The fact that RUclips recommend this to me after I spent all morning obsessively researching ancient Welsh dialects 'for the fun of it' has not gone unnoticed...
Hey everyone, I just made a video about my autistic experience I would love if you could check it out and let me know if it resonates with you all? I could do with people getting in touch who understand
1. Love routines ( I absolutely love them) 2. Obsessive Intetersts (I definitely have) 3. Bad contact (I definitely have issues) 4. Issues following instructions 5. Issues with social communication (yep I definitely have)
I always thought that I couldn't be on the autism spectrum because I am very empathetic and overly sensitive to other people's emotions and trying to make sure that everyone around me feels comfortable. But having done more research about it, I now realize that this is a common misconception and that I could possibly be on the spectrum as I suspected. It would definitely explain a lot of things about myself.
People is autism are super empathetic and super sensitive but have a tough time showing it. I am overly sensitive and I know exactly how people feel but have a super tough time showing any emotions unless I get insanely angry or sad.
The more I do the research on autism and watch videos of autisic ppl sharing their experience, the more I suspect that I might be autistic. I relate to so may autistic traits, I have always been really sensitive to sound, light, taste, smell, texture, etc. and it's really overwhelming and I feel so overstimulated. I have problems with social cues and I hate eye contact so much. Ppl have always called me weird or crazy, and I have always felt different and it's been so hard to relate to ppl around me, so I appreciate your channel!
I've never understood the whole thing about sensitivity to sound and smell, etc. Many traits of Asperger's are simply human likes and dislikes. I guess it really all comes down to how the individual is able to deal with it, that defines whether a person has Asperger's or not.
@@FlyboyHelosim Well for me personally I hear everything more louder and smell everything stronger. I have smelled smells what other don't feel. Sounds what others don't really hear. Imagine hearing every little sound and it being loud. Some sounds and smells make you have physical reaction. You just don't experience quietness. Sounds just mix with eachother so it's hard to understand what others are saying and your ears start to hurt and the you have headache. I don't use perfume cuz it's too strong and makes me feel sick. If someone use lot of perfume, it's hard for me to breathe. The shopping centres are the worst cuz it's loud, full of different smells, have terrible lighting, etc. Well this is my personal experience so it can be different for others. Sorry if I explained it unclear, English isn't my first language^^
My son definitely is on the spectrum. Speaking without a filter, obsessed with dinosaurs and drawing, difficulty in social situations, being more at ease with younger children or older other than peers his own age, sensitivity to loud noises or breaks in routine…
Your son is lucky to have YOU as a parent. I grew up with terrible parents who had no comprehension of my condition and were themselves messed up mentally in their own way. My early life was a nightmare and a part of me is jealous that your son will get the help and guidance he needs that I never got even though we are both similar.
1. Yes, I like routine. I’m uncomfortable when things are messed around! 2. Yeah, I get obsessive about certain things 3. I hate eye contact 4. Sometimes I find instructions can be difficult to follow 5. I’m very awkward with social cues.
One common trait he missed was poor hand eye coordination and manual dexterity. I almost lost a job once because I had so much difficulty opening garbage bags that it was taking me 20 or 30 minutes longer to do a "garbage run" than it should have. I solved the problem by spraying wet liquid on the garbage bags to make them easier to open. Had I NOT been that CLEVER (nobody else thought of this) I might be unemployed right now.
@@КристиянТрънбашев-ш6гocd has lots more traits, and is defined by compulsions (cause to perform a ritual to calm the anxiety of usually an intrusive thought) and obsessions, intrusive thoughts, even tho ocd is also neurodivergence, what he was talking about doesn’t fit the criteria yet because it was very broad, it does fit more that of Aspergers.
Yay!! So happy that we here can help you feel happy! X Thank you so much for the comment! Make sure you are subscribed and have the notifications turned on :).
I'm a 33 yr old Aspie who come to terms with my assessment I've had decades earlier. Been a loner and reclusive since 2007..and don't plan on changing for nobody!
@@TUFT_QUEEN My Mom took me to a children's therapist and they ran test on me. In school I had regular and special education classes. Sorry for the late reply
Our son just got diagnosed this week which has been such an amazing moment for our family. Really thankful for your content. Had a bit of a cry listening to your Podcast afterwards. Tears of relief and hope. Cheers
@@antoniofuller2331 They are not literally glad that he HAS a condition but having a DIAGNOSIS is KNOWLEDGE and that gives them at least a strategy of how to deal with the problem. They are not literally glad that he has a mental disorder but rather glad that they know WHAT it is.
I'm in the process of trying to get a diagnosis for myself right now. I've made it to 21 without a diagnosis so people don't tend to believe me. Everytime I watch one of your autism videos I feel like you are just describing my experiences. Thank you
I just got diagnosed at 30. I've been searching for help for 15 years..since I was about 15. One day you'll find the right doctor..I had to go to a specialist
1 - nope, routine... eh I don't like suprises but adapting is something I can do 2 - it's not overly obsessive... but do like stuff 3 - YES ... maintaining, but mostly I don't like being stared at , with the exception of conversations 4 - YES, I need you to talk to my parents 5 - yup....
I actually did a self test on this a few months ago and I have finally decided I need help. For years I thought it was just depression, and had therapy and meds for it, but recently I saw one of my friends talk about it, and it made so much sense to me.. Of course I'm now on a waiting list and covid will add to the wait, but I'm fairly confident I'm right on this.
We have an appointment with a specialist in late April, my son hits every point(he's 14). Already been diagnosed with ADHD. These videos are so helpful. Thank you so much!
I grew up before ADHD was properly recognized, butI was diagnosed as a young adult. Through time, I realized was actually seeing more and more characteristics outside the diagnosis of ADHD, so I’ve begun the process for a proper diagnosis. Channels such as yours have been very helpful to me. I kinda feel like I’ve found my peeps. Just like the Blind Melon No Rain video.🐝
This video helped me out a lot. I believe I have these symptoms. I’m 37 and I have never been diagnosed but I feel like I’ve had it my whole life. I can’t keep friends or sustain a relationship. It sucks but now I feel like I understand myself more. Thank you for this
I feel like this quarantine has pushed me to suspect there might be something in fact different about me in ways I haven't ever realized before. I don't feel depressed from being at home for all this time, in fact I feel much better now that I've had so much time to pursue my interests. Being alone for so long has revealed behaviors of mine that I've suppressed or ignored for so long. I catch myself every single day going deep into thought tangents where I pace around my house for a solid 10-20 mins at a time whilst talking aloud to myself about all sorts of imaginary situations that become progressively unrelated to the thing I was doing that got me started. I've also realized that ever since I was a kid I like to wave pencils and pens in front of my face while I'm bored or in deep thought and watch the paths that are traced out. I realized just how much I struggle to connect with and feel like I have any spare energy for my family and friends. I have internal breakdowns every time I have to make even the simplest phone calls, even just ordering a pizza; can't do it. I avoid them at all costs, and I do mean ALL costs. On top of all this, I consistently scored above the threshold on any quotient test I took. I was diagnosed with ADHD in middle school, put on adderall, and taken to therapy (all of which feels like a fever dream to me now) which perhaps suggests that I was under-diagnosed. I was always well above average in language ability, too, having no issue figuring out how to pronounce even the largest vocabulary words they gave us. Many teachers gave me such remarks but nobody suspected a thing. I have zero issues getting comedy, irony, idiomatic expressions, metaphores, etc. and I'm probably the first in a group to do so. I also find that I can't stop myself from constructing extensive sentences and writing extremely long, detailed paragraphs. I've learned that I have to tone it down lest I become overbearing... I guess that's a good spot for me to leave off.
Thanks. I really related to this! In fact, when the quarantine hit I quipped: "Wow. Now the rest of the world is on my level!" So while they were freaking out, for me it was just business as usual. I'm 68, male, retired, managed to get a Master's Degree in social work, and wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until I was in my 40's. That helped explain a LOT of my early years but there were always additions/asterisks to my ADHD, like OCD, ODD, narcissism, etc. For me, the one thing that really differentiated ADHD from Asperger's (I refuse to just call it ASD, which they invented for purely insurance reasons.) is and always was a profound sense of never fitting in. AND having a running "fantasy" language/behavior (I would imagine myself on Oprah being interviewed for something great I'd done, etc.) I also used drugs and sex as a kind of self-medicating strategy. (I always enjoy(ed) sensual pleasures and intense eye contact.) Now that I'm retired, and the world has come unglued, I'm much more comfortable with actively engaging in fantasy "exercises" because, TBH, that's no crazier than the way the world is at the present time. And as a final note...I've been finding a lot of comfort in underground, dark roast comedy. (Rich Vos, the late Patrice O'Neal, etc.) I think I relate because a lot of them have Asperger's and they frequently talk about "Asperger's Truth". (That's not some sort of absolute truth; the opposite; it's just unfiltered speech, my specialty.) As a result, my "fantasies" are now more geared to running full comedy sets, by myself, vs hours of air guitar. (So it's actually more productive, because I have written a lot of dark roast jokes/bits, and I enjoy the freedom now to say whatever I want. In the past, it was always: "Sam...that's taking it a bit too far." Not any more! The sky's the limit.) Oh. And finally...I tend to "over share". 😀
I like both having a routine and also not having one. For me, routines are for work because I hate unexpected events and surprises that will set off my social anxiety, and I also routines for waking up and household chores because it makes me feel productive and fresh. At the same time, I hate doing the same thing every day because I am easily bored and I love learning so I feel like I have to do something new every day or I won't feel productive. To avoid surprises I pre-plan everything even things that haven't happened yet so that if I come across it in the future, I can deal with it with the least amount of problems. The obsessions for me are the focus of my life, I absolutely love media, things like Graphic Design, Art, Film, Games, Anime, TV, you name it, it's all I know what to talk about. I'm so obsessed I even tear up sometimes hahaha. I wouldn't change it for the world though because my obsessions give my life meaning, I can get up every day working hard towards my dreams. My Eye contact is bad when it comes to strangers because I keep thinking about my eye contact and if im making the right amount or do I look weird etc. so then I forget what I'm doing and get nervous and start making more awkward mistakes. Instructions too, I prefer to be left alone with my tasks, instructions from others dont make sense, and it's pointless for them to attempt trying it so I'd rather just have them write the basics down so I can work it out myself, saves a lot of hassle. I remember being in a coding class at university and their instructions just left my brain but I find one youtube tutorial where I am free to rewind as much as I like and I'm a master ahha.
I don’t like how accurately you have described things that have happened to me, like even down to the coding class and being specifically unable to maintain eye contact because I remember my first interview for the college and that was the hardest thing for me
1) I love routine. I even have specific outfits for specific days and I have to wear that outfit or I just feel wrong. 2) Obsession? Oh, yes. I'll let you guess what my special interest is. :) 3) I couldn't even look you in the eyes in this video. :( 4) I can't follow spoken instructions for anything. It has to be written down, and even then, I'd prefer diagrams of what to do. 5) Social communication is like a minefield for me. I never know what to say, and always worry that I've said something wrong. Well, I'm 5 for 5. I was diagnosed with Autism at 27 (I'm 32 right now), but my psychologist kept telling me that I didn't have Asperger's. He was a great man and I miss him greatly (he passed away from lung cancer a couple of years ago. He was like my Obi-wan), but I think he was mistaken.
I have literal meltdowns if the make up/outfit I planned to wear doesn't work out or I don't find it, because sometimes I don't even have it on my closet. I made it up on my mind that I had to look a certain way that day or else I'm miserable or won't go. I thought I was a bad person for the longest time. It's not vanity because it isn't about brands or showing off, I hate attention and I don't dress flashy. I don't own anything expensive yet I was misunderstood as spoiled or whatever.
