Aspergers and Depression

Hey guys, welcome back to blog that comes to you exclusively from the Internet.

I hope you all have been doing well over the past week. I have had my own fair share of adventures. I saw the new hunger games movie, which was enjoyable. Sadly there were 4 girls behind me and my friend that wouldn’t shut up or stop munching loudy on food during the film. I have a feeling they don’t understand the meaning of ‘hunger’ games.

On Sunday I was at the annual TROPFEST festival. I hung out with my friends, ate junk food and watched  the best 16 short films from people around Australia that incorporate the TSI (Tropfest Signature Item)! This years theme was 'Change'. My favourite film was 'Makeover', it was about an old man who changes his appearance very drastically in order to go on a date with an attractive young woman! It was a fun time had by all and the movies where a mixture of comedy, horror, drama and thriller.

Okay now that we have finished the intrepid story of my week, and last week we finished the incredible 4 parter on Myers Briggs, lets get back to Aspergers Syndrome.

A major issue in todays society that I feel doesn't get enough attention is depression. It isn't an exclusive state to just Aspies but the general populace where age doesn't matter. The chances of knowing someone suffering with this condition are more common than people realise. The trouble is that we are all wound up in our own world and what is happening around us that we don't realise when someone close to us has this condition. Empathy seems to come into play when we have the time and energy to lend someone an ear or shoulder to cry on.  I have been through the depths of depression and it is horrible. Yet what separates Neuro-Typicals (the normal ones) with depression from the people with High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome?

I have to say, working on this post has been an emotional exercise for me. When typing this blog it brought back a lot of the black moments in my past. These included the lack of understanding towards me and my condition, failed relationships (i.e. all of them), bullying and the fact that as humorous as I am, it doesn’t take much to break me down when being joked about.

If you read  my posts on Myers Briggs, you will find that people with ASD or Aspergers are much more on the thinking side rather than on the feeling side. But what happens when a person on the spectrum suffers from a  mental condition that disrupts the flow of things, it’s a paradox that would confuse a skunk with a perfume addiction.

Tests have shown that 1 in 15 people on the spectrum suffer from depression. It has been stated that this is due to the fact they become more aware with who they are to be, with this disability. Being different to their family and friends and the inability to have a relationship or to understand social paradigms can all be a cause to one becoming depressed.

There are other factors to consider such as being bullied in the past or any other form of abuse or trauma. From my personal experience I have tried to suppress or ignore those past painful experiences. When you are a victim it is very hard to talk to someone as you feel you are less than the person you should be. Depending on the advice or comfort you receive it can be either a step forward or a further plunge into depression. Something I also noticed if I dwelt on the bad things for a long time the harder it was to dig my way out of depression. 

So what are some of the traits that are common with those on the spectrum who are suffering from depression.

Many Aspies are known for their obsessive thoughts and their interests; whether it be a movie, collectibles or anything else really. Now when Aspies are depressed they start questioning these things. Obsessions that would bring pleasure to them now have no meaning. You start to ask yourself, “Why am I collecting this? Its just a piece of plastic”. “ What’s the point of this film? It's just the same thing over and over again like every other film” or “ Why am I reading this book? I will never meet these fictional characters”.  It has been said that this is very similar to a ‘masking’ effect. Without the person knowing due to their autistic natures, depression starts burrowing into their thoughts to the point where it almost takes over their souls. 

Lets go back to what causes the depression. I mentioned the fact that feeling  different to their friends and family can be one of the initial steps to making them feel depressed. How can you tell someone you love that you are different when they reply, "No you are not it is just a phase you are going through". They don’t understand everything that goes on in normal every day life and conversation of an Aspie. They have a different perspective and understanding of what is personal space, eye contact and conversation flow.  I always say that changing high schools was like landing on an unknown planet. Apparently I’m not the only one! So many people on the spectrum feel like they are an alien with a human mask on.

Lastly we come to Repetitive and Obsessive thoughts. Normally thoughts are not just black and white, there is always shades of grey (up to 50). However, to a person who is depressed the thoughts become more black than white. Not only that, the thoughts are on an never ending loop, dark thoughts spin into darker thoughts and that’s never a good sign. We must realise that we need someone to talk to and it is not just to offload our problems but to have some kind of reassurance that things will get better. There are many professional people out there who are willing to help out, such as Beyond Blue, Kids Hotline and Lifeline.

So what can be done to combat against this evil emotional menace? Well, I would have to say the thing that needs to be done in order to learn about overcoming  depression with someone on the spectrum is by tuning in next week to finding out in Part 2 of Aspergers and Depression

Well folks its time for me to head off, I hope you have a lovely week and an even lovelier weekend!

Myers Briggs and Aspie ways Part 2

Hey guys, welcome back to the blog that tastes just like cola, C O L A cola!

