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Hello, I came across this page because I have been self-researching autism. I was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback. I am a 24 year old female and I am starting to wonder if I am on the spectrum. When I was in elementary school, I remember having very few friends in school and never had an interest in calling them up to hang out outside of school. I also would constantly go up to my teachers at random during "independent work time" and feel the need to tell them random stories like "I watched a pirate movie on tv last night." I was extrememly quiet and shy for most of school and making friends only started to get easier towards my senior year of high school. I would often get fixated on a certain person or topic for a short period of time and would then move on to a totally different topic fixation. I would also research these topic fixations for hours on the computer. I was extremely dedicated to playing basketball and would play for sometimes 6 hours straight in my home driveway. Same for drawing. I was naturally good and would get absorbed into drawing a picture for like 7 straight hours. I was naturally good at playing the flute. I never practiced but was always ranked like 3 out of 15 flutists in the school band. I am very good at rhythms but very bad at hearing and remembering words to songs. I hate wearing my socks with the fuzzy side touching my foot so I wear them inside out. Today, I am diagnosed with ADD and have difficulty following conversations if in a group of 2 or more. I also have trouble following verbal directions, have difficulty with spatial maps while driving (unless it's routine), and will often forget things if I don't leave myself a note. I make long lists every day for the things I need to get done. The buzzing of flourecent lights bothers me and distracts me during my college courses. I have become a lot more social (probably because I researched body language and basically the art of being more social). I have a group of about 5 really close friends and many many many acquaintances. When I go out to the bar with them, I often become distracted by all of the people in there and will often wander from my pool or darts game from my friends to go look at whats going on around the bar. I often feel the need to rub my ear cartilage when I become nervous in social communication situations. My friends love me and say that I am unique and a very animated person and have addicting key phrases that I often say. If I become overwhelmed (too many questions asked at once, too many things to try to accomplish throughout my day) I have shut down and cried. Frequently in the private of my own home (even with my girlfriend around the house), I feel the need to make random noises or repeat certain song or sentence sections that are appealing to me. I feel the need to touch a lot of interesting textured objects that I encounter. I am afraid of elevators, planes and trains even though I will go on them if I have to. I don't even dare go on rollercoasters. I still don't like the fuzzy side of socks. I have gone through most of college (with some struggles), have a good job, lots of friends and can go throughout my days without most people noticing my quirks and struggles. My good friends have picked up on some of it though and were nicely teasing me that I might be autistic. So basically after this long-ranting description of me, I am wondering if I could be on the autism spectrum? Thank you for your time. Lindsey |
