How many of you are "Aspies"?

[[Fl...]]

Social "things" are so exhausting. It's exhausting because I know HOW to act to be a "normie" so I do, because that's safer and I tend to want to get out of those situations FAST.  I was a "weird" kid.  I never fit in at school, except with the other "weird" kids.  Even when I was at home I preferred to be alone, reading our World Book Encyclopedias, even the dictionary because new words were interesting. High school was awful. AWFUL. I never "got" all of the social sh*t I was supposed to be interested in. Dating? HA. Proms? HAAAAAA! Not. Anyway. Just some thoughts. I seem to always be on some fringe.

 

Same here. I have managed to function socially most of my life (some times have been better than others) but it is never something that has came naturally for me, I always felt like I had to force it. This benzo thing has really done a number on me. I am feeling better most days now but I lost most of my social contacts and moved to a new area and it is proving to be difficult for me to get my social life back on track. I could make it happen with great effort but I still need more alone time than ever and the last thing I want to do is start obligating myself to things I can't follow through with.

[Guest [NM...]]

OMG This is so my son and also my favorite nephew. And they are both extraordinarily brilliant.

[Guest [NM...]]

Social "things" are so exhausting. It's exhausting because I know HOW to act to be a "normie" so I do, because that's safer and I tend to want to get out of those situations FAST.  I was a "weird" kid.  I never fit in at school, except with the other "weird" kids.  Even when I was at home I preferred to be alone, reading our World Book Encyclopedias, even the dictionary because new words were interesting. High school was awful. AWFUL. I never "got" all of the social sh*t I was supposed to be interested in. Dating? HA. Proms? HAAAAAA! Not. Anyway. Just some thoughts. I seem to always be on some fringe.

 

Same here. I have managed to function socially most of my life (some times have been better than others) but it is never something that has came naturally for me, I always felt like I had to force it. This benzo thing has really done a number on me. I am feeling better most days now but I lost most of my social contacts and moved to a new area and it is proving to be difficult for me to get my social life back on track. I could make it happen with great effort but I still need more alone time than ever and the last thing I want to do is start obligating myself to things I can't follow through with.

 

FG Yep Yep Yep....

[Guest [Sk...]]

 

 

The irony is that the ONLY person who has truly supported me through this benzo nightmare is my Aspergers buddy. He is literally the only person who is willing to engage in conversation about it and asks me how I am doing on a regular basis.

 

It's pretty cruel that the rest of the world treats people who have these kinds of issues the way they do. My buddy in his mid 30's and never really had a girlfriend because of his social issues.

 

Lucky for him he never ended up on the psych drug merry go round at some point.

 

 

I agree, and am pleased you found someone Floridaguy

however I did end up on this merry go round due to the need to conform and to fit in,as I  was always different, poor social skills an introvert, and could fake it at times socially, wear a mask to fit in,  however after getting of the benzos it appears the high functioning Aspergers ( better late than never )  fits like a glove and I am happier being me now with no drugs, and accepting my differences.

[Guest [NM...]]

 

 

The irony is that the ONLY person who has truly supported me through this benzo nightmare is my Aspergers buddy. He is literally the only person who is willing to engage in conversation about it and asks me how I am doing on a regular basis.

 

It's pretty cruel that the rest of the world treats people who have these kinds of issues the way they do. My buddy in his mid 30's and never really had a girlfriend because of his social issues.

 

Lucky for him he never ended up on the psych drug merry go round at some point.

 

 

I agree, and am pleased you found someone Floridaguy

however I did end up on this merry go round due to the need to conform and to fit in,as I  was always different, poor social skills an introvert, and could fake it at times socially, wear a mask to fit in,  however after getting of the benzos it appears the high functioning Aspergers ( better late than never )  fits like a glove and I am happier being me now with no drugs, and accepting my differences.

 

Skyblue ♥️

[Guest [NM...]]

Ted X talk.

[[Be...]]

I like watching the TV show, The Good Doctor, about the surgical resident who is billiant but has autism.  I relate very much to how he behaves.  I feel alot like he does.  I think I have some autism.  Was an English major in college and did alot of writing.  Always wanted to work independently and as a kid felt most comfortable doing things by myself.  Was always very sensitive to harsh people.  Teacher on my first grade report card who wasn't too nice wrote,  "hope her "blank" days disappear." 

