I've read about it and have found that I have a few symptoms:\n*I have a hard time keeping eye contact with people\n*I have difficulty in social activities\n\nHow can I test myself on it?
120048
Asperger syndrome is characterized as one of the five pervasive developmental disorders, and is commonly referred to as a form of high-functioning autism.\n\nSome people with Asperger's experience varying degrees of sensory overload and are extremely sensitive to touch, smells, sounds, tastes, and sights. They may prefer soft clothing, familiar scents, or certain foods. Some may even be pathologically sensitive to loud noises or strong smells or dislike being touched; for example, certain children with Asperger's exhibit a strong dislike of having their head touched or their hair disturbed. Sensory overload may exacerbate problems faced by such children at school, where levels of noise in the classroom can become intolerable for them. Some are also unable to block out certain repetitive stimuli, such as the constant ticking of a clock. Whereas most children stop registering this sound after a short time and can hear it only if they consciously listen for it, the child with Asperger's can become distracted, agitated, or even (in rare cases) violent if the sound is not removed.\n\nAdditionally, people with Asperger's exhibiting severe symptoms may frequently be diagnosed with clinical depression, Oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, General anxiety disorder, Bipolar disorder, Obsessive compulsive disorder, or Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. However, while elements from all of these conditions are associated with Asperger syndrome, the cause is usually Asperger's itself and not a separate condition. While there may be a correlation between them, the disorders are in fact distinct from one another. There is research which indicates people with Asperger's may in fact be far more likely to have the associated conditions, but for now the connection is largely one of resemblance.\n\nThere is an online test that you can take at this website to helP:\n\nhttp://www.thegeeksyndrome.com/  \n\nMake sure you talk to your doctor about the results if they concern you. Good luck!
130413
It's a sort of bi-polar disorder.  I worked with a gal that had it, she was very bright, however when she did not take her medicine, she became very anxious, confused, suicidal, and worrisome.\n\nIt's like a panic disorder, look at the link below.\nIndividuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently.
290154
I'm sorry but only a doctor/psychiatrist can diagnose you...after an exam and possibly some testing.  So many illnesses have the same basic symptoms.\n\nPlease do not ask people here.  Most have no medical background and so usually the advice is wrong and often, if followed, will do more harm than good.\n\nPlease see your doctor asap!
490643
Don't try to diagnose yourself, you need to see a psychiatric doctor to get some help.  They can diagnose you properly as well.
133838
I don't think you are anti-social. I do think you are dealing with an avoidant personality disorder (we all have something wrong with us, so don't feel too special!), a social anxiety disorder. Being anti-social is when you have serious problems that go against the measures of society (killing, pedophilia, etc.). The symptoms you are describing aren't like this. Having an avoidant personality, however, you like things to stay the same and you have trouble socially when it comes to friendships, crowds, etc. There's nothing WRONG with you. It's just that you have a different social make-up than others, and that's a good thing. I know plenty of people who do not like friends coming over unannounced--first of all, it's rude to show up uninvited and expect to be entertained!\n\nIf you want to do something productive to keep your social life in balance, perhaps you could take each friend aside and tell them that you don't really care for uninvited guests. You'd like to avoid being grumpy and feeling put out by them. If they are your true friends, they will honor this and accept that you are who you are. If they don't honor your request, well, get some new friends.\n\nSeek counselling if it really bothers you. There is help for this through therapy and medication. Good luck to you!
