OCD with Aspergers (ASD-1)

[Rasputin]

I was diagnosed ASD-1 with general anxiety disorder, but not OCD. However, I become obsessed with goals that I commit to, and display strong repetitive (compulsive) behaviors monitoring progress towards achieving goals. For example, I committed to reversing type 2 diabetes and losing 80 pounds in 2018. I optimized my diet to conform to a strict paleo diet with very few carbs, no added sugar, and high fiber, and I committed to a regular exercise routine. Within 6 months my A1C level dropped from 7.6 to 5.3, and I monitored my weight daily, and sometimes multiple times per day. If my weight fluctuated up from a previous weighing, I began fasting and increased weightlifting to burn calories. The result is I lost 80 pounds over 18 months, and have continued with these obsessive compulsive behaviors.

Last night, I was discussing special interests and personal quirks with my half brother who is also autistic. He mentioned that he has the same obsessive compulsive behavior in dieting. I did not get to know my half brother until he was 55 and I was 62. However, we have many of the same interests, quirks, and obsessive compulsive behaviors.

It appears that my autistic and OCD traits were inherited from my father. This is apparent because my half brother has the same traits. Now I am wondering if OCD is a component of ASD-1, or if this is an additional condition that was not diagnosed. This OCD behavior is manifested when I commit to/internalize goals, which I view more as a “super power” than as a negative condition. For this reason I am a natural project manager, and have never failed in satisfactorily delivering a project at work.

Does this sound like a component of ASD or a separate condition?

 

[Crossbreed]

I think that autistic perseveration is goal-oriented, where OCD is not.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

There are repetitive behaviors and "stimming" that is common to autism,...I am thinking to a lesser degree for ASD-1 variants. This is often due to the imbalance in excitatory-to-inhibitory neurotransmitters,...the inhibitory pathways are lacking, causing the neurons to repeatedly fire, sometimes causing repeated behaviors. The ability to hyper focus on a special interest, almost to point of being obsessive, is common with autism. Get me onto a special interest and it is often difficult to pull my mind away from it. Pros and cons to this.

I think OCD is a more severe form of this phenomenon, but to the best of my knowledge, OCD is more of a pathology in the sense that it can significantly effect a person's life,...almost destructively. This is especially true when it is fear-based and the amygdala is triggered,...in which case, no amount of logic is going to stop the behavior (excessive cleaning, washing of hands, checking and rechecking 1,2,3 times, etc.).

We joke around the hospital that as a health care worker, you are either have OCD, or the job makes you have OCD. Routines. Do it this way, not that way, and don't deviate. If it's not a right angle, it's a wrong angle,...that sort of thing. However, again, I believe OCD is something a bit more than that.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I do see some very minor OCD tendencies in myself. not enough to effect my life.

 

[Aspychata]

This is an interesting post. I have some OCD trauma triggered tendencies. I now can become obsessive or l can turn it off if l am sailing on normal. If l have anxiety, then OCD tics help me exactly the way stimming helps.

 

[Rasputin]

There are repetitive behaviors and "stimming" that is common to autism,...I am thinking to a lesser degree for ASD-1 variants. This is often due to the imbalance in excitatory-to-inhibitory neurotransmitters,...the inhibitory pathways are lacking, causing the neurons to repeatedly fire, sometimes causing repeated behaviors. The ability to hyper focus on a special interest, almost to point of being obsessive, is common with autism. Get me onto a special interest and it is often difficult to pull my mind away from it. Pros and cons to this.

I think OCD is a more severe form of this phenomenon, but to the best of my knowledge, OCD is more of a pathology in the sense that it can significantly effect a person's life,...almost destructively. This is especially true when it is fear-based and the amygdala is triggered,...in which case, no amount of logic is going to stop the behavior (excessive cleaning, washing of hands, checking and rechecking 1,2,3 times, etc.).

We joke around the hospital that as a health care worker, you are either have OCD, or the job makes you have OCD. Routines. Do it this way, not that way, and don't deviate. If it's not a right angle, it's a wrong angle,...that sort of thing. However, again, I believe OCD is something a bit more than that.

