Do you have Asperger's Syndrome? - (2/2) Explaining the Symptoms

[CAGEmustDIE]

Another great video thank you, the more I am learning about AS and what it's like to live with it I am almost certain I do have it, to some extent. The only part of the list that was not fitting me is the part about not having empathy. I am an extremely empathetic person towards my friends or those i have a relationship with and find it is to feel what they are feeling. Like you said about strangers or people I am just meeting though that is not the case.

[SayAnythingBob]

Dude I am so happy you made this. I can relate to you way too much man.

[MrMossypoo]

i think i have this.... i have trouble being "normal" in a group, and im really awkward and i think everyone hates me help me.

[MrMossypoo]

i think i have this.... i have trouble being "normal" in a group, and im really awkward and i think everyone hates me help me

[kendrawhisp]

I think i have this... the only thing i can say i don't have is bad motor skills. Does knowing you have aspergers mean something? I sometimes think my life is fecked up, and i wonder if it's because of this.

[ShrimpRamen]

So if you have aspergers is there a pill you can take to get better? When you found out you had it did you feel like less of a person?

[tabbykatification]

I think that both my best friend and I have AS. My friend has trouble with eye contact and is OBSESSED with Anime and Manga. I love Science and could talk for hours about how I think the universe was created. I also don't do eye contact, but that's not because I find it awkward, just unnecessary. Also, I am very clumsy and hate loud noises. My friend can do eye contact with me, but not adults, so I think it's a confidence thing. But, do you think we have AS?

[420kdougs]

what do you do if your parents aren't interested in learning about asperger's syndrome and still try forcing you to do things that make you feel uncomfortable because they don't understand why you would feel that way?

[Adkit2]

@420kdougs That's a tricky one... maybe you could ask your psychologist to talk to your parents? Have him explain that even though you might seem to be able to do things like normal people it makes you feel bad on the inside?

[moonbass4]

The bucket of spiders thing.. Yes just yes, I know what you mean

[toada26]

This is somewhat of a random comment kinda but I have a Generalized Anxiety Disorder and a few , not all , but a few of the symtoms seem quite similar to that of Asperger's Syndrome and well as I said this is kindof a random comment =P

[Marcomanseckisax]

I am (am, not have) AS and I agree with all your points except the talking a lot - I talk very little, because I need to be convinced that the other is interested before I continue. Strangely, I don't think this contradicts your point - it's just another way of being AS. I talk a lot to myself when I'm by myself, often I give sermons that nobody hears.

[gillyinnes]

Have come accross your vids - they have really explained alot of deep, niggly things in my life ....at a time when i was starting to feel i no longer wanted to have to deal with life.

So ... thank you :-)

[macrick]

Hi there Adkit2, I'm a 30yr Singaporean. Well, nice video U have there. I now begin to wonder if I have AS. As, I have diffculty connecting with my family members & making friends.

[smooshiemonster]

You are hilarious and adorable, I want to dunk you in my coffee (haha that was a joke ;-) )

[Sedines]

I don't like looking people in the eye when I am talking. Looking someone in the eye takes so much of my concentration that I cannot follow what they are saying, nor can I think of what to say, especially when answering questions. I'm not sure if that's the same as Asperger's though. I much prefer looking into the distance when talking.

[Sedines]

You are totally describing me with the heightened senses and emotion and sensory overload. That happens to me so often and other people don't understand when I think lights are too bright or sounds are too loud, or how I can smell something they cannot from across the room. I have a book called "The Highly Sensitive Person" that goes into detail about that.

[estherbeirne]

your English is really good.

[electrifiedspam]

All of that fits me except I have learned to look people in the eyes. It used to REALLY bother me but I trained my self to do it. I can say hi to people, but I always feel very awkward around people I don't know. Everything else fits me to a "T". The bitch now is that I am looking for help working with my social skills, and the "professionals" keep telling my I don't have it because I can look people in the eye. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

[sarevor]

Does a person with buttburgers often make bring up inside jokes that others aren't aware of because they think they would understand? I do that a lot and I used to feel embarrassed about it. Now I don't really care and do it anyway for the lols.

