The Winding Road to an Asperger's Diagnosis

[@BaronUnlimited]

Very informative and entertaining. My 88 year old father was just diagnosed with Aspergers. He was diagnosed first with schizophrenia in his 50s and then rediagnosed with ADHD in his 60s. Last year at 87 they were hell bent on diagnosing him with Dementia. I lived with him for a while last year and my experience was that, although he was slow in thinking and had short term memory issues, he acted more like people I knew who were Autistic. So, like you, I went on a quest for answers looking for something that fit. I asked him a lot of questions about his childhood. I talked with his sisters and my mother (his ex-wife) and also pulled up my own painful memories of my anal retentive father who needed everything done his way, the perfect way. He was blunt and abrasive and quick to point out any flaws, seeming not to care about the feelings of the other person. I remember that my friends called him Mr Spock and told me he was"weird." He had worked for NASA as an engineer and later on as a professor of mathematics and drafting. He rarely smiled and always seemed to be busy working on some project and obsessing over the details. I would see him sitting for hours doing calculus problems for fun. He said calculus had a beautiful flow, like music, and that it quieted his mind. He only had a couple of friends and often said he didn't understand "your social customs." He came across as arrogant with his unusual way of wording things. People either thought he was a prophet or a crazy person. He would shake his head and say, "I don't live in your world." And he was right. He doesn't live in our world. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you will consider writing a few books Your experiences are amazing and should be in print.

[@unfinishedeuphoria8211]

How did he go about getting a diagnosis later in life? I'm older and I feel like I don't a way to find support to get a diagnosis and I need to know why I'm considered so different from my peers.

[@melaniewillard4007]

My God! You are so talented. Wise beyond lifetimes. My grandson, age 16, finally got diagnosed. I'm signing him up to your channel. This will help him soooo much. Thanks for being so brave.

[@brokenharbour]

Great observation and something I see again and again. It gets better when you get older but it's like how I used to recite things when I was younger without knowing what I was saying. I would imitate "gaviscon" commercials without knowing about what the product was. If I read something I would memorize it for what it was and couldn't expand on or apply the knowledge to something practical. Exactly, I was reading about AS topically. I call it "rote learning without reason".

[@samsamson3153]

I have sensory issues and stimulation issues as well. I find that listening to music at night really helps me still the racing thoughts and drift off.. I like Pink Floyd and Tool. Hypnotic..lol

[@PEGGLORE]

listen to 'Can' sounds to me that you may appreciate them like i did. maybe the album 'future days' will be best for sleeping, but get tago mago, ege bamyasi and monster movie as well

[@PEGGLORE]

goatstaog oh right, well that guy liked pink floyd and tool, so just thought i'd throw some better bands out there possibly along similar lines, if i really wanted the guy to go kill himself would have suggested this heat- paperhats or something

[@yaggayaggaya9918]

ᏳᏫᏜᏡᎦᏈᏜᏫᏳ Currently im listening to Kikagaku Moyo, Can are really good, also Sonic Youth, the soundtrack to Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters by Philip Glass, the soundtrack for There Will Be Blood by Johnny Greenwood and Frates by Arvo Part.

[@Deathrydar]

And here is the second video that I have watched of yours that you have hit a nail on the head with. I get in that "nothingness" state when I try to sleep....still to this day....my mind is moving and it doesn't seem like I am awake, or sleeping, but I am just....existing....but I am not sleeping because I wake for work completely exhausted.

[@simikatra3434]

I really recognize my thought process in how you describe your life. Always searching for the answers, delving in obsessively. Since becoming aware I am Autistic, I've been researching every waking moment, I can't stop myself, and this is why I got diagnosed many years ago with bipolar, but it never felt right, and my sensory issues are unbearable. I've agoraphobia as a result. This waiting for assessment is so hard. I feel like I'm driving my family insane with it. Because I can't let go.

[@autumnsylver]

I know exactly what you mean when you say you wanted a label. I'd love to know what's wrong with me. (I'm pretty sure I have Asperger's, but I don't have an official diagnosis yet). My whole life, I've never fit in with anyone, and I don't know why. Even when I start to become friends with people, they almost always stop talking to me after a little while. I also research things on google for hours on end. Sometimes for several days in a row.