@@barbaraf3340 Hi Barbara F, when I was younger I used to love mixing and matching tops and bottoms and accessories, and I didn't need to spend an extravagant amount to enjoy myself this way. I used to feel that appearance was important and that to some extent I could compensate for my social awkwardness and "prove" that I did have some intelligence, subtlety and sensitivity, that I did have some "grace" -- maybe not social graces to the extent that I would have liked to have, but some grace with regard to my appearance. However that was when my environment was conducive to it. Things changed -- I had to move to another office building in a rough area and I had to walk to and from work. The political situation changed and people around me began to dress more stylishly than ever before -- they really had a fine sense of style and I knew that it would be hard work trying to keep up. I was mugged once and noticed that some passers-by took very careful note of my appearance -- in particular they zoomed in on my shoes and watch. I felt they were trying to gauge whether my handbag would be worth grabbing. So instead of trying to stand out, I started to dress in a much more low-key way. I got so used to it that I now feel most comfortable dressing this way. It's the easiest, quickest and most convenient. I don't know what would have happened if my circumstances stayed the same, but it's amazing how much you can change if you have to! That said, I still enjoy finding something that is both flattering and comfortable, that I can move freely and easily in, and that adds pep to my wardrobe (like a good scarve). It's good when one can enjoy one's clothes and appearance with ease and a sense of freedom, doing one's own thing. Wishing you all the best -- hope this will be a good year for you Barbara F!
@@alrinaleroux9229 Thank you! I'm so sorry you went through that. I dress more comfy now than before. I wanted to be a fashion designer, I loved textiles, the colors, the patterns, etc. I never got mugged but people were nasty to me because apparently matching a great outfit implied I thought I was better than them, even though it was all cheap items. It's funny because it would actually be expensive if I were true to my style, not what I find in stores. I dressed for me, for my role. I never tried to fit that much, I wouldn't speak so it didn't matter. Anyway, wish you luck, thanks for the reply!
@@barbaraf3340 Thank you for responding Barbara F, I'm glad you are good at dressing in an interesting way, it's a pleasure to see someone who looks stylish, especially with individualistic touches. It's interesting what you said about dressing more comfy now than before, I read in the Guardian that many people are into dressing more comfortably now due to the pandemic lockdowns, and in the shops I see that there are a lot of tracksuit-like clothes in the windows (not that I think that so many people are wearing tracksuits because of the pandemic). With regard to people being unpleasant and seeming prejudiced, I experienced it myself when I started work. I eventually realised that some people (especially the more sociable ones) seemed to regard me as aloof; something about me irritated them. I think many people with Aspergers tend to experience that reaction from certain neurotypical people who don't know them very well, especially people who tend to be quite critical towards others. Some people tend to be more critical -- not everyone is a gossip, for example. So partly for the sake of survival I felt I had to try to change to be more outgoing if it were at all possible. That was rather difficult, since when I initially started work we used to have tea times where everyone just had to sit in a kind of circle and chat. I didn't have a problem with work but I struggled with the teatime situation and tended to stutter, which I'd never had a problem with before. But despite that, when I realised that it seemed that there was a problematic situation developing, where a certain person seemed to be getting into a habit of looking for excuses to try to humiliate me and talk badly of me, I realised that I would have to start speaking up for myself and try to be a bit more talkative and fit in better. I suspect my quietness made them a bit nervous, especially since I had an extra post-graduate degree that might have been a bit intimidating to some people. So I forced myself to be more talkative, despite the fact that I sometimes felt a bit silly. (To me, being used to being rather reserved, it felt as though I was changing into a awkwardly garrulous person who might come across as a bit foolish at times). Over time it became easier to talk to others and be sociable. Jumping in "at the deep end" like that helped me to get more experience and practice at talking to other people in a more informal way. Work was really the place where I learned to get along with people better, because I've never been diagnosed and didn't get any advice. So even though it was a bit rough and difficult at times, in the end it worked out OK. I'm now 55 and looking back it's a relief that things improved to the extent that it did. I thank God for that, for after I began to trust Him (the God of the Bible, the only true God), I calmed down a lot and there was a big change for the better. I can identify with what you said about loving clothes, colours, textures and different styles and patterns. It sometimes felt so exciting and full of variety and possibilities that I wondered what life as a fashion designer might have been like, but I knew that it wouldn't have worked out for me, because you need to be a really hard worker and have a lot of stamina, physically and mentally. And then there is the business side as well, which can be quite tricky if you don't have good support from other people. Fashion design is a very competitive field and one needs to have a good team -- you need the support and loyalty. So I was grateful to be able to be a book selector, being in the library field was a much more sheltered kind of environment. Wishing you all the best for the future Barbara F!
I’m currently dating someone who has Asperger’s. I want to learn as much as I can and be supportive of them. They’re a lovely human. I value their individuality and presence.
i just found out that i have mild autism a few months ago - just wanted to say thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience - learning about autism has now become another one of my obsessions so i just churn through hours of your content - mostly audio while i do other things - its been super helpful - cheers
I know I have aspergers syndrome because I've been in the same position for almost all my career spanning almost 20 years. l don't know how to lie, deceive, manipulate and sociopath my way up the corporate ladder. I don't know how to see black and call it white or suck up to a manager for the sake of promotion. I watch all my peers with saccharine-coated tongue get promoted on a regular basis.
I was in the same position for almost 28 years but that was because I didn't want to have more responsibility. When my supervisor retired they wanted me to take over her duties, and that was when I decided to leave.
If you've worked in the same position for 20 years with no advancement, maybe you're just not very good at your job. In my field (tech) people don't ass kiss their way up the ladder, they prove it with their knowledge/results. Sounds like you've created a high horse to avoid facing this truth.
To me what you are saying is all the more reason you SHOULD be getting promoted. Can I ask what career that is? I also suffer from this condition and since you are so honest can't you sit down with a boss and say that you have worked hard for 20 years and deserve a promotion and even flat out say to them everything you said here?
These videos are really helpful in not just for diagnosis but understanding. I don't have Asperger's but I suspected my brother had some form of Autism for many years growing up. After school I studied BEd in psychology and learnt about Asperger's and immediately knew he had it. After 3 different professionals all diagnosed him (unfortunately as an adult - very troubling childhood to go with that) he was in such denial and insisted he didn't need any form of treatment or help. At age 27 he still lives with my mom, living in South Africa in the smallest town in the middle of nowhere where people are still very set in the old form of communication like eye contact etc. Most of my father's family has just about written him off for "lack of interest to be a part of family things" amongst other reasons. I feel like my family has always favoured me creating an even bigger rift between us. They would take only me on outings and holidays leaving him with my parents, I get all the gifts etc. He used to be great at drawing, art was a big focus and interest for him but we lived with my stepmom for a while who unfortunately has a habit of shouting hysterically and she would throw his drawings in the trash when he refused to come out of his room and socialize (sometimes kick his bedroom door down which is still giving him nightmares). Small town jobs are limited, the community is not very accepting and I feel like I have run out of ideas to help him. He has no interest of being independent, despite having the biggest back yard with borehole water to grow veg etc. he has no motivation to do anything and he shows no interest to anything other than Anime. I have seen some improvement and it's been difficult to understand him but the biggest challenge so far is to make him understand me. He has physically hurt my mom in a rage fit one night and he has no clue why what he did was wrong and I'm so stuck communicating these things. If anyone has any informative videos out there about dealing with Autistic adults with trauma please share.
As a child , my whole life was about sports , participating and watching .Now, I am a total sports geek / guru..I'm hard to surpass when it comes to following teams , events , tends , etc. This interest has actually helped sustain me over the years .It really is great , socially, for male bonding ..I could always drink beer and talk sports .Really helps you blend in, even if you overdo it.
I am really happy i have found your channel..I have got a friend with aspergers,learning difficulties,autism,and speech problems(not sure of correct terms)..but no body has explained it to him..so he tries to fit in with people who aren't his friends.. I have tried explaining what it is,but it's hard to explain to him,cause I probably don't explain in a way he understands..also it's like he doesn't except it.. Anyway i am waffling on now..I am going to show him your video's,because I want him to know he has nothing to be ashamed of..he has even turned to narcotics because of this..I can only do so much.. Thankyou for making these video's appreciate it. Have a great day,takecare
I got ADHD diagnosis over 6 months ago, but it couldn't explain everything. I started to suspect autism, but I was scared to say anything to anyone - I didn't want them to think that I would be seeking attention. well, on Monday I made the huge step and I told my trustworthy teacher how I felt. she promised to me that she would send a message to our school psychologist to send me a message. I'm waiting for his message now.
I have been diagnosed ADHD but the older I get the more I feel I may have Asperger’s. I’m studying on line and am struggling to follow all the different areas on the comp. Click here to see this, there to see that. I end up so confused and frustrated and feeling dumb. Takes me back to school days
1) I love routine more than anyone else I know 2) My obsessions change over time but they happen 3) I can't hold eye contact for more than 5 seconds (i can but it's torture) 4) I'm really with verbal instructions and instructions for new/unfamiliar tasks 5) I'm extremely bad with social communication, social gestures etc Hhmmmm, maybe I found the answer here.
Hey this is the story of an aspergers from India.. Today after watching this video I am 101 percent sure that I have aspergers. I have some self realisation 1. 90 percent of time my brain becomes stuck/overwhelmed due to n number of thought processing at one point of time.. So that I forgot who I am? I fee lost.. Struggle to keep track of my thinking/feelings 2. I can remember a lot of situation specially in the office where I feel so overwhelmed that I go to washroom to catch some breath/hold my head in a situation I know I can't handle myself. 3.I believe I am not able to understand the feeling of people if they are joking around/serious/ .. I always go very deep into the meaning of conversation with someone so I fail to crack the essence of the topic. 4. I feel most of the time I am very egoistic and can't take jokes etc.. Because I feel nobody is understanding me and my feelings. 5. I don't understand that nobody has the power to hurt me and most of the time they don't want to because they also have feelings. 6. I discovered that it is the fluctuations of emotions which are controling me like sudden joy/anger/jealousy/insecurity etc. 7. If someone's praise can't make me happy why should I worry if they scold me?? 8. I believe mixing with kindhearted non aspie people making me understand jokes/more emotions/helping me to take quick decision etc. 9. Most vital thing in this condition is self hurting feelings which overflows all the time and being unnecessary critical of yourself thinking about how others will dislike me 10. I again believe that I have realized these things very late on my thirties which I should have realised probably in my teen age. I blame my condition/bad upbringing /lacknofself awareness for this late realisation.. 11. MY GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD BETTER AND BE MORE EMPHATIC TOWARDS OTHERS... Love ❤❤❤ to all
Great stuff, Dan. Thank you for another fascinating video. Is that why I have to have a morning routine and always sit in the same chair, consciously have to work through my bathroom routine, find changes in daily routines very difficult to cope with... ? For years I have practised conversations, appropriate answers, how to greet people, what to do and say in certain more frequent situations, but one of the worst is the cycles in the night. Where I have to get up and read or do a crossword/su doku to break the looping (over and over again in my head). Your videos have such fascinating insights and are quite a comfort after 64 years!
I was diagnosed with Asperger's when I was in about 1-2nd grade and I definitely showed signs of it. My topic of interest was (and still somewhat is) gaming and especially Minecraft. Now that I'm older I'm addicted to coding and would like to get into software development but my main struggle is focus. I also love staying home 🙃 people are hard to deal with Edit: I can do instructions just fine but i prefer visual so much more. Im even hoping to create a program to teach people how to code if theyre more comfortable with visual learners such as myself. Once i gain the skill ofc
Im undiagnosed but I relate to most of these. The struggle to follow vocal commands has been a struggle, it's almost as if my brain is completely incapable of interpreting what is being asked of me. This was a massive issue for me in the army.
