Asperger's and Labels

Asperger's is a mild form of high-functioning autism that in particular affects a person's ability to function normally in social situations. People with Asperger's also have very narrow yet intense interests. They often have an above average to high IQ. Though I have never been diagnosed, I am certain I am afflicted with this so-called "condition" (or, as they call it, "syndrome"), because I fit the descriptions to a tee.

The problem I have is with labels. Before the term "Asperger's Syndrome" was coined in 1944 by Dr. Hans Asperger, there was no way to pigeonhole people who display these characteristics with one standardized name. They were simply eccentric people with poor social skills, who had different interests than most people and often saw things in a different way. I find it quite sad that nowadays, if you don't conform to society's ideal of "normal," there is always a name attached to it, homogenizing people with these names, as if everyone who displays these traits is the same, or as if it is some kind of a disorder when it's simply a personality trait that certain people exhibit.

 

Yeah, all the labeling is what turned me away from studying psychology. Label this, label that and forget in the process that every person is different and labels were just created by humans anyways.

 

Ever met that Chris kid on the forums? He's got it, and boy is he a trip.

 

Which Chris kid? That guy that always posts about women and his problems with them in men's issues?

 

It is sad, but at the same time... you cannot expect a society of millions to change for you, so society at least tries to make your lack of conformity socialy acceptable somehow.

Think of this... lets say a kid is depressed... would you rather have people showing him around and shouting at him and so on and on because he isn't doing anything with his life, or would you rather then "labeling" him as depressed and then actually helping him out and understanding the situation.

One of the most beautiful things about this society is its willingness to accept people who cannot function in it or disagree with it into it... and even help them.

 

My older son has it, and for example he hates when people use words that have more than one meaning. He chooses one meaning for a word, and refuses to accept any others. He also hates figures of speech and doesn't understand sarcasm.

When he started school, I would have to go and pick him up sometimes because he was in such a tantrum he was incoherent, just because he had coloured outside the lines, literally. You could tell he was not there...his eyes were blank. When he melts down, he MELTS DOWN.

He's gotten a LOT better, just turned 8, but he still has some issues.

I don't like "labels" either, but having a diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician has gotten us some help for school, like an Educational Assistant and an Individual Education Plan...

You don't sound like a diagnosis would make any difference at this point in your life, Rat. Maybe when you were younger, if you had problems...

 

He's got a number in his s/n...something like 1661 or something...and he posts more about his issues with the lack of women...but then attacks everyone who tries to give him sound advice. If you tell him to do anything but curl up in a ball and wallow in his own self-pity, he gets really pissed off...I tried helping that kid and decided that I don't have the time or patience to deal with him, regardless of whether his personality is result of a mental disability or not.

 

In terms of psychiatry, labels are a double edged sword in my opinion. They are useful (when applied correctly) in order to define a condition. Defining the condition is the first step towards treating/compensating for it.

On the other hand, they can also be used irresponsibly. Being an aspy now is sort of like having ADD a few years ago. People are being diagnosed with it when it doesn't apply in a lot of cases.

 

Yeah I know the guy. I remember how he got really upset because some tall girl ignored him and he thought she was intimidating and rude because her height and for ignoring him... hey, I'm tall! Tall women aren't anything to be afraid of. He seems to have all these irrational fears about women... He honestly has seemed like a joke (an alias) to me at times but I think he is real and I do wish him luck. Seems like he has lots of issues.

 

Yeah, you and Rubin and maybe some others had a good point that labels are useful for getting correct funding and treatment. Otherwise though they pigenhole people into a stereotype and give psychologists an easy way out of actually treating people. But, yes, it is a double edged sword. I'd say if funding isn't needing staying away from labels is a good thing.

Oh, just a side note- in some of my psychology classes my professors talked freely about how many people get diagnosed JUST so they can get funding... meaning "okay, you may not be bipolar but I want you to keep coming here and I do think you need some help, so we'll just call you that"

 

I was professionally diagnosed with Asperger's and my brother was diagnosed with ADHD a while back. (That's why I used those as examples).

I think that the psychiatrist was just trying to get paid though. Don't get me wrong, my brother is totally insane, but I'm as normal as they come.

 

My cousin was diagnosed bipolar and my aunt gave my mom papers off the internet about bipolar disorder. My mom said "oh, my daughter must have that too!" I was 17 and rebellious from living in a strict home but otherwise.. normal teenager. My mom drug me to a psychologist and with only FOUR questions, I got a label and medication.

