Could someone tell me if I have autism?

[PianoMan20]

I am a 16 year old male. I'm argumentative, a bit arrogant, and stubborn at times. I find that when I do something I like or end up liking something that I grasped, the process of cultivating it over and over seems utterly mechanical and nothing can stop me. I lose track of time, food consumption, etc. I am not socially inept, but my network consists of minor acquaintances and a few tiny chunks of 1-2 groups of friends, most somewhat distant. I have a bizarre sense of humor(morbid, etc.), and can't understand for the love of me why people are so conservative. I annoy my sibling on a daily basis on a recurring topic that we've went over just because I have an addiction to those topics. Unless I experiment my way into loving something, there is no way for the death of me that I can do that thing with my maximum efficiency. Pattern recognition is a skill that I am above average at. I pace regularly as my thoughts circulate within my head, I have perfect pitch(Orchestras, Jazz bands etc are always playing in my head), abstract notions weren't difficult to grasp if I gave them a bit of rigor, I mostly can't read situations, and don't understand my friends plights very well, and I was a quiet kid when I was younger.

 

[StephF]

Try taking this autism test, it will give you a base-line idea but it isn't official.
https://www.aspietests.org/raads/

 

[PianoMan20]

Try taking this autism test, it will give you a base-line idea but it isn't official.
https://www.aspietests.org/raads/

I did take that test, and it gave me very likely autistic. But from my description, what do you guys think?

 

[Mr Allen]

I did take that test, and it gave me very likely autistic. But from my description, what do you guys think?

Seek the advice of a Medical professional.

 

[Catana]

I did take that test, and it gave me very likely autistic. But from my description, what do you guys think?

Your description contains very little that might specifically indicate autism. Look up autism on Google and go to the three diagnostic signs as described in the DSM5

 

[Phanelope]

I’m sure everyone will tell you that they can’t diagnose and to see a specialist, which is true. But if you were like me and didn’t want to waste money on uncertainty, I would try completing the tests that can be found by googling “aspie tests”. Consider things like sensory sensitivities and how naturally social behaviour comes to you. Do you have any stims or repetitive movements? I would also look into other things like ADHD and personality disorders (not saying you have one but you might find something that clicks more with you than ASD). The other consideration is how much it interferes with your daily life. If it’s very minimal, you may not get a diagnosis even if you do have Autistic traits.

 

[PianoMan20]

Your description contains very little that might specifically indicate autism. Look up autism on Google and go to the three diagnostic signs as described in the DSM5

I chew heavily on pens; I feel like my mother is my lifeline; I can keep my anger in check, but when it bursts I have an absolute meltdown; I don't know when to end a conversation(Preferably I would like them to last till infinity); I can't understand my friends for the life of me; I have awful sleep habits(Think awake for a day and a half); don't get me started on high pitched noise; Sometimes I have to lower the volume and higher male voices and on female's voices when watching a video; I like to spin and make as many facial expressions as I can in 10 seconds; My eyes are shut when agitated; I hoard school journals and even take some older ones from earlier students; I constantly use the same word in a conversation; my fingers always wrap a surface I'm near when I'm nervous or anxious; I never felt much for the opposite sex, besides primal lust; when I want someone's attention, I poke them a few times, or in the case of my friends, shake them till their brains become mush; I repetitively call my mothers name when I need her(I rely on her a lot);The world is a scary and unpredictable place outside my home; I'm scared to walk outside even when it is remotely dark; I am obsessed with the Maple Leaf Rag; I frequently continue talking about a subject when someone doesn't want me to, or wants to move on; I am often thinking about something else when someone is speaking to me; I communicate by verbal cues alone. I have to try hard to even half understand non-verbal cues. I always possess a neutral, stern face, people tell me; I've been depressed for 6 months; I have this other obsession of writing motivational quotes in a notebook of mine; Basically anything I like becomes an obsession.