A lot of things have happened in the world this week. Amongst those was the unfortunate resignation of John Elder Robison from Autism Speaks. John, as my mentor, I hope you and your wife are doing okay and I'll be sending you a letter this week. You are a good man and an inspiration to many, especially to me!

What's happened in the week of Kuzma? I went on an exceptional date! I got a lot of feedback on part 1 of the Myers Briggs post. Finally I showed off what I have been working on to the guys at '2discover'. They loved it all ! Which is great!

So we are onto part 2 of 3 of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator blog! This week we will talk about other half of the types. These include Thinking/ Feeling and Judging/ Perceiving.

Let's start with Thinking, though I am sure you were thinking long before this blog. Penny for your thoughts?

 The people who are more aligned to Thinking rather than Feeling tend to rule their decisions based on logic. When it comes to the battles of the head fighting the heart, the head wins. Why wouldn't it? The thoughts go in your brain, not in your heart! Otherwise your heart would be stuck in the safety shell that is the skull. Nobody wants an achey breaky heart. Chances are if you are a thinker you like to make pro and con lists when making decisions and to be consistent and logical in deciding. I got to say, through all the pop culture stuff I enjoy, the word 'logical' comes off with the least emotional setting. Then again someone who is highly logical will worry a lot less because he/she has already planned ahead. In a zombie apocalypse you may want a thinker because they will more likely take personal matters out of the equation. So whatever you so, don't get bitten!

Now that we have left the cold, logical ways of thinking, let's move to the heart strung, fuzzy wuzzy sunny times of feeling!

So what makes a feeler a feeler? BIG HANDS! Ew, that word just doesn't sound right, let's start that again. What makes someone with feeling different to the thinking person? Well feeling people make their decisions based on their own ethics, morals, principles values. They put their heart before their head. Cause if there is no emotion in something, what's the point? It's all about weighing up what people care about, not just their point of view but others as well. They want to make sure harmony is in order. And lastly in relationships a feeling person will appear caring, warm and tactful. They will have a greater sense of empathy. In the final analysis, if decisions mainly come down to how you are feeling and the emotions of others, then you are the feeling type.

So, let's see where these two fit in to someone with Asperger's Syndrome. The popular concept is that Aspies are very much thinkers and aren't on the feelings side at all. Which can be true in some cases yet false in others. For instance I come up as a feelings type due to the history I have had with bullying and trying to find a girlfriend. It's not that we don't have emotions, we are just unsure on how and when to use them. It is very easy for us to classified by neural typicals as being self centred, rude or not caring. As a result as soon as we are classified by someone, we feel exposed and shut ourselves in.

Onto the final quarter! Judging and percieving!

The judging type of person does not mean that they are judgemental. It means to have things in sequential order. To put things in order, organise events/things in particular way or put a series of events into a certain order. Structure is the key element! Those who fall into the judging category are people who need closure. Judging people feel more at ease once decisions are made, due to rules being set in stone. Now where's my chisel!?

Perceiving people are more spontaneous in life, flexible with their actions and plans. This means they can keep their options open and think randomly. These people can be spontaneous, no not spontaneously combusting, otherwise there would be a lot of heated arguments! Percievers are open to new experiences like trying a new food, adventure or songs that might make others want to hurl. I'm looking at you Miley Cyrus!

So, what are people on the Autistic Spectrum more likely to be? In this case, I believe they would prefer to be Judging. The structure, sequencing and order is something that Aspies need to help them function. We tend to be collectors, at times it is not just enough to have a complete set of what we desire but it must be in the correct order as well. To Neural Typicals this might be trivial, but to us it is essential so that we can sleep at night. Our sense of being is in our routines. With me it is the opening act of getting out of bed having a shower, having breakfast and going out the front door. After a hot summers night, I don't want to mix up that sequence. I know that everybody likes to work to a certain order or in a certain way. Neural Typicals might not be too put off by starting days in different ways. I have a established my routine and I know if that is put out of order it takes me a long time to get over it.

So there we have it! Now we have all four sections of the Myers Briggs and Jung type Indicator. Tune that dial in next week to find out about guardians, artisans, Idealists, Rationalist, and the real life/fictional characters that relate to them!

Myers Briggs and Aspie ways

Hey everyone welcome to the site located in your own favourite lounge room.

So that was one hell of a couple of weeks, I didn't think I could get so much into music and emotions. I wonder if rap means emotional constipation!

Speaking of having a hard time getting it out, my week has been so busy I could have put an bee to shame! I went to see Alan Partridge Alpha Papa, it was fantastic! I give it 9 out of 10 doubloons! I had challenges at my new job that really tested my Aspie wirings but after a shooting some strings and entering some data entrees and I was on top of it like a lion on a gazelle. Lastly I put together my next big speech! This is for the Psych DD conference where I will be the opening act. So I apologise if this blog isn't as funny and perculiar as my other ones.

