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I'm Ben Schwartzman, a 2nd year doctoral student at UCLA, in the Human Development and Psychology division of the Graduate School of Education. For my second year project, I'm conducting research regarding personality profiles for adults with and without autism. For my study, I created an online questionnaire which takes about 25-30 min. It would be a huge help for my project if any volunteers would be interested in taking my questionnaire!
Previous research has been conducted comparing personality and autism, but never in adults actually diagnosed with autism. However, this research has mainly been conducted using the undergraduate student population, and it would be nice to get some more data from older, working adults. I think research into the personality differences that exist between individuals with and without autism, could help us better understand the unique skills and strengths that these individuals with autism possess. Hopefully this would help to find environments/occupations that lead to the greatest success for them.
Here's a link to the questionnaire: http://uclaed.us.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2tpPLtP2dKYjvg1
If anyone has any questions feel free to email me at uclapersonalitystudy@gmail.com
Thanks!!
-BenView Thread
We have been married for nearly six years. I didn't know he was an aspie otherwise I wouldn't have married him.
He is obsessed with me. He copies everything I do or say. If I take off my shoes, he does. If I cough, he does. I feel so inhibited. He steals my conversations and repeats what I have said to others as though its his own conversation.
I was horrified to find my knickers in his bedside table, screwed up and hidden yet had been worn by him.
He wees in a coffee jar. I mentioned this to the doctor adn the doctor seemed to think it was alright. I have never encountered such behaviour and frankly its driving me crazy. I am so unhappy. I am a christian and believe that I should stay in the marriage but he is just mentally abusing me.
I have read the content of this site and nobody seems to be having the problems I am encountering. Is there something else going on here do you think?View Thread
We have been married for nearly six years. I didn't know he was an aspie otherwise I wouldn't have married him.
He is obsessed with me. He copies everything I do or say. If I take off my shoes, he does. If I cough, he does. I feel so inhibited. He steals my conversations and repeats what I have said to others as though its his own conversation.
I was horrified to find my knickers in his bedside table, screwed up and hidden yet had been worn by him.
He wees in a coffee jar. I mentioned this to the doctor adn the doctor seemed to think it was alright. I have never encountered such behaviour and frankly its driving me crazy. I am so unhappy. I am a christian and believe that I should stay in the marriage but he is just mentally abusing me.
I have read the content of this site and nobody seems to be having the problems I am encountering. Is there something else going on here do you think?View Thread
... ok reasons I think he has aspergers... He does not show emotion. He seems ruthless. He makes me cry and really shows no emotion. Just one example from many: I work at a nursing home, had a terrible day, came home bawling and spent twenty minutes telling him everythinh that happened. He said nothing. He then put his hand on his stomach and said I'm starved will you cook a pizza. He doesn't show he cares about me but I know he does, he just doesn't know how to show it.. He has made me cry and I thought he didn't care because he wasnt say anything and I realized he was on the bed acting like he was sleeping but he was crying because he felt bad he made me cry but he wont come out and say sorry or anything.
Friends. He has had the same 2 friends hes had since 1st grade. He won't make new friends, He doesnt want new friends.
Death. I work at a nursing home I am around this a lot and I mentioned one person dieing and he got very upset. He does not talk about death it makes him extremely depressed and he completely stops talking. I don't know how to explain it, I just know its not a normal reaction.
