I am shy and sometimes anxious about going out in social events and I dont have a lot of friends. Some people think that means I am Asperger’s. I do not because I have met people with Asperger’s and their personal style is different. Can someone explain to me what they think the difference is between shyness and Asperger’s syndrome?
Shyness is a discomfort or inhibition in social situations that interferes with one’s career goals or social goals. Social Anxiety is defined as having severe and unreasonable fear of social situations. The only real difference between shyness and social anxiety is the severity of the condition. social anxiety is more severe. Asperger’s syndrome is really something completely different. Asperger’s syndrome is an autistic spectrum disorder where the person has difficulties in social interaction, speech problems, has interest in very few or only one area/s (such as trains or astronomy), as well as unusual responses to the environment
I don’t know much about it, but I know that Asperger’s is a mild form of autism if that helps any.
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Asperger’s is associated with Autism and learning disabilities. Though all may make a person more shy, a quick check is how well can you manipulate things with your right and left hands. This dexterity of lets say bouncing a basketball with either hand would be an easy way to rule out Aspergers since the ability to use the right and left side of the brain make that simple sounding exercise nearly impossible. Cheer up and remember you learn by doing and go out and have fun regardless of your condition or lack there of.
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people with Asperger’s don’t pick up emotional cues as well as other people, and have trouble controlling their own emotions, which combines to make them "shy".
regular shyness is fear based. it’s usually got something to do with your environment.
example: give a shy lady a makeover and $10 bucks says she’ll be more outgoing. the same is impossible for a person with Asperger’s.
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Shyness is a discomfort or inhibition in social situations that interferes with one’s career goals or social goals. Social Anxiety is defined as having severe and unreasonable fear of social situations. The only real difference between shyness and social anxiety is the severity of the condition. Social anxiety is more severe. Asperger’s syndrome is really something completely different. Asperger’s syndrome is an autistic spectrum disorder where the person has difficulties in social interaction, speech problems, has interest in very few or only one area/s (such as trains or astronomy), as well as unusual responses to the environment
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Asperger Syndrome is a specific autistic spectrum disorder that is listed in the DSM IV TR. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Revised Text). Physicians use this manual to diagnose AS.
It has specific characteristics and a " qualitative impairment in social interaction" is only one of them.
Search for DSM – IV TR in your web browser and type in:
"DSM-IV 299.00 FOR AUTISTIC DISORDER" as well for a rundown of what AS looks like.
Social anxiety disorder is exactly what you might suspect: Social anxiety disorder. In all other respects the person with this disorder displays characteristics typical of any "normal" person, and will not display the other symptoms of AS people.
Shyness is something we all have whether we have Asperger Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder, or no diagnosis at all. It stems from fear of rejection or not knowing how to integrate with others.
Shyness in any one given situation can be overcome almost instantly once social interaction is commenced.
Social anxiety disorder MAY be overcome through therapy and/or medication over a period of time.
But Asperger Syndrome is thought to be genetic in origin as proven by the 137 scientists worldwide who mapped the autistic genome in the Autistic Genome Project. To date, there has been no therapy which has helped Aspies to overcome their lack of desire for social interaction or lack of desire or ability to socially interact. Indeed, once most therapy ends, Aspies tend to revert to being anti-social, and this may be because they are simply comfortable without the many friendships and companions non-Aspies seem to have.
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