[@rolfmeyermusic]

Holy shit man most of what you're saying relates to me. I've been diagnosed with different mental disorders and got convinced. I got asked if I was autistic and I hardly knew much about it. I've done a ton of research in the past few days and watching your videos, a lot of them I relate to.

[@brokenharbour]

Is it better you think? Do you like the way I present here vs. my other videos?

[@jblue616]

Nice video, I was told I have Asperger's, I have a great interest in autism-spectrum-disorders now, and I also can't help but delve into any information I can find it's so new to me and essential

[@nickyhaymes]

Thank you for your videos. We are trying to diagnosis my son who is 6, and we are looking into Aspergers. Love to see you speak sometime . We are in Ontario too. You're an inspiration.

[@bigbalzdan]

Great vlog that I connect with immensely. You are a great advocate of mental health and a mental illness stigma breaker. Keep on keeping on.

[@gryffynda1]

Great work - I can definitely see you getting into the public speaking/advocacy/teaching arena. The role problem with "mental illness tags" is very interesting. I don't know if you have seen any of Gorus's videos on Asperger's and roles, which are interesting. Sort of being in control of the role, rather than it taking control of one, if that makes any sense.

[@richardwharton590]

That is an awesome revelation! Thanks for sharing!

[@hilofoz]

Your videos are the most interesting I have watched about Aspergers. It gives concrete personal examples of what went on in your life. I can really understand and relate to the video about object fascination. This is very much to do with me, carrying pictures of things that I liked. Parts of things etc. Not so much anymore, but it developed into a very heightened aesthetic sense. The obverse with me is phobias. Did you have any particular phobias of objects. I did!

[@Lito_419]

It's amazing how much I can relate to the whole wanting to fit in cuz you feel different it's almost like unwanted to have or at least be recognized for having certain disorders

[@NeiltheNotSoBrave]

Thanks heaps for sharing your story. You've inspired me to download Tony Attwood's book! :)

[@montoyasrus]

I love your video's! U have taught me so much..Thank you! And I think the Effexor is working wonders for you! Keep up the great video's! I'm waiting patiently!

[@AspenMountainjam]

You sound exactly like me, like almost word for word...even to the dyscalculia. I am also from Ontario!

[@brokenharbour]

I'm glad you can relate to this. Thank you.

[@brokenharbour]

That does make perfect sense. I will check out those vids. Thanks for all the feedback you have given me on my videos. We have a lot in common!

[@mar8014]

First is was ADHD diagnosis when I was a 4-5 grader due to the teachers wanting me to be assessed. When I was in 6th grade I started to get really bad anxiety which resulted in me skipping lunch with everyone to eat it in the bathroom. Then in high school I had really bad depression as well. IN 11th grade I had a bad mental breakdown-usually I am hyper avoid ant of danger, but in my breakdown I wandered out of my home, talked and spent time with people who I would usually find dangerous, and did drugs like weed and worse and had sex sometimes when pressured by people who I would def not normally want to.

[@brokenharbour]

It almost feels like an isolation tank even though the sounds of the house are around you.

[@ESOS252]

A lot of what you said resonated with me, really appreciate you sharing! I am in pre-diagnosis still or at least pre-"official" diagnosis. Hell I'm not even sure how to put it, a PhD said it, I agreed after research, but am I technically diagnosed? No clue...Where is the line?

[@dotcomGone]

Just subbed today, vids are great. Over-all we seem to go through the same things. But I can tell you from experience that a k-hole is a complete lack of control where you absolutely positively cannot move, even if your life is in immediate danger. Aspie to aspie, we both know that I can't "know" how you felt but I'm not sure it was the same as a k-hole in my opinion. Wonder if it's westdale, mountain or east end though lol.

[@bluntie52]

thanks for the videos.....as mother of son who I believe is AS, though not diagnosed. Your videos give me a better understanding of some of the Y's Do you ever do your talks in Guelph?