Lol my brother is the same as me so I get it that in boot camp he was Private Out to Lunch but just like in that movie they found he had some useful and rare skills. Full Mental 🐇
I have just been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. I can late to the all of the above mentioned topics. Thanks 😊 for making these self-esteem video's your insights are really helpful and interesting 👍
I am trying to self diagnose my self with ASD. I think I need to see a specialist, because I have all of these! I love routine, I have special interests (Selena Gomez, Disney, dogs, and Harry Potter (and I LOVE collecting things from these interest!), I have a hard time with eye contact, I need directions written down, and I am not good with social interaction at all. I watch a bunch of your videos (I’ve been subbed for a while!) and every video I’m like “That’s me! That’s me!”
I was diagnosed with this when I was 3. My mom first noticed telling signs when I wouldn't talk to other kids and preferred being alone. I wouldn't play with other children and have had a hard time making and keeping friends/relationships throughout my life.
Since you prefer your own company (or did when you were a child, at least), do you feel the lack of social interaction, or does it not bother you much ? If it bothers you, are you in therapy to find workarounds ? If these questions are too intrusive, apologies. I'm curious.
@@Kris_AB the strangest thing is, I'm comfortable staying in and avoiding direct interactions with others. It causes a huge problem for my bf however when he tries taking me somewhere and I'm not social or stay in the car throughout the whole experience. I wish I could be more adventurous but in a way, that feeling isn't as genuine as me being okay with being by myself. I have however developed an attachment towards him where if he is gone for so long, I do get upset. A lot of that stems from my own insecurities and abandonment issues, I had developed throughout the years. Its hard for others to understand but something I've learned to deal with in my own way even after all these years.
@@Kris_AB it didn't put a damper on me learning, however. I still got good grades and signed up for extracurricular activities which was fun in a way for me to develope bonds with pther ppl but I've still always been very anxious and anti social.
I still haven't been diagnosed yet but I have a feeling that I may be on the spectrum. I can relate to not talking/playing with other kids in school. It was rare for me to talk to others. I still don't understand some social aspects specifically with dating amd I'm in my mid 20s lol
@@emperorofwar1 same! Except I am scared to check into specialists because it is highly stigmatized here to be diagnosed... Especially since where I live, most of the people are extroverted so they don't really know what it means to struggle with socializing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I have ADHD and it has been suggested to me that I look into if I might have aspergers. With the overlaps it's so difficult to tell but there are a lot of things that I assumed were from over 30 years of coping mechanisms like really wanting routine and clear instructions.
Eye contact, especially while eating, really makes my skin crawl. I was diagnosed with add in the 80s, a “super hearer” and “super taster”. I streak eat as well. I will eat the same or very similar food for weeks, then not eat it for months. I don’t follow instructions verbally at all, I can only do by seeing. I will go hard in the paint for an interest for a month or so, and then totally quit. It’s like my interest is transient. I love dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, and people always say “you’d do great on jeopardy”. I’m starting to get horrid anxiety at times if I need to go to a social situation, even if I had been looking forward to it. I will always overstay my welcome with close friends as well. No one talked about autism being a thing as a child. It’s like it didn’t exist back then…
1. No hard routine, but I freak out when something outside my control changes my day; I'm okay if I'm the one to make a change, bu otherwise, nope. 2. I'm obsessive, but flit from interest to interest, researching the f*** out of them. 3. I *hate* eye contact, but with the high level of masking that I do, I force myself to look people in the eyes despite its disquieting effects. 4. For me, it depends on the length of the instructions, and how familiar the thing I'm working on is. 5. I only understand body language and facial expression cus I studied the f*** out of it. But people still tell me that a lot of the time, it seems like I speak my own language, and they need a translator to get what I'm saying. Hells if I can find autism testing for adults that I can afford in my area. Getting diagnosed has been a bitch because I'm in a rural area and poor af.
I completed the questionnaire I found in Tony Attwood's standard text *Asperger Syndrome: a guide for parents and professionals* -- I hope you might find it through a public library -- if your branch doesn't have it in stock they might get it by means of a special request sent to a library that does.
@@FlyboyHelosim Sometimes it's worse. You don't have to pay but they can not diagnose you because the system is outdated. You go to a private clinic and face the same problem with an empty wallet.
you can take online test for free. aspie test, they are pretty accurate since i've taken 5 different ones and scored the exact same place all 5 times and I have it.
Five out of five; no surprise to me as I've been diagnosed on the spectrum twice. Only differences true for me is I tend to get a series of obsessions where I'm all in until one day I'm just not and then something else gets ALL my attention; I learned to mask so well most people don't realize I don't maintain eye contact; and as long as I keep most of my routines each day I am able to function near 100% when 1 or 2 get changed out of my control. Enjoy watching the channel immensely.
This hits home. My "obsessions" last a few weeks, months or even years, then usually due to some frustration with it (like a model train setup that stopped functioning) I suddenly switch to something else for a long time. Current obsession: ancient pottery replication.
I have 2 children both autism, our son definitely Aspergers. We don't get any help en they have a lot off fears, so last year they had a panic attack at school (special education) and the teachers put them in an isolation room. Our son finally told us and we where angry. But because the school is from a big organization they try to break us. Our son try to kill himself 3 times last summer. So now they are going to school in a different country, I drive them every day, but they are chronically ill, autism and now with bad trauma. They are only 8 and 10 and damaged for life. The world needs way more awareness. This video is so helpful, thank you!
My son knew all the planets in our solar system, all of their moons, all sorts of facts from the age of 2-5. He knew 3D shapes like octagons, dodecagons at the age of 3. Between the age of 6- now, he has taught himself about all the countries , flags, the islands in the world. During covid at the age of 7 , he developed an obsession with portraits sketches and taught himself very complex hyper realistic portraits by watching RUclips videos. he is now 8, we started reading the happy potters and he learned everything about Harry Potter ! He gets anxiety with change and struggles with spontaneous social conversations. He is in speech therapy for it at school. He has a hard time with sarcasm, knowing how far to be from someone’s face, he likes to pretend he is sketching in air, he repeats last few sounds of the last words of a sentence he has said. He has never really made friends at school, doesn’t get invited to birthday parties, but when he is at home, he desires relationships deeply, he enjoys being with cousins and friends (kids of his parents friends , where we have facilitated the friendship). He has a hard time following instructions , teachers say he is lost at school, he never mimicked other kids , doesn’t watch other kids to learn from them, when he was little , he would not feed himself till at age 4 and everyone said to me just don’t feed him , if he is hungry he will figure it out and he will watch other kids and learn , but he didn’t, only when he wanted to later on , he started . His school is currently in the process of figuring out his condition, but I am pretty sure he has Aspergers with ADHD. He is super loving, loves hugging , is a happy boy. I want to make sure he remains that way. Being in school can be hard and I want to ensure he doesn’t lose his sense of confidence . From growing up, what kinds of things helped you?. As parents , what can we do to keep supporting him. He is starting to figure out that he is different , that kids at school see him differently. I want him to be proud of himself and want to send him to school with an armor of self confidence and sense of self worth , so that negative experiences at school from peers do not diminish his sense of self worth .
I started watching these videos because my girlfriends son has Asperger's and it can be very difficult trying to understand him, these videos really help me in my relationship with him
1. Love routines (I love routines and I don’t like change) 2. Obsessive interests ( some of mine are celebrities including kpop idols) 3. Bad eye contact- (I definitely have eye contact issues and I definitely do avoid it as it makes me really uncomfortable) 4. Issues with following instructions 5. Issues with social communication
my youngest son has been struggling, he is six. he was diagnosed yesterday with autism. interestingly, i tested myself today online and all of them have returned a result of i am highly likely to have Asperger’s Syndrome. I feel great relief that my social anxiety, struggling to talk with people, inability to kiss ass to get ahead.. isn't just me being a weirdo and is out of my control. Im 41 now
I’ve been doing a lot of research on this lately and this is a good video that helped me conclude that I probably have Aspergers. Going through all of the points I would say they all apply to me, especially the eye contact and obsessive interests (researching the differences between Sherman tank tread pattens through the war at 3am kind of obsessions). Love of routine is an interesting one as I try to avoid routines so that I don’t get annoyed when I can’t follow them, but since lockdown I’ve been religiously following routines! Keep up with the great videos, they are interesting.
This was very informative. I just met a lady who has a child with Aspergers, and I was intimidated a little until I watched your video. 2 snaps and a thumbs 👍
Watching this as I obsessively listen to the same album for the second time today right after routinely walking around the kitchen island exactly 12 times I am diagnosed with OCD and I'm worried I may actually have Asperger's syndrome. The things listed in this video are almost 100% accurate.
Dan I love your channel and am coming to the reality of being on the autism spectrum. It’s been a fun but tough 45 years … so to all the partners of un-diagnosed ASD’s do t judge but learn because it’s tough on you but we are just big sweetheart… it’s just as hard for us… especially when you didn’t realise and developed masks on masks to get through life… Still it’s awesome for me knowing not that I care about the nomenclature (I’m being told I may be Asperger’s) it’s just great to fully understand myself..
Yes a few years ago I was in college and this woman who told me I had some symptoms of Aspergers so I took this as a shock because no one ever thought I had aspergers so this bothered me so I went to get an evaluation by real professionals and it turns out I don’t have aspergers at all.
For the instructions, this is so true. I realized that when my son was small. His brain could not process easy commands or a series of commands, like : "tidy up (too general), make your bed, brush your teeth". But his brain activates if it is a question because the brain needs to find answers and aspie / autism brains love it. So here is what we do: What do you think you should do about dirty clothes on the floor? How can you make Winnie the Pooh more comfortable on the bed? What do you think we should do after eating? For a neurotypical brain like mine is not natural but with time, it became natural...
The "obsession" that manifested with me was board games. I have been fascinated by board games my whole life and now I am a published board game designer. So far I have 2 games, Mosaic and Flip words being sold by Continuum Games.
My 4 year old son seems very unique, and has had some challenges in communicating with others. At 2 1/5 we had him tested for autism, but twice they told us he is not autistic at all. He is very loving and affectionate, and VERY smart, but his language and eye contact are not great. While he didn’t speak late, actually he spoke words very clearly at a really early age, his tone is a different than other kids his age, and he has trouble with back and forth conversations. He loves to tell people about things he is interested in, like buildings (such as the Empire State Building) or Space, but if the person is trying to tell him something he seems like he is not listening. He seems to have one sided conversations with people who don’t give him the floor to listen. Also, he loves legos, and builds some amazing things, but never follows the instructions. He is also VERY clumsy and not coordinated physically. He is 4, and already reads and does 1st grade math… but given many specialists just said he had a mild language delay, I can’t figure out what his personality is or what types of things to challenge him.
wow thank you ive always thought i was odd just realised tonight this is what is most probably is, the more i look at videos about aspergers its all making sense now
...and I see this as a detriment why? Asperger's is definitely a detriment when you're going through a standardized school system, but in day-to-day life... I would rather be a little socially inept and extra truthful/literal to people. Aspies are extraordinary, it's just complicated to explain and discover... Accepting aspies as handicapped is just a result of the easiest route of thought.
When I was a child Autism was never spoken of (at least where I lived) so I was regarded as antisocial. During the COVID years I found I didn't fit into that. Eventually I found there was a strong probability I am Autistic. Videos like this one are very good too, especially as it is easy to understand.
My son once suggested that my husband might have Asperger's. It was a huge relief to consider that might be the case rather than he's just mean and weird.
Diagnosed with Asperger 1. Hate surprises. Been drinking hot chocolate every morning since 6 years old (22 years old now) 2. I have an obsession with building, doesn’t matter if it’s ikea furniture or lego or even in Minecraft. 3. I have hard time reading and understanding eye contact how long how much etc. 4. I speaking in pictures and visuals, hate speaking and reading cuz it’s so difficult. 5. Despise body language, it requires so much thinking it’s exhausting.
