Aspergers

[here4help]

I watched this video about aspergers and the symptoms the girl was having seems quite similar to social anxiety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-gdPecsh-M

Are aspergers syndrome and social anxiety closely linked?

Would you consider yourself to have aspergers?

[mark1111]

My brother has said he's got aspergers (self diagnosed), personally I think he has SA.

[ratty]

I don't know that I fully understand Asperger's and I haven't watched the entire video, but I've just read a little about it. I'm not sure that SA and Asperger's are closely linked but I guess there are people who have both.

From the very little I understand about Asperger's I think there are key differences between it and SA such as:
- it seems to be an intrinsic disorder which doesn't just come on and go away like SA can. The girl on the video says it can never be taken away from her and I think she means that it's almost like an incurable condition (e.g. like Autism, which I understand is the wider disorder that Asperger's falls under) and possibly you're kind of born with it? SA can be more transient and come on from one event for example, and then people can recover in some cases. Much like depression.
- it seems to include repetition and the kind of data-focused stuff I associate with Autism such as learning huge chunks of information, lists, etc. I don't think that is a factor of SA, but perhaps some people with SA find themselves occupied in this way because of their SA, so they focus more on the less-people oriented thing such as facts and data and learning? I'm not one of them so I can't comment.
- it seems to focus on problems with new situations, which is comparable with SA. However I think the actual issue with the new situation is different. For example, I could eat a new flavour crisp without any difficulties whatsoever. Someone with Asperger's or Autism might find that impossible. Send us both to do something new socially and we might have the same level of difficulty doing it, but not necessarily for the same reasons/having the same symptoms.
- Asperger's (and Autism) seem to have this core issue with understanding human emotion. Perhaps some people with SA feel the same way, but I feel I have a heightened sense of emotion in others - whereas someone with Asperger's will talk about something very detailed and not realise they are holding someone up, I would normally pick up on the signals in others and be super aware of their needs. I think this is a key difference as Asperger's seem to have a lack of emotional awareness and so can't adjust their behaviour as they can't pick up on others' needs/emotions. I think people with SA can't stop thinking about others' reactions and how to deal with it.

This could all be completely wrong as I really don't know anything about Asperger's or Autism, but I'm sure there are people on here who do.

[here4help]

Thanks for the info. I also heard that most people have some characteristics on the autistic spectrum. It doesn't mean that you have full blown aspergers or autism. However, if you match more of the symptoms than average you may want to consider having a diagnosis test carried out.

[cymruambyth26]

Asperges is a fascinating subject for myself as I was assessed for this as a child myself. I believe that symptoms of Asperges and S.A.D. are linked because I feel on self diagnosis of the symptoms of Asperges I do carry some (not all) of those symptoms but yet I am considered S.A.

[Amelia Rosae]

One of my best friends has Aspergers Syndrome, I had to help her with facial expressions and these cards with different emotions on them, like a chart and we'd practice what expressions mean what, she still can't get the hang of smiling properly but she's far better than how she was a few years back. But yeah I'm not sure if it's specifically Aspergers related but her ears were like hyper sensitive, she'd have to wear ear plugs if we went out and about somewhere because she could end up hearing a car beeping 3 blocks away and not be able to focus if someone was talking to her, all she could concentrate on was the car beeping so you could imagine how tiring it would be for her in like a city.

Back before she knew me though she was like stupidly anxious, on one of the worst scales, afraid of pretty much everything but she's been on A LOT of different meds and they've actually helped her quite a lot to be honest. She's pretty normal now really, just you have to like tell her if you're upset or worried because she won't understand brilliantly.

Depends where you are on the autistic spectrum to actually know what you should be properly doing about it because I do believe it's quite complex and you would need to see specialists but I've been told it's quite hard to see them on the NHS - you end up waiting for months.

[Mr_Bean]

I probably sail quite near to Aspergers. But when you have sa it's quite hard to distinguish. It's said that autistics are autistics because they have big anxiety pockets in their brain. Which is why they stick very much to regimented routine and thinking patterns. I think.

[Ashtray88]

Aspergers is a developmental disorder. So you are born with it, but there are no obvious signs until between 1-3 years old. SA..is thought to have a genetic component but I think it's more to do with life experiences. But a lot of people with Aspergers would have anxiety problems or SA.