I've had this problem for a while, and I felt like I need to let it out somewhere. I have days when my social skills just disappear. I misinterpret sarcasm, can't read body language, and I have find myself unable of answering questions with no analytical answer (i.e. What's with the attitude?). I have considered seeing a therapist, but I am afraid of being diagnosed with Asperger's (I have several other symptoms such as light sensitivity and mechanical, focused interests) and using it as an excuse. However, this only happens 1-2 days out of the week; the rest of the time I am able to interact socially. I have tried to find a pattern or a trigger, but I have had no success. I've tried to improve, but I've had not success yet. The best thing I can do is try to be alone for a while to recuperate, but this is not always a viable option. I'm not sure what to do now, has anyone had similar problems?
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Hiya Spencer
The first thing you need to do is find a quick and cheap way of establishing whether you probably have Asperger's Syndrome or probably don't have Asperger's Syndrome
You can do that by undertaking the online test at http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php
This is the most reliable and accurate self-test available on the internet according to my many friends in the two main Autism and Asperger's Syndrome communities on the internet, http://www.wrongplanet.net/ and http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/
I was diagnosed by a consultant psychiatrist commissioned by my employer after I had a nervous breakdown at work in 1994, and the best I got out of him was I 'probably have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, most likely Asperger's Syndrome'. He had just come back from a conference celebrating the launch of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which gave the term 'Asperger's Syndrome' official status in America; and he was very excited about that, but said that the diagnostic method was so unscientific that there was no way he could give me a definite, 'yes you've got it' or 'no you haven't got it' as a GP could say about asthma or a broken leg. So don't worry about my using the words 'probably' and 'probably don't' in my opening sentence. Giving it that official status has caused a near epidemic of diagnoses of the condition in the past 19 years. And the diagnostic and welfare systems in America are now in such chaos that no-one will be able to get an official diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome from later this month, as the present Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is to be replaced later this month with one that does not include the term, ''Asperger's Syndrome' and its characteristic diagnostic details. From now on it will simply be called an Autism Spectrum Disorder, like Autism and a couple of other conditions that currently are classed separately. There is a hell of a hue and cry about this and other changes the American Psychiatric Association have included in the new edition, and according to last week's New Scientist, it looks like the US National Institute of Mental Health, which holds the government's purse strings for research and development funding for mental health, might pull the funding rug out from under the American Psychiatric Association ('A revolution in mental health': New Scientist: 11 May 2013: p.p. 8-9)
I've studied Asperger's Syndrome obsessively-compulsively since I received my diagnosis in 1994 and I've never read anywhere that the condition comes and goes. It is strongly believed to have a genetic origin, and an environmental trigger, but once triggered you have it until you die.
What might be happening with you is that you have been subjected to gentle pressure in the course of your upbringing to control or manage your symptoms in such a way that they don't make you stick out too much like a sore thumb, so most of the time those aspie symptoms you mention are within your control and management, but remaining alert like that for long periods can be tiring, and that's when you lower your guard for a little rest, and your aspie symptoms start manifesting without you holding onto the reins.
I'd suggest you adopt some meditational practices - I use two - a short - quick hit one - and a long - half a morning one - I only do the long one very intermittently - just to top up my connectivity with the cosmos - and the short one I can do whenever I get a quiet minute - because that's all it takes for me to get my brainwaves back into the alpha range to remove all anxiety, stress or anger - such as in traffic