[@kymburns8449]

My parents and phycologist were convinced I was screwed up because my parents divorced when I was 2.... I have been trying to tell them my who life I don't even remember my mum and dad being together so how can something I don't remember affect me. I always thought I was different but have been told my whole life not to be stupid I'm no different to anyone else... It wasn't until my niece got diagnosed at 6 that I found the right key for the key hole..

[@mar8014]

My grades also dropped from 9th to 10 th grade from mostly A's to mostly B's. Then in 11th grade I dropped out due to a really significant mental breakdown. My mom used to say annoyed "Why are you so unpredictable". I wonder if she was picking up on some underlying mental condition-whether Aspergers or what I got diagnosed with-Bipolar

[@ASDJHVCGASDJHCVG]

great video, thank you so much for sharing, I can relate

[@gryffynda1]

I have that, as well - not about having AS, but about many other things. I don't seem to generalize what I learn to real life. Information on paper or screen is way different than information that comes in from "real life". One strange example is that I can often explain to someone how to do something that I'm unable to actually do. Another is that if you show me a pic of a face, likely I will not be able to pick it out in real life.

[@mar8014]

I also wanted to have an MRI scan to help me see if I might have Aspergers. But I didn't know what I could do.

[@knifecatcher.crypto]

I wish I knew for sure, but I suspect we are very much alike. I don't have any ticcs that I can't subdue if I really want to(although it is VERY hard when I'm really cold), but it seems very apparent that I have tourette's when under the influence of certain things(going to the dentist, for example). I've done months of research on that, and more recently on autism/aspergers. I feel like I have an extremely mild case of both tourette's and aspergers(i've known for many years i have ocd and adhd tendencies as well), but I won't know for sure until I eventually get health insurance. Even then, I'm afraid my symptoms are too mild to be diagnosed. Regardless, it seems like I identify with most people on the autism spectrum to some extent, and I'm thinking it's certainly not impossible for virtually undetectable cases of tourette's to exist, sort of like your autism. Would be cool to talk to you one on one sometime if you're up for it. Otherwise, thanks for the videos, dude.

[@theeldermillennial561]

Could you get in touch with me please? I have been looking for a diagnosis for every waking moment of my life (now 28yrs old) I'm pretty sure I am an aspie but did shy away from telling symptoms like that when in mental tests. I also feel like everyone has given up on me and I will not get a "label" I don't want to be an aspie but I do want to be categorised and it's only the aspergers category I fell into I feel.

[@SuperAwesomeDudeBuddyGuyPalBro]

Sir I suspect that I am an aspergers person. This may be inappropriate to say but I had to stop and tell you that I felt, oddly, relieved to know about your math issues. I have a hard time with math as well. Hey I'm talking about myself. Lol. Thank you for the video.

[@kaneclarke4825]

Are you Canadian? If so, what province?

[@mar8014]

Is there any way you can contact me, because I really want to do research with you on Aspergers. I am starting a diary to remember things about my childhood because I keep looking them up and finding Aspergers signs that include my experiences.

[@doeduckie7818]

Thank you for sharing. I'm doing a study on the topic & could use your help.(or your Mom's)😉 Did anything occur directly before, during or following your birth that may have led to low oxygen saturation levels in the blood? ie; breach presentation, cord or placental complications, prematurity, long labor or very rapid. Even something that was said to have been "no worry", it was corrected. The comment about your MRI supports my theory, totally. Thanks!

[@Cas77b]

An enlarged or irregular amygdule? With your history they must have known it, but none of them could diagnose it. I have found some patterns, links I can send you through your you tube mailbox.

[@CrumpetLeaf]

The cupboards in your videos are unusual.

[@PeteCswampy]

I hear you, got similar

[@Maykay1312]

Wait your eyes got dim because of sensory overload idn sometimes when i wake up and get up realy fast i like feal dizzy and like my head is going to pop and everything in fromt of me slowly turns totaly white and then after 3-5 seconds goes away

[@karlomilicevic7662]

can you please put name of the book you mentioned in the desc?