@@TheAspieWorld So how good is your imagination? At 7:36 there's a hexagonal shape/structure, what do you see? Do you see 2 eyes, nose and incomplete mouth, or maybe a knuckle (that's worn on Fist in fight) or honey bee hive or the incomplete Cybertron in one of the Transformers series that had sentinel prime. There's lines jumping all over it's like you already know the angles of various objects & also compare the angles from prev memories. Do youu see angles in human face too? Like if we draw an imaginary line between the eyes plus connect both eyes with the nose a triangle is formed and then this angle sits at this degrees that angle sits at that degrees etc. Or maybe like iron man first part right before his first flight in his basement - there's an image seen through the camera in the helmet & then in real time there's blue virtual lines jumping all over.. Giving a better understanding of the object... Do you see the world that way?
@@Ashutosh231neurodivergent are mostly visual. All visual learners translate words into images/pictures like movie slides. All these images would be transform into symbol once we get the whole concept. Why we have problems with following instructions? If the instructions verbally and if you talk fast then i would have problem to following, thus you need to talk slower. Many times we are too distracted bcoz we see patterns everywhere and connect things. Thats why todays education not suits well for visual learner. Like when you say hexagonal structure we translate it to many different languages/perspectives/studies, depending on how much information that we collect to our memory since childhood.
Crying right now realizing I am who I am, and I realized why I wasn't safe with certain people in my past and even recently. I hate myself and don't want to be different anymore I don't belong anywhere. 💔
I have all these symptons,incredible! I'm real good at eye contact but I get to zeroed on a conversation allot of times and make people uncomfotable..And I'm self employed and I work by myself.I'm like a machine..
I am looking at trying to start the process of trying to get a diagnosis for myself, I'm now 28 with a son on the Autism Spectrum, I always saw myself as different from others around me but Autism wasn't spoken about when I grew up, after having my son's diagnosis and seeing the signs/information that make up autism, I feel like now would be the right time to finally be seen myself... As everyday is a struggle and it would help me a lot to finally have some answers, we both share many traits.
Oooh, finally somebody mentions instruction manuals and things like that!! If there are pictures, no problem. But if not.. I almost never managed to cook something from a cook book. It‘s a mess.
I removed my 2000 odyssey transmission 7x . Bought the manual. Then placed all the parts and shook it. Easy placing together. Still ody of this text and 273k mi never give up. Aspie John here
Well here I am at 66 yo and finally figured out this is what I'm dealing with. I've kind of had a hunch but...this brings things into the light. 1. I need routines and I get disoriented if they are broken and I will try to bring them back if possible. 2. While I do have a wide range of interests, I do tend to focus on a limited number. 3. Eye contact has always been an issue with me 4. This one is rather odd because I feel I need the structure of instructions but is better if they are in diagrams (like IKEA) . 5 social interactions can be difficult for me and gets worse if the group continually gets larger. I do much better with 1 or two people and even better if it's in a textual chat room Zoom like meetings can become a challenge. But, if I'm with a group of like minded folks I do much better.
Thanks for that. I was diagnosed with Aspbergers over 10 years ago. But I never believed it. You’re first category: Routine, I have in abundance…10 out of 10. Everything with me has to follow a routine, same pattern everyday. Everything is alphabetical, or numerical. Have been that way all my life. But, that’s it! All the other 4 I can’t relate to at all, especially the human communication aspects. As long as I’ve done my rules I’m cool in society. I think I’m OCD. You got a video on that.
Lately I start doubting if I just have ADHD (which I have diagnosed) or if I have Asbergers in addition to ADHD. I show 3 of the 5 signs you described.
That visual list thing I really get. For instance recently I was going to buy some apearal from my work but I wanted the discount also. So I had to set up an account but it would not show me the cost nor even let me buy anything. So I texted the Facebook department of my business and the texted me back with this long complicated list of things to do. I tried it but it didn't work. But then I was cleaning the HR department (since I'm a Janitor) and I found an visual instruction paper on how to set up your account and buy company merchandise at a discount rate. I understood it so much better it was amazing.
I have emotional meltdowns. If I'm given a task and I don't know it, I am afraid to ask for help and become anxious. Then I start to cry. It doesn't seem like I have this. I have good eye contact, I am a good singer and love an audience. I'm left-brained. Very visual and artistic. My issues are self-worth and over-reacting. Also I have problems with tedious tasks like cutting bandanas for dogs where I work and filing numbers any longer than 5 didgets. I just thought I'd check if these symptoms applied to me but they don't. Thanks.
I'm now 100% convinced that my husband is an Aspie too! I'm a late diagnosed Aspie (diagnosed in 2008). I do have a set routine, well, I call it a structure, but my husband's routine is like concrete, unbreakable! Early one morning, I cut my finger to the bone. I woke my husband to take me to the hospital, but he needed to walk the dog first.....which is the first thing he does when he wakes up in the morning, then he gives the dog a bone, then he dresses for his half hour power walk, asking him in that emergency to break his routine sent him into a tailspin of confusion & disorientation; he couldn't even drive the car. I told him to go walk the dog, while I drove and my son changed the gears. His latest obsession is the English actress Kate Beckinsale, I know everything about her life now. The one thing that I thought 'disqualified' him is that he doesn't have an eye for detail, but you mentioning problem with following instructions is him to a tee.... and I thought it was just a me problem......
*1st thing:* I like to think I adapt well but honestly it's difficult to not get really unreasonably angry when people spring things onto me. Like I want to just hit my bed repeatedly and scream until I'm tired (and sometimes I have :/) It's especially bad when I find out I need to go somewhere when I was expecting to stay in the house or go somewhere else. My mom used to get really mad at it when I was a kid so I've kind of shamed myself out of allowing anyone to even know I feel that way. It's tough. *2nd thing:* I am obsessed with music. Collecting, making, listening to, reading about, categorizing, making lists, etc. It has distracted me a lot when I was in school because I'd just ignore what I have to do and write a kind of 'information dump' of band names, years, genre evolution trees, etc. I still do it in college at times, although I'm ashamed of it *3rd thing:* I force myself to sometimes but it's really hard. I find when I just let go and ignore the eyes of everyone around me, I feel a huge wave of relief, comfortability and confidence. *4th thing:* I can do things with instructions as long as they are direct enough. Sometimes I get the urge to make people repeat what they said over and over so I feel confident but I noticed it annoys them so I don't, and I struggle afterward with anxiety about if I've forgotten something *5th thing:* I honestly have pretty much no idea how to communicate with people on a casual level besides close friends. I've picked up things over the years to help me do well in college, but in casual conversations I'm going to choke up 90% of the time, go silent, and try to leave. Even if I'm excited to talk to the person, I will find myself choking up or making them uncomfortable by bringing up a weird topic. It's really hard to tell beforehand. I like to think of people as RPG players so my feelings don't get too hurt, or even NPCs (although I feel bad when I think that... like I'm evil or something) I came to the realization I might have aspergers less than a year ago, and after telling some of my closest friends, they said they think I am. One actually revealed THEY were diagnosed with it to me and it's like, wow. I would've never known. I'm still not sure if I am on the spectrum, but I would love to have a professional evaluate me one day (although I don't even know how to make that happen). Part of me feels like it might just be social anxiety and OCD with anger issues? I don't know enough about this stuff
My boyfriend I suspect is. He’s terrible with instructions, is very clumsy, not very good with his hands (for example: the key to my front door wasn’t working in one direction. It never occurred to him to try the other direction. He was trying over and over. I finally opened the door and said “why not try the door bell?” I taught him our baby’s night routine which includes having some clean diapers out. But one night the baby was already asleep and he started to loudly open a new bag causing her to stir. I said “just wait until you need them.” “But there aren’t any in their spot right now…” “right but if the baby’s is asleep now and we don’t need them, let’s not wake her up and just wait until she IS awake…” He seems to lack common sense in a lot of instances that just baffles me. This isn’t meant to be mean but it wouldn’t occur to him that a square peg should go in a square hole. So forget about DIY furniture assembly. He’s admitted he’s not handy at all. Can only learn by watching not by hands-on. Poorly organized. Very intelligent in his niche interests. Pretty apathetic to anyone other than “his people”. Loud when we’re conversing in quiet public areas where I have to remind him to “shhh.” Very verbose. Any of this cause you to suspect Asperger’s?
1- yeah, im pretty consistent when it comes to what i do, except waking up consistently, i can not do that lol 2- YES. but i dont really buy merch of a fandom im in tho. 3- eye contact with someone is really hard for me, it makes me kind of uncomfortable. 4- heck yeah. i suck at following directions and instructions, especially if it's a verbal instruction, because i cant pay attention very well. 5- 100% yes, social communication is quite hard, but mostly with people i dont know. when i get to know someone i get more and more chatty, but when i meet someone it is very hard to talk to them properly. thanks for this video, it was great and i enjoyed it a lot :) !
The fact that RUclips recommend this to me after I spent all morning obsessively researching ancient Welsh dialects 'for the fun of it' has not gone unnoticed...
Cymru am byth
😂
😂 youtube was just like "honey, you need some help" lmao
@@samotions2031 😂😂😂
Hey everyone, I just made a video about my autistic experience I would love if you could check it out and let me know if it resonates with you all? I could do with people getting in touch who understand
1. Love routines ( I absolutely love them)
2. Obsessive Intetersts (I definitely have)
3. Bad contact (I definitely have issues)
4. Issues following instructions
5. Issues with social communication (yep I definitely have)
See the exact same behavior from sports fans.
Routine is the only thing keeping me together rn
@@soaringsquid0.129 Yeah I love routine🥰
So true❤
@@Blackpink_kpop_lover15yes😊
I always thought that I couldn't be on the autism spectrum because I am very empathetic and overly sensitive to other people's emotions and trying to make sure that everyone around me feels comfortable. But having done more research about it, I now realize that this is a common misconception and that I could possibly be on the spectrum as I suspected. It would definitely explain a lot of things about myself.
Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
@Jared Mills thanks for sharing 😀
@@kmckinlay8070 very neat insight, thanks for sharing 😀
@@kmckinlay8070 Thank you for sharing I feel like I relate to this a lot!
People is autism are super empathetic and super sensitive but have a tough time showing it. I am overly sensitive and I know exactly how people feel but have a super tough time showing any emotions unless I get insanely angry or sad.
My boyfriend has Aspergers and I'm obsessed with learning more and more about him everyday. You help me understand so much. Thank you Dan 😊
So nice !
Find someone else
@@brandonM2_909 bruh that’s messed up
@@brandonM2_909 you are very horrible
This is the sweetest thing. I hope you are still together. ❤️
The more I do the research on autism and watch videos of autisic ppl sharing their experience, the more I suspect that I might be autistic. I relate to so may autistic traits, I have always been really sensitive to sound, light, taste, smell, texture, etc. and it's really overwhelming and I feel so overstimulated. I have problems with social cues and I hate eye contact so much. Ppl have always called me weird or crazy, and I have always felt different and it's been so hard to relate to ppl around me, so I appreciate your channel!
Same here.
Yeah it's cool that this channel exists... I do wish he'd talk about pressure seekers..
I've never understood the whole thing about sensitivity to sound and smell, etc. Many traits of Asperger's are simply human likes and dislikes. I guess it really all comes down to how the individual is able to deal with it, that defines whether a person has Asperger's or not.
