Could I have Aspergers and my mom and daughter too?

Question

I'm not really asking for a diagnosis, but just an opinion on if the symptoms can be. We all were teased and only like to have a core group of friends. People would think we're the life of the party type people when they know us, but none of us would be because we have to force ourselves to be that social. I personally can't look people in the eye unless I force myself to and even then I keep looking off to the side of them. I read something about empathy though. We are all ever empathetic I believe. We also have always had very high verbal skills and not good math skills. My Mom and daughter have sleeping issues. My Mom and I have sound issues. I really really bothers me to hear noises. My uncle has all of this as well and my son is showing signs. Although the people I've mentioned aren't formal artists, we all are very creative people. So I'm curious if I've mentioned things that make it seem like it's possible or does the empathy thing totally make us not. Are there anything else I might not have mentioned that would give me a clue? Also, how is one tested for this? Just go to the doctor and say what do you think?

I'm not ashamed of it if we do have. I'd just be fascinated and It would just answer a lot of questions. As far as looking in people's eyes, I really have to struggle out of a nervous like fear. So it isn't that I'm worried about staring. I actually have to force myself because I know I seem rude when I keep looking away. I also know we are all clumsy which I saw was one of the other symptoms. Totally don't get the whole sports thing and my daughter when going into kindergarden was told she needed to work on physical things like standing on one foot. Thank you guys.

Thank you rockchic. Yes noises really bother me and my mom and my uncle and we all seem to have loud voices as children. I can remember my Mom telling me I would be an opera singer because I spoke so loud and I know my daughter does too. My uncle has such a problem with noise he calls the police on his neighbors in his apartment and has to wear headphones a lot. My Mom has to wear ear plugs to sleep. I can't handle repetative noises at all or I get upset.

If I knew that's what I have (I've been diagnosised with Agoraphobia) then at least I could follow new information about it. I think that's my only goal if I have it. I've always felt that these 4 people in my family had something mental illness similar.

Thanks Jackie. That's a biggy difference with us. We actually seem too empethetic if you ask me. We get really upset when others suffer in anyway. I also even at 40 years old still need my Mom and I'm very dependant on my husband. They are my "safe" people. So I guess the conclusion probably is that we don't then.

Thanks N4. My daughter did something just like that the other day. I was telling her choir teacher that it was a good program and she blurted out to him that her dad didn't like it(he actually said he wished they were louder, but loved it). I was so surprised that she didn't take his feelings into consideration. I do think that we have something similar, but for the most part I really think we are compassionate. I thought though that people have great verbal knowledge when they have this....hmmm. I also know that I do this movement thing when I'm standing by rocking left and right which people have noticed.

Answer 1

I have seen people diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome that show fewer signs than you do, and other people I would never diagnose with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). The most recent thinking appears to be that AS is one of the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which means that people may have some or all of the characteristics. People with AS are generally higher functioning than most other people with ASD and may function fairly well in life despite the disability.
I should also mention that I have known several people who could never seem to look you straight in the eye or at you when they talked to you. There is actually an acceptable about of time eye-contact is given before people look away or blink or something so that it does not appear as staring, but in the case of these people, the looking away was more noticable.
Find a specialist and have it checked out, especially if it may mean more benefits for your children in school and treatment for problems.

Answer 2

Whether or not you actually have Asperger's Syndrome is irrelevant...A.S, and many other social disorders, can't really be assessed quantitatively. There is no exact formula for what constitutes being "autistic"...you're not not autistic if you have, say, three Asperger's symptoms, and then become autistic if you have four. So you getting any sort of diagnosis doesn't really matter. What matters is taking care of the interpersonal problems that you have. If you feel that whatever issues you have are seriously getting in the way of your happiness, then yes, you should ask for help from a medical professional, and you can get help that will improve your life. If your issues aren't interfering with your life, then just forget about it. An Asperger's diagnosis won't change anything.

Answer 3

Actually yes! I just read an article about this yesterday, how the medical field is just startng to realize that this could be a very hereditary/genetic disorder. And also these "quirks" can be spread throughout the family. I think it was in yesterday's (12/10) New York Times. I read it online. Key for me was yr mention of the sound sensitivity b/c the article subject mentioned the same thing. And how this all came to light was through a child's diagnosis and working backwards. It was very good.

This is the website:
//www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/fashion/09diagnosis.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

Hope it helps your understanding.

Answer 4

I think it sounds like you do.

Don't worry about it you are perfect just the way you are. People always think that because you are not the same as or different from everyone else that there is something wrong. There's nothing wrong with being different. And in being different you find you are the same as other people who are different.

And funny you should mention the sound sensitivitey I have been told when I was a baby I used to scream when my mum put the hoover on and even today I don't like the sound of the hoover or any loud or sudden noises.

Answer 5

People can have features of Aspergers, such as your sound issues and shyness. All of these characteristics can be inherited, just like a lot of other things. But one of the main characteristics of Aspergers is lack of empathy. There are lot of very creative people who do not have Aspergers.

Answer 6

Start here. If you are still concerned, talk with your doctor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergers