How can I tell if I'm genuinely on the autism spectrum?

>>17499885
Look up the stats of what percent of people are autists in your country .

>>17499885
Asperger's here, tell me your symptoms.

>>17499885
You may simply have different opinions anon

A professional diagnosis really is the only way. I'm sorry.

>>17500138
Strict interpretation and imagination about social rules, difficulty forming friendships, difficulty appreciating or understanding other peoples emotions, difficulty understanding or engaging in social routines, difficulty controlling my emotions, and a great deal of my focus ends up on my routines and my little hobbies to the exclusion of other events in my life.

I don't have any diagnosis, but my mothers therapist suggested she may be on the spectrum, and she in turn has encouraged me to get a diagnosis. I'm not crazy about it, but I feel like I don't know enough to say I'm definitely not on the spectrum

>>17500165
That would be more comforting to find out. I almost hope the doctor tells me I'm just a loner who needs to socialize and develop better habits

>>17500603
I'll be honest, I probably don't know enough to be able to give my opinion haha. I'll tell you what I'm like and maybe you could compare.

First off, I'll make it very clear that I don't THINK there is anything wrong with me. I'm convinced autism/asperger's is characterised by ignorance. For the most part, you should have absolutely no idea what you are doing differently from anyone else. For instance, back in school we were doing something on body language, and I commented that I was very good at reading body language, to which everyone promptly told me I was not. That was the first thing that made me suspect I was 'on the spectrum'.

Autism seldom comes on its own; usually there are other mental problems, and these can be an indicator. For example, I had (properly diagnosed) OCD from an early age (still have it somewhat), later anxiety, and later depression.

I have basically no friends. The only people I feel comfortable conversing with are other people with autism.

When I talk to normal people, there are often awkward pauses that I have absolutely no idea how to fill. Small talk is a mystery to me, or at least I think I can do it but it actually comes across really generic.

I try to socialise, but despite my best efforts nothing becomes of it. I can only maintain very very 'shallow' relationships, no depth to them.

I stare a lot, not at people, but just at some point in the distance, or at a wall, or anything really.

I really really find it difficult to change my opinions, even when the other person is factually correct. For instance, I once argued with a teacher till 6 PM over the correct, or at least effectively correct, use of parenthesis. I'm still convinced I was right.

I really get obsessed with things. Example: I racked up over 2500 hours on a video game within 2 years.

Does this sound like you?

>>17500650
To a less extreme extent, yes. I feel like I've been improving socially, but I always thought I understood people till my senior year of highschool when I realized I had no idea, and got very depressed over that. I've talked more with people in the past few years than I used to, and while I don't think my relationships are shallow, they very well might be. I am somewhat stubborn when it comes to information, but I think I'm more stubborn emotionally, refusing to let things go even though I never act on my anger or sadness.

I think I managed to get 3.5K hours on Medieval 2 Total war my sophmore and junior years of highschool so that fits as well.

I was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety disorder as a kid.

So, over all, I'm similar but less extreme than you I think, which is what gives me doubt over whether I need a doctor diagnosis as being or not being autistic. But it bothers me and can't hurt if I get told I'm not autistic, so I'll go through with it.

>>17500603
>That would be more comforting to find out. I almost hope the doctor tells me I'm just a loner who needs to socialize and develop better habits

Why? I tell you, I'm so very happy to know that I'm on the spectrum.

It's really worth the lower social skills. It really is. I'll tell you what it's like. It's like everyone else is asleep, unconscious, and you're the only one awake. That's not because of a high IQ or anything: it's because of the way you THINK and rationalise.

Plus I intend to milk the hell out of it to get my way at work or get fringe benefits. Maybe help me find employment through fulfilling some disability quota.

>>17500675
Have you seen WataMote? I'm 100% certain that Tomoko, the main character (who is incidentally my waifu) is autistic. See if you relate to her at all.

>>17500708
I relate to her, but she's literally only unskilled in social behavior, and very nervous. Not autistic

>>17499885
i was diagnosed with aspergers at 14, i'm 24 now.

i honestly don't think it makes any difference. a diagnosis will not change who and what you are. you might as well just learn to be happier with who you are and learn to socialize better.