[MrVegemitesandwich]

Christopher John Francis Boone was extremely eccentric and he would rock back and forth whenever he got upset and he would groan, and would seem completely neurotypical, as opposed to an aspie, who is relatively normal.

[MrVegemitesandwich]

The kid in "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" is autistic, not aspergers. I have aspergers, and I attend a normal school. I didn't ever groan, but I do tend to rock back and forth and wave my hands. If there is too much information, I will cover my ears and/or scream, but aside from that, I'm just a bit eccentric.

[bubbagisla]

when I look at a tip of the nose, the ear, and eyebrow no "Normal" people has anytime figured out that I never look a person in the eye :)

[devilative]

I got few questions.. I read the book "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" and there the main character got also asperger's syndrom. did u read that book? He is little bit different from what you are describing, but most of the things match. He does groaning and freaks out when there is too much information in his head and he gets upset. Do you? did you attend a normal school or some kind of other kind of school for "special" people? thanks in advance:p btw love ur accent xD

[Adkit2]

@devilative Quick answer: not all aspies are the same, I know I sound absolute but having AS doesn't give you certain symptoms, it just makes your personality shift in a certain direction that NORMALLY means that you have certain symptoms. Some three legged dogs run fine, some three legged dogs can't even walk. :P

And I went to a normal school since I didn't know I had AS back then. x.x

[MrVegemitesandwich]

I also have sensory confusion, which in some cases is associated with autism, like, I smell something brown or I hear something sweet or I taste something round.

[MrVegemitesandwich]

I also have sensory confusion, which in some cases is associated with autism, like, Ismell something brown or Iear something sweet or I taste something round.

[MrVegemitesandwich]

All of my peers call me obsessed with my interest of neuro-disorders, and that's all I talk about, because it intrigues me, but I also talk about a variety of things, like autism, schizophrenia, down syndrome, other chromosomal abnormalities, MR, intelligence, ect. I do running because there isn't a whole lot of coordination involved

[yasashii89]

lol i was diagnosed with aspergers syndrome some years ago, although none of the things u mentioned made any sense appart from the empathy, like u i dont care about strangers at all.

[yasashii89]

lol i was diagnosed with aspergers syndrome some years ago, although none of the things u mentioned made any sense appart from the empathy, like u i dont care about strangers at all.

[blahblahblah7679]

are you born with aspergers syndrome or is it accumulated over time? im like 13 and ive got most of the symptoms youve explained. i would have never actually known about aspergers if it wasnt for you=P

[bubbagisla]

@blahblahblah7679

one is born with Asperger´s syndrome or autism. But the symptoms change over time both as one gets older and how tired one is...

[windigo77]

I have aspergers too. I can totally relate to the whole looking at women's breasts. Ironically, I'm gay too so it's even more unusual for me to stare at women's breasts. Just yesterday I caught myself staring at my boyfriends mom's breasts! It was very awkward. Luckily nobody says anything.

[SmegmaNeus]

33 years of problems explained in 33 minutes of vlog. All I can say is thank you. I would have cried if you weren't so damn funny. :)

[music4now]

Interesting. It would seem some people in the previous messages feel that they have an Asperger's diagnosis. If my choice of words is any indicator, then some of you might have guessed that I have Asperger's, too.

[Euterpe001]

I think I might have it but I don't know. I don't fit every one of those symptoms. The only ones I don't have is that I can be empathetic toward strangers. But I can't always see why someone is mad at me, and have no sympathy for them if I feel I'm right. I get the sarcasm tone. I don't, however, get it when people are just making fun of me. I take it very seriously. I also don't mind it if people call and want to do something as long as I have nothing going on that day. If I do I reschedule.

[Euterpe001]

Oh and I am fairly clumsy, except when it comes to dancing. Almost every time I go out I have random people coming up to me telling me 'You're an awesome dancer!' But I definitely can't catch for shit! IF someone throws something at me I just step aside and look at them like they are an idiot.

[natmarie1977]

Thank you for making someone "normal" (define normal)... understand a bit more...