268583
If you are depressed at the moment some of the following symptoms may sound familiar: \n\nYou feel miserable and sad.\nYou feel exhausted a lot of the time with no energy .\nYou feel as if even the smallest tasks are sometimes impossible.\nYou seldom enjoy the things that you used to enjoy-you may be off sex or food or may 'comfort eat' to excess.\nYou feel very anxious sometimes. \n\nYou don't want to see people or are scared to be left alone. Social activity may feel hard or impossible.\n\nYou find it difficult to think clearly.\n\nYou feel like a failure and/or feel guilty a lot of the time.\n\nYou feel a burden to others.\n\nYou sometimes feel that life isn't worth living. \n\nYou can see no future. There is a loss of hope. You feel all you've ever done is make mistakes and that's all that you ever will do.\nYou feel irritable or angry more than usual.\n\nYou feel you have no confidence.\n\nYou spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person. You may also feel guilty sometimes about being critical of others (or even thinking critically about them).\nYou feel that life is unfair.\n\nYou have difficulty sleeping or wake up very early in the morning and can't sleep again. You seem to dream all night long and sometimes have disturbing dreams.\n\nYou feel that life has/is 'passing you by.'\n\nYou may have physical aches and pains which appear to have no physical cause, such as back pain.\n\nIt's this wealth of depression symptoms, and the broad scope that confuses many people as to what depression actually is. Explanations rarely cover all the symptoms, and everybody's experience is different.
128552
I don't know what it is exactly but it seems like you may have  some anxiety issues surrounding social interaction and maybe some negative self talk. The best way to deal with both things is to surround yourself with positive people whom you feel comfortable with and just relax and enjoy life. Think about your strengths and less about your weakneses. Life isn't an IQ test.
391064
Just my advice, if you are reading about neurological diseases on the Internet, you will the symptoms.  I know somone close to me exactly like you.  To be on the safe side, go to a neurologist.\nOnce you've been diagnosed, believe your Doctor, if nothing is wrong with you, and I hope that's the case, again, believe in your Doctor. \nBye.
296730
yes, I heard of it.  Its an autoimmune disease.  Your skin begins to tighten on your hand and face I think.  It becomes hard to eat too, they have throat problems.  A lot of people that have it also have Raynaulds and have cold fingers and toes.  There are several blood test that a specialist can do to see if you have it.  So instead of worrying, get the blood test.
385506
You may have social anxiety. If you are comfortable around friends and family, but have trouble talking when meeting new people and find yourself worried about being evaluated by others, you may want to look into it. Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anxiety and see how many symptoms match your personality.\n\nIf you think this may be the problem, see your doctor. A psychologist or psychiatrist may not be necessary, as there are many Rx medications effective for treatment.
285346
It may be a sign of Diabetes, I asked a a friend of mine who has it, what were his first signs of it, he said he would have to go often.
76589
Hi. I have RP also. I am 35 years old and was diagnosed when I was 22. I had always been nearsighted and struggled with imperfect vision, so when I got the diagnosis - it did not really have an immediate impact on me. Now, however, I am really struggling in so many ways. Of course, there is the obvious - not being able to drive anymore - but there are many other things that have changed for me as well. I feel isolated both physically and emotionally from the rest of the world and I find that it takes so much more effort and determination to do just the normal things. I suffer socially in most situations because I bump into things and people, I trip over people's children - hurting them,  neglect to shake someones hand when it is held out for me (because I can't see it), and cannot often even follow the most mundane activities because visual cues usually guide most activities. I am exhausted from having to explainn all the time, and even though I don't want special attention - I worry that people see me as demanding it if I try to explain too much. As a result, I no longer feel like I am a part of the normal world and I often choose to remove myself from social situations. It is just exhausting, and most days, I don't have the strength to deal with it.