Do Asperger symptoms get more prominent with age?

[Lichi]

Hi,

I am a 29 years old girl who has been battling a sudden increased anxiety for the past year or so. I was partially diagnosed with ADHD a year back, even though the official tests were never made due to lacking insurance as I was living abroad. My current psychiatrist and me have taken on the course to re-evaluate and confirm/dismiss the diagnosis of ADHD for the past couple of months, while focusing on the anxiety factor as well.

Due to earlier have been mis-diagnosed be bi-polar by a former therapist 10 years ago my psychiatrist wanted to re-evaluate my personality once more. I mentioned to him that I was tired of my therapist who set the diagnosis and agreed to whatever he was saying because he refused to pay any attention to one thing that geniunely bothered me, lack of empathy towards others and generally being unable to feel things like loss, remorse, joy. I briefly elaborated to him what I meant, as I promised him to stop reading about any further personality disorders (to avoid self-diagnosis and inclining towards one specific while going through the diagnostics).

In our last session my therapist gave me what he called his 'wild card' to fill out. The title of the diagnostic that I was filling out was hidden. As he summarized the scores where I scored pretty high, he revealed that this was a diagnostic test for Asperger Syndrome. He wanted me to go home and think about how it felt.

I have spent all weekend reading about Asperger Syndrome. This time I read about experiences, rather than medical reports. To be honest I have never recognized myself that well in other people's words. But for me most of the symptoms have gotten more prominent over the past 3 - 5 years, though they always have been present. The following things have been things I was taking notice to before the idea of having Asperger Syndrome was presented at all.

• Trouble understanding when/if something is insuated. (I moved to a different country and had this problem with new friends - English speakers)
• Increased focus on literal meanings. (Refuse to reply with 'I am good', rather use the word 'OK' because 'good' is the extreme end of the spectre)
• Increased need for isolation for days/weeks
• Trouble understanding how friendships are formed and kept
• Increased anxiety in social setting, anxiety and panic attacks
• Selective mutism in social settings
• Not being able to specify my own feelings on subjects
• Trouble replying to texts with emojis, using appropriate emojis
• Looking at things from a logical point of view, not able to be empathetic
• Preferring to articulate myself in text more and more as time goes, rather than a vocal conversation
• Emotionally distant from boyfriend, family, friends, (more noticable in recent years)
• Starting to speak on a subject, and continue speaking of it that is completely out of context for rest of the conversation, rarely getting to a closing point.
• Having certain rituals in little things that make no sense, but will trigger anxiety if not followed. I used to call these 'my little OCD routines'
• Weird interest of calculating anything that can be calculated (additions and subtractions) in lists
• Dreading physical touch, hugs, etc. I can't even cry if someone tries to hug me and console me.
• Fascinated by consistency of food, rather the taste. Like to touch different surfaces and textures.
• Disaffectionate behaviour, even towards my parents.
• Trouble balancing sex and relationships. (Usually unable to have sex with a person I have long term contact with, not able to see them as a person with feelings. OR feel that a relationship needs to have excessive sex in order to be consummated.)

These are the things that have become notably more visible with time. During this period I moved away from my family for a few years for the first time and back again after my first live-in relationship ended. The feeling I mainly have is that I can't relate to my family, and I feel like I'm in a stranger environment. At the same time I have to push myself to be around this many people constantly, and I feel constantly tired and drained out of energy.

Although I don't have a diagnosis right now, I can recognize myself in the diagnosis. But since these 'symptoms' didn't become as prominent as they are until now I can't help but wonder if this is something that becomes more prominent with age. In the case if I do have Asperger Syndrome, should I expect that these symptoms wil get stronger (anxiety and need for isolation in specific).

 

[Tom]

I experienced an increase in General Anxiety Disorder with age and eventually went on medication for it. Its not part of autism per se but a common co-morbid condition.

 

[xudo]

I also have Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and this has become markedly worse over the past few years. I am on medication for GAD. Took a few different tries with different medications to find one that worked and didn't have adverse side effects.

As @Tom said, it's a common co-morbid condition.

 

[Gracey]

I don’t know enough to state if asd symptoms become more prominent with age.

Although personal experience on hitting the menopause saw my own symptoms amplify really quite dramatically.


I’d would guess as the years pass by we learn suppression or coping mechanisms (faulty or otherwise)
Mimicry, scripts, emulation, aspiring to ....’something or someone’
Nothing disappears though, no ‘aspieness’ is erased or eradicated.
I wonder if awareness allows us to be who we are.
Do we become more aware as we age and therefore more accepting and less self conscious and so hide fewer traits?