 

[PianoMan20]

When I don't get to follow my routine because someone says I can't, I am quick to question them. But when I am repeatedly denied the specs of my routine or pestered in the middle of it, I am quick to respond with fury. I also do not take well to things that go "boom". Sound-breaking jets, fireworks, etc.

 

[Isadoorian]

If you want a sure answer, seek a Diagnosis from a Professional, we're not Doctors, just everyday people

 

[Phanelope]

You sound like my son, talking non stop and trying to control the conversation. But he is the sweetest boy on the planet. If the unknown is bothering you and you think leading to your depression, then it’s probably worth getting assessed. At least then you’ll know and can stop thinking about it. For me diagnosis became an obsession and I wasn’t able to relax until I got it done.

 

[PianoMan20]

You sound like my son, talking non stop and trying to control the conversation. But he is the sweetest boy on the planet. If the unknown is bothering you and you think leading to your depression, then it’s probably worth getting assessed. At least then you’ll know and can stop thinking about it. For me diagnosis became an obsession and I wasn’t able to relax until I got it done.

My mother says I don't have it because there were no signs when I was younger. She is a nurse and has worked with autistic retirement home inhabitants, so I'm not sure. Could she be right?

 

[Phanelope]

My mother says I don't have it because there were no signs when I was younger. She is a nurse and has worked with autistic retirement home inhabitants, so I'm not sure. Could she be right?

My son also has ADHD which I think causes him to talk non stop. What does your mum think causes your behaviour?

 

[Tom]

Personally I don't believe it is always very detectable when young, and parents tend to compensate naturally (as well as deny anything could be wrong).

To me it sounds like you are certainly somewhere other then NT and ASD is a definate possibilty. But as some as expressed its much more difficult to actually say 'yes' or 'no'. A good diagnosis process can take months or even a year or more to be sure.

One thing I would suggest, no matter what the condition is. Get control of your temper and do not go into anger/fury. That will only drive people away and make everything more difficult.

Also talking about your subject of interest will also drive people away. If the other person is not interested and participating equally, then drop it. To get discussions on such subjects you may have luck seeking out special interest forums or groups, etc. I've had some luck with that. For example I became interested in Plastics, so found the Plastics industry sponsored forum. The ultimate plastics geeks and more then equal to the most specific questions I had. Another time I was into Custer's last stand... and found a forum that knew it inside out and especially all the latest developments with archeology. But remove your arrogance before entering.

 

[PianoMan20]

My son also has ADHD which I think causes him to talk non stop. What does your mum think causes your behaviour?

My mother thinks my depression caused my behavior. I just think that it just got incrementally evident that I am probably on the spectrum. However, sometimes I act on emotion, especially when I see some traits in people that I wholly despise from the bottom of my heart.

 

[PianoMan20]

My mother thinks my depression caused my behavior. I just think that it just got incrementally evident that I am probably on the spectrum. However, sometimes I act on emotion, especially when I see some traits in people that I wholly despise from the bottom of my heart.

Some red flags of non-autism, are that I did seem pretty fine with people when I was little growing up, can communicate well with people I assume are working/helping people(waiters, cashiers, etc.). didn't suffer from meltdowns, I'm not self-confident, I'm not too logical, I'm not that coherent of a speaker(I stutter a bit), Sometimes I know when to let someone talk(SOMETIMES), and I have no problems jumping into groups, if they share something I like, but I did line up my toys in a certain order, and always watched Tom and Jerry and Thomas the Tank engine as routine. I also have arachnophobia and am afraid of mice crawling up my bed sheets, so I keep them on top of the bed instead of letting them droop down.

 

[Kraftiekortie]

From what I've read, I really sense that you are more a "typical teenager" (yet a bright one) than someone with autism.

Obviously, what I say is not infallible---since I can only gauge you based upon the words you write.

In order to REALLY determine if you're autistic, a person (preferably a psychologist/psychiatrist) would have to examine you over the course of a few hours and, I believe, observe you over a number of days (though, obviously, the latter is not possible).

Has anybody (teacher, parent, friend) ever bought up the subject of autism?