\n\nAlso related to the issue of feeling isolated is the way people relate to you once they know you can't see much in front of your nose. I think that although most people are very well intentioned, they cannot help but be over solicitous. They start treating you differently - like something fragile, broken, or they just act afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Sometimes I get the impression that some people are uncomfortable just to even be near me. Maybe they are afraid it is contagious. Another oddity I have found is that I have often felt the pressure to be a spokesperson for blind people - needing to explain to people that, yes, blind people can actually have regular jobs, be married, have children etc. \n\nThose close to me have reacted in differing ways. My husband is very loving and supportive but totally in denial and cannot seem to remember to stop trying to hand me things - holding them out for me to grab. Drives me nuts. To my kids, I am just mom, but I think it frightens them to see me become so dependent. They forget to warn me of stairs, doorways, cars, you name it when we are out together in unfamiliar places. As a result, I am always falling, crashing into things and hurting myself.  Onlookers just think I must be mentally deficient or something. I have a sister in law who won't acknowledge my eye problem. She told me "I don't want to hear about it - there must be something you can do!" She thinks talking about it means I am whining about it. Yet another relative told me that I needed more faith in God to be cured and because I am still losing vision, my faith is not strong enough. Still other relatives open every conversation with "How are your eyes?" as if there is no more to me than my eye problem. I feel like saying, "Fine, how are your bowels?"\n\nI still work, but only marginally. Because we live in a small town, I am pretty much confined to working from home.  I do some contracting work for a news monitoring company but it is very low paying work. In the past, I was a professional with a college degree - now I am barely able to make $400 per month. This is bad for the self esteem.\n\nThe state I live in has special services for people who are visually impaired. They'll set you up with adaptive aids and teach you how to put raised stickers on your stove so you don't overheat the mashed potatoes, but there is nothing anywhere that can teach you how to be a blind person. From A-Z, I need to relearn absolutely everything and there is no resource for that. \n\nAs far as how I am doing - I am angry, frustrated and feeling utterly isolated. There are days when I feel completely useless and there ar
57535
No one really knows for sure.  It's thought to be a combination of things from the way your brain behaves to the way you were raised.  We just don't know.\n\nI take it you haven't been formally diagnosed.  If not, please talk to your doctor.  There's nothing to be ashamed of and your doctor won't judge you.  Here's a link to help you understand a little of what you may be dealing with:
344994
They will ask you lots of questions and look at you and probably feel around, but remember as annoying as it may be they are trying to help you. I have a friend that was anorexic and she has several internal health problems now. It is a very serious illness, and I hope you overcome it. Good luck, and stay strong, you can do it.
232343
YES, IF THAT IS WHAT I REALLY HAVE.  THAT IS THE DIAGNOSIS I WAS GIVEN BUT IT IS SO OVERUSED. \n\nIT HAS HAD A REMARKABLE EFFECT AND I ALMOST LOST IT!!!\nHOWEVER I AM MANAGING TO LIVE A LIE BY ACTING AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE AND TEACHING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.  IT IS HARD.  I FEEL LIKE I LIVE TWO LIVES.  I DON'T MEAN THAT I AM HAVING A SPLIT PERSONALITY BUT I JUST FEEL ASHAMED AND SCARED THAT I WILL FREAK OUT ONE DAY AND RUIN IT ALL.  WHEN I GO HOME IT HITS ME WHO I REALLY AM AND HOW THIS DISORDER OR WHATEVER IT IS, HAS HELPED TO RUIN MY SELF WORTH FOR NUMEROUS REASONS THAT I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN NOW.  \nI LUCKILY WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO I TRUST AND WHO ARE UNDERSTANDING.  THERE AREN'T MANY PEOPLE AS GOOD AS THESE OUT THERE AND IT IS HARD.  THAT IS PROBABLY WHY SOME OPT FOR DISABILITY.
63634
It sounds like you suffer from anxiety disorder as well as some depression. They usually go hand in hand. I would recommend talking to a doctor, there are some support groups as well as self help books you can get. The self help books may be a good start if you are not keen on socializing with others just yet.
435759
I hate to this, but you need to get back on your meds. I know it sucks, I know you might have some unpleasant side effects, but the hassles involved with the meds are better than the hassles stemming from the illness. I had a  roomate that had some of the same symptoms. His meds made him shake. So he would get off his meds and would deteriorate radiply. Your still young, I want you to remember this, with your condition, you are susceptible to alcoholism and drug addiction. I don't want you to find out the hard way and dig yourself a huge hole that will be hard to get out of. Please talk to someone close to you that can help. I'm changing my profile to allow you to email me for 48 hours if I can help further. i wish you the best.