Autism Spectrum Quotient

Choose one response that best describes how strongly each item applies to you.

Definitely Agree | Slightly Agree | Slightly Disagree | Definitely Disagree

1. I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own.
2. I prefer to do things the same way over and over again.
3. If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind.
4. I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things.
5. I often notice small sounds when others do not.
6. I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information.
7. Other people frequently tell me that what I’ve said is impolite, even though I think it is polite.
8. When I’m reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like.
9. I am fascinated by dates.
10. In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations.
11. I find social situations easy.
12. I tend to notice details that others do not.
13. I would rather go to a library than to a party.
14. I find making up stories easy.
15. I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things.
16. I tend to have very strong interests, which I get upset about if I can’t pursue.
17. I enjoy social chitchat.
18. When I talk, it isn’t always easy for others to get a word in edgewise.
19. I am fascinated by numbers.
20. When I’m reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions.
21. I don’t particularly enjoy reading fiction.
22. I find it hard to make new friends.
23. I notice patterns in things all the time.
24. I would rather go to the theater than to a museum.
25. It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed.
26. I frequently find that I don’t know how to keep a conversation going.
27. I find it easy to “read between the lines” when someone is talking to me.
28. I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than on the small details.
29. I am not very good at remembering phone numbers.
30. I don’t usually notice small changes in a situation or a person’s appearance.
31. I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored.
32. I find it easy to do more than one thing at once.
33. When I talk on the phone, I’m not sure when it’s my turn to speak.
34. I enjoy doing things spontaneously.
35. I am often the last to understand the point of a joke.
36. I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face.
37. If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly.
38. I am good at social chitchat.
39. People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing.
40. When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children.
41. I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of cars, birds, trains, plants).
42. I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else.
43. I like to carefully plan any activities I participate in.
44. I enjoy social occasions.
45. I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions.
46. New situations make me anxious.
47. I enjoy meeting new people.
48. I am a good diplomat.
49. I am not very good at remembering people’s date of birth.
50. I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending.

Dealing With Depression On The Autism Spectrum | Patrons Choice

See 3 Recommended Resources Below:

The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT – by Russ Harris
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3…

The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time – by Alex Korb
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2

EQ 101 – Master Emotional Intelligence – by Paul Micallef (that’s me!)
https://autism-explained.teachable.co

http://emotionsexplained.com.au

Aspergers from the Inside

WELCOME TO ASPERGERS FROM THE INSIDE!!

My name is Paul and I discovered I have Aspergers at age 30.
If you’re new you can check out a playlist of some of my most popular videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-FpBZR7DbpvNj5UrFN8qUA.

Yes, I know, I don’t look autistic. That’s exactly why I started this blog, because if I didn’t show you, you would never know.

As the name suggests, this channel is devoted to giving you insight into the world of Aspergers. This blog started off being just my story, but I’ve learned SO MUCH about my own condition from meeting others on the Autism Spectrum that now I make sure to feature their stories as well.

I’ve come a long way in my own personal journey.
Now I’m sharing what I’ve found so you don’t have to learn it the hard way too.

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// WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BLOG

I value your time which means there are NO YOUTUBE ADS on my videos.
You can expect me to get the the point with concise useful information.
I focus on what is most important and don’t shy away from difficult topics.

The best way to learn about Autism is to see it in real life ( i.e. via the stories of many, many people on the spectrum).

In this channel I endeavour to show you what Autism and Aspergers look like in real people and to also give you some insight as to what’s happening on the inside.
I upload a new video every weekend with some bonus content thrown in mid-week too.
There’s always new stuff coming through so be sure to check back and see what you’ve missed. (Is this where I’m supposed to tell you to hit that subscribe button?)

Topics Include:
– What is Aspergers/Autism?
– Aspie Tips, coping strategies, and advice on common issues
– Learning Emotional Intelligence (this is my special interest!)
– Autism in real life: stories from special guests

Everything I do is and endeavour to go deeper and take you ‘behind the scenes’ to understand what may, at first glance, seem ‘odd’.
oh, and I love busting stereotypes and turning preconceptions upsidedown 🙂

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// ABOUT ME

I discovered I have aspergers at the age of thrity.
It has been my life’s mission to understand these funny creatures we call humans.
My special interest is a combination of emotional intelligence, psychology, neuroscience, thinking styles, behaviour, and motivation. (I.e. what makes people tick)
My background is in engineering and I see the world in systems to be analysed.
My passion is for taking the incredibly complex, deciphering the pattern, and explaining it very simply.
My philosophy is that blogging is an adventure best shared.

I Was 35 When I Discovered I’m on the Autism Spectrum

“Do you hate crowds, especially at supermarkets and restaurants?”

I avoided eye contact, which I knew I wasn’t supposed to do. “Yes.”

If Dr. P. noticed, she was too busy looking at the questionnaire to let on. “Do you tend to repeat heard words, parts of words, or TV commercials?”

I immediately flashed back to middle school, randomly repeating such phrases from TV as, “I don’t think so, Tim,” from Home Improvement. I was tempted to respond that way this time. Instead, I just replied with another, “Yes.”

“Do you have trouble sustaining conversations?”

“Yes.”

“Is your voice often louder than the situation requires?”

“Yes.”

“Do you find yourself resistant to change?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have restricted interests, like watching the same video over and over?”

“Yes.”

“Did you start reading and/or memorizing books at an early age?”

Eye contact suddenly became much, much easier. “Wait — isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is. But did you do that?”

I went back to boring a hole in the carpet with my eyes. “Yes.”

“Have you ever picked up and smelled random objects, like toys when you were younger?”

“That’s a sign?”

“Sometimes. Did you do that?”

“…yes.” I wanted to puke.

After a few more questions, she did some totaling. “Well,” she finally said, “it’s likely you have ADHD and social anxiety disorder, and you’re on the autism spectrum.”

I slumped back into the overstuffed chair. “Great,” I said. “Triple threat.”

I was 35 years old.