@@FlyboyHelosim Well for me personally I hear everything more louder and smell everything stronger. I have smelled smells what other don't feel. Sounds what others don't really hear. Imagine hearing every little sound and it being loud. Some sounds and smells make you have physical reaction. You just don't experience quietness. Sounds just mix with eachother so it's hard to understand what others are saying and your ears start to hurt and the you have headache. I don't use perfume cuz it's too strong and makes me feel sick. If someone use lot of perfume, it's hard for me to breathe. The shopping centres are the worst cuz it's loud, full of different smells, have terrible lighting, etc. Well this is my personal experience so it can be different for others. Sorry if I explained it unclear, English isn't my first language^^
@@arikasapphic Yes I understand and you explained it perfectly! 😉
My son definitely is on the spectrum. Speaking without a filter, obsessed with dinosaurs and drawing, difficulty in social situations, being more at ease with younger children or older other than peers his own age, sensitivity to loud noises or breaks in routine…
Your son is lucky to have YOU as a parent. I grew up with terrible parents who had no comprehension of my condition and were themselves messed up mentally in their own way. My early life was a nightmare and a part of me is jealous that your son will get the help and guidance he needs that I never got even though we are both similar.
1. Yes, I like routine. I’m uncomfortable when things are messed around!
2. Yeah, I get obsessive about certain things
3. I hate eye contact
4. Sometimes I find instructions can be difficult to follow
5. I’m very awkward with social cues.
Sounds like OCD , anxiety and shy/introverted personality combinated
Can you give an example?
One common trait he missed was poor hand eye coordination and manual dexterity. I almost lost a job once because I had so much difficulty opening garbage bags that it was taking me 20 or 30 minutes longer to do a "garbage run" than it should have. I solved the problem by spraying wet liquid on the garbage bags to make them easier to open. Had I NOT been that CLEVER (nobody else thought of this) I might be unemployed right now.
@@КристиянТрънбашев-ш6гocd has lots more traits, and is defined by compulsions (cause to perform a ritual to calm the anxiety of usually an intrusive thought) and obsessions, intrusive thoughts, even tho ocd is also neurodivergence, what he was talking about doesn’t fit the criteria yet because it was very broad, it does fit more that of Aspergers.
I'm 29 and I have AS too. These videos and comments are really uplifting and helpful on my bad days
Yay!! So happy that we here can help you feel happy! X Thank you so much for the comment! Make sure you are subscribed and have the notifications turned on :).
I'm a 33 yr old Aspie who come to terms with my assessment I've had decades earlier. Been a loner and reclusive since 2007..and don't plan on changing for nobody!
How was it before finding out like the steps you took how you set the appointment etc
@@TUFT_QUEEN My Mom took me to a children's therapist and they ran test on me. In school I had regular and special education classes. Sorry for the late reply
Same exact thing for me. I'm 33 as well
Our son just got diagnosed this week which has been such an amazing moment for our family. Really thankful for your content. Had a bit of a cry listening to your Podcast afterwards. Tears of relief and hope. Cheers
How is it an amazing moment??
@@antoniofuller2331 They are not literally glad that he HAS a condition but having a DIAGNOSIS is KNOWLEDGE and that gives them at least a strategy of how to deal with the problem. They are not literally glad that he has a mental disorder but rather glad that they know WHAT it is.
I'm in the process of trying to get a diagnosis for myself right now. I've made it to 21 without a diagnosis so people don't tend to believe me. Everytime I watch one of your autism videos I feel like you are just describing my experiences.
Thank you
I just got diagnosed at 30. I've been searching for help for 15 years..since I was about 15. One day you'll find the right doctor..I had to go to a specialist
1 - nope, routine... eh I don't like suprises but adapting is something I can do
2 - it's not overly obsessive... but do like stuff
3 - YES ... maintaining, but mostly I don't like being stared at , with the exception of conversations
4 - YES, I need you to talk to my parents
5 - yup....
How are you with expressing emotions. Smiles or laughs? And conversation?
@@AWERscents pretty good
I actually did a self test on this a few months ago and I have finally decided I need help. For years I thought it was just depression, and had therapy and meds for it, but recently I saw one of my friends talk about it, and it made so much sense to me.. Of course I'm now on a waiting list and covid will add to the wait, but I'm fairly confident I'm right on this.
Any updates??
Any updates homie ?
We have an appointment with a specialist in late April, my son hits every point(he's 14). Already been diagnosed with ADHD. These videos are so helpful. Thank you so much!
Congratulations, well, you know what I mean. I'm currently waiting to hopefully go on the waiting list to see a specialist.
What was the diagnosis from the specialist if I may ask. I’m need of help
I grew up before ADHD was properly recognized, butI was diagnosed as a young adult. Through time, I realized was actually seeing more and more characteristics outside the diagnosis of ADHD, so I’ve begun the process for a proper diagnosis. Channels such as yours have been very helpful to me. I kinda feel like I’ve found my peeps. Just like the Blind Melon No Rain video.🐝
I’m 31 years old and I still haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD or Aspergers am having hard time finding a place who can do it
This video helped me out a lot. I believe I have these symptoms. I’m 37 and I have never been diagnosed but I feel like I’ve had it my whole life. I can’t keep friends or sustain a relationship. It sucks but now I feel like I understand myself more. Thank you for this
I feel like this quarantine has pushed me to suspect there might be something in fact different about me in ways I haven't ever realized before. I don't feel depressed from being at home for all this time, in fact I feel much better now that I've had so much time to pursue my interests. Being alone for so long has revealed behaviors of mine that I've suppressed or ignored for so long. I catch myself every single day going deep into thought tangents where I pace around my house for a solid 10-20 mins at a time whilst talking aloud to myself about all sorts of imaginary situations that become progressively unrelated to the thing I was doing that got me started. I've also realized that ever since I was a kid I like to wave pencils and pens in front of my face while I'm bored or in deep thought and watch the paths that are traced out. I realized just how much I struggle to connect with and feel like I have any spare energy for my family and friends. I have internal breakdowns every time I have to make even the simplest phone calls, even just ordering a pizza; can't do it. I avoid them at all costs, and I do mean ALL costs. On top of all this, I consistently scored above the threshold on any quotient test I took. I was diagnosed with ADHD in middle school, put on adderall, and taken to therapy (all of which feels like a fever dream to me now) which perhaps suggests that I was under-diagnosed. I was always well above average in language ability, too, having no issue figuring out how to pronounce even the largest vocabulary words they gave us. Many teachers gave me such remarks but nobody suspected a thing. I have zero issues getting comedy, irony, idiomatic expressions, metaphores, etc. and I'm probably the first in a group to do so. I also find that I can't stop myself from constructing extensive sentences and writing extremely long, detailed paragraphs. I've learned that I have to tone it down lest I become overbearing... I guess that's a good spot for me to leave off.
Thanks. I really related to this! In fact, when the quarantine hit I quipped: "Wow. Now the rest of the world is on my level!" So while they were freaking out, for me it was just business as usual.
I'm 68, male, retired, managed to get a Master's Degree in social work, and wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until I was in my 40's. That helped explain a LOT of my early years but there were always additions/asterisks to my ADHD, like OCD, ODD, narcissism, etc.
For me, the one thing that really differentiated ADHD from Asperger's (I refuse to just call it ASD, which they invented for purely insurance reasons.) is and always was a profound sense of never fitting in. AND having a running "fantasy" language/behavior (I would imagine myself on Oprah being interviewed for something great I'd done, etc.) I also used drugs and sex as a kind of self-medicating strategy. (I always enjoy(ed) sensual pleasures and intense eye contact.)
Now that I'm retired, and the world has come unglued, I'm much more comfortable with actively engaging in fantasy "exercises" because, TBH, that's no crazier than the way the world is at the present time.
And as a final note...I've been finding a lot of comfort in underground, dark roast comedy. (Rich Vos, the late Patrice O'Neal, etc.) I think I relate because a lot of them have Asperger's and they frequently talk about "Asperger's Truth". (That's not some sort of absolute truth; the opposite; it's just unfiltered speech, my specialty.)
As a result, my "fantasies" are now more geared to running full comedy sets, by myself, vs hours of air guitar. (So it's actually more productive, because I have written a lot of dark roast jokes/bits, and I enjoy the freedom now to say whatever I want. In the past, it was always: "Sam...that's taking it a bit too far." Not any more! The sky's the limit.)
Oh. And finally...I tend to "over share". 😀
I like both having a routine and also not having one. For me, routines are for work because I hate unexpected events and surprises that will set off my social anxiety, and I also routines for waking up and household chores because it makes me feel productive and fresh. At the same time, I hate doing the same thing every day because I am easily bored and I love learning so I feel like I have to do something new every day or I won't feel productive. To avoid surprises I pre-plan everything even things that haven't happened yet so that if I come across it in the future, I can deal with it with the least amount of problems. The obsessions for me are the focus of my life, I absolutely love media, things like Graphic Design, Art, Film, Games, Anime, TV, you name it, it's all I know what to talk about. I'm so obsessed I even tear up sometimes hahaha. I wouldn't change it for the world though because my obsessions give my life meaning, I can get up every day working hard towards my dreams. My Eye contact is bad when it comes to strangers because I keep thinking about my eye contact and if im making the right amount or do I look weird etc. so then I forget what I'm doing and get nervous and start making more awkward mistakes. Instructions too, I prefer to be left alone with my tasks, instructions from others dont make sense, and it's pointless for them to attempt trying it so I'd rather just have them write the basics down so I can work it out myself, saves a lot of hassle. I remember being in a coding class at university and their instructions just left my brain but I find one youtube tutorial where I am free to rewind as much as I like and I'm a master ahha.
This is very relatable
I don’t like how accurately you have described things that have happened to me, like even down to the coding class and being specifically unable to maintain eye contact because I remember my first interview for the college and that was the hardest thing for me
1) I love routine. I even have specific outfits for specific days and I have to wear that outfit or I just feel wrong.
2) Obsession? Oh, yes. I'll let you guess what my special interest is. :)
3) I couldn't even look you in the eyes in this video. :(
4) I can't follow spoken instructions for anything. It has to be written down, and even then, I'd prefer diagrams of what to do.
5) Social communication is like a minefield for me. I never know what to say, and always worry that I've said something wrong.
Well, I'm 5 for 5. I was diagnosed with Autism at 27 (I'm 32 right now), but my psychologist kept telling me that I didn't have Asperger's. He was a great man and I miss him greatly (he passed away from lung cancer a couple of years ago. He was like my Obi-wan), but I think he was mistaken.
Your special interest is ... clothes? Fashion?
I have literal meltdowns if the make up/outfit I planned to wear doesn't work out or I don't find it, because sometimes I don't even have it on my closet. I made it up on my mind that I had to look a certain way that day or else I'm miserable or won't go. I thought I was a bad person for the longest time. It's not vanity because it isn't about brands or showing off, I hate attention and I don't dress flashy. I don't own anything expensive yet I was misunderstood as spoiled or whatever.
@@barbaraf3340 Hi Barbara F, when I was younger I used to love mixing and matching tops and bottoms and accessories, and I didn't need to spend an extravagant amount to enjoy myself this way. I used to feel that appearance was important and that to some extent I could compensate for my social awkwardness and "prove" that I did have some intelligence, subtlety and sensitivity, that I did have some "grace" -- maybe not social graces to the extent that I would have liked to have, but some grace with regard to my appearance.
However that was when my environment was conducive to it. Things changed -- I had to move to another office building in a rough area and I had to walk to and from work. The political situation changed and people around me began to dress more stylishly than ever before -- they really had a fine sense of style and I knew that it would be hard work trying to keep up.
I was mugged once and noticed that some passers-by took very careful note of my appearance -- in particular they zoomed in on my shoes and watch. I felt they were trying to gauge whether my handbag would be worth grabbing.
So instead of trying to stand out, I started to dress in a much more low-key way. I got so used to it that I now feel most comfortable dressing this way. It's the easiest, quickest and most convenient.
