate the converse. what makes me feel i have AS over social phobia is the fact i can be loud to fit in, and often try to interact in social situations, but to no success. 1'm 17, i have an IQ of 138 (i dn't kniw what that means...somewere i read AS wern't that bright in IQ tests).
i guess i learned to walk and talk normally, but was average (or slightly below) at english in primary school. i seemed to be good at maths and science. from tutoring, i then became good at english, and took out the academic achievement award in year 6. now i'm in year 12 and first or second in most my subjects, ranging from visual arts to physics...i don;t know if that may help you to answer my question.
i seem to be oversensitive to critisism, a symptom of both AS and social phobias. i mentioned above i was the 'popular' kid at one stage in high school. i then chose to choose other firends, as i realised i din't like what those kids stood for, eg. judgemental, 'fake'. And started hanging around other people, not because i related to them, but because i hate isolation. that kinds backfired, and now i have know genuine friends. theres people i call friends, and people who call me a firned, but i don't see them as beening 'proper' friends. i have now become socially withdrawn, from a period of regular partying and drinking (not alcholism however, i was always in control).
i badly want to stop this isolation and depressive state i have become. i want friends, relationships, etc. but am to afraid to see my school counsellor at the moment. away from the depression, i always feel more comfortable by myself, then in the presence of others. i know its long, but if you've read, please answer. does this sound like AS, social anxiety, or just a lack of social skills?
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Answers
Hi there Phil...
I would definitely rule out lack of social skills. I do think AS or social anxiety are one of the two possibilities. But you HAVE to get it checked out or it will never get treated.
I know you dont want to see the counselor, but as long as you don't see anyone, what changes? Nothing. Just knowing what it is IS part of the battle, but its not the whole thing.
Basically, take it like this, as a metaphor: You are basically coming to a war, standing there with your rifle, and people are shooting all around you, but you are just holding your rifle and not shooting, because you know what the "illness" is, but you don't want to take the "gun" out and treat it, and win the war.
Start fighting!
Best,
Clyde
Although you may have a legitimate psychological problem, never underestimate the power of hormones. Also, high school is a time of insecurities and awkwardness. Nowadays, people want a prescription for everything. I did when I was in highschool. I thought I was insane, socially unnacceptable, had no friends, etc. But really, I was just a teenager. You still have a few years before you even start to discover who you really are. Maybe you're just not the most social person. Maybe you need to find that person who compliments you perfectly and understands you and helps bring you out of your shell and makes you comfortable. It isn't easy to become social on your own. Definately go and see your doctor, but dont allow him to throw perscriptions for random anti depressants at you. (Some doctors throw them around like candy.)
Everyone feels more comfortable by themselves. They dont feel any pressure to impress themselves. But prolonged isolation will definately cause depression. Humans are social beings.
I may be under estimating your feelings, and I don't mean to at all. You may have a very legitimate problem, but I don't want you to start popping pills before you consider that many, many, many teenagers go through very similar stages. And you know what, I get weird looks ALL the time. That's because I say what I mean and sometimes people dont expect or understand it but I dont care, because thats what makes me me.
Good luck, and definately don't take this as dismissing your problem. It's just my take on it.