(no subject)

[deckardcanine]

I've been invited to a lecture on Asperger's syndrome. This is as good a time as any to talk about a relevant peeve.

A few years back, I announced here on LJ that I probably have Asperger's. I don't say this often, yet on two of the occasions that I did, an Aspie got offended at me for claiming to be one or even to have evidence of it. They thought I was cheapening their diagnosis.

I understand their annoyance. I do respect psychology as a science and the dedication it takes to get a PhD. My four years of college included several psych courses, but I didn't even minor in it, so anyone to call me a psych expert would be generous.

Nevertheless, everything I've learned about Asperger's sounds like me. I even correctly surmised that someone online had it; he said, "You read me like a book." Mind you, I'm not normally good at reading people... as is typical of Aspies.

Most likely, the three psychologists I visited in childhood hadn't really heard of Asperger's yet (my last visit was in 1998). One suggested I had developmental apraxia, which was enough to get me extended time on standardized tests even without a full-fledged diagnosis. Beyond that, they had no labels for me, not even ADD (or "ADHD without hyperactivity," whatever it's officially called now).

I could start seeing a professional again in order to hear him or her say I have Asperger's, but why would I? This late in life, it's not worth the money or the time. I wouldn't get treated or cured if I could.

So please don't begrudge me a shorthand way of describing how I think and act. It works well.

Comments

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

I may have Asperger's too (I answered about 60% of the questions in an online test positive), but I'm not going to bother with a formal diagnosis. I'd rather live the way I am than undergo personality-modifying drug therapy.

[ruediix.livejournal.com]

Only severe cases where someone has both psychiatric issues and Asperger's get treated with medicines.

Since so many cases have more severe psychiatric issues, such as OCD, and BiPolar disorder (like I have), those people would more likely be treated with medicines.

There are doctors who do over-medicate, and that will usually make things worse, not better. However, most are smart enough not to do this.

[ccdesan.livejournal.com]

Being peeved that someone would claim Asperger's is a symptom of Asperger's. Give it no thought.

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

Well, gee, I wouldn't be peeved. Does that mean I don't have it?

[ruediix.livejournal.com]

No, there are at least 2 known common patterns of Asperger's syndrome personality patterns, and then possibly 2 or more additional patterns.

The most common pattern is related to the Type A pattern of normal personalities. If you've ever seen Death Note, L and N display variants of this pattern quite exactly. Meanwhile Mellow in the same show also displays patterns of Asperger's which in many aspects looks almost like a complete different syndrome until you actually psychologically analyze why a person is acting this way.

Asperger's has historically been easiest to diagnose when combined with OCD, which is a common combination.

[ruediix.livejournal.com]

Having Asperger's Syndrome I would agree. :)

There is a tendency that when someone with Asperger's is in a bad mood or stressed that they become very easily offended on certain social contexts. That can commonly be one of them.

Additionally, the person's response could sound slightly offended, and then the person will overreact when you take offense at their response. This too happens more often when the person is stressed.

I agree you really shouldn't take such things as anything more than a trivial gripe. People with Asperger's are known to gripe and vent in a very loud and verbose pattern; However, that doesn't mean such griping or venting is any more significant than when a normal person gripes or vents.