I don't know what would have happened if my circumstances stayed the same, but it's amazing how much you can change if you have to!
That said, I still enjoy finding something that is both flattering and comfortable, that I can move freely and easily in, and that adds pep to my wardrobe (like a good scarve).
It's good when one can enjoy one's clothes and appearance with ease and a sense of freedom, doing one's own thing.
Wishing you all the best -- hope this will be a good year for you Barbara F!
@@alrinaleroux9229 Thank you! I'm so sorry you went through that. I dress more comfy now than before. I wanted to be a fashion designer, I loved textiles, the colors, the patterns, etc. I never got mugged but people were nasty to me because apparently matching a great outfit implied I thought I was better than them, even though it was all cheap items. It's funny because it would actually be expensive if I were true to my style, not what I find in stores. I dressed for me, for my role. I never tried to fit that much, I wouldn't speak so it didn't matter. Anyway, wish you luck, thanks for the reply!
@@barbaraf3340 Thank you for responding Barbara F, I'm glad you are good at dressing in an interesting way, it's a pleasure to see someone who looks stylish, especially with individualistic touches.
It's interesting what you said about dressing more comfy now than before, I read in the Guardian that many people are into dressing more comfortably now due to the pandemic lockdowns, and in the shops I see that there are a lot of tracksuit-like clothes in the windows (not that I think that so many people are wearing tracksuits because of the pandemic).
With regard to people being unpleasant and seeming prejudiced, I experienced it myself when I started work. I eventually realised that some people (especially the more sociable ones) seemed to regard me as aloof; something about me irritated them. I think many people with Aspergers tend to experience that reaction from certain neurotypical people who don't know them very well, especially people who tend to be quite critical towards others.
Some people tend to be more critical -- not everyone is a gossip, for example.
So partly for the sake of survival I felt I had to try to change to be more outgoing if it were at all possible. That was rather difficult, since when I initially started work we used to have tea times where everyone just had to sit in a kind of circle and chat. I didn't have a problem with work but I struggled with the teatime situation and tended to stutter, which I'd never had a problem with before.
But despite that, when I realised that it seemed that there was a problematic situation developing, where a certain person seemed to be getting into a habit of looking for excuses to try to humiliate me and talk badly of me, I realised that I would have to start speaking up for myself and try to be a bit more talkative and fit in better. I suspect my quietness made them a bit nervous, especially since I had an extra post-graduate degree that might have been a bit intimidating to some people.
So I forced myself to be more talkative, despite the fact that I sometimes felt a bit silly. (To me, being used to being rather reserved, it felt as though I was changing into a awkwardly garrulous person who might come across as a bit foolish at times).
Over time it became easier to talk to others and be sociable. Jumping in "at the deep end" like that helped me to get more experience and practice at talking to other people in a more informal way.
Work was really the place where I learned to get along with people better, because I've never been diagnosed and didn't get any advice. So even though it was a bit rough and difficult at times, in the end it worked out OK.
I'm now 55 and looking back it's a relief that things improved to the extent that it did. I thank God for that, for after I began to trust Him (the God of the Bible, the only true God), I calmed down a lot and there was a big change for the better.
I can identify with what you said about loving clothes, colours, textures and different styles and patterns.
It sometimes felt so exciting and full of variety and possibilities that I wondered what life as a fashion designer might have been like, but I knew that it wouldn't have worked out for me, because you need to be a really hard worker and have a lot of stamina, physically and mentally. And then there is the business side as well, which can be quite tricky if you don't have good support from other people.
Fashion design is a very competitive field and one needs to have a good team -- you need the support and loyalty.
So I was grateful to be able to be a book selector, being in the library field was a much more sheltered kind of environment.
Wishing you all the best for the future Barbara F!
I’m currently dating someone who has Asperger’s. I want to learn as much as I can and be supportive of them. They’re a lovely human. I value their individuality and presence.
i just found out that i have mild autism a few months ago - just wanted to say thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience - learning about autism has now become another one of my obsessions so i just churn through hours of your content - mostly audio while i do other things - its been super helpful - cheers
I know I have aspergers syndrome because I've been in the same position for almost all my career spanning almost 20 years. l don't know how to lie, deceive, manipulate and sociopath my way up the corporate ladder. I don't know how to see black and call it white or suck up to a manager for the sake of promotion. I watch all my peers with saccharine-coated tongue get promoted on a regular basis.
I was in the same position for almost 28 years but that was because I didn't want to have more responsibility. When my supervisor retired they wanted me to take over her duties, and that was when I decided to leave.
If you've worked in the same position for 20 years with no advancement, maybe you're just not very good at your job. In my field (tech) people don't ass kiss their way up the ladder, they prove it with their knowledge/results.
Sounds like you've created a high horse to avoid facing this truth.
To me what you are saying is all the more reason you SHOULD be getting promoted. Can I ask what career that is? I also suffer from this condition and since you are so honest can't you sit down with a boss and say that you have worked hard for 20 years and deserve a promotion and even flat out say to them everything you said here?
Everyone is different, every mind is unique, we all are special. Just love who you are and accept others for who they are.
My son is Asd and adhd and I’m Learning so much from channels like yours so thank you
Social media video changed my life. I just realized I have Aspergers. 64 years I knew something was different. It’s like a light came on 😅
These videos are really helpful in not just for diagnosis but understanding. I don't have Asperger's but I suspected my brother had some form of Autism for many years growing up. After school I studied BEd in psychology and learnt about Asperger's and immediately knew he had it. After 3 different professionals all diagnosed him (unfortunately as an adult - very troubling childhood to go with that) he was in such denial and insisted he didn't need any form of treatment or help. At age 27 he still lives with my mom, living in South Africa in the smallest town in the middle of nowhere where people are still very set in the old form of communication like eye contact etc. Most of my father's family has just about written him off for "lack of interest to be a part of family things" amongst other reasons. I feel like my family has always favoured me creating an even bigger rift between us. They would take only me on outings and holidays leaving him with my parents, I get all the gifts etc. He used to be great at drawing, art was a big focus and interest for him but we lived with my stepmom for a while who unfortunately has a habit of shouting hysterically and she would throw his drawings in the trash when he refused to come out of his room and socialize (sometimes kick his bedroom door down which is still giving him nightmares). Small town jobs are limited, the community is not very accepting and I feel like I have run out of ideas to help him. He has no interest of being independent, despite having the biggest back yard with borehole water to grow veg etc. he has no motivation to do anything and he shows no interest to anything other than Anime. I have seen some improvement and it's been difficult to understand him but the biggest challenge so far is to make him understand me. He has physically hurt my mom in a rage fit one night and he has no clue why what he did was wrong and I'm so stuck communicating these things. If anyone has any informative videos out there about dealing with Autistic adults with trauma please share.
Feel bad for your brother...
As a child , my whole life was about sports , participating and watching .Now, I am a total sports geek / guru..I'm hard to surpass when it comes to following teams , events , tends , etc. This interest has actually helped sustain me over the years .It really is great , socially, for male bonding ..I could always drink beer and talk sports .Really helps you blend in, even if you overdo it.
I am really happy i have found your channel..I have got a friend with aspergers,learning difficulties,autism,and speech problems(not sure of correct terms)..but no body has explained it to him..so he tries to fit in with people who aren't his friends..
I have tried explaining what it is,but it's hard to explain to him,cause I probably don't explain in a way he understands..also it's like he doesn't except it..
Anyway i am waffling on now..I am going to show him your video's,because I want him to know he has nothing to be ashamed of..he has even turned to narcotics because of this..I can only do so much..
Thankyou for making these video's appreciate it.
Have a great day,takecare
I got ADHD diagnosis over 6 months ago, but it couldn't explain everything. I started to suspect autism, but I was scared to say anything to anyone - I didn't want them to think that I would be seeking attention. well, on Monday I made the huge step and I told my trustworthy teacher how I felt. she promised to me that she would send a message to our school psychologist to send me a message. I'm waiting for his message now.
I have been diagnosed ADHD but the older I get the more I feel I may have Asperger’s. I’m studying on line and am struggling to follow all the different areas on the comp. Click here to see this, there to see that. I end up so confused and frustrated and feeling dumb. Takes me back to school days
1) I love routine more than anyone else I know
2) My obsessions change over time but they happen
3) I can't hold eye contact for more than 5 seconds (i can but it's torture)
4) I'm really with verbal instructions and instructions for new/unfamiliar tasks
5) I'm extremely bad with social communication, social gestures etc
Hhmmmm, maybe I found the answer here.
Hey this is the story of an aspergers from India..
Today after watching this video I am 101 percent sure that I have aspergers. I have some self realisation
1. 90 percent of time my brain becomes stuck/overwhelmed due to n number of thought processing at one point of time.. So that I forgot who I am? I fee lost.. Struggle to keep track of my thinking/feelings
2. I can remember a lot of situation specially in the office where I feel so overwhelmed that I go to washroom to catch some breath/hold my head in a situation I know I can't handle myself.
3.I believe I am not able to understand the feeling of people if they are joking around/serious/ .. I always go very deep into the meaning of conversation with someone so I fail to crack the essence of the topic.
4. I feel most of the time I am very egoistic and can't take jokes etc.. Because I feel nobody is understanding me and my feelings.
5. I don't understand that nobody has the power to hurt me and most of the time they don't want to because they also have feelings.
6. I discovered that it is the fluctuations of emotions which are controling me like sudden joy/anger/jealousy/insecurity etc.
7. If someone's praise can't make me happy why should I worry if they scold me??
8. I believe mixing with kindhearted non aspie people making me understand jokes/more emotions/helping me to take quick decision etc.
9. Most vital thing in this condition is self hurting feelings which overflows all the time and being unnecessary critical of yourself thinking about how others will dislike me
10. I again believe that I have realized these things very late on my thirties which I should have realised probably in my teen age. I blame my condition/bad upbringing /lacknofself awareness for this late realisation..
11. MY GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD BETTER AND BE MORE EMPHATIC TOWARDS OTHERS...
Love ❤❤❤ to all
Great stuff, Dan. Thank you for another fascinating video. Is that why I have to have a morning routine and always sit in the same chair, consciously have to work through my bathroom routine, find changes in daily routines very difficult to cope with... ? For years I have practised conversations, appropriate answers, how to greet people, what to do and say in certain more frequent situations, but one of the worst is the cycles in the night. Where I have to get up and read or do a crossword/su doku to break the looping (over and over again in my head). Your videos have such fascinating insights and are quite a comfort after 64 years!
I was diagnosed with Asperger's when I was in about 1-2nd grade and I definitely showed signs of it. My topic of interest was (and still somewhat is) gaming and especially Minecraft. Now that I'm older I'm addicted to coding and would like to get into software development but my main struggle is focus. I also love staying home 🙃 people are hard to deal with
Edit: I can do instructions just fine but i prefer visual so much more. Im even hoping to create a program to teach people how to code if theyre more comfortable with visual learners such as myself. Once i gain the skill ofc
I commend you using the terms Aspergers and autism interchangeably.
You are building bridges, much needed.
Im undiagnosed but I relate to most of these. The struggle to follow vocal commands has been a struggle, it's almost as if my brain is completely incapable of interpreting what is being asked of me. This was a massive issue for me in the army.
Lol my brother is the same as me so I get it that in boot camp he was Private Out to Lunch but just like in that movie they found he had some useful and rare skills. Full Mental 🐇
I have just been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.
I can late to the all of the above mentioned topics. Thanks 😊 for making these self-esteem video's your insights are really helpful and interesting 👍
I am trying to self diagnose my self with ASD. I think I need to see a specialist, because I have all of these! I love routine, I have special interests (Selena Gomez, Disney, dogs, and Harry Potter (and I LOVE collecting things from these interest!), I have a hard time with eye contact, I need directions written down, and I am not good with social interaction at all. I watch a bunch of your videos (I’ve been subbed for a while!) and every video I’m like “That’s me! That’s me!”