I hyperfocus a lot, for example working 22 hours straight at a time to complete a project on time. Based on your descriptions I am definitely ASD-1, not OCD. My brother is like me also.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I worked with color for close to 40 years with colour data on thousand of colours our spectrophotometer need to be replaced and the files from the old instrument were no longer compatible with the new instrument same manufacturer different file system. I was the only person with the patience to move the files over so colour search's could be done. Our whole business model was based on same colour from different paint supplier, resin systems. being the same.so our customers could flip on a phone call. no brainer for me because of my skill in organizing and being anal about every thing being cross referenced. If I was not they they would of had to hire a number of students to put the pieces back together. I did it in a matter of days as I could hyper focus. the main issue was The instrument supplier used a programmer to do the software rather then a colour guy to organize it. They lost a few sales with some paint suppliers who did not want to repeat what I did. dumb.

 

[Rasputin]

I worked with color for close to 40 years with colour data on thousand of colours our spectrophotometer need to be replaced and the files from the old instrument were no longer compatible with the new instrument same manufacturer different file system. I was the only person with the patience to move the files over so colour search's could be done. Our whole business model was based on same colour from different paint supplier, resin systems. being the same.so our customers could flip on a phone call. no brainer for me because of my skill in organizing and being anal about every thing being cross referenced. If I was not they they would of had to hire a number of students to put the pieces back together. I did it in a matter of days as I could hyper focus. the main issue was The instrument supplier used a programmer to do the software rather then a colour guy to organize it. They lost a few sales with some paint suppliers who did not want to repeat what I did. dumb.

@Ronald Zerman, you and I have some similarities in the way we hyperfocus. When I was hired by my current employer eight years ago there were three of us who did my job, which requires handling and manipulation of large amounts of data on an ongoing basis. A small mistake can result in a BIG mess which has to be cleaned up in an efficient and timely manner. Because of this there is high stress and some fear of making mistakes.

Three years ago my team was downsized, leaving me as the only business systems analyst in this role. I am able to process the same or greater volume of work my myself as we did with three people, because I hyperfocus and do not make mistakes. Additionally if any data is updated in error by system users (approx. 800 users), I often discover the error before anyone else does and bring the error to the user’s attention.

The scary part is that I do not have anyone to back me up, if I become ill for an extended period of time. I feel pressure to work even when I am ill because all system users depend of me.

 

[Rasputin]

There are repetitive behaviors and "stimming" that is common to autism,...I am thinking to a lesser degree for ASD-1 variants. This is often due to the imbalance in excitatory-to-inhibitory neurotransmitters,...the inhibitory pathways are lacking, causing the neurons to repeatedly fire, sometimes causing repeated behaviors. The ability to hyper focus on a special interest, almost to point of being obsessive, is common with autism. Get me onto a special interest and it is often difficult to pull my mind away from it. Pros and cons to this.

I think OCD is a more severe form of this phenomenon, but to the best of my knowledge, OCD is more of a pathology in the sense that it can significantly effect a person's life,...almost destructively. This is especially true when it is fear-based and the amygdala is triggered,...in which case, no amount of logic is going to stop the behavior (excessive cleaning, washing of hands, checking and rechecking 1,2,3 times, etc.).

We joke around the hospital that as a health care worker, you are either have OCD, or the job makes you have OCD. Routines. Do it this way, not that way, and don't deviate. If it's not a right angle, it's a wrong angle,...that sort of thing. However, again, I believe OCD is something a bit more than that.

@Neonatal RRT, thanks for your response. I now understand these autistic characteristics better than I did previously. I am 63 now and was diagnosed two years ago with ASD-1 only because I was suffering from insomnia and circadian rhythm problems. So, I am still learning about my autistic traits.

 

[Rasputin]

I think that autistic perseveration is goal-oriented, where OCD is not.

I am not familiar with the terminology, autistic perseveration, but I will search for information on this. Thanks!

Okay, I found a definition and now understand what you wrote. Thanks!

 

[Fino]

I'm sure you have many examples, but the one about losing weight just sounds like a typical thing some people do sometimes when they're highly motivated. They use the stories for ads all the time. People posting a "before and after" picture is common.

 

[Judge]

I was diagnosed with OCD in 1982. For me, it's nothing related to goals or perseverance. IMO those are rational things we strive for.

Not the same as an obsession and/or compulsion like needing to lock the same door as many as four times in one evening. Or making sure I have no less than four pennies in my pocket at all times. Or struggling with the idea of anything contrary to symmetry. Or making sure every label of food items are completely showing whether they are in the refrigerator or in the cupboard.

And that's just "the tip of my iceberg". Things that more often than not which may not be rational at all.

That all said, the OP might consider something like "Type A Behavior" which is not a manifestation of OCD per se, but rather a form of behavior that can damage your heart in particular. Where one may be too persevering.

My father didn't have OCD, but his Type A Behavior contributed to his early demise of heart disease.