in their own words
ANXIETY
My anxiety is not disordered by Musings of an Aspie
I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about anxiety recently. When I was diagnosed with Asperger’s, I was also diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder.
Here’s how I feel about that: Social Anxiety? Yes. Disorder? Not so much. Disorder implies that my social anxiety is irrational. Is it? Consider this:
“Anxiety at appropriate levels is important for adaptive functioning. There are many environmental hazards that must be avoided and these are often learned through the process of anxiety induction. The resultant anxiety response is learned through the association of certain stimuli with unpleasant consequences.” (from “Autism and the Physiology of Stress and Anxiety”, Romanczyk and Gillis) READ MORE
I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about anxiety recently. When I was diagnosed with Asperger’s, I was also diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder.
Here’s how I feel about that: Social Anxiety? Yes. Disorder? Not so much. Disorder implies that my social anxiety is irrational. Is it? Consider this:
“Anxiety at appropriate levels is important for adaptive functioning. There are many environmental hazards that must be avoided and these are often learned through the process of anxiety induction. The resultant anxiety response is learned through the association of certain stimuli with unpleasant consequences.” (from “Autism and the Physiology of Stress and Anxiety”, Romanczyk and Gillis) READ MORE
On Anxiety and the Effort It Takes to Climb a Mountain and Make a Phone Call
I grew up battling anxiety for as long as I can remember. Even back in kindergarten, I remember it. I remember opening up my lunch box and seeing the BEAUTIFULLY made sandwich inside, which my mother had taken the time to cut out in the shape of a heart. I loved it when my mother did that. And then I looked around at the other kids’ sandwiches. None of them had hearts. Suddenly, I was anxious. Did having a heart shaped sandwich mean I was weird? Was it against the rules to have a heart shaped sandwich? What if the other kids teased me? What if I got in trouble with the teacher?
I ate my sandwich under the table, where no one could see.
READ MORE
I grew up battling anxiety for as long as I can remember. Even back in kindergarten, I remember it. I remember opening up my lunch box and seeing the BEAUTIFULLY made sandwich inside, which my mother had taken the time to cut out in the shape of a heart. I loved it when my mother did that. And then I looked around at the other kids’ sandwiches. None of them had hearts. Suddenly, I was anxious. Did having a heart shaped sandwich mean I was weird? Was it against the rules to have a heart shaped sandwich? What if the other kids teased me? What if I got in trouble with the teacher?
I ate my sandwich under the table, where no one could see.
READ MORE
Depression
Depression Archives From The Invisible Strings Blog
"This is part 5 of an ongoing series that examines the interplay between Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers and depression. Other posts have offered a breakdown of how to both detect and distinguish co-morbid conditions like depression (part 2 in particular, which focuses on how depression can “hide” behind autistic traits; all other links can be found below). This time around, I wanted to take a different approach and offer impressions that are more subjective in nature. READ MORE
"This is part 5 of an ongoing series that examines the interplay between Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers and depression. Other posts have offered a breakdown of how to both detect and distinguish co-morbid conditions like depression (part 2 in particular, which focuses on how depression can “hide” behind autistic traits; all other links can be found below). This time around, I wanted to take a different approach and offer impressions that are more subjective in nature. READ MORE
The video below was recommended by the Facebook page Karla's ASD Page:
"I really like this video on depression and I think that most Autistic people can relate to much of this. The reason I really like this video is because he gives actual advice (without giving advice) on ways to pull oneself up and it points to the reasons I always teach to...
1. Be creative
2. Find your passion
3. Practice good health habits
4. Practice gratitude
The more you have these things, the better..."
"I really like this video on depression and I think that most Autistic people can relate to much of this. The reason I really like this video is because he gives actual advice (without giving advice) on ways to pull oneself up and it points to the reasons I always teach to...
1. Be creative
2. Find your passion
3. Practice good health habits
4. Practice gratitude
The more you have these things, the better..."
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
At the Intersection of Autism and OCD by Musings of an Aspie
This morning I got my triathlon race number: 336. My first thought was, “yes, okay, good” because 336 is a pleasing number. If I’d gotten 337, I would have had the opposite reaction. 337 is not a pleasing number at all. I don’t even like typing it.
What’s good about 336? 3 + 3 = 6 6 / 2 = 3
3 + 3 + 6 = 12 which is divisible by 3 and 6, also; the digits in 12 added together = 3
337, on the other hand, is a prime number. Some people love prime numbers, I know. I’m not one of them. I find primes frustrating rather than interesting because I can’t do anything with them.
The strength of my reaction to seeing 336 printed beside my name surprised me a bit. I’m still getting used to this latest eruption of OCD traits and how relieving or unpleasant they can make otherwise meaningless everyday occurrences feel. READ MORE
This morning I got my triathlon race number: 336. My first thought was, “yes, okay, good” because 336 is a pleasing number. If I’d gotten 337, I would have had the opposite reaction. 337 is not a pleasing number at all. I don’t even like typing it.
What’s good about 336? 3 + 3 = 6 6 / 2 = 3
3 + 3 + 6 = 12 which is divisible by 3 and 6, also; the digits in 12 added together = 3
337, on the other hand, is a prime number. Some people love prime numbers, I know. I’m not one of them. I find primes frustrating rather than interesting because I can’t do anything with them.
The strength of my reaction to seeing 336 printed beside my name surprised me a bit. I’m still getting used to this latest eruption of OCD traits and how relieving or unpleasant they can make otherwise meaningless everyday occurrences feel. READ MORE
