Do you know Sheldon Cooper from the TV series Big Bang Theory? Nowadays many more people know what Asperger’s syndrome is and what difficulties this problem entails thanks to this character from the series.

On February 18, International Asperger’s Syndrome Day will be celebrated, a common developmental disorder in the population (present in 3-7 out of every 1000 births) that leads to emotional, social and behavioral difficulties.

What is Asperger’s syndrome?

Asperger syndrome is a developmental disorder that falls under the category of autism spectrum disorders. Although it has in common with the other forms of autism the difficulties with communication and social interaction and repetitive behavior, Asperger’s is considered a mild variant and has several peculiarities.

Far from it, people with Asperger’s have a normal level of intelligence . In fact, they can demonstrate surprising abilities when it comes to those subjects that are part of their restricted core interests: flags, trains, numbers, etc.

However, they also have great difficulties in other areas, problems that are often present in each of us but to a much more controllable and less threatening degree.

Symptoms of the disorder

People with Asperger syndrome often feel emotionally overwhelmed and unable to identify their own feelings. This occurs due to a lack of awareness of one’s own emotions and feelings and a deficit of resources and strategies to manage them adequately: situations that they do not control, and which therefore stress them, will make them feel easily overwhelmed.

But not only do they have difficulty identifying and managing their own emotional state, but also they find it difficult to “read” others and understand how they feel or what their intentions are. This makes them sometimes described as insensitive or careless, or that they do not know how to interpret ironies or double meanings properly, generating frequent misunderstandings.

Some of the compensatory strategies that people with Asperger’s syndrome use to compensate for their lack of resources for emotional self-regulation and to regain a sense of security are stereotyped behaviours and movements (swinging, running, jumping, “flapping”) or restriction of interests in two or three areas.

Strategies for managing anxiety

Understanding these behaviors as strategies – albeit unadaptive – for managing the anxiety or discomfort they experience in certain situations, it is understandable that any change in routine or unforeseen event will succeed in destabilizing a person with Asperger’s if he or she is not offered the educational resources to manage it.

For example, people with Asperger’s, and autism in general, find it helpful to anticipate possible changes in their plans. If a plan has been previously established and it changes suddenly, they may feel intense anxiety.

These consequences are not surprising when you consider that many people are already nervous about being taken out of their routines or about the normal occurrence of mishaps, although this is often more manageable than for people with autism spectrum disorders.

Asperger’s in childhood and adulthood

Understanding the main characteristics of the problem is not only important to facilitate its early detection and the development and implementation of educational and support measures for the child; it also favours greater awareness, promoting a more understanding and respectful attitude towards people with Asperger’s disease from those around them.

It is common to focus on the manifestations of the disorder during childhood and adolescence, as these are the times when the first warning signs are seen. However, if one does not work on an individual and collective level, it is easy that, when reaching adulthood, they continue to have difficulties and these are even exacerbated by the increase in social and labour demands of the environment.

On a social level, for example, it is common for people with Asperger’s syndrome to have little success in their relationships because of their resistance to moving to a level of greater intimacy in their relationships. In the workplace, the current emphasis on teamwork may be an impediment for them because of their difficulty in considering themselves part of a group and in understanding the views of others.

Causes

Currently the causes of Asperger’s Syndrome are largely unknown. However, it is believed that its origin is largely genetic , and therefore relatively independent of past experiences and how one interacts with the environment (although these factors may trigger or aggravate the symptoms).

In addition, some research suggests that the root of the syndrome may be related to the origin of disorders such as depression or bipolarity.

Associations and groups of affected people

As with other problems, Asperger’s has a number of associations and groups of affected people throughout the world.

These groups fulfill the fundamental mission of giving visibility to the disorder, but they also constitute enriching spaces where people with Asperger’s and their families share concerns, problems and solutions to the difficulties they encounter in their daily lives. The participation of the child or adult with Asperger’s in these communities is positive for several reasons.

Firstly, because they receive information about their problem, which favours the understanding of their experience and reduces the levels of distress . Secondly, because they are contexts in which, as there are individuals with similar difficulties, people with Asperger’s may feel especially understood and integrated; in other words, they are no longer “the freak”.

And thirdly, because they constitute a natural environment in which the person can learn important skills and strategies for managing everyday obstacles : how to start a conversation, how to resolve conflicts, etc. The teaching of skills is especially effective when the association promotes the participation of the person in formative or recreational activities related to his/her interests, such as outings or camps.