He goes through certian periods of "obsessions?" He was obsessed with fighting and being in UFC one day. About 6 months later he completely dropped the subject and moved onto music. He would write raps and basically wanted to be the next lil wayne...All he did was listen to music. About 6 months later he stopped and now only listens to country music but only listens to music in the car. He then became obsessed with making money.. I dont know how to eplain it. I'm not complaining about this one he saved $10,000 lol... but he would just always talk about ways to make money. That also completly stopped. Then tattoos. went from 0 to sleaves, back, chest stomach neck and leg tattoos all in about one year(that is a lot for 1 year) Currently he is obsessed with lifting weights and fitness. After going to work for 8 hrs he comes home and works out for 3 hours EVERYDAY. This has been going on for a year. I wouldn't point these things out if they weren't in my opinion considered obsessions. I don't know if these relate to asperger but he never talked to anyone about any of those things I just kind of observed them...he wouldn't say hey im going to get a tattoo he would just go get one and it is just strange. His family calls him a hermit because he doesn't ever want to go out and party or do anything like a 21 year old usually does. We go to partys every once in a while but he doesn't talk to anybody if someone comes and talks to him he usually just says things like oh ya. he doesn't initiat the convorsation.... I have A LOT more but I feel like this is to long. Please help me and him.View Thread
My brother is an undiagnosed Aspie. His doctor once asked him, when my brother was seeing him for a completely different reason, if he had ever been screened for Aspergers. My brother was very offended.
A very good friend of my brother's recently told him he suspected my brother was a high-functioning aspie. (His friend reads a lot!) That's when my brother finally realized 2 people couldn't be totally wrong. At the very least, they were seeing something he wasn't.
Anyway, I say all this as a means of introduction. I love my brother very much but sometimes communicating is a very touchy issue.
I hope the support group here is a thriving one and hope we can all connect online soon.View Thread
the only explanation being she was aspie??????
what do u other aspies think of this ?View Thread
the only explanation being she was aspie??????
what do u other aspies think of this ?View Thread
how can i deal with adult aspergers?View Thread
From day one I questioned if this was something I could truly handle. I dont want to be yet another person in his life that doesnt accept him. But then again I think about the family that I want in the future... There is like a 50/50 chance that our baby will have Autism. I know that even with a healthly man the chance is still there but I feel like I'm giving this to my children knowing that the father has it.
I already love him more then life itselfs but I am having trouble accecting him having Autism. I understand that its not something that will just go away. I love him so much but its so hard sometimes thinking about all this. How does one handle this mentally?
I have had alot of boyfriends in the past that were mentally retarded... I begin to question, is something wrong with me? Is something wrong with me for loving a man with autism? Is having Autism really a BIG DEAL? But he is the sweetest man I've even met and I want to make it work but I dont know how to open my heart and just let go. Its either that or leave him?
Hes definitly more normal than others. He is very social, has a lot of friends, and expresses him love for me on the daily. I am so thankful and are begining to feel bad for judging him in my head. When my family first met him they talked so much stuff but even they had to admit how cool he was cool and actually like having him around.
I would like a friend to talk to... someone that understands what I'm going threw, someone to talk to really, God knows I cant talk to him about it. He know that his autism makes me a bit uneasy but he doesnt know anything futher then that, as he shouldnt it would hurt him too much.
I just wish I wasnt so scared of autism. I guess I'm so scared because I dont understand it. I'm pretty sure no one does. I just want to be with him and be happy, worry free. Is there anyway of this working?View Thread
I am brand new to this support community and wanted to ask a couple of questions. But first: My son, who is 26, was just diagnosed with Aspberger's Syndrome last year (2012). He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 9 but the Asperger's was not picked up. He has most of the symptoms of Aspergr's such as; keeping to himself, doesn't want to make friends, gets anxious when around anyone other than parents and brother, hasn't been able to get a job. He does not hold eye contact. Has trouble talking with people (delayed speech ie; trying to form in his mind what to say), has short and long term memory loss (prefers to have parent go with him to any appointments), anxiety and depression, and ADHD. Due to the fact that he cannot handle his own care or finances, we became his legal guardians early this year. He lives with us at home and we handle all his affairs.
He just got Social Security Disability, but we have asked for a review due to the fact that he has had it since birth and we want to go through my husband's Soc. Sec. We sent in a request for it and it was denied due to the fact that there was "insuficient evidence". We had contacted his childhood doctors, phycologist, and schools for information, but they no longer have those records.
So, my question is: How do we prove that he was born with the disability and that if he had the correct support during his childhood, he may have been able to cope with his Asperger's Syndrome as an adult. We have until the end of February (2013) to file our disagreement.
