I need help understanding different personality types!

[Darus]

Man these autism topics are popping up quite a lot lately, guess that's my cue to jump in.

Allow me to provide ample insight on the "condition" known as autism. As for my credentials - I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder, 10 years ago when I was 23 and this led me into the field of psychology and immediately obtained my Bachelors degree in the field and am now getting my Masters in counseling where I frequently use autism as the subject matter of papers. Needless to say, I have a relation to and knowledge on the condition.




What is it?
Autism, for the most part, is misunderstood even on the way it's diagnosed and explained. To explain it simply, Autism is a set of conditions that affects a person's cognitive ability to socially relate with others. In layman's terms, Autism makes it hard to interact socially. This means not knowing what to say or just understanding why we do things in a situation or how to relate to another.

What's the problem?
All a person with autism wants is to be accepted. That's it. Understand they have some oddities and differences and accept them for that, that's all they want. The problem for people with autism is they don't act like everyone else and frequently, and I mean FREQUENTLY, get rejected from social groups for being "odd" or seemingly out of place. This happens early on especially. Their conditions stunts their ability to learn socially which causes them to get cast out of social groups and prevents them from getting any social interaction, and thus, social learning and understanding.


Whats the cause?
Autism is a condition that occurs in 1 out of every 40 people. However, that statistic is skewed as men have a 5 times higher rate than women, so it's about 5-10% in the male population, maybe even more based on how you view diagnosing criteria. Autism is not a truly negative condition and is not an unnatural phenomenon. It's been around since forever and does have beneficial effects for some. Vaccines do not cause it and right now the US is having frequent measles outbreaks cause of this view perpetrated by legal criminals. Autism is natural and can cause a decrease in social capacity for an increase in cognitive capacity. Einstein is attributed as having been a person who most likely had autism, as did many scientists and inventors. Autism creates a good situation for creating men and women of science and alters how they behave. It allows us to advance in society through truly insane considerations the normal person just would not think of.




So, what does this mean for everyone here?

You know people with autism, you all do. You can't go online without meeting some. Just try to understand some people have different brain hardware that makes it hard to understand the social direction of others. Accept your friends for their good points and try to help them learn social cues and needs. Autism is not an excuse and it's not a disease, it's a person that was hardwired differently so that they can approach the world at a different manner. Human's are a complex species and many hate others for being any bit different, so people with autism do experience many hardships, but so does everyone in the world. The problems they face is that they lack some of the ability to pick themselves up the same way and these leads to more hardships.

When a person is different or has their own problems, just remember we ALL have our problems. Every single human will at multiple points in their lives go through mental disorders, conditions, and disabilities. We all age, losing our bodies and minds to time.

If you don't learn to accept others with problems, then what right do YOU have to be accepted when you eventually develop your own difficulties?

[JackHatchet]

Allow me to provide ample insight on the "condition" known as autism. As for my credentials - I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder, 10 years ago when I was 23 and this led me into the field of psychology and immediately obtained my Bachelors degree in the field and am now getting my Masters in counseling where I frequently use autism as the subject matter of papers. Needless to say, I have a relation to and knowledge on the condition.

First off, I want to thank you for your post. It was well worth reading!

Secondly, I had no freaking clue that autism was that common. I thought it was like a 1 in 10,000 thing. It's just never been an issue at all in my life. At least not that I'm aware of. None of my family, nor my friends have every been diagnosed with autism. So my exposure to autism (and mental-illness) has been extremely lacking. Heck, I didn't even know depression was a legitimate thing until in my 20's when I went through the learning process of why "telling them to just feel better" wasn't a viable solution. Because honestly, if you've never exposed to that stuff, and you only know normal--it can be a challenge to understand different. And unfortunately, people can be extremely critical when asking questions. As was seen in some of the earlier comments in this thread.

I guess if there's any part of me that wants to rant about something. Because it's not all about learning, although that's the part I appreciate the most. As an extreme extrovert. Anytime I want to feel accepted or participate. I eagerly force my way into a situation. And that's my normal. So it's incredibly challenging for me to comprehend people who feel neglected or left out. I know people want to feel accepted. But I've never been the kind of person to seek acceptance. Rather--I do me (being an extreme extrovert), and acceptance has just been part of the package. So when I see people wish for acceptance. I don't quite know how to give it to them. I'm willing to be anyone's friend, but they have to meet me half way. And If they don't. I just assume they're doing other things, and I let them move on.

