Autism

[Darcy88]

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[Darcy88]

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[Darcy88]

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[JuniperWoolf]

Autism is over-diagnosed these days, it's the new bipolar. I don't think it's necessary to look for a diagnosis, especially a psychological one since it's so speculative and inconclusive. Actually self-diagnosis can be really harmful, you'll end up as a self-fulfilling prophesy. They warn medical and psych students about that, the more things you read about, you start to think - "huh, that sounds like me... oh my God, I have bowel cancer!" And if you get a medical diagnosis for a "psychological disorder," it'll change in five years.

Except for the synaesthesia (which is pretty cool by the way), the rest that you describe is, I would say, just your personality. Don't even think about the stupid titles, just go with it.

[Paulclem]

You sound pretty normal to me mate, even lucky to be endowed with synaesthesia.

Just as a footnote to Juniper, I have a friend who "discovered" he was mildly autistic. His reaction was to act so - in a way he never had before, though i think he seemed to be looking for a way to expalain himself to himself. He now acts as he always has which is no odder than anyone else I know.

[Darcy88]

Autism is over-diagnosed these days, it's the new bipolar. I don't think it's necessary to look for a diagnosis, especially a psychological one since it's so speculative and inconclusive. Actually self-diagnosis can be really harmful, you'll end up as a self-fulfilling prophesy. They warn medical and psych students about that, the more things you read about, you start to think - "huh, that sounds like me... oh my God, I have bowel cancer!" And if you get a medical diagnosis for a "psychological disorder," it'll change in five years.

Except for the senestesia (which is pretty cool by the way), the rest that you describe is, I would say, just your personality. Don't even think about the stupid titles, just go with it.

I am the poster-child of self-diagnosis gone awry. I am not too hung up on labels, I am aware how the constant self-diagnosing is affecting me, but I have my family constantly bringing up my mental problems. My friends don't give a ****, they just want me to be happy and most of them are convinced that I don't have anything, that I'm just me, but my family won't stop bringing it up. My mom is a nurse. lol.

[JuniperWoolf]

Haha, my boyfriend's aunt is a nurse, she's annoying. "You're looking pale hun, better get that anemia checked out."

[Darcy88]

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[qimissung]

Gaaah! Which certain movie star do you resemble, Darcy? It's not fair to bring that up and then withhold information!

I can understand you wanting to know something that might help you understand yourself better, and giving it a name. The thing is, is your life working? Are you able to function at a level that pleases you? Do you percieve your personality as problematic? Is there something you strongly feel you would like to change or need to change in order to improve your quality of life?

If your life is not working, and you do need to make changes, then maybe you do need to pursue a diagnosis. If everything is working, then maybe you can let it go.

My oldest son had a lot of problems as an adolescent (I know that's practically the definition of one, lol). I saw an article in Newsweek on Bi-polar disorder and his behaviors fit a lot of the categories. Was that what was causing his problems? Then when he was 18 he was diagnosed as having ADHD. It didn't change anything and he still struggled for years after that with depression. He never took any medication-for about a year he was on Effexor-and it's only been in the last couple of years that he has been able to be in charge of his life. Every once in a while he'll run up against something and I might say "That's your ADD talking," and we'll laugh, because he knows and I know that having this thing doesn't define him, and knowledge of it is simply an occasional guideline through the maze of life. If that helps.

I never heard of anybody autistic who was highly charismatic, however. You do sound interesting, however.

[Darcy88]

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[AuntShecky]

Just between you and me, it's probably not a good idea to make a self-diagnosis or to solicit medical opinions on the Internet, even a prodigious website such as the LitNet. If a person is really bothered by certain physical or psychological problems, he or she would be much better off making an apointment with a professional clinician. If a person lacks health insurance, there are ways to help finance medical care. (That last sentence is moot, since the OP says he is a Canadian citizen. That's really fortunate for him.)

But whatever the problem, and whatever the financial circulmstance, the first thing to do is make the call.

(I will send you a PM with a more personal answer.)

[Darcy88]

Just between you and me, it's probably not a good idea to make a self-diagnosis or to solicit medical opinions on the Internet, even a prodigious website such as the LitNet. If a person is really bothered by certain physical or psychological problems, he or she would be much better off making an apointment with a professional clinician. If a person lacks health insurance, there are ways to help finance medical care. (That last sentence is moot, since the OP says he is a Canadian citizen. That's really fortunate for him.)

But whatever the problem, and whatever the financial circulmstance, the first thing to do is make the call.

(I will send you a PM with a more personal answer.)

I do see a doctor more than once a week. I see doctors so so so much.

[Delta40]

My daughter's boyfriend has that rigid self. He focuses on mixed martial arts but is actually afraid to do anything because of the possible consequences so he just sits there. He doesn't like to make decisions and 'ponders' endlessly so my daughter takes control of everything. He is mad on routine though and gets thrown easily if things don't go according to plan and is asked to come up with a plan B. It does his head in. he's a really nice, gentle guy but at a party recently, when my daughter was getting 'manhandled' by a drunk guy, he was completely rigid then too and just sat there. She had to rescue both herself and him from the situation and leave - despite his martial arts training (which he is very good at) I know he was ashamed inside and he battles hard but his family are in deep denial that there is anything wrong with their 'baby' but its so obvious to us that he at least has some form of mild autism. When it comes to work, he is 100% reliable and will turn up, rain hale or shine and is an employers dream. When my daughter was off work sick, he didn't tell his family because he lacks the ability to inform them of any significant change. She asked him to take some annual leave to be with her but he just couldn't do it.

[Darcy88]

My daughter's boyfriend has that rigid self. He focuses on mixed martial arts but is actually afraid to do anything because of the possible consequences so he just sits there. He doesn't like to make decisions and 'ponders' endlessly so my daughter takes control of everything. He is mad on routine though and gets thrown easily if things don't go according to plan and is asked to come up with a plan B. It does his head in. he's a really nice, gentle guy but at a party recently, when my daughter was getting 'manhandled' by a drunk guy, he was completely rigid then too and just sat there. She had to rescue both herself and him from the situation and leave - despite his martial arts training (which he is very good at) I know he was ashamed inside and he battles hard but his family are in deep denial that there is anything wrong with their 'baby' but its so obvious to us that he at least has some form of mild autism. When it comes to work, he is 100% reliable and will turn up, rain hale or shine and is an employers dream. When my daughter was off work sick, he didn't tell his family because he lacks the ability to inform them of any significant change. She asked him to take some annual leave to be with her but he just couldn't do it.

This sounds a lot like me. I am like that, quite a bit like that. Except I also have the other self which flies off the handle. At that party I probably would have beaten the manhandling drunk guy to death or as much as I could until people pulled me off. So I don't know. I have both "selves."

[Delta40]

This sounds a lot like me. I am like that, quite a bit like that. Except I also have the other self which flies off the handle. At that party I probably would have beaten the manhandling drunk guy to death or as much as I could until people pulled me off. So I don't know. I have both "selves."

You probably would have Darcy. This guy doesn't have that other self but we're all different. Like I said, he's a really nice guy, rather shy, honest and hardworking but that rigid side predominates and overshadows any possibility of him developing into an extroverted self. His family have always just seen him as a nice quiet italian boy who does his mother proud. His older brothers are the ones who have the outgoing life, break girls hearts and do as they please. He is 25 and my daughter is his first girlfriend and if it wasn't for her outgoing personality, I doubt he would ever have initiatiated anything. I feel a bit sorry for my daughter but on the other hand, she did make her choice.