It is possible to have both, and it is common for people to have more than one challenge. My older son has been diagnosed with both Asperger's Syndrome and social anxiety. His diagnoses came late, in his 20's, in the aftermath of his Dad's death. He has some of the same problems you do. The only way to know, however, is to be examined by a psychologist who can do the testing. It takes special training to be able to pinpoint what you may be dealing with, but it is worth it to know so that then you can get the help and advice you really need. I know from your other posts that you are looking for a therapist, and it would be worthwhile to get some testing done as part of that process. A therapist will be better able to help you with your other challenges if they are aware of any autistic/Asperger's issues. The tests are basically sets of questions they go through with you. A therapist can do some of the testing, but usually will need to have the results verified by a psychologist. The tests may need to be done in more than one session if you get too stressed out with that kind of thing, and that is perfectly all right. Whoever does the testing is not trying to make you feel stressed out or bad in some way, they are just trying to sort out what you are dealing with so you can get the help you need. I hope you do find someone and get the answers and help you need. Hugs....

My family had no idea that there might be help... and looking at some of the therapies they were using and the Autistics who can now speak up... yes, it's hard. It's so, so hard to deal with this. Birthday parties were simply chaos to me, so not going didn't bother me... but over time they weren't inviting me to get together to study (though the serious students did do in-class group projects with me, I was fine working,.. the chat before, after, and during was beyond me). It was the assumption that I was not going to be a part of things, by my senior year (in the schol district since 7th grade) that the other seniors in the group I was "closest" to planned every Senior event together during lunch in the Gifted resource room, assuming I wouldn't be a part. I went to Prom, I sat and watched people dance, drank punch, made halting conversation with someone I'd had art classes with each semester for 4 years for maybe 5 minutes. Then it's not having been a part of the adult things that are "normal." Baby showers? The dozens of wedding things? Dad is almost certainly an Aspie, content with his work and Mom and me and his hobbies, Mom was an introvert.

They gave me a safe place. We lived near my mom's family until I was 12 (my only friendship took place when I was 8-12, and she acted as an interpreter for me, someone who got me and got the other classmates and Girl Scouts so I could watch her...) and when Grandma and Grandpa, their two daughters and the sons-in-law who had already been friends and everyone adored, and my 2 well-behaved cousins got to be too much (jigsaw puzzles and Dominoes were big for them...) I could go to the guest room, to the nightstand that held books that was also where, sitting on the floor, the bed was between me and the door, and someone would come to the door and tell me if a game of Dominoes or a meal was starting.

Aspergers came and went from the books between the time I was older than "the age they diagnose Autism" ((as some tell us) and the age I was given the words to say to my therapist "I think I am Autistic because..." and give her a list when, as expected, I shut down.

I have had Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder diagnoses in the past. The panic attacks were not as "random" as they appeared, once we realized I had discalculia (I tood math classes in school, and then Dad basically homeschooled me until I could do the assignments). That oh, in French class I had trouble memorizing responses to social conversation because *I didn't know the responses in English*. That I do have ADHD. And that I need to tell people who are saying interesting things that I am Autistic, and the more interesting they are the less brain power I have for making eye contact and the things that show interest (my therapist's given me a list, but my opprotunities to practice, as a disabled person (physical stuff as well), are limited to a very few activities in safe places...

I am just discovering my myself as being AS and I am really suprised at some of the similarities of symptoms. It really is unfortunate to go thru most of your life not knowing and then all of a sudden "tag, you're it!". lovebug26 the best suggestion is to get with a psychologist and have them help you to discover your true self. Some schools have really great counseling centers to help out.
Many people unfortunately are/were being misdiagnosed as depressed. Though I am on zoloft I dont believe its treating me the way it would a depressed person, I do believe its helping me cope somewhat. Please correct me if I am wrong but AS seems to me the absence of emotion and not depression. Everyone has a different way of dealing with things. The only way for you to figure things out is to get help. Last week I started the talk(AS) with my counselor and it was like a litebulb moment for both of us and she is going to start working with me being on the Autism spectrum or scale...Good luck, I hope you find yourself.

DarkSON,

Exactly, it's hard to accept this random and new thing. However, I think it's more challenging not knowing at all. How can a person ever start to accept who they are if they don't know? I totally get that this is who I am and I want to embrace it! At the same time, being diagnosed leaves room for judgment. Not that I care about general public...but I do care about my work environment.. I don't want to be given special treatment just because I'm different. Or treated as if I'm a burdon when they, in fact,are just misinformed.

Either way, I'm happy I can relate to others for once!
I- kah-rumbah.

IDK. Among other issues I wondered the same with my son. And now I'm wondering it about my mother, and I just had a conversation with my sister about her adopted son, that was much the same.