Do I have a disease

[likid256]

Hello I am 18 years old and not sure if I have something wrong with me or I am freaking myself out.  I do think I have ADD or ADHD because I do not concentrate very well and always glancing at random things sometimes.  But I also have a hard time making friends as well and going up to people and talking.  When I was young I was bullied a lot for years so I'm not sure if thats the case and I am in a depression from it or if I have an autistic disease.  
Thanks for your care.

[888mom]

Is autism a disease?  I think it is just a way of being, a condition, no?  I have also heard from my daughter's therapists, that people can show some things of being on the autistic spectrum, but not enough to be autistic.  I have sensory issues, for example, but not social issues.  I definitely would not be considered autistic, though do have some autistic tendencies in the sensory area.  I had more as a child, but still have very sensitive hearing (sounds like our house's heating system drives me nuts and also parties where too many people talk at once or in loud busy restaurants), certain smells, and can not stand people touching my head, hair (it really is painful for me to wash my hair for example and do it only about twice a week), or face or getting in my space.  It does not impair me functioning in society, I just adapt and avoid certain things that I can not handle. My husband had to see a psychiatrist when he was in middle school because he had problems with social interactions (he also had sensory issues as a small child but outgrew them).  Back then he was told he might have a very mild form of Aspergers (according to his mom who is now denying she ever said it because my daughter's diagnosis is really freaking her out, but my memory is really good plus I keep a diary so I know she did say it).  Anyways, my husband still has problems at parties, has problems talking about emotional or sensitive topics, that sort of thing.  But, he can stand up in front of a college classroom and teach a class, and has in the past (is not currently a professor though).  He never has been overly huggy, but then I'm not either, so I never really thought of that.  I would not say he's autistic either, but maybe he does have mild mild Aspergers, or not quite enough to be Aspergers (a form of Autism).  He does do some things that are neat, like scripting dialogues to talk to people.  I envy him in that, because sometimes that can help you with conversations where you don't know what to say.  Oh, and like he is a walking talking encyclopedia of knowledge and is literally a dictionary as well.  Photographic memory for books, movies, etc where language is involved.  I think that is just part of how is mind works, so these things that make him socially awkward, well, if it means he's like superhuman in other ways, that is really mega cool.  Lots of autistic people are artists, mathematicians, musicians, etc., and if they weren't autistic, maybe they wouldn't have those abilities.  So, don't look at whatever you have, autism, ADD, anxiety, etc, as a completely bad thing.  There is always a silver lining to the clouds!  I even think some panic disorders have a silver lining to them.  You view the world a little differently, and that you have a different viewpoint than others, and that's a good thing in life, even though it means you feel odd man out most of the time.  

So, at what point do the professionals say you have a form of autism and what point do you not have quite enough to be autistic?  I really don't think it matters too much, if you can function in society, but if you feel you aren't able to socialize enough and it is impairing you functioning in society, then you really should talk to your doctor or talk to a psychiatrist who is aware of anxiety problems and autism and can give you advice.  And if it is anxiety, there are medications for anxiety.  IF it is ADD, there are medicines for that too.  Plus, like if you figure out what is causing you to be afraid to talk to people, you could find other people with similar condition, and talk with them, like MJIWriter, and see what works for them going through life.

ADD has some overlapping things with autism, so really you need a doctor to talk to you.  There are medications for ADD.  I have very mild ADD and never took medication for it because I don't feel I needed it to help out.  Maybe it would have helped me in college many years ago, if I bothered attending class most of the time.  But, I have in the past been on antidepressants.  I was on amitryptaline (Elavil) for many years and then later was on Prozac.  I haven't been on any for many years because of me trying to have kids (they aren't good I don't think if you can get pregnant, so yeah, I'm older and married and that's more of a concern for me right now).

Well, anyways, I'm probably going on more than you like to hear, so well, take whatever with a grain of salt, and just hang in there.  Oh, and see a doctor, especially if you have insurance to cover it.  Doctors can get pricey if you don't, though, so would not know what to advise you if you didn't.  ???

[MJIthewriter]

Chances are you are dealing with some kind of anxiety problem, but whether it is autism it's hard to say. You can look at my journals to see if anything reads familiar.

And yes I was put through the ringer with bullies...Society likes to set a certain "norm"... which is what causes the problem. They want to make you think you have something wrong or freaking out, but it isn't. I don't think there is something wrong per say, because every person is unique and how they cope with anxiety and other people.  Just how to get around hang-ups is the challenge. Getting evaluated and having a dx, can help you understand yourself, limitations and start adapting to things you can't change and work around things you can. Once you know, you can also explain to others what you deal with rather than what they call it...