I have mild OCD. My mind has an obsessive nature, but I’m able to control obsessive thoughts from becoming compulsions. As to how that may contribute to my interest in fire alarms, I’m not sure.
I’ve often wondered if I have a touch of Asperger’s. My fascination with objects, systems, and random interests was prevalent at a young age, but never enough to be noticed as abnormal. As with my OCD, I was able to keep my “weirder side” from showing itself too much around friends and family. I gained an interest in psychology around age 12-13 when I was having difficulty finding common ground with kids after moving to a new school and started to become aware of my differences. I discovered that I had synesthesia (a cool condition that I see as a benefit in many ways) and learned about the common symptoms of Asperger’s. Although I could relate to many of its personality traits, those traits began to diminish in me throughout high school. My teenage life was fairly normal - I had a close group of friends and got to be a part of some awesome creative projects. However, I continued to feel isolated from the rest of the crowd and began to struggle with anxiety and depression. It’s taken me some time to come to terms with the “way I am” - I was never diagnosed with a neat and tidy condition to identify with, though I did a ton of research hoping I could finally find it. I don’t know the true basis of why I’m different - could be biological, psychosocial, genetically inherited, or all of the above - but in the end it doesn’t change anything. No human being can be summed up by the name of a condition. What matters more is being able to recognize my gifts/flaws and make adjustments accordingly. I’m OK with being different - who’s to say what is normal?
I think our knowledge and understanding of spectrum disorders has a long way to go. The DSM-5 has already ditched the label of “Asperger’s Syndrome”. Though it is scientifically viewed as a distinct condition, I think the elimination of such distinctions diagnostic-wise is a step in the right direction for the sake of seeing psychological differences in a more individualized light. On the flipside, the general category of “Autism” is so stigmatic at the moment that it will take a long time for the public to understand just how broad the spectrum really can be. I like the “neurodiversity” perspective that has taken hold in recent years.