[[...]]

I like watching the TV show, The Good Doctor, about the surgical resident who is billiant but has autism.  I relate very much to how he behaves.  I feel alot like he does.  I think I have some autism.  Was an English major in college and did alot of writing.  Always wanted to work independently and as a kid felt most comfortable doing things by myself.  Was always very sensitive to harsh people.  Teacher on my first grade report card who wasn't too nice wrote,  "hope her "blank" days disappear."

I'm stubbornly going to make a personal differentiation between autism and Asperger's, and I really don't care if this group or that wants to eliminate the term.

 

I'm going to repeat that at no time has anyone, either a friend or a professional, even suggested that I belong anywhere on the spectrum. It's just that I know myself, and here are couple things that are unusual:

 

1. I was talking to the mother of my most talented young student, age 12. I don't think this boy has been formally diagnosed as having Asperger's, but I'd bet $100 on the spot that he has it. His eyes bore into me when I talk, and he has no sense of personal space. Hard to explain. He gets so close to me when he is looking at me and my computer as I am explaining things that I have to gently push him back a bit. Hard to explain. So there are many things. I was explaining to him and his mother that I did not speak when I was very young, and then suddenly I started speaking complete sentences. This slightly delayed speech is not definitely linked to Asperger's, but it is odd that this boy also did not speak, and his mother was worried and had him tested. She has not shared all the results, I think, but apparently the boy just started talking one day and has never stopped since.

 

2. I could not read social clues. I did not know when I was saying something odd. I know that other kids frequently looked at me like I came from Mars, and I was so far from being a "cool" kid that I was just the opposite. No friends, and I was desperately lonely.

 

I think some of us are borderline, and we can flip. Once I made it my business to study people the way I formerly studied music and my other interests, I got so good at reading social clues that I'm usually way beyond just about everyone I know.

 

But I know how I started, and I know how I got here. It was not automatic, natural or easy. Music, on the other hand, is and always has been as natural and easy for me as anything could be.

[[Fl...]]

however I did end up on this merry go round due to the need to conform and to fit in

 

Same here, but the crazy thing is that I only got on the train to hell when my life was better than it had ever been. I had more friends than I had ever had (acquaintances at least) more girlfriends, a really nice house, a couple of nice cars, I was running a couple of businesses, I was respected and probably even envied by a lot of people, but there was always this "thing" nagging me, this desire to be able to socialize like everyone else seemed to be able to.

 

I guess I was pretty dumb for thinking that a pill was going to make a good life great.

[Guest [NM...]]

I like watching the TV show, The Good Doctor, about the surgical resident who is billiant but has autism.  I relate very much to how he behaves.  I feel alot like he does.  I think I have some autism.  Was an English major in college and did alot of writing.  Always wanted to work independently and as a kid felt most comfortable doing things by myself.  Was always very sensitive to harsh people.  Teacher on my first grade report card who wasn't too nice wrote,  "hope her "blank" days disappear."

I'm stubbornly going to make a personal differentiation between autism and Asperger's, and I really don't care if this group or that wants to eliminate the term.

 

I'm going to repeat that at no time has anyone, either a friend or a professional, even suggested that I belong anywhere on the spectrum. It's just that I know myself, and here are couple things that are unusual:

 

1. I was talking to the mother of my most talented young student, age 12. I don't think this boy has been formally diagnosed as having Asperger's, but I'd bet $100 on the spot that he has it. His eyes bore into me when I talk, and he has no sense of personal space. Hard to explain. He gets so close to me when he is looking at me and my computer as I am explaining things that I have to gently push him back a bit. Hard to explain. So there are many things. I was explaining to him and his mother that I did not speak when I was very young, and then suddenly I started speaking complete sentences. This slightly delayed speech is not definitely linked to Asperger's, but it is odd that this boy also did not speak, and his mother was worried and had him tested. She has not shared all the results, I think, but apparently the boy just started talking one day and has never stopped since.

 

2. I could not read social clues. I did not know when I was saying something odd. I know that other kids frequently looked at me like I came from Mars, and I was so far from being a "cool" kid that I was just the opposite. No friends, and I was desperately lonely.

