4 ms·

Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 Autism Spectrum Disorder Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifes

by cubano 12y ago

Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 Autism Spectrum Disorder Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text): !.Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions. 2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication. 3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understand relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers I am 50yo, am a struggling recovering addict, and I totally suffer deeply from all 3 of these criteria and have for most of my life... No one ever mentioned the word autism to me, and I've been to two high quality, long-term impatient treatment centers in my life. I suffer from these to this day, and can't help but wonder how much of my addiction issues are directly related to them. It feels to me, looking at the list through tear-clouded eyes, that almost all of them are.

jat850 12y ago
Your last sentence was heart-breaking. Whether or not the list applies to you - whatever you've gone through - and whether you are somewhere along that autistic spectrum - none of them define you on their own. You are not the sum of checkboxes on a list. You're a person who has survived a series of challenges. Keep surviving and keep being a person, not a count of checkboxes.
falcolas 12y ago
It's autism by that definition when those symptoms interfere with your daily life. Otherwise it's called being human. That said, not all psychiatrists are created equal, and some of them suffer from the same biases as the rest of us. Try talking to an autism specialist.
- mgkimsal 12y ago
  > interfere with your daily life If it's all you've ever known, it just is your daily life. How would you know any different?
  - falcolas 12y ago
    That's where you get an impartial third party involved. They can tell if you are indeed outside the standard deviation for the population, and help you identify if and how to get back up to par.
- gizmo686 12y ago
  It is autism regardless of it interferes with your daily life. The decision if you want to treat it or not (should) depend on if it interferes with your daily life.
  - falcolas 12y ago
    Not necessarily. If you ask 100 people if they have ever encountered these issues, all 100 will say yes. It's those whose lives are negatively impacted by these issues outside the norm who get the diagnosis and need outside help.
err4nt 12y ago
Thanks for sharing! Well this message you wrote shows you are capable of at least #1 and #2, and hopefully #3 as well :) I have heard that you will never find an addict who isn't trying to numb pain in their life. If you can deal with the pain you feel separately I hope that the addiction will become a much easier battle to win! Numerous times when I have gotten to know people who interact with autistic kids, or have been a caregiver for an autistic child, they have spoken to me as though I have autistic tendencies (and knew about them) and so lately, as an adult, I have been wondering whether Im on the spectrum. I know that life is a struggle, and some of the things I struggle with could be related to tendencies I share with others. I dont know why, but the thought that I might be even midly autistic fills me with hope, thinking that if I can learn to function despite my difficulties and I'm not alone, then maybe I can help others do the same. I can't say whether you're autistic or not, but I can tell you that you have company (you are not alone) and you are appreciated!

by cubano 12y ago

jat850 12y ago

Your last sentence was heart-breaking. Whether or not the list applies to you - whatever you've gone through - and whether you are somewhere along that autistic spectrum - none of them define you on their own. You are not the sum of checkboxes on a list. You're a person who has survived a series of challenges. Keep surviving and keep being a person, not a count of checkboxes.

falcolas 12y ago

It's autism by that definition when those symptoms interfere with your daily life. Otherwise it's called being human. That said, not all psychiatrists are created equal, and some of them suffer from the same biases as the rest of us. Try talking to an autism specialist.

mgkimsal 12y ago
> interfere with your daily life If it's all you've ever known, it just is your daily life. How would you know any different?
- falcolas 12y ago
  That's where you get an impartial third party involved. They can tell if you are indeed outside the standard deviation for the population, and help you identify if and how to get back up to par.
gizmo686 12y ago
It is autism regardless of it interferes with your daily life. The decision if you want to treat it or not (should) depend on if it interferes with your daily life.
- falcolas 12y ago
  Not necessarily. If you ask 100 people if they have ever encountered these issues, all 100 will say yes. It's those whose lives are negatively impacted by these issues outside the norm who get the diagnosis and need outside help.

err4nt 12y ago

Thanks for sharing! Well this message you wrote shows you are capable of at least #1 and #2, and hopefully #3 as well :) I have heard that you will never find an addict who isn't trying to numb pain in their life. If you can deal with the pain you feel separately I hope that the addiction will become a much easier battle to win! Numerous times when I have gotten to know people who interact with autistic kids, or have been a caregiver for an autistic child, they have spoken to me as though I have autistic tendencies (and knew about them) and so lately, as an adult, I have been wondering whether Im on the spectrum. I know that life is a struggle, and some of the things I struggle with could be related to tendencies I share with others. I dont know why, but the thought that I might be even midly autistic fills me with hope, thinking that if I can learn to function despite my difficulties and I'm not alone, then maybe I can help others do the same. I can't say whether you're autistic or not, but I can tell you that you have company (you are not alone) and you are appreciated!