Thanks for reading my lengthy post. I would appreciate any advice.View Thread
Well, the situation escalated and I spent some time speaking with him one on one. He told me, "I wish I was dead because it would be easier: at least I would have friends in Heaven!"
My son has been diagnosed with Autism from the age of 18mos. when we had taken his older brother to have a CT scan done and the neurologist said that he has the same thing as his brother because he walked on his tip toes. I thought this doctor was wrong. I had my son diagnosed by the Marcus Institute and he definitely was Autstic. I thought perhaps he just had major temper tantrums when I would take him into a store and he would have a complete screaming, fall in the floor, biting tantrum. People around would say things like, "that horrible kid just needs a good butt whooping!" And so it began. The life sentence for my son to never really fit in. He has a slight speech impediment that some people thing he is hearing impaired. I am so protective of him that I want to sit down with the parents of the children who are cruel to him and ask them where they were raised to allow their children to act in such a manner.
Now that my son is telling me that he had rather die than work through the issues at school I am completely flummoxed! I don't know who to call, what to say if I call them. Is it smart to take a child with a social handicap like Autism out of the regular school only to have him more isolated? Do I take his comments of "hating his life" and "wish I were dead" to heart and call in experts to have him pumped up on more pills than he already takes? Is there anyone out there who knows what this is like and how hard it is for a parent to see their child suffer so much and be so powerless to fix the problem?View Thread
I wish that was everyday but I can probably almost count on my hands and toes the times. And Potty training...been taking him to the potty every time i go since he was one and he still thinks its just to flush the potty has no concept of what it is to do or emotion. he has to be rubbing something when hes not doing something...like his blanket hes attached to or his diaper flap. if he can have his blanket he has to be able to get to that flap on the diaper and rub on it constantly. THeir are many more things but I'm getting concerned something may be wrong. at first I thought hes two and a little slow learner and in terrible two stage...then he turned 3 last year and i started thinking is there something wrong?? now hes turning 4yr old this year and I'm getting nothing. Its like I had to start all over again with what he learned and just learned mom a few months ago...I made him an appointment...guess I will find out what if anything is wrong...I was told this is not normal behavior...I just thought he was ocd like i am and had my high anxiety.View Thread
What you see is an immature/naive teen filled with love, happy, telling you over and over again that he loves you, squeezing you- its just that it doesn't end. His siblings get stressed out and sometimes cry. We love him because he is sweet, but become so overwhelmed because it's only when setting firm, direct, concrete limits that he backs down.
Then the guilt sets in fearing his feelings are hurt. He does not socialize outside of him family environment and sometimes I feel when he is home around his family he just lets loose. Thanks, for any advice, feedback or even similar experiences.View Thread
I am 28yo and was only diagnosed last week with High Functioning Autism. I started looking into it for my daughter and then realised that A) autism wasn't exactly how I pictured it and
I had far too many symptoms myself. My daughter is still undergoing an assessment (she's 2 so it takes longer) but it's looking like she's the same.For the most part, the diagnosis is a relief and now I want to know what I can do to make my life easier. I can been living with my husband and now have two children of my own. I'm finding it very hard. I can't find what options there are for me. I'm in Australia. My husband has to do almost everything around the house.
So, what now? Do you have any advice? Where to from here? I can't do housework without melting down, caring for my children is difficult and we're spending our savings to put them into childcare until I can sort myself out. The thought of returning to work is a nightmare. Will I ever be able to do housework and care for my kids without losing my sanity?
Is there anyone who was diagnosed as an adult?
If there's another adult out there, how did you tell people? did you tell them? I told my family only so far and have mixed responses but not everyone is very accepting of the diagnosis. I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Thanks for reading and helping me.View Thread
When my debut novel What the Heart Sees was finally published, I was so excited. And then something happened in our family that dampened my spirits. I received some heartbreaking news. I learned that my sweet little grandson, Daniel was diagnosed with autism.