 

I think some of us are borderline, and we can flip. Once I made it my business to study people the way I formerly studied music and my other interests, I got so good at reading social clues that I'm usually way beyond just about everyone I know.

 

But I know how I started, and I know how I got here. It was not automatic, natural or easy. Music, on the other hand, is and always has been as natural and easy for me as anything could be.

 

Same. I just didn’t see the logic when I was very young in reading music 🎶  to play it. I just wanted to play what I heard in my head- whether it was something I’d heard previously or music that I created in my head. Random thoughts...

[Guest [Sk...]]

however I did end up on this merry go round due to the need to conform and to fit in

 

Same here, but the crazy thing is that I only got on the train to hell when my life was better than it had ever been. I had more friends than I had ever had (acquaintances at least) more girlfriends, a really nice house, a couple of nice cars, I was running a couple of businesses, I was respected and probably even envied by a lot of people, but there was always this "thing" nagging me, this desire to be able to socialize like everyone else seemed to be able to.

 

I guess I was pretty dumb for thinking that a pill was going to make a good life great.

 

Yes that "thing" nagged me also, this desire to be able to socialise as well, that the DRs labeled social phobia, anxiety, PTSD, etc etc,

and I have to say the benzos did quieten the anxiety (sadly a false con job that was only temporary whilst on the drugs) and made me better able to cover up my fears and mask them while appearing confident, social, funny etc,  whilst they worked, however when it became necessary to increase them red flags went up, and after much research I discovered all the damage they could do, and now they are also limited to only a few weeks of supply.

 

so Im now on this merry go round of healing and learning new coping skills and accepting my real self and my differences. No longer seeking acceptance by others.

[Guest [NM...]]

Here’s an article from Mad In America this morning. Another link is below this article.

 

https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/02/i-dont-believe-in-autism/

[Guest [Sk...]]

Here’s an article from Mad In America this morning. Another link is below this article.

 

https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/02/i-dont-believe-in-autism/

 

Thanks .    Interesting

 

I liked the quote  "Labels dont mean anything" 

 

so true.  Acceptance of our many differences

 

is way more helpful often. 

 

 

[Guest [NM...]]

Here’s an article from Mad In America this morning. Another link is below this article.

 

https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/02/i-dont-believe-in-autism/

 

Thanks .    Interesting

 

I liked the quote  "Labels dont mean anything" 

 

so true.  Acceptance of our many differences

 

is way more helpful often. 

 

Right. Everything seems to be a damn "disorder."

[[Fl...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

[[Rx...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

 

You betcha.

[Guest [NM...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

 

You betcha.

 

Almost 100%.

[Guest [Sk...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

 

I now realise I believed such labels

from many Drs, and that is how I ended up here  >

 

 

[Guest [NM...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

 

I now realise I believed such labels

from many Drs, and that is how I ended up here  >

 

SAME, SAME SAME, sweetie!

[[Be...]]

Took the psychcentral autism/Asperger's screening quiz.  My result was 37 which indicated that it's highly likely I could have autism.  It also mentioned at the end of the explanation that it's an anxiety disorder?  I have trouble understanding things.  I'm already on SSDI for Anxiety Disorder and had a shrink and a doc diagnose me with severe Anxiety and Panic Disorder.  It also said that Asperger's is the old term used for Autism today.  I never did understand the difference between the two.  Is it just severity?

[[Be...]]

I like watching the TV show, The Good Doctor, about the surgical resident who is billiant but has autism.  I relate very much to how he behaves.  I feel alot like he does.  I think I have some autism.  Was an English major in college and did alot of writing.  Always wanted to work independently and as a kid felt most comfortable doing things by myself.  Was always very sensitive to harsh people.  Teacher on my first grade report card who wasn't too nice wrote,  "hope her "blank" days disappear."

I'm stubbornly going to make a personal differentiation between autism and Asperger's, and I really don't care if this group or that wants to eliminate the term.