I was diagnosed with this when I was 3. My mom first noticed telling signs when I wouldn't talk to other kids and preferred being alone. I wouldn't play with other children and have had a hard time making and keeping friends/relationships throughout my life.
Since you prefer your own company (or did when you were a child, at least), do you feel the lack of social interaction, or does it not bother you much ?
If it bothers you, are you in therapy to find workarounds ?
If these questions are too intrusive, apologies. I'm curious.
@@Kris_AB the strangest thing is, I'm comfortable staying in and avoiding direct interactions with others. It causes a huge problem for my bf however when he tries taking me somewhere and I'm not social or stay in the car throughout the whole experience. I wish I could be more adventurous but in a way, that feeling isn't as genuine as me being okay with being by myself. I have however developed an attachment towards him where if he is gone for so long, I do get upset. A lot of that stems from my own insecurities and abandonment issues, I had developed throughout the years. Its hard for others to understand but something I've learned to deal with in my own way even after all these years.
@@Kris_AB it didn't put a damper on me learning, however. I still got good grades and signed up for extracurricular activities which was fun in a way for me to develope bonds with pther ppl but I've still always been very anxious and anti social.
I still haven't been diagnosed yet but I have a feeling that I may be on the spectrum. I can relate to not talking/playing with other kids in school. It was rare for me to talk to others.
I still don't understand some social aspects specifically with dating amd I'm in my mid 20s lol
@@emperorofwar1 same!
Except I am scared to check into specialists because it is highly stigmatized here to be diagnosed... Especially since where I live, most of the people are extroverted so they don't really know what it means to struggle with socializing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I think this is the most easy to detect. I can't ear anything at a table if there is more than two talking. Everything is a sound mess
I'm adopting that term "sound mess," - 😊
Can definitely relate strongly. Good phrase!
I have ADHD and it has been suggested to me that I look into if I might have aspergers. With the overlaps it's so difficult to tell but there are a lot of things that I assumed were from over 30 years of coping mechanisms like really wanting routine and clear instructions.
Eye contact, especially while eating, really makes my skin crawl. I was diagnosed with add in the 80s, a “super hearer” and “super taster”. I streak eat as well. I will eat the same or very similar food for weeks, then not eat it for months. I don’t follow instructions verbally at all, I can only do by seeing. I will go hard in the paint for an interest for a month or so, and then totally quit. It’s like my interest is transient. I love dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, and people always say “you’d do great on jeopardy”. I’m starting to get horrid anxiety at times if I need to go to a social situation, even if I had been looking forward to it. I will always overstay my welcome with close friends as well. No one talked about autism being a thing as a child. It’s like it didn’t exist back then…
I always had a problem with the eye contact. That has caused me major social issues. For me, working out has helped.
1. No hard routine, but I freak out when something outside my control changes my day; I'm okay if I'm the one to make a change, bu otherwise, nope.
2. I'm obsessive, but flit from interest to interest, researching the f*** out of them.
3. I *hate* eye contact, but with the high level of masking that I do, I force myself to look people in the eyes despite its disquieting effects.
4. For me, it depends on the length of the instructions, and how familiar the thing I'm working on is.
5. I only understand body language and facial expression cus I studied the f*** out of it. But people still tell me that a lot of the time, it seems like I speak my own language, and they need a translator to get what I'm saying.
Hells if I can find autism testing for adults that I can afford in my area. Getting diagnosed has been a bitch because I'm in a rural area and poor af.
You may contact GRASP for autism assessment, they provide financial assistance as well.
I completed the questionnaire I found in Tony Attwood's standard text *Asperger Syndrome: a guide for parents and professionals* -- I hope you might find it through a public library -- if your branch doesn't have it in stock they might get it by means of a special request sent to a library that does.
Where the heck do you live that you have to pay to get an autism diagnosis!?
@@FlyboyHelosim Sometimes it's worse. You don't have to pay but they can not diagnose you because the system is outdated. You go to a private clinic and face the same problem with an empty wallet.
you can take online test for free. aspie test, they are pretty accurate since i've taken 5 different ones and scored the exact same place all 5 times and I have it.
Five out of five; no surprise to me as I've been diagnosed on the spectrum twice. Only differences true for me is I tend to get a series of obsessions where I'm all in until one day I'm just not and then something else gets ALL my attention; I learned to mask so well most people don't realize I don't maintain eye contact; and as long as I keep most of my routines each day I am able to function near 100% when 1 or 2 get changed out of my control. Enjoy watching the channel immensely.
This hits home. My "obsessions" last a few weeks, months or even years, then usually due to some frustration with it (like a model train setup that stopped functioning) I suddenly switch to something else for a long time. Current obsession: ancient pottery replication.
I have 2 children both autism, our son definitely Aspergers. We don't get any help en they have a lot off fears, so last year they had a panic attack at school (special education) and the teachers put them in an isolation room. Our son finally told us and we where angry. But because the school is from a big organization they try to break us. Our son try to kill himself 3 times last summer. So now they are going to school in a different country, I drive them every day, but they are chronically ill, autism and now with bad trauma. They are only 8 and 10 and damaged for life. The world needs way more awareness. This video is so helpful, thank you!
My son knew all the planets in our solar system, all of their moons, all sorts of facts from the age of 2-5. He knew 3D shapes like octagons, dodecagons at the age of 3. Between the age of 6- now, he has taught himself about all the countries , flags, the islands in the world. During covid at the age of 7 , he developed an obsession with portraits sketches and taught himself very complex hyper realistic portraits by watching RUclips videos. he is now 8, we started reading the happy potters and he learned everything about Harry Potter ! He gets anxiety with change and struggles with spontaneous social conversations. He is in speech therapy for it at school. He has a hard time with sarcasm, knowing how far to be from someone’s face, he likes to pretend he is sketching in air, he repeats last few sounds of the last words of a sentence he has said. He has never really made friends at school, doesn’t get invited to birthday parties, but when he is at home, he desires relationships deeply, he enjoys being with cousins and friends (kids of his parents friends , where we have facilitated the friendship). He has a hard time following instructions , teachers say he is lost at school, he never mimicked other kids , doesn’t watch other kids to learn from them, when he was little , he would not feed himself till at age 4 and everyone said to me just don’t feed him , if he is hungry he will figure it out and he will watch other kids and learn , but he didn’t, only when he wanted to later on , he started . His school is currently in the process of figuring out his condition, but I am pretty sure he has Aspergers with ADHD. He is super loving, loves hugging , is a happy boy. I want to make sure he remains that way. Being in school can be hard and I want to ensure he doesn’t lose his sense of confidence . From growing up, what kinds of things helped you?. As parents , what can we do to keep supporting him. He is starting to figure out that he is different , that kids at school see him differently. I want him to be proud of himself and want to send him to school with an armor of self confidence and sense of self worth , so that negative experiences at school from peers do not diminish his sense of self worth .
I am looking to diagnose myself And my son (5yo)
Thank you for your videos, I love it, it's just amazing! 🌸
obsessed with acoustic instruments playing and making , repairing, natural environment.
I started watching these videos because my girlfriends son has Asperger's and it can be very difficult trying to understand him, these videos really help me in my relationship with him
I’m on the spectrum 😊I agree with every single one of the options. Thank you for sharing this video.
Hey you are more than welcome!! Thank you so much for the comment!
1. Love routines (I love routines and I don’t like change)
2. Obsessive interests ( some of mine are celebrities including kpop idols)
3. Bad eye contact- (I definitely have eye contact issues and I definitely do avoid it as it makes me really uncomfortable)
4. Issues with following instructions
5. Issues with social communication
Who else has all the symptoms but doesn’t think they have any mental disorder
It is just the way we are created. Nothing wrong with that. That is was ever considered a negative thing was a mistake.
I just needed to know I wasn't alone
I recently found out by a family member that I'm an aspie. I am and grateful there are more like me out there, somewhere. Now I need to meet my tribe!
Well what brought me to this is ,today at age 40 I was diagnosed with Asa asperger syndrome, it's a total eye opener .
my youngest son has been struggling, he is six. he was diagnosed yesterday with autism. interestingly, i tested myself today online and all of them have returned a result of i am highly likely to have Asperger’s Syndrome. I feel great relief that my social anxiety, struggling to talk with people, inability to kiss ass to get ahead.. isn't just me being a weirdo and is out of my control. Im 41 now
I’ve been doing a lot of research on this lately and this is a good video that helped me conclude that I probably have Aspergers. Going through all of the points I would say they all apply to me, especially the eye contact and obsessive interests (researching the differences between Sherman tank tread pattens through the war at 3am kind of obsessions). Love of routine is an interesting one as I try to avoid routines so that I don’t get annoyed when I can’t follow them, but since lockdown I’ve been religiously following routines!
Keep up with the great videos, they are interesting.
This was very informative. I just met a lady who has a child with Aspergers, and I was intimidated a little until I watched your video. 2 snaps and a thumbs 👍
Watching this as I obsessively listen to the same album for the second time today right after routinely walking around the kitchen island exactly 12 times
I am diagnosed with OCD and I'm worried I may actually have Asperger's syndrome. The things listed in this video are almost 100% accurate.
Dan I love your channel and am coming to the reality of being on the autism spectrum. It’s been a fun but tough 45 years … so to all the partners of un-diagnosed ASD’s do t judge but learn because it’s tough on you but we are just big sweetheart… it’s just as hard for us… especially when you didn’t realise and developed masks on masks to get through life…
Still it’s awesome for me knowing not that I care about the nomenclature (I’m being told I may be Asperger’s) it’s just great to fully understand myself..
Is it possible to get help from a specialist to get rid of a FALSE diagnosis?
Yes a few years ago I was in college and this woman who told me I had some symptoms of Aspergers so I took this as a shock because no one ever thought I had aspergers so this bothered me so I went to get an evaluation by real professionals and it turns out I don’t have aspergers at all.
For the instructions, this is so true. I realized that when my son was small. His brain could not process easy commands or a series of commands, like : "tidy up (too general), make your bed, brush your teeth". But his brain activates if it is a question because the brain needs to find answers and aspie / autism brains love it. So here is what we do: What do you think you should do about dirty clothes on the floor? How can you make Winnie the Pooh more comfortable on the bed? What do you think we should do after eating? For a neurotypical brain like mine is not natural but with time, it became natural...
😊great😊
The "obsession" that manifested with me was board games. I have been fascinated by board games my whole life and now I am a published board game designer. So far I have 2 games, Mosaic and Flip words being sold by Continuum Games.
Hi Dan. Thank you for sharing information about Aspergers.
My 4 year old son seems very unique, and has had some challenges in communicating with others. At 2 1/5 we had him tested for autism, but twice they told us he is not autistic at all. He is very loving and affectionate, and VERY smart, but his language and eye contact are not great. While he didn’t speak late, actually he spoke words very clearly at a really early age, his tone is a different than other kids his age, and he has trouble with back and forth conversations. He loves to tell people about things he is interested in, like buildings (such as the Empire State Building) or Space, but if the person is trying to tell him something he seems like he is not listening. He seems to have one sided conversations with people who don’t give him the floor to listen. Also, he loves legos, and builds some amazing things, but never follows the instructions. He is also VERY clumsy and not coordinated physically. He is 4, and already reads and does 1st grade math… but given many specialists just said he had a mild language delay, I can’t figure out what his personality is or what types of things to challenge him.
What an amazing kid. Maybe you should have him checked on different specialists or maybe he's just really mild ^^
Getting a nonmedical professional to diagnose someone or others are on the spectrum 👍🏻 great job
I don't think we should be encouraging self-diagnosing, but I still love your channel!