Making it seem as if traits are more prominent as we age?

Just a thought
(No studies or evidence to back it up)

 

[Gracey]

On the subject of GAD, I too have a dx for this, acquired in my thirties, OCD later still.

I’m wondering if I was aware that asd was even a ‘thing’ for me much earlier, would I have found myself in less of a pickle (provided I accepted it) and be less afraid, anxious and a control freak because I would have understood what was happening?
Again, just a thought

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

Again, just a thought

Two in one day, go Gracey go

 

[Lichi]

I experienced an increase in General Anxiety Disorder with age and eventually went on medication for it. Its not part of autism per se but a common co-morbid condition.

I also have Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and this has become markedly worse over the past few years. I am on medication for GAD. Took a few different tries with different medications to find one that worked and didn't have adverse side effects.

As @Tom said, it's a common co-morbid condition.

Sinne we are digressing a bit on to the anxiety side, do you have any suggestion for anxiety medications? (Hope it’s OK to ask).

My psychatrist has been asking me to try Quetiapine, but I don’t feel it would be beneficial for me. I have tried quite a few, with benzodiazepines (xanax) to be the only one to work. My psychiatrist doesn’t want me to continue to not develope addiction. The doctor who initially diagnosed me with ADHD starter the treatment on Modafinil, which worked wonders on my anxiety and performance. Unfortunately Modafinil is not available for treatment anymore.

I don’t know enough to state if asd symptoms become more prominent with age.

Although personal experience on hitting the menopause saw my own symptoms amplify really quite dramatically.


I’d would guess as the years pass by we learn suppression or coping mechanisms (faulty or otherwise)
Mimicry, scripts, emulation, aspiring to ....’something or someone’
Nothing disappears though, no ‘aspieness’ is erased or eradicated.
I wonder if awareness allows us to be who we are.
Do we become more aware as we age and therefore more accepting and less self conscious and so hide fewer traits?

Making it seem as if traits are more prominent as we age?

Just a thought
(No studies or evidence to back it up)

My reaction right now is og frustration. I know I have been coping for a deffect I have, without knowing it wasn’t there. At some point I must have stopped doing it to notice the conscious effort I have to put down, as I did discuss these things as daily challenges with myself several times before., unless it naturally evolved to become more difficult for me to handle these things.

On the subject of GAD, I too have a dx for this, acquired in my thirties, OCD later still.

I’m wondering if I was aware that asd was even a ‘thing’ for me much earlier, would I have found myself in less of a pickle (provided I accepted it) and be less afraid, anxious and a control freak because I would have understood what was happening?
Again, just a thought

I recognize me in this description. At the same time my anxiety is so strong and illogical that it made me start this thread. «What if I won’t be able to function socially ever again because I didn’t learn the right way I could have if I was diagnosed before?» now it’s even more of a doubt of my perception of situations, and I’m worried to misunderstand things.

 

[Gracey]

Two in one day, go Gracey go

It has been known on occasion Mr Fridge.

 

[Gracey]

Sinne we are digressing a bit on to the anxiety side, do you have any suggestion for anxiety medications? (Hope it’s OK to ask).

My psychatrist has been asking me to try Quetiapine, but I don’t feel it would be beneficial for me. I have tried quite a few, with benzodiazepines (xanax) to be the only one to work. My psychiatrist doesn’t want me to continue to not develope addiction. The doctor who initially diagnosed me with ADHD starter the treatment on Modafinil, which worked wonders on my anxiety and performance. Unfortunately Modafinil is not available for treatment anymore.





My reaction right now is og frustration. I know I have been coping for a deffect I have, without knowing it wasn’t there. At some point I must have stopped doing it to notice the conscious effort I have to put down, as I did discuss these things as daily challenges with myself several times before., unless it naturally evolved to become more difficult for me to handle these things.



I recognize me in this description. At the same time my anxiety is so strong and illogical that it made me start this thread. «What if I won’t be able to function socially ever again because I didn’t learn the right way I could have if I was diagnosed before?» now it’s even more of a doubt of my perception of situations, and I’m worried to misunderstand things.

I don’t know much about the meds, sorry.

My reply was just a thought relating to my own circumstances and in no way fact.
We could spend a lot of time making up senarios about how we may be much better at something if only we had done this or that or if only we had known such and such at a time we were choosing to do something else.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

If we look at now and what’s happening in the here and now we can look at ways to move forward from this point.
I believe the past can be useful If it’s used to learn.

 

[Tom]

About meds, there are quite a few for anxiety. They also seem to be very varied in how individuals respond to them. You know, one works great for person A and does nothing for person B. I'm gonna guess its the complexity of body chemicals involved.

