Aspie Candidate or something else?

Asperger's Checklist:

During my studies on what possibly makes me ..me, I came across the Asperger's diagnoses which did set off a lot of alarms. In particular were the observations on the almost fanactical interests I had throughout my life, as well as , my physical excitablity and clumsiness. However I'm not exactly sure if this completely explains my situation due to a couple of descriptions that seem counter to my nature. So I made a list to see if I either meet the criteria of AS or possibly another condition (or maybe I'm just a weirdo) I recently posted this on an existing thread, but was afraid it might get buried without even being noticed.

(Previous details removed for privacy)
Where I Match:

Intense preoccupations with intense subjects:
Physical Clumsiness & Awkward movement:
Awkward Speech:
Impairment in social interaction:
Impairment in facial interacting: Mainly keeping eye contact and inability to smile.
Odd movements when excited:
Ritualized Behavior
Sleep Problems
Chucky's List: Other Indications listed by Chucky
-Difficulties expressing themselves especially when talking about emotions
-Difficulties in group situations, such as going to the pub with a group of friends. 
-Problems with making plans for the future and having difficulties organizing their life. 
-Depression and social isolation (This is especially common among adults)
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Where I don't Match:
There are a couple of major points that I do not share with Aspergers developmental disorder that makes me wonder if I have it or not. What I find interesting is the possibilty that I also have Avoidant Personality Disorder which may be countering some of the symptoms of Aspergers.

Lack of Empathy:
Difficulty in Non-literal language.
Lack of imagination

Hi my friend,

It's good to make a list like this. It allows you to think about the pros and cons of your Asperger's 'nature'. I have a Word document on my PC that I wrote years ago while I was still learning about AS. It's just the symptoms I feel I have that all point to Asperger's. Reading thriough your post, you seem to fit the bill too. You didn't really hint at whether you are happy or sad about all o this though. We should all be very proud of ourselves of course, no matter what we have.

Kevin

I really couldn't say I'm sad, if anything I'm a bit relieved. Maybe it's because after living with the symptoms all my life, I can finally find the reasons why as well as others who have had to deal it as well. Besides, from what I'm learning about Aspergers, it's being seen more and more as an alternative biology rather than a defect. You're right about the list. As I put my experinces and thoughts down on paper, I might get a clearer picture. Also if I ever get to speak to a professional again, I'll have a consise and detailed report on what I'm dealing with. Whether it's AS or something else, I hope to learn more about myself so I can improve my strengths and deal with my weaknesses better.

Yes, you're correct: In the future that 'list' can be presented to a professional. When I learned about Asperger's first, my official diagnosis was OCD, but I then presented that list to my therapist and she took it home to look at. In the next session, she said unofficially that it seemed as if I had Asperger's based on the symptoms, but that she was not qualified to diagnose it. I showed it to my GP too, and she also unoficially agreed. Is your list long? If you wish, you can email it to me to look at. I would be interested to read it, if you don't mind. Let me know via PM or just here if you like, and I'll send you my email address.

Kevin

Fragment Shadow,

I know where you are coming from. All your life I always felt that I didn't fit in with other people because I didn't try hard enough. At least that was what I felt like the world was telling me. To know that you most likely have a disorder that has limited you in some ways is somehow liberating.

The "Empathy" issue seems to be the most confusing and misunderstood AS trait. From what I have seen and read it isn't a lack of compassion as some people read it to be, or a lack of caring about what others feel. Maybe it is easier to give an example: A person with functional empathy, a neurotypical for want of a better word, will pick up fairly quickly if the person that they are talking to at a party would rather not listen to an extended monologue on Big Bang theory or WWII aircraft or whatever. If you have Asperger's Sydnrome you are a lot less likely to pick it up.

I've got most of the traits as well, but not currently in a position or location to seek out an official diagnosis.

142857 wrote:Fragment Shadow,

The "Empathy" issue seems to be the most confusing and misunderstood AS trait. From what I have seen and read it isn't a lack of compassion as some people read it to be, or a lack of caring about what others feel. Maybe it is easier to give an example: A person with functional empathy, a neurotypical for want of a better word, will pick up fairly quickly if the person that they are talking to at a party would rather not listen to an extended monologue on Big Bang theory or WWII aircraft or whatever. If you have Asperger's Sydnrome you are a lot less likely to pick it up.

The nice thing about the internet is that it allows us to endulge our intense interests with other people who share them. Before then, the poor people in our lives had to listen to our boring (to them) monologs