Years later I took college courses in psychology and found out they are NOT supposed to diagnose like that... it all just seems ridiculous to me. There are people that really do have adhd, bipolar, schizophrenia, and all the others...

But way too many people have been given a wrong diagnosis for one reason or another that its just sickening. The whole field needs to be reformed in some way- but in order to do that, health care would have to be reformed also. *sigh*

 

well, there's a bit of a movement to take the word "syndrome" out of the label, since it isn't so much a disease or syndrome as a different way of thinking and functioning.

 

"Asperger's Advantage"

 

i would think so.

 

I posted this on another forum and even a little in response to crud, but here it is again, I changed a few of the words to fit this post. But it is not targeted at one person in specific.

My thoughts:

I don't think people should self diagnose as people who do are almost never an expert on mental disorders. The DSM 4 is always changing. Things are taken in and out in a dizzying cycle, hurting its validity. Realize that when something is added or left out, sometimes it is because it effects some ones (of power) practice.

Practice some critical thinking. there are an ungodly amount of self analysis quizzes online, to tell if you are anti social or depressed or crazy or whatever label they use to fit you with. They are filled with vague questions, look at how they are worded (with words like possibly, maybe, often). what is "often" for instance? It is subjective depending on the person. to many subjective phrases! I urge you, LOOK again for yourself! Be critical of each question! People come out of it saying "wow it says I am depressed, better see a doctor." But look at some of these websites harder. For instance I saw a site where Zoloft was providing a quiz on depression! come on people, of course they want to make you feel depressed, to feed the drug empire! Most of these websites have agendas and it is not for the common person, but to feed their own greedy pockets!

If you FEEL you are destined to be something you WILL be that something if it is enforced enough by zoloft quizzes and your gullible mind. It's just a self fulfilling prophecy. Go into things with a better attitude, do something to increase your confidence, be critical and you will beat whatever has taken over your soul.


so you people who say you have emotional problems. By who's standards? your own? another self fulfilling prophecy! If you take what others say seriously, like a zoloft quiz, you may very well start to feel depressed or crazy, people react to you in kind and perpetuate those feelings, it is environment.

Something like aspergers is not something you want to convince yourself you have, because usually there is a label attached to what you are prescribed with in this society, you are correct. most people will just accept that and not question who actually said you had problems, and people will judge that label, be it depression or craziness or anxiety or whatever. and that label is hard to escape in this society, sometimes lasting a lifetime. I think it is quite unfair in fact. Do you really want to label yourself after a simple quiz now or quick reading through the DSM 4 filled with vaugeness?

Psychological terms are NOT the end all and say all in figuring out mental disorders and I don't believe they provide the answer, largely because the "holy grail" of psychology, the DSM 4 is so erratic. conditions are in-out-in-out from edition to edition. In the last edition, I remember something that had been left out previous was added AGAIN because it was effecting someones practice who was quite big in the field. I believe one of them was homosexuality (but do not quote me). Is that in the lastest version of DSM 4? please check? The next one is due out in 2010. Save your current version and compare it to the 2010 version.

Critical minds.

 

Good little essay but I think for the most part you are preaching to the choir here. I am pretty sure the original poster has some experience in "the field" and knows those things... I'm not trying to sound bitchy to you. I know those quizzes and stuff are annoying and well, if psychiatrists wrongfully diagnose so much of the time, what can you really expect from some lame online quiz? Nothing. Exactly.

So, again, I think we're the choir you're preaching to in general and I apologize if I sounded bitchy.

 

don't worry. There is nothing concrete, is what I wanted to say, I was kind of unclear. I didn't mean to preach to anyone, just state my point of view. Psychiatrists don't have all the answers, neither do biologists or sociologists. All I know is, I think drugs are pushed on us to often, so are labels. The way this country is being run, it will be labels that will doom us. Anyone who practices dissent, will be labeled and huddled in some kind of corrections facility with some disorder created by the "experts". It is scary, but a stigma is placed on dissent too. And labels tend to last a life time..2 and 2...hmmm

 

I knew this kid with aspergers and he was so smart. But it is such a huge stigma. No one took him seriously. They called him retarded despite some extremely intelligent things he had to offer. I have serious doubts that most people are capable of seeing people as they really are beyond the label. It is just another divide. people label each other and split up, to much internal conflict among the masses, and more subtle and sincere looking than other more obvious divides, like the left/right debate that takes this place by storm so often.

 

Okay. gotcha and I do agree with this post of yours.