But because I only know me. I often get stuck in the trap of just assuming people are as ambitious, social, or extroverted as me. So I don't always recognize when they need a helping hand. For example initiating conversation. If I want something--I'll just boldly blurt it out (like this forum post). I wanted to know something, and so I asked. Even though I knew people would think I was a troll. I just HAD to know, so acted the way I act.

And a lot of times I think other people will do that. And when they don't initiate. I often mistake their failure to initiate as a purposeful action. As in they chose not to initiate because they were bored, didn't care. Or just had no desire for a conversation. I struggle to remember that 'they want to, but are held back." Because man, I'll gladly extend a bridge. But I can't always read people, and I've learned the hard way too many times that imposing just makes people angry!

[Ceridwenae]

But because I only know me. I often get stuck in the trap of just assuming people are as ambitious, social, or extroverted as me. So I don't always recognize when they need a helping hand. For example initiating conversation. If I want something--I'll just boldly blurt it out (like this forum post). I wanted to know something, and so I asked. Even though I knew people would think I was a troll. I just HAD to know, so acted the way I act.

Don't make the mistake of thinking if someone is introverted (if we're using that intro vs extro analogy) that they're not social; as in, don't mistake introversion for shyness. I'm a really sociable person, one-on-one, but only if they take a heap of time to get to know me well. If I get to know people one-on-one first, and then there's grouping up - say for a dungeon if you will - it's great! I will likely have a lot of fun. Otherwise, it's just hell. I also will need solo time in amongst that, because the interactions take an emotional toll. It's hard work, it's not that I don't want to do it (though some days it is that too, because we all have those days), it just comes from a different place.

It's funny reading what you've written here, as it comes across like you have a condition too (social anxiety cue: please don't take that the wrong way!). If you take that bit where you're saying you don't recognise when someone needs a helping hand, or mistaking the lack of conversation starters for disinterest, you could flip it on its head and perhaps you'll start to understand why, say, someone like me (social anxiety), doesn't get your behaviour either. Though, it will vary from person to person.

I think it's very much worth your time to read some decent peer-reviewed medical papers on this stuff in your leisure time. A framework of understanding, if you will, a bedrock to build upon then (which is where the anecdotes you've asked for will help fill in gaps). And bugger me, this thunderstorm is ridiculous, and though I'd love to write you six pages more and gabber about social interactions all day, I should probably go. I may edit later if it feels necessary.

Quickly though! I'm proud of you for starting this topic. The more people seek to expand their knowledge in this way, the better.

[Canth]

Stuff

I fully agree with everything you’ve said. I used to be an ESE Para, and I’m married to a man with ASD who’s been struggling his whole life with social interactions. However, he’s brilliant, kind, and the most helpful person I’ve ever met. Over the years he’s improved his social skills with a trial by fire (college student government, becoming a teacher), and he’s come out on top, with a lot of effort on his part.

This is not to say he’s mastered his differently-wired brain, but he’s coming close. Right now his biggest flaws I’d say is dealing with stress, and aversion to stepping out of his comfort zone. Game-related example is that he’s a phenomenal WHM, but has a harder time staying calm when shit hits the fan (I often co-heal with him for this reason), also he’s too scared to level AST because it’s different, and he doesn’t want to learn something new while also dealing with IRL stress (exam week, and now we’re moving).

I’m not sure where I was going with this anymore but I felt like I needed to comment. >_>

[Darus]

Hello hello! Been some interesting questions and comments going on here, and as I have been trained to be an advocate, I must answer these calls and teach more info!

JackHatchet asked if autism can learn social interaction with their interests - Of course! To a degree. I myself am proof of that (social science degrees all around!). And yet, the anxiety still can reign supreme on me some days and makes it hard to initiate contact (I've been rejected a lot in my younger days and never quite learned the core bits that are more or less impossible in this stage of brain development, stuff like that. I know better but the fear and anxiety hold me and I'm conscious of it as it happens). I am a social butterfly, once conversation and connections are started, but getting there is hard.

Ok, so to explain the issue of "mental illness" and "autism". See, the Psychiatrists (doctors), not to be confused with the psychologists (researchers) and counselors (direct helpers), decided to change how "autism" is listed. "Autism Spectrum Disorder" does not differentiate from difference autism type conditions - basically, asperger's syndrome doesn't exist in diagnosis except as reference, it's now "ASD". This made it easier to get insurance payouts for people with autistic conditions, or conditions of similar difficulties. So, "autism" means a VERY VERY broad field of problems now. A person who is mentally 4 years old for their whole life and a person who manages to build a warp engine are BOTH "autistic". Messed up right? That's the current diagnosis for a few years until we stop using the DSM 5 and move to a new model with autistic variants as their specific conditions.