I would work with a doctor on it. Follow their reccomendations. You will need them to help you know how to do it and change it if it doesn't work. One pre-step you can do before actually starting a med is to research it online. There are plenty of places that will tell about side effects and other places where patients will tell about their experience with it. Search the med name and questions like 'Has anyone tried (medication)?' If the side effects sound unacceptable to you discuss it with the doctor and they should be able to find something else. Once started try to give it an valid test. Some of these meds take weeks to really take effect. Quitting too soon doesn't tell you very much. But once tried and if it isn't doing the trick, ask to try another. A good Doctor will work with you. If you find your doctor uncooperative get a new doctor.

After trying some others I settled on Venlafaxine. Its been around awhile and I didn't have any problems with side effects except some tiredness at first that went away. It also had a very noticable and sustained positive result. This was immediately validated by my wife and family members. They saw the positive change too. That was good verification. I've been on it like 8 years now. The main problem is it is not easy to come off and that must be done slowly over weeks with reduced ammounts.

 

[Lichi]

I don’t know much about the meds, sorry.

My reply was just a thought relating to my own circumstances and in no way fact.
We could spend a lot of time making up senarios about how we may be much better at something if only we had done this or that or if only we had known such and such at a time we were choosing to do something else.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

If we look at now and what’s happening in the here and now we can look at ways to move forward from this point.
I believe the past can be useful If it’s used to learn.

I do agree in a logical outlook to what you say. On a personal level knowing this just crushed the truth of my own reality. In a way I have convinced myself my whole life that I’m “normal” and I am just imagining that I’m not. I have worked every cell in my body, every reflex, every sense to be “normal” like everybody else. And then you find out that you’re not, and you did all of that work for no reason. And right now you don’t know it, but everything you did might actually have been working against you all along.

I get your message. I suppose I’m just on a confusion level about everything that it’s just making me frustrated. I usually am more optimistic about things.

About meds, there are quite a few for anxiety. They also seem to be very varied in how individuals respond to them. You know, one works great for person A and does nothing for person B. I'm gonna guess its the complexity of body chemicals involved.

I would work with a doctor on it. Follow their reccomendations. You will need them to help you know how to do it and change it if it doesn't work. One pre-step you can do before actually starting a med is to research it online. There are plenty of places that will tell about side effects and other places where patients will tell about their experience with it. Search the med name and questions like 'Has anyone tried (medication)?' If the side effects sound unacceptable to you discuss it with the doctor and they should be able to find something else. Once started try to give it an valid test. Some of these meds take weeks to really take effect. Quitting too soon doesn't tell you very much. But once tried and if it isn't doing the trick, ask to try another. A good Doctor will work with you. If you find your doctor uncooperative get a new doctor.

After trying some others I settled on Venlafaxine. Its been around awhile and I didn't have any problems with side effects except some tiredness at first that went away. It also had a very noticable and sustained positive result. This was immediately validated by my wife and family members. They saw the positive change too. That was good verification. I've been on it like 8 years now. The main problem is it is not easy to come off and that must be done slowly over weeks with reduced ammounts.

You are right about different things might work for different people. Actually I have done quite a lot of research on anti-anxiety medications, and tried most of them. Venlafaxine increased the intensity in attacks I experienced, and one of the first to be rejected.

I have up to 6-7 anxiety attacks throughout the day (and night). Most of these are panic attacks. I have extreme social anxiety and agoraphobia that in periods also affects my use of electronic communication. As bothered as I am by my anxiety I’m pretty much just grabbing at any form of treatment that can provide relief.

 

[pjcnet]

For myself at 48 years of age some things have got better like knowing how to behave in social situations, I'm still pretty bad and don't like it, but I can look back at myself when I was younger and at least see some faults, but other things have got worse, my anxiety and sensitivity to certain sounds + light seems worse, plus I struggle to cope travelling far from home without feeling extremely uncomfortable. Most things have stayed the same however with the same difficulties as years ago, for instance I seem to have a big red mark on my head that says use me and I have an issue where I'm unable to say no to people.

 

[Progster]

I'm better able to cope with social situations, I know what to say in most situations, though I still can't react in the same way emotionally as a NT would.

I am more emotionally mature, able to understand and control my emotions, though I still have issues.

My motor coordination has improved.

Executive functioning about the same.

Some sensory issues are better - I no longer panic when I hear thunder, for example, but I'm more sensitive to noise and light, get tired or overloaded more easily.

Information processing issues - about the same. I think these are fixed.

