I have Asperger's Syndrome.

[MissVictoria]

I have a crippling phobia in groups of people, I dont interpret body language or peoples intentions correctly, I am bipolar, I have an insanely high iq, but I dont comprehend mathematics, I have problems saying exactly what I mean, I am wholly self centered and have a hard time talking when the conversations dont revolve around me, I desire praise obsessively and cant handle criticism at all, I am a recluse, I do not enjoy setting foot outside of my house, I will do anything I can to avoid talking to people I dont know either in person or on the phone, I dont want to know many people, I cant handle loud talking or too many people talking at once, I do not have appropriate emotional responses to stimulus around me. I am obsessive compulsive, fixated on certain topics or projects as long as they hold interest for me, obsessive when they do, and find myself unable to continue them after they disinterest me, I have underdeveloped motor skills and am clumsy. I refuse completely sometimes to put myself in social situations. ie: Go to school, go to work, go to the store, go visit my family, etc.

Thats about it in a nutshell. I am tired of keeping this a secret from people. Sorry that you, complete strangers, have to hear it. But its much easier to say this in text, than it is in person.

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

Apparently the chemicals released in the brain during orgasm can help get the two halfs functioning together.

 

[greybeard]

ok...........thanks for sharing............stop by anytime...........

greybeard

 

[Backyard sweaty]

Apparently the chemicals released in the brain during orgasm can help get the two halfs functioning together.

I only have a half an Asperger and it tastes awful.

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

Two halves of the brain, dummy!

 

[Guest]

Hey Miss V.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Victoria, I find people with Aspergers or high functioning autism to be quite interesting and lively to hang with.

The obsessiveness to certain fields of vision can work in your favor, if you let it.

 

[MissVictoria]

Thank you Lioness and Ruby I try not to mind the jokes above, I know people are just having fun. But your responses are comforting, and I thank you.

I've had bad luck, however, telling people about my aspergers. I suppose you could say that people who cant deal with it arent true friends, but I have few. It hits hard when they leave.

But I can see the truth in your words. And I know what I need to do.

 

[Backyard sweaty]

Two halves of the brain, dummy!

To late, right after I got done posting I realized I was eating brunch and I immediately knew where I'd made my mistake.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Victoria, you are one step ahead of many in that you are diagnosed, and understand your disorder.

By telling the people who love you what you just told us, they can better understand and relate to you. Do it.

And you know what? We're all fucked up in one way or another. Yours just has a name. ;-)

 

[Oscuridad]

Thank you Lioness and Ruby I try not to mind the jokes above, I know people are just having fun. But your responses are comforting, and I thank you.

I've had bad luck, however, telling people about my aspergers. I suppose you could say that people who cant deal with it arent true friends, but I have few. It hits hard when they leave.

But I can see the truth in your words. And I know what I need to do.

You need to be surrounded by those the deeply care for you. And don't give a monkey's about how broken you are or not, how sick you are or not, how much you want to hear it or not...

I love you. You know that. If anyone gives you even a off-glance for this. Kick them on my behalf. If I'm within reach, I'll do it myself.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Victoria, have you read Thinking in Pictures, by Temple Grandin?

The author herself is autistic and I've heard that it's an excellent book.

 

[kidthor]

I agree totally with Ruby...I have never met a person who is not in some way or another "screwed up."...The people who are your true freinds and the ones worth having as such, would never judge you for this...they would only show compassion and understanding...anyone who does not is a waste of your time...

 

[Guest]

 

[JerseyBoy]

I've had bad luck, however, telling people about my aspergers. I suppose you could say that people who cant deal with it arent true friends, but I have few. It hits hard when they leave.

It's so stupid that people can't 'deal' with it. It's not contageous, it's not terminal, it's not offensive. I can't see how understanding you more would make them go away Be glad you finally know wht you have though...I'm sure you went through many years questioning why you were a little different, not very popular and always had to ask what they meant or just didnt 'get' what the show was about, ot what the person was talking about, or how you could possibly have to remember all those directions or even how someone actually puts their foot in their own mouth.

A.S. is not autism and if you can deal with so should everyone else. If anything friends should be more interested in you, intruiged with your slightly altered view of the world, I know I would.

There is no way those friends were friends if they are dissing you now...good riddence to them!

Like Ruby said, we are all fucked up in so many ways...to understand why you are the way you are is a good thing.

 

[ub6ibfine]

Good luck dear,

 

[Rubyfruit]

... A.S. is not autism ...

I agree with everything you said, but this, Jersey. ;-)

Aspergers is on the "autistic spectrum" of disorders. It is the highest functioning level of autism and people who have it are, much like Victoria, high IQ, single-minded and have trouble relating to people on a social level.

In fact, there is a raging debate amongst professionals today about whether there is a difference between the Aspergers diagnosis and the high functioning autism diagnosis. As a mother of a son with the latter, who has done a great deal of reading on this subject, I would say, yes, there is a difference. However, it is still autism.

 

[MissVictoria]

Thank you for the encouragement. Perhaps a letter would be a good idea, but I wonder if they would think it is cowardly.

Jersey I can tell you I got a giggle over foot in mouth, but didnt have too much trouble understanding it. What I had the biggest problem understanding was stick figures, actually. .... Yes. Stick figures. I did not get them. I still dont really, but whatever. Its a person. They seem awfully lazy to me. And the absolute worst is phone numbers. I dont know mine.

