Recognising Asperger’s syndrome in yourself

Today, many new conditions which affect our quality of life are being identified, leaving us wondering why these are appearing now. Different food, social media, drugs and the list goes on; all of these can affect our mood and mental well-being in some form or another. Two, maybe three, generations ago, fidgety children were said to have worms, or that they had ants in their pants. Some years later, it was said that fidgety children were drinking too much orange juice. But what if these overactive youngsters were showing signs of what today is referred to as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or other conditions which show some form of hyperactivity or social awkwardness?

It is indeed true to say that, in today’s world, individuals in their sixties and seventies are coming to realise that what they have felt was a difficulty to fit in with others was not due to disinterest in social involvement but a now-named condition, for example,  Asperger’s syndrome (a condition within the ADHD spectrum), which makes their understanding of life and interaction somewhat different to the majority.

Let’s look more deeply into the condition of Asperger’s syndrome. And let’s say it’s you who is wondering about why you experience social awkwardness.

The majority of human beings are classed as neurotypical; they think in the same way, register and show emotions, enjoy, or even thrive, company. Personality aside, they work together well and are, basically, singing from the same hymn sheet of life.

A neurodiverse individual sees things differently and you, as a person with Asperger’s, fall into this group.

Maybe you can nod your head in agreement to:

• You’re not so socially driven and may, in some way, isolate yourself from the goings-on of the moment. You might find it hard to interact in, what seems to you, a fast-moving conversation and so feel better to stand somewhat in the background. You might feel awkward in trying to fit in with the general conversation, this irritation proving overwhelming. In turn, this overwhelming feeling may lead to a meltdown (a breakdown of self-control from the overstimulation being received) brought on by that neurotypical interaction of talking, interrupting and stating one’s personal views over someone else’s.
  
  
• Not understanding social rules and so not interacting in a common way may make it difficult to maintain friendships.
  
  
• In two-way conversations, you might limit your replies to one-word responses. You might speak quietly without commitment to what you have to say.
  
  
• You might verbalise thoughts which other people would have kept private.
  
  
• As an ‘aspie’, and within the autism spectrum, you might find that you have focused on one particular topic of interest to the highest level i.e. you’re an expert on that topic. Many famous people fit into the same way of learning (e.g. Albert Einstein, Greta Thunberg, Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Beethoven and Vincent van Gogh).
  
  
• Some aspies may have sensory difficulties with sight, sound, taste, smell and touch, with their bodies reacting to these as over-sensitive or under-sensitive. For example, bright lights, loud noise, food textures, strong smells or aromas, or the feel of certain materials, may make the aspie feel uncomfortable or anxious.
  
  
• Memory loss is quite often quoted by aspies. On the reverse side of this, some aspies have photographic memories, maybe relating to their tendency to think in pictures.
  
  
• Taking in verbal information may prove stressful and an easier form may be through taking time to digest the information via diagrams.
  
  
• You may have an addiction (drugs, alcohol, smoking, shopping etc.) which helps you experience the ‘feel good’ highs that neurotypical people get through having achieved some goal, or for having been praised for something they have done. A heavy percentage of people who are on drugs go on to find that the reason for needing this high is because they are indeed within the ADHD (autistic) spectrum and aren’t getting feel-good rewards via dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin, which, in neurotypical people, are chemical messengers released by the body when happiness is evident and mood is positive.

No two people with Asperger’s are the same but, if you feel that maybe you can relate to some/all of these common signs, take the positive action of getting it checked out. A GP may be able to give support via medication/drugs, though this may be a route you don’t want to go down. A counsellor/therapist will be able to help you work through your thoughts and concerns.

Not all people who seem to fit into the neurodivergent way of life seek a diagnosis (there is a huge waiting list for assessing ADHD (several years). Some people are simply happy to know that this is why they have always felt somewhat different to others. However, knowing and sharing your questioning of self and/or sharing the diagnosis can help how you interact with others and, indeed, help others interact with you.