[xROBERTxDAVISx]

I feel i have aspergers and always have felt like it kind of. Is it best to get is diagnosed? Or best to leave it?

[WizzardSorcerer]

Do you believe it is possible to have Aspbergers and never have been diagnosed with it? I am 25 and everything you described I have. I also took psychology and learned a lot. I never shook anyone's hand, but for work I had to learn to overcome that. I also learned that I needed to look people in the eye, even though I hate it. I had to do it for work. Everytime I shake someone's hand it is routine for me to wash my hands. etc.

[Adkit2]

Hey, I went over 20 years without being diagnosed. Some people go their entire lives. It's a fairly new diagnosis so it's not surprising if you haven't been "spotted" by anyone. :P

[genetix03]

I didnt get diagnosed with Aspergers until I was 23 years old. So yeah, it is definitely possible for you to have it. And also, unless you have an excellent healthcare system, your healthcare or psychological physicians wont be qualified to diagnose you and they will say you have depression or whatever. Which you probably do have if you're Aspergers lol I had to go and have a brain scan at a special clinic to be diagnosed.

[mbncd]

@GloryHolesRule He's referring to someone telling them that they can't be themselves so they try to pretend to be different in order to be accepted but it isn't real. Mainly this sort of thing only really applies when a loved one is in denial about the condition and it's a sad situation for everybody... "I won't talk about dinosaurs if it means you won't get sad/mad, Mummy."

[MissWalnea]

hahhaa that swedish accent

[thoratube]

Thanks for this awsome video! My dad has Aspbergers, and you helped explain his world to me in a very, very useful way. Keep up the good work!

[brandonaiwa]

Hej for att jag tror att du ar svensk ? Om inte...The reste will figure in English. Thank you so much, It's so calming too listen to you. I'm the mother of an 11years old boy who's Asperger. Right in moods of trying to make people understand his differents without saying autisme otherwise they ask why he's not in special school or hospital...you saved my day thank you.

[deadsouls69]

Great video - thank you so much! It's so useful to hear how you experience some of the AS 'quirks' - it seems like they can be different for each of us. I like a lot of how I am, but many of the social skills are too much hard work. Knowing all of this makes us better people - helping NTs understand is the hard part ;OP.

[Adkit2]

I agree. Aspies don't really have a problem with who they are, it's the rest of the world who's got a problem with how we are. I know that that's a kind of un-wise explanation for it but it's true. I've learned a lot about myself BECAUSE I found out about my AS. Normal people should do the same thing... but they don't. :S

[sizzlera]

do you seem to 'overdose' (OD) on certain obsessions? I have done this many times with certain books, songs, tv clips, foods. Also, did you find that it was in part hereditary? Maybe recognition is hindered by perceiving AS-type behaviours as 'normal' when others in the family possess similar characteristics. Great video- perhaps you could expand on how it impacts relationships. I have read that people with AS have difficulties trying to establish the intense need for bonds vs. NT's.

[Adkit2]

Yes. I almost exclusively OD on obsessions. Which is why I learned to play like a bunch of instrument and have made videos about all sorts of crap, yet I've not really mastered any of it. :S People with AS usually have a special interest but SOME people with AS have the special interest of having a bunch of special interests. At least that's what I've found.

Also, I made a video about relationships. :P Find it.

[0kvakk]

Asperger Syndrome is not a disease,

its a mutation for the better of worse.

[ScarOmega]

i checked with my doctor a long time ago, and as it turns out, i have aspergian syndrome myself, it was hard to diagnose though because i am very affectionate towards my parents

[keltikboi]

Thank you my friend. I was diagnosed with AS just last week but knew there was something 'odd' about me for years and years - your analysis was excellent so well done mister : ) Keep those posting coming.

[deleoerika]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This made so much sense. I finally understand the nature of Asperger's.

[ursusarctosana]

Ha ha...I've always wondered why balls fly at my face, too! The gym was a terrifying and embarrassing place for me as a child.