Anxiety - this fluctuates according to environment/stress factors. When I'm anxious or depressed, I am less able to cope with or manage my Asperger's traits. So I fluctuate between having mild symptoms, to full-on symptoms, according to how I am at that period of time.

 

[xudo]

Agree with @Tom, what works for one person may be terrible for another. I'm on medication attempt 7. Venlafaxine worked for me at a relatively high dose, until the side effect of restless legs became unbearable. Duloxotine worked the first time, until it just stopped and second time it upset my stomach terribly.

I'm now on mirtazapine, which is so far doing the job. I would speak to a doctor and go from there.

 

[pjcnet]

Agree with @Tom, what works for one person may be terrible for another. I'm on medication attempt 7. Venlafaxine worked for me at a relatively high dose, until the side effect of restless legs became unbearable. Duloxotine worked the first time, until it just stopped and second time it upset my stomach terribly.

I'm now on mirtazapine, which is so far doing the job. I would speak to a doctor and go from there.

In my opinion all mind altering medication is bad, some may appear to improve the situation in the short term, but with longer term consequences. Even illegal narcotics can greatly help in the short term and some used to be legally prescribed too. They are especially pushed onto autistic people as a "quick fix" because a higher proportion suffer from anxiety / depression and there's not enough resources to provide proper help which pressures doctors to prescribe them, it's a here you go pop these pills and goodbye, another one gone often under the false label of "clinical depression", until they return with even worse problems in future, this could be one reason why things become worse as many people get older.

The best thing to do is to come off them gradually, you can't even come off suddenly because they're usually very addictive as the body becomes tolerant to them, often also physically despite notes often stating that they're not habit forming on the guide that are a blatant lie. Pharmaceutical companies make $Billions out of them, they have the best lawyers and know the detrimental effects, but there's far too much money and also power in them, where there's power there's corruption and in this case they often target the most vulnerable.

 

[xudo]

In my opinion all mind altering medication is bad, some may appear to improve the situation in the short term, but with longer term consequences. Even illegal narcotics can greatly help in the short term and some used to be legally prescribed too. They are especially pushed onto autistic people as a "quick fix" because a higher proportion suffer from anxiety / depression and there's not enough resources to provide proper help which pressures doctors to prescribe them, it's a here you go pop these pills and goodbye, another one gone often under the false label of "clinical depression", until they return with even worse problems in future, this could be one reason why things become worse as many people get older.

The best thing to do is to come off them gradually, you can't even come off suddenly because they're usually very addictive as the body becomes tolerant to them, often also physically despite notes often stating that they're not habit forming on the guide that are a blatant lie. Pharmaceutical companies make $Billions out of them, they have the best lawyers and know the detrimental effects, but there's far too much money and also power in them, where there's power there's corruption and in this case they often target the most vulnerable.

For me, the anxiety was becoming unbearable. I'm on a waiting list for counselling but I am more than happy to accept the help from medication.

 

[Lichi]

For me, the anxiety was becoming unbearable. I'm on a waiting list for counselling but I am more than happy to accept the help from medication.

I have always been against medications. The situation as it has been for the past months however is unbearable and made me accept this as a treatment option. Because I like to be thorough about what I put in my body I generally am the one to come with suggestions of which medicines I am willing to try.

 

[Lichi]

Does anyone have the exaggerated use of facial expressions? I have always been told that I use a lot of facial expressions to express my feelings. Intonation wise I can often miss on how to end in the intended form.

 

[Nervous Rex]

I've been meaning to ask this same question, because it feels like my anxiety has spiked in the last few years. It's what led to me getting to a counselor, and then getting a diagnosis.

This makes twice in one week where someone else posted a question I've had on my mind. I love this forum.

 

[Lichi]

I've been meaning to ask this same question, because it feels like my anxiety has spiked in the last few years. It's what led to me getting to a counselor, and then getting a diagnosis.

This makes twice in one week where someone else posted a question I've had on my mind. I love this forum.

Since I posted this question I have tried to view the different factors that could explain why it could appear that way. A couple of others have mentioned increased anxiety. Could it be that the symptoms themselves might remain of the same intensity while the external factors have changed.

1. Social norms change according to what age we are. I.e. socially accepted behaviour and achievements for a person in their mid-twenties (students) going in to adulthood (stable career path, settling down etc.) in their thirties.
2. Generally unable to adapt to the changed norms as a result of technological developement of our society. It makes it hard to relate to something you know. For instance I can’t relate to my nephews doing their homework on a tablet, which to them is normal.

I do think a lot. Hence the anxiety takes over as much as it does.