Very Very antisocial?

Question

Hi, this is about my younger sister, she just is really antisocial. She genuinely prefers her own company (always) and doesnt really have any friends. She's not depressed, she loves making up weird sketches which she finds very amusing and talks to the dog A LOT. and not like "dog" stuff but everything (particulaly physics and astronomy).

I mean i know some people are just like that, but i really want her to be able to talk to people, stuff like know when someone is bored with what she is saying or not to start a conversation about allotropes of obscure elements during a girly gossip session she tagging along to etc etc. Just to be able to make friends, perhaps grow up and have a family, get through interviews.

I genuinely do care about her. Would a doctor be able to do anything, or is her personality set in stone? she is always open to suggestions (e.g. persuaded that dandruff is actually NOT good stuff and to change shampoo), or is there a therapist or psychologist something?

Hi-

She's 17, and shes been like this as far as we can remember though we only started to notice since secondary school (like 11 and up)

thanks

Answer 1

She sounds like she may have Asperger's disorder. It's a form of high-functioning autism.

"Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting". "

I read a novel called _The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time_ by Mark Haddon. It described the life of a boy with Asperger's from his own point of view. It was very interesting.

Answer 2

If you two are close in age, then you should introduce her to some of your friends. If you think one of your friends would click with your sister, then hang out by the house where your sister is and invite her into your room so the three of you can hang. She should learn that all things to talk about is good and you and the friend should listen to what she chooses to say. Soon enough, whenever your friends come over, she will feel comfortable and then will start being more open to her peers.

I'm not saying that you should hand over your friends, but ask them to acknowledge her. Maybe get her out of the house to somewhere filled with people her age.

I used to be in the same position as your sister. But when I saw that my older sister was comfortable around certain people who were open and had some of the same interests, I grew and found lots of friends to talk about anything.

I hope this works for you, and your sister.

Answer 3

Perhaps it's just a phase. You didn't mention how old your sister is, but sometimes in teenage years people go through a period of having no friends. Maybe she's being bullied and finds the dog a welcome friend because he/she doesn't judge her.
I doubt that this would be the onset of antisocial personality disorder, as the common childhood characteristics of this are cruelty to animals, bedwetting and pyromania.
Be supportive, and ask her whether everything's OK, perhaps see a councellor who can help diagnose if there's a problem and set her on the right track. I hope everything goes well!

Answer 4

She sounds like she might have the type of autism that a certain percentage of near genius professors have. There is a name for it but I can't remember and it'snot really important.

What is important is that she has people around her that will accept her for herself and embrace her unique peculiarities for what they are.

I can understand you worrying for her future, but if she's content with the way she perceives the world, all you can do is be there for her.

If it's a possibility, perhaps get some info on local social groups that she might enjoy.... chess group, local stargazers (astronomy group) etc. I'm sure you'll have something like that near where you live, they just aren't so well known as the more common groups n clubs.

Answer 5

Physics and astronomy? I think I'm in love! I love all you silly humans but your sister appears to know something you don't, child. Power corrupts and this is the most powerful generation EVER! Yea, I'm antisocial too and enjoying it. the founding fathers had good intentions when they took power from the king and gave it to the individual, but oops!The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Now everybody is a king. And corrupt. God had good intentions when he created the beast that rose out of the sea, made of carbon, 6 protons, 6neutrons, 6 electrons, but he soon had to repent and he made a flood. he ain't done yet!
Tell your sister to check out what the dead sea scrolls say about the chosen one and get back with me.
you want your sister to have a family?????? have you noticed that humans have nuclear bombs, are destroying their own life support system, and the human family is one and you got 10,000 newborn baby brothers and sisters, net every hour?
Let me put this in terms you can understand, money. If I did the math correctly, the current population stands right at 6.66 billion and a stack of a million one dollar bills is right about a thousand feet high. Picture 6,660 stacks of that height and another stack added every four to five days. Your sister (and you) HAVE a family. And I can read most people's minds. They are a bunch of little Mexicans, close the border. Sounds antisocial to me.

Answer 6

Leryn Elizabeth is solid. countless human beings think of that "no longer being social" is what "delinquent" potential. delinquent is a trait, area of a character sickness wherein the guy has no social experience of right and incorrect, no experience of suitable and incorrect, no longer worrying what occurs to others, no thoughts of guilt for harming others. generally this is brought about with the help of a few kind of early trauma which isn't in the guy's unsleeping strategies and then they act out or do issues to recreate their concept of the situation. (properly, that's an theory, besides.) What anybody is conversing approximately is in basic terms being extra socially aloof. or maybe in basic terms no longer desiring as lots social interplay. that's in easy terms a call; some human beings appreciate countless social interplay, some human beings, no longer as lots. it is not lazy; it is in basic terms they way anybody is.

Answer 7

I used to be a little anti social when i was younger, and i guess to a certain degree i still am, as a result the member of the family I am closest to is also anti social as well as my partner. We may not talk all the time but being together is still great.

If you wish to improve her social skills invite her out when you go out with your friends. Maybe shes low in confidence which affects her socialising

Answer 8

when you say # antisocial # the only thing that comes into my mind .is :autism or asperger ...........
What distinguishes Asperger's Disorder from autism is the severity of the symptoms and the absence of language delays. Children with Asperger's Disorder may be only mildly affected and frequently have good language and cognitive skills. To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger's Disorder may just seem like a normal child behaving differently.

Children with autism are frequently seen as aloof and uninterested in others. This is not the case with Asperger's Disorder. Individuals with Asperger's Disorder usually want to fit in and have interaction with others; they simply don't know how to do it. They may be socially awkward, not understanding of conventional social rules, or may show a lack of empathy. They may have limited eye contact, seem to be unengaged in a conversation, and not understand the use of gestures.


Interests in a particular subject may border on the obsessive. Children with Asperger's Disorder frequently like to collect categories of things, such as rocks or bottle caps. They may be proficient in knowing categories of information, such as baseball statistics or Latin names of flowers. While they may have good rote memory skills, they have difficulty with abstract concepts.

One of the major differences between Asperger's Disorder and autism is that, by definition, there is no speech delay in Asperger's. In fact, children with Asperger's Disorder frequently have good language skills; they simply use language in different ways. Speech patterns may be unusual, lack inflection or have a rhythmic nature or it may be formal, but too loud or high pitched. Children with Asperger's Disorder may not understand the subtleties of language, such as irony and humor, or they may not understand the give and take nature of a conversation.

Another distinction between Asperger's Disorder and autism concerns cognitive ability. While some individuals with Autism experience mental retardation, by definition a person with Asperger's Disorder cannot possess a "clinically significant" cognitive delay and most possess an average to above average intelligence.

While motor difficulties are not a specific criteria for Asperger's, children with Asperger's Disorder frequently have motor skill delays and may appear clumsy or awkward.

Learn more about:
if you would like to read more about :
Learn more about:

Characteristics
Diagnosis
Working with an Individual with Aspergers
Educational Issues
Adults with Aspergers
Helpful Resources

Characteristics

here is the link : it is too long to put here :
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageNavigator/about_whatis_asperger
good luck to you :-)

Answer 9

You don't say how old your sister is.But if she's talking physics and astronomy she has to be in her 20-30s at least.She could use the help of a psychologist.

Answer 10

does she like absrtract things - did she start to have a fondness for water or water flowing -

does she shun crowded places -
is she highly specialised in her intelligence
will she look you in the eye, or mum or other people

She may be slightly asperegers, possibly borderline as opposed to full on. Full on aspergers people are the high level functioning autistics, borderline aspergers are more like me - but ive done 20 yrs of the old 'physician heal thyself'