[ursusarctosana]

Sometimes people ask me what's wrong when nothing's wrong. They say I'm making a hideous face, but I'm just thinking. I am like you--I have a multitude of interests that last a few years. :)

[laura0471fosho]

All of these symptoms seem to relate to me somehow. People have always made comments but I just concluded that I was pretty weird. Last year I was really depressed.. low self esteem which was sortof related to some of these traits. I found a quiz through something I asked on yahoo answers for AS. I started researching aspergers and freakishly it's starting to all fit. Just don't understand; shouldn't have someone picked it up by now? I'm 14 and don't know who to ask about this.

[Adkit2]

Hey, I went through age 1 - 20 and nobody ever told ME I had AS. :P It's a pretty "new" thing and a lot of people don't know what it is. Plus, most people just write it off as being shyness or something alike.

It would be easier if it was physically visible but sadly/luckily it's not. So, yes. You might have it. Even though nobody knew. :)

I'm guessing the best thing to do would be to ask your school psychiatrist about it.

[Griffin9857]

this might be an odd couple of questions, but it could prove useful to me, ive noticed in a few kids i know who have AS, that even though they might be clumsy, what they can do well, they can do with BOTH HANDS. are you ambidextrous as well? i also noticed that when i told them to do something,or how to do something, its like they just couldnt listen and remember what i said. i knew they were trying, but they just couldnt. so they then panicked... is that how it is for you??

[Bighairyfart]

i just go quiet and wait in groups, i find groups of people i don;t know particularly well if we donlt really have common interests well u know easier just to wait and try and call it right with a decent comment

[redangelleo]

ive been diagnosed with aspergers also and am amazed about that bucket of spiders: I recall my worst nightmare which happened to me 3 days in a row: I was trapped inside my room filled with giant cobwebs all over, i wanted to get out of my room, but i realized if i touched just 1 of those webs,giant spiders hidden in my room would attack me.i'm also interested in spiritual stuff: spider+ is a symbol of creating your reality+ spiderwebs is connecting different realities, dimensions(networking?)

[hadr0n]

These videos have really worried me. You have essentially listed a bunch of character traits that almost perfectly describe me. I'm not sure what to do now.

[Adkit2]

You should do what everyone should: always try to learn more about yourself. ;)

[Amy2838]

I find it helps to focus on the person's mouth rather than look aside or down. That way, at least I'm close to the eyes, and maybe they won't notice, and also it helps me concentrate on what they're saying rather than uncomfortably thinking how it feels like they are raping me with their eyes.

Point #8 is spot on. Maybe it is a combination of ADD and AS. Perhaps people with AS who do not have ADD are able to focus their interests more. I think of myself as an expert on a whole lot of nothing!

[Redfox834]

My parent's recently told me they thought I had AS (I'm 23). Since then I have been researching and trying to set up an appointment. One of the things that bothered me was most of what's out there is about kids and not adults. So I appreciate that you made this video. I generally disapprove of labels but, I like that I can categorize my behaviors and not just be considered generally "eccentric".

[sambuka0]

Really great job on the video. Very brave & the best Asperger's video i've seen yet

Just found out my father has Aspergers, I only just found out I have ADHD at 31 & I know I have some asperger's traits i've been living with my whole life. The surpressing internal thoughts is a big one, my father used to tell stories like Homer Simpson's dad (they go off track big time). When I tell stories I have to constantly keep surpressing these internal thoughts to try to stay on topic . its hard

[triskelerin]

I laughed out loud at many of your explanations because I identified with them so much. I wonder if that's a clue I might have Asperger's!

The bucket of spiders analogy was great!

[ArthVaduh]

Good job buddy, it took a lot of guts to make that video. Good luck with your life man!

[Jmp8108]

Thanks for posting this video. It is extremely helpful to explain Aspergers. Most of the information on Aspergers is hidden away in big books, which isn't very atainable to a lot of people with Aspergers, as a lot of them are visual learners and have trouble with reading skills.

The only better video I have found on Aspergers is Temple Grandin's lecture focus on autism and asperger's syndrom. A must watch for anyone on the spectrum.

watch?v=bgEAhMEgGOQ

[Tiahur76]

i have social anexiety bi-polar, but you can't shut me up once I get started talking about myself or what I know, it is like I over compensate for my anexiety...yes people think I am crazy.