Many with autism develop obsessions, it's specific and almost random. Mine was video game design but after my diagnosis I got lucky and got an obsession in autism itself. The falloff effect of that is this obsession includes knowing psychology, science, and all that stuff. Lucky for me.

The lucky ones with autism aren't as lucky either. Autism tends to lead to a slow mental growth. It doesn't stop, but it can be 10 years behind. I was probably 8 or so years behind by the time I finished high school and stayed a kid well until I hit 30, still am younger than my age even now. It can also cause intellect to increase. So, we now have an issue for the person. They may be 16 years old physically, hormones raging, mentally 8 and innocent as can be, but capable of doing graduate level education projects. Do we put them in special ed, and stunt their potential?, or in advance studies and watch them die socially without any support? It's a chaotic state of being and people with autism may have a suicide rate of 30 times the normal rate. Many of the non suicidal may die from lack of self care due to having miserable lonely lives that don't allow them to use their obsessions and potential or form meaningful relationships.
Honestly, the "problem" with autism is based on society. Proper understanding and programs would mean they could learn at a rate matching their chaotic identity and negate the lack of social growth to a hefty degree. Preventing rejection and promoting the obsession can lead to outrageously capable experts. Autism has always been around and it has benefits as well as deficits. It's most likely a natural occurrence to promote advancement and specialists within the human race.

If vaccines cause autism, then we need to find more vaccines to give to people.

[JackHatchet]

Hello hello! Been some interesting questions and comments going on here, and as I have been trained to be an advocate, I must answer these calls and teach more info!

I have another question!

I noticed with depression. Or the people around me who have depression. Couples where both people with depression end up being a massive negative spiral downward. Where one person needs help, and the other person needs help too. So they both make it worse for each other. Where as in more normal relationships (sorry, I don't have a better word). Couples tend to balance it out better. When one is weak--the other one tends to be stronger, and they compensate and balance out. If John is having a bad day--then Jane can overexert herself a bit to compensate, and vice versa. But with depression, I've seen a few times where if Joe is having a bad day--Jane is constantly depressed and is never able to be strong when Joe needs it, and it always seems like a massive drag. Very very rarely have I seen double-depression couples where they actually counter-balance really well. That one would always be on a high when the other is low, and they rotated in a healthy way.

So my question to you! Do double-autism couples struggle to mesh. Or would autistic people have a stronger understanding of other autistic people and share a stronger form of empathy?

One of the things I'm trying to understand still, is that I hear a lot how Autistic people drift into their own worlds, or they become incredibly dedicated to their hobbies, or such. Basically, that they can be incredibly selfish. Are they able to counter balance that? Would two autistic people get along together well, or would they always be too demanding of the other and feel drained?

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I know that sounded kinda off-topic. I know my ex struggled with a lot of mental-illnesses, and a big hurdle we struggled with was finding balance. The right give and take. Not only between us as a couple, but also between us and the world. Finding a balance between what we can reasonable demand from society, while also counterbalancing it with what we can give back.

Now what you said is absolutely true about a lot of Autistic (and schizophrenics) becoming incredibly intelligent people who give back to society through science. But what are some of the values they can give back socially for those who don't have a scientific inclination?

[Paladinleeds]

So my question to you! Do double-autism couples struggle to mesh. Or would autistic people have a stronger understanding of other autistic people and share a stronger form of empathy?

One of the things I'm trying to understand still, is that I hear a lot how Autistic people drift into their own worlds, or they become incredibly dedicated to their hobbies, or such. Basically, that they can be incredibly selfish. Are they able to counter balance that? Would two autistic people get along together well, or would they always be too demanding of the other and feel drained?

Given the variety of how autistic people can be very different, it's possible to work. Because of the common grounds with autism (of difficulty in communication, being very literal and taking things literally), it looks good to work well. There's a lass I know with autism, and while we occasionally disagree, we seem to click really well. We're both open and honest with each other (as our autism dictates we require). I've found though that as she hates being lied to more than even yourself, I have to make sure if there's something I'm interested in getting or doing, that I make sure I have a get out clause such as "It might be worth getting that", using words like might to make sure it isn't a definite thing. But then again, I guess that's just being honest if using non-commital speech in order to allow us a way out of it. We could potentially work out, though I am single atm and will be for at least a few more months (since I was with someone who had an autistic child who I expected would have understood me, but alas she did not, and we did not break up on good terms. This is all fairly recent too, so I'm needing to heal from it)