 

[JerseyBoy]

Aspergers is on the "autistic spectrum" of disorders. It is the highest functioning level of autism and people who have it are, much like Victoria, high IQ, single-minded and have trouble relating to people on a social level.

In fact, there is a raging debate amongst professionals today about whether there is a difference between the Aspergers diagnosis and the high functioning autism diagnosis. As a mother of a son with the latter, who has done a great deal of reading on this subject, I would say, yes, there is a difference. However, it is still autism.

Ruby,
you are right, it is in same spectrum and the closest disorder. Most AS'ers are initially classified as autistic, especially with varied 'odd' behaviors.

I see autism as mind closing disorder a way of excluding the outside world and not so much as avoiding the world on purpose but it has little meaning to them. AS'ers want to be part of the world and are aware of their difference from others. They want to belong and can understand their own disorder. They can use scripting to get through certain situations such as meeting a new person and even study idioms and learn to identify them.

AS'ers may share autistic symtoms like avoiding eye contact, forgetfullness, disturbed by changes in patterns, unable to distinguish 'gestures' or even when someone is not interested in what they are talking about. I just think that an autistic child while retreat inwards while an AS child tries to get out and belong.

MissV i dont mean to talk like you arent here. You certainly know all about this and how all A.S. cases vary in symtoms. School must have been a mess for you.

I can't image you feel autistic in any sense...do you?

 

[SilverVeil]

I can understand where you are coming from. I have seen so many doctors over the years and have been misdiagnosed so many times. When what I have is Aspergers.

Every symptom was there, but so may of them fall into other cateories in the health field that I have been medicated for manic/depressive, ADHD and other sister problems. I finally went to a doctor who has seen and treats many patients with this. How relieved I was to find someone who finally understood !!!!

Know that you are not alone. There are others out here with you.

 

[The Heretic]

I find this syndrome interesting; reading up on it seems to indicate that I show some symptoms of this syndrome, and not others. Taking a test gave me a quotient of 35:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

According to the test the average is around 16-17. Of course this may mean nothing as it certainly isn't a diagnosis - but I have often wondered why I exhibit some of these behaviors. I am not obsessive-compulsive about much of anything but I do exhibit other behaviors, some of which fall into this category:

1) When I was young I didn't talk much - even though I could. Yeah, yeah, people here would find that difficult to believe because I post at length about stuff, but writing is different for me. My parents said I didn't say much of anything until I was about 6-7. While I was growing up I always was very quiet and had extreme difficulty in social situations. Because I am usually pretty quiet I don't tend towards saying socially innapropriate things in social situations, but I would if I were more outgoing - and I tend to say things that are just totally off-track sometimes. IT took me a long time to get to the point where I could carry on conversations, and I still struggle with it. Writing really helps, because then I have already thought through a particular subject.

2) I have had real problems knowing people's intentions. I don't read their body language very well at all, I have difficulty knowing when someone is saying something in jest or is deadly serious. Over the years I have learned how to interpret people better, but it is often very hard for me to see hidden meanings.

3) I do get involved in various subjects and endeavors to the exclusion of all else. I get interested in something and I need to know all about it. For me the learning about something and analyzing it is almost more fun than doing it.

Given all of that, this syndrome might explain the above and some of my other personality traits - and it might not. I have mostly learned how to get along in life so if at one time I had this problem to a very mild degree I have long since learned to cope. I had never heard of this syndrome before now.

 

[SimplySouthern]

I have an insanely high iq, but I dont comprehend mathematics,

I have problems saying exactly what I mean

I desire praise obsessively and cant handle criticism at all,

I am obsessive compulsive, fixated on certain topics or projects as long as they hold interest for me, obsessive when they do, and find myself unable to continue them after they disinterest me

These all fit me to a T.

Tell people about it. Most will understand. Those that don't probably aren't worth your time anyway.

I'm a seriously "quirky" gal. I'm honest and upfront with people about it and I find that some people are honestly intrigued by it.

Honesty is the best policy I think....and you're not as weird as you may think. Really, how many of us are "normal"?

 

[JerseyBoy]

I had never heard of this syndrome before now.

I believe the term was coined in the 1940's, but not recognized in the US until about 1994.

It is a subject that needs to be explained to our teachers in the schools. Even now most have never heard of it. Can you imagine a teachers frustration of a child who occasionally says things totally out of context, seems to not be interested in class, gets upset whenever regular routine is altered, has difficulty staying on task, cannot follow directions completely, seems rude and uncaring towards others in their actions and words? Yet most of the time they seem happy as can be...

 

[aly*]

.

 

[MissTaken]

MissV?

Wow!
The timeliness of this thread is incredible.

I am working with a four year old who is being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

My heart goes out to you and to him. I was wondering if you could tell me if there was anything that I can do for this little guy to make growing up easier, school easier and adult hood more manageable.

Right now, we are trying to teach him basic survival skills. i.e. how to say "no" rather than follow the pack, how to say, "I need.."

Socially, he is a recluse and rather than have his needs met, will say nothing. This could be dangerous in a situation where the "pack" wants to walk down the middle of the road, or where he is ill and won't say so.

We are also tenderly giving him opportunities to make friends. Providing patience, talking about feelings, practicing happy faces, sad faces and other modes of self experession.

Have you any other ideas?

Thank you for your openess and maybe, your courage in posting this will help another.