[dopamineluv]

I have social anxiety and I do not look at peoples eyes. My behavior is similar to what you describe here but I love to be around people is stimulating but is hard to interact with strangers, can't dance either. But I don't like to be label. Effexor helps with the social anxiety, but I hate the side effects

[Novellete]

I have a question, How does one get diagnosed as having AS?

[Adkit2]

By asking your psychiatrist and taking a bunch of little tests? That's a pretty vague question. :P

[Bighairyfart]

u don;t just get diagonised hell i went in with aneroxia and came out with it and then decided they were wrong for 2 years, but now now i sorta agree, outside the comfort zone it all becomes a lot more obvious or harder to duck

[davie732]

i may have AS but havent been diagnosed

Point 7 - Applies to me

point 8 - my one is megaman. Look at my videos and you can see im over obessive with megaman.

Point 9 - YES i always verbleise my thoughts.

Point 10 - I can catch but cant play sports. When i walk though a doors i someimes hit my shoulder on the doorframe

[jogtheviking]

point 9, I was always talkative and yes, like to talk about me.

Point 10, definately applies to me

[jogtheviking]

Point 8 for me is Star trek and DIY, what i know i know really well and could discuss easily, oh, and i try to learn as much as possible about computers too

[FTWinnable]

10 no I can catch and I can do a backflip

11 anger overload? lol

[FTWinnable]

oh lord 8 is my worst

dinosaurs, dragons, UFOs... and I'm a girl...

[FTWinnable]

lol I always worry about what I should say so I usually don't say anything in real life

[jogtheviking]

Me too FT, i'm usually very quiet unless i really know who i'm around

[Zancoth]

When I'm about to say something, I usually think about like.. "Should I really say that? Would it be insulting? Would it be fitting for this conversation?" And I think about that, while trying to continue the conversation, which is kind of hard, because responses that would be made while I think about that particular thing, would be pretty dull, like "yeah, alright" or "okay", "yeah I agree" and stuff..

[Caellic]

Nice video. I'm always interested in stuff like this. It's quite fascinating. I don't have AS or anything. I'm pretty asocial though, so it's probably why I find things like it so interesting.

[thane17]

I was wondering...do you find it difficult to remember details of other peoples life? As in friends and family members? Thats something I have trouble with.

[Adkit2]

I have very clear memory problems. I forget who people are almost instantly if they stop talking to me. I once forgot what color my then girlfriend's eyes were. She was not pleased. Now I don't even remember her name. I need help to remember things a lot.

That might have to do with some brain "damage", or maybe it's because I (we) think TOO MUCH.

[rakelzosk]

I remember ewery thing that happens werry well.and if I meat people , i remember them forewer.. I met a girl, 30 years old, the other day, and i saw right away that i had been playing with her when I was 4 years old 3 times.. I asked her if she rememberd me, She did not until i told her my mothers name(her mom and my mom were friends 25 years ago.. :D so i remember almost when and how i was born;D lol.

[wiggertronix]

spiders suck ... basement dwellers ...like fkn CANADIANS suck BONERS... at least the SWEDES adapt to the fn environs !!! ...ie concrete structures ...solar energy... peace !

[davros1973]

I love the line about catching things (too late)!

I have excellent soldering skills (electronics) [very very very steady hands] and I could play the piano too (self-taught) and I taught myself to juggle competently (in a day - basic 3-ball cascade with a little reverse cascade), and I taught myself to touch-type in a day (from a book). But I've always been clumsy - and I've never been able to throw! I like table-tennis though.

[Mattfinish88]

I'm the same with catching things, though whenever I stop thinking I can do things like that okay, like frisbee. I'm clumsy as hell too, I'm dreading my later years... broken hips left, right and centre...

[Mattfinish88]

Thanks Linus!

I've been told by people before that I might have asperger's, I only started looking it up when I went through a massive meltdown earlier this year, did a couple of home test things (got 35 on the AQ one). Anyway, what I wanted to say is thanks for uploading these videos, iyt's a great help seeing how this affects someone in my age group, rather than the usual youtube fair of teenagers and primary school kids. Keep it up!