I was diagnosed with Asperger's during my early teen years, when it was still an official diagnosis, but lately I started to wonder whether there was a mistake in the diagnosis, or there's another personality trait that co-exists along with Asperger's and converts the latter's characteristics. The reason I started to doubt is because I come through a lot of "autism awarness" channels on TikTok and I'm like "What the hell do I have in common with them?". Yet I share a few traits with people within the ASD spectrum, such as getting obsessed with various topics from time to time, or when I was little I used to spin around my room and jump up and down and had many collections of stuff like Pokemon cards or Yugioh cards, but I stopped both jumping and collected as I grew older. In addition, I didn't have many friends, yet I had a very good vocabulary for my age, and this perhaps lead to the diagnosis.
Let's break it down.
1) Repetitive behaviors:
Many of the spectrum claim that they listen to the same song on repeat for days. Well, this applies to me in a small degree, but not to the exaggerated point they describe it. If I discover a new song and I like it, I tend to listen to it 5-6 times in a row, but after I stop. Still, I add it to my favorites, and listen to it every now and then after my discovery. I have a huge playlist on Spotify, and I'm interested in discovering new music.
2) Sensory issues:
Many folks who claim to be diagnosed, very often appear on social media wearing big headphones even at home (!). I don't get irritated by environmental noises, or big crowds either. The only thing that irritates me personally are the baby cries among the noises. When I hear a baby crying or screaming, I want to leave the place before picking up a fight with their parents and tell them to stop their baby crying. I dislike babies to be honest, and never understood why many find them "cute". I know I was a baby once also, but I can't help it.
3) Feel Empathy But Cannot Read Emotions:
I'll be straightforward about it. I feel nothing at all even if I see a person dying in front of me. Even if I try I cannot. They say that people within ASD can "feel empathy" but cannot read emotions. Personally I cannot feel empathy. Maybe I'll pretend that I do if it's necessary to not come as an absolute j*rk, but deep inside, I couldn't care less. Even when family member of mine died, I felt nothing when they announced me of their passing.
4) They Cannot Lie:
I think this is a lie by itself. It's impossible for a person to not lie, whether they belong to the spectrum or not. You must be really naive and have the mindset of a 5 year old to be unable to lie. Personally I lie if it's for my own benefit.
5) They Don't Seek Attention:
That's what the "book" says. When they're in a crowded place they try to go unnoticed and stand in the corner of the room. Personally, I'm the polar opposite. I want to be the center of attention. When I'm at a square for example or in a subway station, I try to stand somewhere where I'm immediately noticed by the others.
6) Strong Sense Of Justice:
The "book" once again says, that they have strong sense of justice and morality. If I want to get something, I'll try using any possible means whether they're moral (according to the masses) or not. Because I have absolutely nothing to lose by rejecting morals and ethics, in favor of my personal gain. After all morality is subjective. My motto is "Purpose justifies means" by the way.
7) They Are Good With Animals (Especially With Cats):
I don't. I don't care about animals and I never had a pet. They're more a mess than a relief, and they're a bad investment financially. You'll gain nothing in return, just some affection by an existence with no particular contribution to the world.
8) Comfort Food/Eating The Same Meal:
I wouldn't eat the same meal on repeat, and I honestly believe this is a lie even among those within the spectrum, and they are just exaggerating in order to enhance the repetition thing. This is simply unhealthy, and leads to malnourishment, plus if you eat the same thing you might get bored after a while.
9) Cannot Adapt To Change/Following A Routine:
Sure it's frustrating to have your plans cancelled, and your schedule rearranged, but to the point that you have a meltdown as many of the spectrum claim? I think it's just another exaggeration on their behalf.
10) They Are "Woke":
The majority who claim to be diagnosed, embrace the so called Woke culture judging by their political views. Woke culture does more bad than good, and it's beneficial only for weakminded people. It should be abandoned and not be supported, whether you belong to the spectrum or not. In addition, pretty often most females who claim to be in the spectrum, look like a typical feminist or they use neutral-gender pronouns.
So...there are two possibilites:
1) There's a huge conspiracy behind all this and many people created TikTok channels presenting themselves with "autism starter pack" and they are just exaggerating the characteristics I described above.
2) They're not exaggerations and I was misdiagnosed / I might have another personality trait that naturally converts some ASD characteristics.
I'd like to hear other people who were diagnosed, or they know someone who's diagnosed, if they actually fall under all those exaggerated "autism starter pack" characteristics.
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