Does it sound like my friend has Aspergers? If not, what might she have? Read some of her characteristics...?

Question

These are some of the many things I've noticed:

1. Any change from routine causes great distress. I mean she gets very anxious. May even go in the room to cry.
2. Terrible handwriting, like that of a child, but is an adult.
3. Motor skills are awkward when it comes to dancing or social sports like softball, etc.
4. Very intelligent, but unable to excel at work or school when it requires lots of social contact
5. Always hyper alert and notices the slightest sound, smell, or change around her. Literally seems stressed by too much.
6. Desires friendships but Socially anxious and awkward so spends most of her time alone, unless with people who understand.
7. Eye contact makes her uncomfortable
8. Has normal language skills, and very articulate, but words become jumbled when speaking with strangers
9. Facial expressions sometimes don't fit the situation
10. Is caring and loving, but sometimes seems to be in a world of her own, or not interested in others when in that zone.

Nellie, I'm asking out of curiosity. If I were trying to be a psychiatrist, I wouldn't ask the opinions of others, I would just assume form my own conclusion, without considering she does not have this or any other problem.

Hi Ebec, I may have used the wrong term. When I say "zone out", she doesn't appear disconnected...just intensely immersed in what she's doing, and gets irritated if interrupted. We all get this way, but she tends to go "there" more than most people.

Answer 1

more likely,social anxiety disorder.

Answer 2

Most of the things you mention do fit.
A lot of people with Asperger's have limited interests, maybe they have extensive knowledge of certain subjects that most people aren't interested in.
They usually have odd mannerisms, hand flapping is a pretty common one.
They are often preoccupied with objects; how certain things look or feel. I used to know this guy with Asperger's, he was about 20 years old. Once somebody put out some candles, and he walked right up to the candles and started playing with the melted wax.
Most of the Autism Spectrum DIsorders include language delays, but Asperger's Disorder does not.
Some people say that people with these kinds of disorders have exagerrated sensory input, like sounds might seem louder to them, etc. I think this might be true, based on the way people with these disorders behave.

Answer 3

As I understand it there is a whole host of symptoms that people suffering from aspergers syndrome are supposed to have. People can be diagnosed if they have all of them or just some of them. This is hardly scientific and is just broadly peoples opinions. Its not like cancer, where someone can actually see the cancerous cells, or heart disease etc etc.

And lets face it, these symptoms are so broad they encompass half the worlds population. About the only people who can be sure of not being diagnosed with this are idiots who jabber on happily to their friends about nothing at all and don't notice any changes that come along, so they can't get annoyed about them anyway.

Maybe your friend just has trouble communicating with other people. This is not a disease, there are any number of reasons why this could be.

Answer 4

Well, it really looks like it...I have High-Functioning Autism (almost the same thing as Aspergers), so I should know. Almost all the symptoms fit with the description. #10 doesn't fit as much with Aspergers of what I know of it, but maybe she's a bit more severe then me? Whenever she zones out, MAKE sure you refocus her, as it's not good to let somebody with any type of Autism zone out for long. I alway think of Autism (the more low-functioning type anyways, and for all types that zone out) as if they live inside a bubble. In order to make it milder, you need to get them out of that bubble and emerge into our world. I was REALLY severely Autistic when I was younger, and refocusing me truly helped me become the person I am now.

Answer 5

Psychologists and Psychiatrists use a book to diagnose people called the Diagnostical & Statistical Manual, even that has some exceptions for every disorder and only after training can one use it correctly. It's not meant for a quick reference for non-professionals. That being said, only a psychologist or psychiatrist should decide what is causing your friend these difficulties.

Answer 6

Those characteristics fit Aspergers, but the diagnosis is usually made in childhood, when the symptoms are more pronounced. For example my brother has Aspergers, and he didn't start talking until he was 5, showed signs of social detachment, physical clumsiness, and repetitive self-stimulatory behavior. These symptoms became less evident or disappeared as he grew up

Answer 7

yes, those are symptoms of aspergers. how old is your friend? children are usually diagnosed very early on in live. what does her parents think is wrong with her? or do they not think any thing is wrong. she needs therapy to learn to cope with what is wrong. with aspergers there is no medication to fix the problem, except therapy and in some cases the dr. can prescribe a antidepressant to deal with the anxiety that she is feeling. go webmd.com and mayoclinic.com and search aspergers and you will alot information on the subject. good luck and i hope i helped you with your question.

Answer 8

It would appear to be a high function form of autism, like Asperger's Disorder, but requires expert diagnosis and treatment.

Answer 9

There’s no way for you to just know, we're all somewhere on the scale. Anything like this only becomes a "syndrome" when it affects our lives to the point we have issues functioning. If she’s concerned get her to seek counselling. Too many people are very happy to be “psychiatrist” when they have no real training.

Answer 10

My question. Why do you want to know. Only a psychiarist can diagnose these disorders- and even they are known to jump from one autistic name to the next.

How will it change things if she does or doesn't have aspergers syndrome?

People are people are people are people first.