[@barbramorgan4467]

Thank you

[@Maykay1312]

Idn why but every time i go into a new place i observe the whole room and i remember how it looks idn why but i do it every time i go to a new place or a room

[@tcx00]

i understand your problem with math am 29 and have had that all my life

[@sbsman4998]

Let's change the name, 'ass-burger' to Aspergican with aspergic tendencies. Pronounce it soft 'a' with emphasis mark over 'sp'. Please--- 'ass-burgers' is like hearing a gas lawn blower to me, since I have strong aspergic tendencies and proud and most thankful to be an American Aspergican. Great film by the way!

[@jophable]

what is it with adhd diagnosis, and then an aspbergers diagnosis? everyone I know with this disorder, includeing myself, were told it was adhd in elementary school.

[@scowlsmcjowls2626]

answer your calling bro! a talk about aspergers not being in the dsm 5 would be good

[@Chicagocanine]

I recently found out what you called "math dyslexia" is called dyscalculia. I'm pretty sure I have this as well, I've had trouble with math since grade school even though I'm smart.

[@sbsman4998]

We can look at ourselves as very ancient "thinking" old stone megaliths like the pyramids. Here but mysteriously different and the reasons are the same, we are both but echoes/remnants/scattered bits and pieces of a singular ancient past culture that did not leave reproduction up to chance with certain types of people more treasured than others to craft and defend these megaliths. How could we not feel lost in this confused western psychology??

[@belovedxtempest]

Are you the same Kym I've been talking on Facebook with?! Small world :)

[@kymburns8449]

Problem now is it doesn't really change much for me, in fact I find now knowing makes it just as hard if not harder than before... I now know I'm not gonna be normal as society sees normal... My biggest problem is being labeled disabled .... I don't feel disabled !!!!! Just different

[@UNKLELUKE86]

I also have asperger . It sucks when I take almost everything literally . like text messages ... i should of been an actor at least I would have a script and a director to help me

[@brokenharbour]

yep!

[@Maykay1312]

Yea dude my math was realy bad like c- and the launguage was the same but the classes in what i was interested in i had A allmost all the time so yea and my homework usualy took 5 ohurs so yea and my mum allways thinks that i need to try harder but after i watched like 40 videos about aspergers i feal like that's me so yea i woud like to get diagnosed asap and i think if i have aspergers i allsow might have obsesion disorder if that exists even beacuse if i find something and i just start reserching like crazy about it and thats what im doing right now reserching like crazy about aspergers so yea thats my story

[@mar8014]

The first time I drank alcohol I threw up. I wonder if sensitivity to Alcohol may be an Aspie symptom.

[@Wood111112]

Have you noticed any liver enzymes showing up high on your blood lab results?

[@mar8014]

interesting. I will check next time.

[@Wood111112]

I am sensitive to alcohol, btw. So it's interesting you mention that.

[@mar8014]

It would be interesting to get together will all the Aspergers people in the world and share our life stories, and see how similar they are.

[@Wood111112]

That could make for a very awkward social event, but no doubt very interesting.

[@sbsman4998]

If your a science buff here is a trick if you have to take math classes in school. Go up to the teacher and have a ONE ON ONE talk with them. Tell them that you will attend all the classes and try your best and take all the tests. That will work with most classes. Teachers are paid on attendance and full attendance is music to their ears. ~~~~THROW ALL PERSCRIPTION DRUGS IN THE TOLILET AND CHANGE DIET AND THEN STUDY DETOX!!!~~~~

[@Maykay1312]

Wow dude i told my mum i hated my self too but no fuck where given but now as a 14 year old almost 15 going to a new middle i told her i might have aspergers and she laught at first but she said she is going to call the clinic taht tests if you have adhd ... so yea geting tested in about 2-3 monts so yea thats my story

[@Stjaernljus]

i started finger binary it made me better at math. unless algebra and such i hate that.

[@MatthewC33199]

There is a "math dyslexia" - it's called dyscalculia. Maybe you should get assessed for it.

[@Lito_419]

I wanted not unwanted lol

[@monkeylordrick]

:)

[@monkeylordrick]

indigo child