How could I find any good at all in this situation? I asked myself. People say things happen for a reason, but I wasn't convinced. And then I was inspired by an idea. I'm not particularly religious, but I do think this idea was from a higher power. I have decided to donate a significant portion of the profits from my book to the Autism Society. We HAVE to find a cure, because autism has risen to near epidemic levels, and nobody seems to know why. I'll bet each and everyone of you knows at least one child with autism.
My recently published book is called What the Heart Sees and is written under the pen name Janice Zick. It can be ordered on line from http:/desertbreezepublishing.com for only $4.00 and downloaded immediately to a Nook, Kindle or as a pdf copy on your pc. It is a funny, heartwarming story. You'll love it--will laugh your a_ _ off, and will be helping a worthy cause at the same time.
AT THE VERY LEAST, please click on the link at the beginning of the former paragraph and take a few minutes to read the excellent reviews it has received. After you click on the link at the beginning of this paragraph, type in the title of the book What the Heart Sees or the author name, Janice Zick.
And one more request please. Even if you decide not to buy this novel yourself, forward this message to all of the people on your contact list. With all the stuff (crap) that circulates in e-mails, don't you think this one is worth forwarding.
Thank you so much for your time,
Jan Lang
My novel, What the Heart Sees, a romantic comedy
written under the pen name, Janice Zick will be
Available from DesertBreezePublishing.com
View Thread

Hats off to all the great parents out there - loving your beautiful gifts from God you are very special and may you be blessed!
My son avoids eye contact and only when you take his face in your hand will he make eye contact. He hates eating and only eats about 5 food items - very picky. He has friends but treats strangers exactly like he would treat his closest friends. He doesn't speak - only 2 word sentences and only when he feels like it other wise it is just babble talk. He also plays in animal characters - like being a dog or cat or crocodile he's newest favorite is a dolphin. He hates bath time but is coping better in the last couple of weeks.
I must say the diagnosis has been a relief as me and my husband does not expect him to reach targets and goals as you would a child being able to do that. We have realized that he is not naughty but he is only behaving in the only way he knows how to.
We love him very much and I would like to encourage you to keep on loving these wonderful children - good luck to everyone walking this journey.View Thread
If you are willing to participate, please click on the link below, and submit one survey for each of your children. The survey will take approximately 5 — 10 minutes. You will be instructed to create a participant number. All responses are kept confidential an NO identifying information will be saved.
If you prefer to fill out a paper survey, please email me your address, and indicate how many surveys you need (you need one for each child). You will be provided with a stamped addressed envelope to return your responses. My email is [a>MagaldiN@wpunj.edu .
Anyone with children is invited to participate. Please pass the link on to anyone you think may be interested.
Thank you for your consideration!!
[a>http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22E59Z56Y5R/
NicoleView Thread
My aspie is amazing. He's changed my world for the better. He's sweet, he's kind, he's genuine, he's soooo smart, he DOES care for my welfare - how I feel, if I'm eating well, etc. He makes my life so much more easier. He's a wonderful man. NEVER would I straight out tell someone not to date someone of a specific stereotype. That's just so WRONG! Especially an Aspie man. This man changed my life. He makes me want to be a better person. I know he's different but I find this endearing. I love him and yes, he loves me back. An aspie CAN find love in a relationship the same as anyone else. It may take a little longer but let me tell you, when it happens it's magic. I love my magic.
Please, don't EVER dismiss dating an aspie simply because he's an aspie. You could be missing out on the best time of your life.
View Thread
My aspie is amazing. He's changed my world for the better. He's sweet, he's kind, he's genuine, he's soooo smart, he DOES care for my welfare - how I feel, if I'm eating well, etc. He makes my life so much more easier. He's a wonderful man. NEVER would I straight out tell someone not to date someone of a specific stereotype. That's just so WRONG! Especially an Aspie man. This man changed my life. He makes me want to be a better person. I know he's different but I find this endearing. I love him and yes, he loves me back. An aspie CAN find love in a relationship the same as anyone else. It may take a little longer but let me tell you, when it happens it's magic. I love my magic.
Please, don't EVER dismiss dating an aspie simply because he's an aspie. You could be missing out on the best time of your life.
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