Thank you!! I’m not encourage anything but the “hey if I suspect I am autistic and need help this is a good indicator” I hope that makes sense x
wow thank you ive always thought i was odd just realised tonight this is what is most probably is, the more i look at videos about aspergers its all making sense now
...and I see this as a detriment why? Asperger's is definitely a detriment when you're going through a standardized school system, but in day-to-day life... I would rather be a little socially inept and extra truthful/literal to people. Aspies are extraordinary, it's just complicated to explain and discover... Accepting aspies as handicapped is just a result of the easiest route of thought.
When I was a child Autism was never spoken of (at least where I lived) so I was regarded as antisocial. During the COVID years I found I didn't fit into that. Eventually I found there was a strong probability I am Autistic. Videos like this one are very good too, especially as it is easy to understand.
My son once suggested that my husband might have Asperger's. It was a huge relief to consider that might be the case rather than he's just mean and weird.
Diagnosed with Asperger
1. Hate surprises. Been drinking hot chocolate every morning since 6 years old (22 years old now)
2. I have an obsession with building, doesn’t matter if it’s ikea furniture or lego or even in Minecraft.
3. I have hard time reading and understanding eye contact how long how much etc.
4. I speaking in pictures and visuals, hate speaking and reading cuz it’s so difficult.
5. Despise body language, it requires so much thinking it’s exhausting.
Ah yes!! Surprises are not helpful! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
Lol that's 💯% me! Wish I had a neuralink implanted and everyone around me as well. I'm terribly bad at communicating verbaly.
@@TheAspieWorld So how good is your imagination? At 7:36 there's a hexagonal shape/structure, what do you see? Do you see 2 eyes, nose and incomplete mouth, or maybe a knuckle (that's worn on Fist in fight) or honey bee hive or the incomplete Cybertron in one of the Transformers series that had sentinel prime. There's lines jumping all over it's like you already know the angles of various objects & also compare the angles from prev memories. Do youu see angles in human face too? Like if we draw an imaginary line between the eyes plus connect both eyes with the nose a triangle is formed and then this angle sits at this degrees that angle sits at that degrees etc. Or maybe like iron man first part right before his first flight in his basement - there's an image seen through the camera in the helmet & then in real time there's blue virtual lines jumping all over.. Giving a better understanding of the object... Do you see the world that way?
@@Ashutosh231neurodivergent are mostly visual. All visual learners translate words into images/pictures like movie slides. All these images would be transform into symbol once we get the whole concept. Why we have problems with following instructions? If the instructions verbally and if you talk fast then i would have problem to following, thus you need to talk slower. Many times we are too distracted bcoz we see patterns everywhere and connect things. Thats why todays education not suits well for visual learner. Like when you say hexagonal structure we translate it to many different languages/perspectives/studies, depending on how much information that we collect to our memory since childhood.
watching this cause my friend has it and im just diagnosing him in my head even though hes literally already been diagnosed XD
I had a rough time in school trying to pay attention thought I had ADHD which I could possibly have both love your vids dan :D keep up the good work
Crying right now realizing I am who I am, and I realized why I wasn't safe with certain people in my past and even recently. I hate myself and don't want to be different anymore I don't belong anywhere. 💔
I FEEL SO CALLED OUT RIGHT NOW
I've been diagnosed with aspergers syndrome but ive been told i have wayy too much eye contact that its creepy.
everyone has different symptoms
I feel the same way! I often look away just to make them feel more comfortable but I’m still working on the timing and what to look at lol.
I have all these symptons,incredible! I'm real good at eye contact but I get to zeroed on a conversation allot of times and make people uncomfotable..And I'm self employed and I work by myself.I'm like a machine..
I am looking at trying to start the process of trying to get a diagnosis for myself, I'm now 28 with a son on the Autism Spectrum, I always saw myself as different from others around me but Autism wasn't spoken about when I grew up, after having my son's diagnosis and seeing the signs/information that make up autism, I feel like now would be the right time to finally be seen myself... As everyday is a struggle and it would help me a lot to finally have some answers, we both share many traits.
Hi! I’m Kaitlyn. I have A.S. too. It’s very nice to get to know you.
Oooh, finally somebody mentions instruction manuals and things like that!! If there are pictures, no problem. But if not.. I almost never managed to cook something from a cook book. It‘s a mess.
I removed my 2000 odyssey transmission 7x . Bought the manual. Then placed all the parts and shook it. Easy placing together. Still ody of this text and 273k mi never give up. Aspie John here
Now I’m thinking this whole time I wasn’t stupid or crazy just had aspergurs? AND U R JUST NOW TELLING ME?!
This has been a very helpful video for me, thank you
I've always been considered 'weird.' You just described my 'weird' perfectly.
Well here I am at 66 yo and finally figured out this is what I'm dealing with. I've kind of had a hunch but...this brings things into the light.
1. I need routines and I get disoriented if they are broken and I will try to bring them back if possible.
2. While I do have a wide range of interests, I do tend to focus on a limited number.
3. Eye contact has always been an issue with me
4. This one is rather odd because I feel I need the structure of instructions but is better if they are in diagrams (like IKEA) .
5 social interactions can be difficult for me and gets worse if the group continually gets larger. I do much better with 1 or two people and even better if it's in a textual chat room Zoom like meetings can become a challenge. But, if I'm with a group of like minded folks I do much better.
Thanks for that. I was diagnosed with Aspbergers over 10 years ago. But I never believed it. You’re first category: Routine, I have in abundance…10 out of 10. Everything with me has to follow a routine, same pattern everyday. Everything is alphabetical, or numerical. Have been that way all my life. But, that’s it! All the other 4 I can’t relate to at all, especially the human communication aspects. As long as I’ve done my rules I’m cool in society.
I think I’m OCD. You got a video on that.
You're professionally diagnosed, you do have asperger's syndrome.
Thanks for this.... I believe my son has Asperger's I'm from nigeria 🇳🇬 and here my son is said to be suffering from spiritual problem😢
Lately I start doubting if I just have ADHD (which I have diagnosed) or if I have Asbergers in addition to ADHD. I show 3 of the 5 signs you described.
That visual list thing I really get. For instance recently I was going to buy some apearal from my work but I wanted the discount also. So I had to set up an account but it would not show me the cost nor even let me buy anything. So I texted the Facebook department of my business and the texted me back with this long complicated list of things to do. I tried it but it didn't work. But then I was cleaning the HR department (since I'm a Janitor) and I found an visual instruction paper on how to set up your account and buy company merchandise at a discount rate. I understood it so much better it was amazing.
I was diagnosed when I was 4 and I have all those signs although not as bad now as I was before I am 25 and learned to cope with it
Great job on this video. Well done.
I have emotional meltdowns. If I'm given a task and I don't know it, I am afraid to ask for help and become anxious. Then I start to cry.
It doesn't seem like I have this. I have good eye contact, I am a good singer and love an audience.
I'm left-brained. Very visual and artistic.
My issues are self-worth and over-reacting.
Also I have problems with tedious tasks like cutting bandanas for dogs where I work and filing numbers any longer than 5 didgets.
I just thought I'd check if these symptoms applied to me but they don't. Thanks.
I am a hfa individual. I am pretty good at following decent instructions.
In many places Aspergers isn't diagnosed anymore and it all comes under ASD/ASC.
I'm now 100% convinced that my husband is an Aspie too! I'm a late diagnosed Aspie (diagnosed in 2008). I do have a set routine, well, I call it a structure, but my husband's routine is like concrete, unbreakable! Early one morning, I cut my finger to the bone. I woke my husband to take me to the hospital, but he needed to walk the dog first.....which is the first thing he does when he wakes up in the morning, then he gives the dog a bone, then he dresses for his half hour power walk, asking him in that emergency to break his routine sent him into a tailspin of confusion & disorientation; he couldn't even drive the car. I told him to go walk the dog, while I drove and my son changed the gears. His latest obsession is the English actress Kate Beckinsale, I know everything about her life now. The one thing that I thought 'disqualified' him is that he doesn't have an eye for detail, but you mentioning problem with following instructions is him to a tee.... and I thought it was just a me problem......
*1st thing:* I like to think I adapt well but honestly it's difficult to not get really unreasonably angry when people spring things onto me. Like I want to just hit my bed repeatedly and scream until I'm tired (and sometimes I have :/) It's especially bad when I find out I need to go somewhere when I was expecting to stay in the house or go somewhere else. My mom used to get really mad at it when I was a kid so I've kind of shamed myself out of allowing anyone to even know I feel that way. It's tough.
*2nd thing:* I am obsessed with music. Collecting, making, listening to, reading about, categorizing, making lists, etc. It has distracted me a lot when I was in school because I'd just ignore what I have to do and write a kind of 'information dump' of band names, years, genre evolution trees, etc. I still do it in college at times, although I'm ashamed of it
*3rd thing:* I force myself to sometimes but it's really hard. I find when I just let go and ignore the eyes of everyone around me, I feel a huge wave of relief, comfortability and confidence.
*4th thing:* I can do things with instructions as long as they are direct enough. Sometimes I get the urge to make people repeat what they said over and over so I feel confident but I noticed it annoys them so I don't, and I struggle afterward with anxiety about if I've forgotten something
*5th thing:* I honestly have pretty much no idea how to communicate with people on a casual level besides close friends. I've picked up things over the years to help me do well in college, but in casual conversations I'm going to choke up 90% of the time, go silent, and try to leave. Even if I'm excited to talk to the person, I will find myself choking up or making them uncomfortable by bringing up a weird topic. It's really hard to tell beforehand. I like to think of people as RPG players so my feelings don't get too hurt, or even NPCs (although I feel bad when I think that... like I'm evil or something)
I came to the realization I might have aspergers less than a year ago, and after telling some of my closest friends, they said they think I am. One actually revealed THEY were diagnosed with it to me and it's like, wow. I would've never known.
I'm still not sure if I am on the spectrum, but I would love to have a professional evaluate me one day (although I don't even know how to make that happen). Part of me feels like it might just be social anxiety and OCD with anger issues? I don't know enough about this stuff
My boyfriend I suspect is. He’s terrible with instructions, is very clumsy, not very good with his hands (for example: the key to my front door wasn’t working in one direction. It never occurred to him to try the other direction. He was trying over and over. I finally opened the door and said “why not try the door bell?” I taught him our baby’s night routine which includes having some clean diapers out. But one night the baby was already asleep and he started to loudly open a new bag causing her to stir. I said “just wait until you need them.” “But there aren’t any in their spot right now…” “right but if the baby’s is asleep now and we don’t need them, let’s not wake her up and just wait until she IS awake…”
He seems to lack common sense in a lot of instances that just baffles me. This isn’t meant to be mean but it wouldn’t occur to him that a square peg should go in a square hole. So forget about DIY furniture assembly. He’s admitted he’s not handy at all. Can only learn by watching not by hands-on.
Poorly organized.
Very intelligent in his niche interests.
Pretty apathetic to anyone other than “his people”.
Loud when we’re conversing in quiet public areas where I have to remind him to “shhh.”
Very verbose.
Any of this cause you to suspect Asperger’s?
I have aspergers and I love watching your videos they are helpful
Thank you so much!! Make sure you are subscribed and have the notifications turned on :).
1- yeah, im pretty consistent when it comes to what i do, except waking up consistently, i can not do that lol
2- YES. but i dont really buy merch of a fandom im in tho.
3- eye contact with someone is really hard for me, it makes me kind of uncomfortable.
4- heck yeah. i suck at following directions and instructions, especially if it's a verbal instruction, because i cant pay attention very well.
5- 100% yes, social communication is quite hard, but mostly with people i dont know. when i get to know someone i get more and more chatty, but when i meet someone it is very hard to talk to them properly.
thanks for this video, it was great and i enjoyed it a lot :) !