Has anyone here heard of the Myers Briggs personality test? Yes? No? Maybe? Ask again later? Oh okay then. Well for those who don't know the Myers Briggs type indicator assessment is a psychological survey that is designed to show how someone looks at happenings and the world around them and these influence the persons decisions. A man by the name of Carl Gustav Jung wrote a book about it. In it he stated the four principal psychological functions that govern people in decision making are sensation, intuition, feeling and thinking. People have one of these four functions as a dominant most of the time.

Gee you can imagine Myers Briggs and Carl Jung having a field day on Facebook. They would be deciphering the extraverted sensing feeling percieving people from introverted intuitive Thinking Judging people. Writers use this personality test to create characters in their novels. Yet this test can help people in every day life discover more about themselves. Even though this indicator is mainly applied to fictional characters, the same characteristics can be pointed out in people through everyday life.

I will go through the first two sections this week, followed by the last two next week. So what's on tonights menu? 

Extraverts / sensing and intuition.

Introverts / sensing and intuition.

So let's start off with the well known extroverts and introverts! This odd couple is older than Jack Lemon and Walter Mathau. Extroverts decisions are more "action" orientated where as introverts decisions are more "thought" orientated. Take for example a Saturday night. An extravert may prefer going out to a party. An introvert would rather spend his or her time at home watching a movie or reading a book. Extroverts prefer to seek "breadth" of knowledge and influence. On the other hand introverts seek "depth of knowledge and influence. Take for example an assignment. The extroverts may want to know more about what needs to be done but introverts want to know why they are doing it and what is the best way of achieving  a certain assignment. Extroverts want to be the life of the party! They love a lot of social communication! Introverts aren't as enthusiastic with the idea. However, they do prefer communication on a one to one level. I'm brought back to my favourite comic 'More than Meets The Eye'. Swerve is an eccentric extraverted bot who loves to be a part of the crowd. Tailgate on the other hand is quiet and prefers to communicate one on one with his friend Cyclonus. They say that extraverts recharge and get their energy hanging out with their friends and family whilst introverts recharge and get their energy from spending time alone. Personally I feel that after a large amount of time interacting with many people I feel that I need to spend time at home recharging. That way I can take on the next social expedition with my eager stamina that is match to no other!


So where does this apply to someone with Asperger's? Well, Popular belief is that us Aspies all hate social interaction and we all want to sit in a quiet room and read books. Whoever has those kinds of thoughts has already framed a certain type of people into one restricted category, which is wrong. Aspies come in all introvert, extravert, sensing and intuitive forms. I know us Aspies are probably more introverted but unfortunately I am the extraverted oddball. With our condition we may come off a bit extreme in certain cases where we don't like multitasking and instructions have to be clear, concise and unambiguous. Hell I know many people who say they had no idea how to take me when they first met me. To which I said, take two pokemon with a glass of water and see me in the morning.

Next we move onto sensing and intuition

So what is sensing? It's paying attention to physical reality. Everyone knows what senses we have, sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, 20, 50, 10 and 5 cents. Whoops I was counting the change in my wallet. Not only that, sensing is also about what is actual, present and real. When it comes to most things it's all about the small details rather than the general aspect of  what it is. A great way to see if you are more of a sensing person is by seeing what you like to do with your time. If you prefer cooking, gardening or playing musical instruments, chances are you're more of a sensing guy! If you like running into brick walls, lying on a bed of nails or walking on hot coals then there is no sense in you at all. Though these things can be played out in an intuitive way though. But most of all, it's mainly about experience rather than the theoretical side.

So, what can I say about Intuition. People who are more intuitive, pay more attention to impressions or the meaning and  patterns of the information they receive  They want to work a problem through. They are more interested in something new and how many possible ways there are of reaching a solution. These people are more likely to use symbols or abstract theories. When it's comes to events or gatherings they will remember the general event rather than details of what went on.

Now how does is apply to the mind of an Aspie? To explain is I will have to pay homage to Temple Grandin. She said at the 'Pathways to Employment' seminar in Sydney that some Aspies learn through pictures, seeing things happen. She went on to talk about how some people needed everything written down and there was a third one but I can't recall. The thing we need to be aware of though is that Aspies can utilise these processes in a better manner than others. Temple  also mentions how aspies or autistics have a tendency to think in pictures. This trait is seen as sensing. The reason why we see situations in pictures is because a picture says a thousand words and we generally find a solution quicker than reading a text book. In my opinion us Aspies are more sensitive due to the lack of tolerance and understanding people show us. This also is probably the reason why a lot of us are introverts. 

So there we have the first part of the Myers Briggs blog! Man if Peter Jackson decided to turn this three parter into a movie series it would be in 6 separate 3 hour long films. Anyway I hope your week is a grande one and look forward to seeing all of you next Monday!