 

I'm going to repeat that at no time has anyone, either a friend or a professional, even suggested that I belong anywhere on the spectrum. It's just that I know myself, and here are couple things that are unusual:

 

1. I was talking to the mother of my most talented young student, age 12. I don't think this boy has been formally diagnosed as having Asperger's, but I'd bet $100 on the spot that he has it. His eyes bore into me when I talk, and he has no sense of personal space. Hard to explain. He gets so close to me when he is looking at me and my computer as I am explaining things that I have to gently push him back a bit. Hard to explain. So there are many things. I was explaining to him and his mother that I did not speak when I was very young, and then suddenly I started speaking complete sentences. This slightly delayed speech is not definitely linked to Asperger's, but it is odd that this boy also did not speak, and his mother was worried and had him tested. She has not shared all the results, I think, but apparently the boy just started talking one day and has never stopped since.

 

2. I could not read social clues. I did not know when I was saying something odd. I know that other kids frequently looked at me like I came from Mars, and I was so far from being a "cool" kid that I was just the opposite. No friends, and I was desperately lonely.

 

I think some of us are borderline, and we can flip. Once I made it my business to study people the way I formerly studied music and my other interests, I got so good at reading social clues that I'm usually way beyond just about everyone I know.

 

But I know how I started, and I know how I got here. It was not automatic, natural or easy. Music, on the other hand, is and always has been as natural and easy for me as anything could be.

 

I don't understand my quote here and then the reply.  What am I missing?  Why was I quoted?

[[...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

Or put people into convenient boxes in order to diminish them...

[Guest [NM...]]

Labels are often just an excuse to drug people, especially when it comes to mental health.

Or put people into convenient boxes in order to diminish them...

 

Another 100% yes.

[[...]]

Took the psychcentral autism/Asperger's screening quiz.  My result was 37 which indicated that it's highly likely I could have autism.  It also mentioned at the end of the explanation that it's an anxiety disorder?  I have trouble understanding things.  I'm already on SSDI for Anxiety Disorder and had a shrink and a doc diagnose me with severe Anxiety and Panic Disorder.  It also said that Asperger's is the old term used for Autism today.  I never did understand the difference between the two.  Is it just severity?

First of all, with a score like that it's just a possibility that you share some characteristics. That's about how I score.

 

I think Asperger's is a useful term and should not be discarded. And if you work with kids as I do, you will find out that kids who have the Asperger's label are generally much easier to deal with that those who are clearly labeled autistic.

[[...]]

I like watching the TV show, The Good Doctor, about the surgical resident who is billiant but has autism.  I relate very much to how he behaves.  I feel alot like he does.  I think I have some autism.  Was an English major in college and did alot of writing.  Always wanted to work independently and as a kid felt most comfortable doing things by myself.  Was always very sensitive to harsh people.  Teacher on my first grade report card who wasn't too nice wrote,  "hope her "blank" days disappear."

I'm stubbornly going to make a personal differentiation between autism and Asperger's, and I really don't care if this group or that wants to eliminate the term.

 

I'm going to repeat that at no time has anyone, either a friend or a professional, even suggested that I belong anywhere on the spectrum. It's just that I know myself, and here are couple things that are unusual:

 

1. I was talking to the mother of my most talented young student, age 12. I don't think this boy has been formally diagnosed as having Asperger's, but I'd bet $100 on the spot that he has it. His eyes bore into me when I talk, and he has no sense of personal space. Hard to explain. He gets so close to me when he is looking at me and my computer as I am explaining things that I have to gently push him back a bit. Hard to explain. So there are many things. I was explaining to him and his mother that I did not speak when I was very young, and then suddenly I started speaking complete sentences. This slightly delayed speech is not definitely linked to Asperger's, but it is odd that this boy also did not speak, and his mother was worried and had him tested. She has not shared all the results, I think, but apparently the boy just started talking one day and has never stopped since.

 

2. I could not read social clues. I did not know when I was saying something odd. I know that other kids frequently looked at me like I came from Mars, and I was so far from being a "cool" kid that I was just the opposite. No friends, and I was desperately lonely.

 

I think some of us are borderline, and we can flip. Once I made it my business to study people the way I formerly studied music and my other interests, I got so good at reading social clues that I'm usually way beyond just about everyone I know.

 

But I know how I started, and I know how I got here. It was not automatic, natural or easy. Music, on the other hand, is and always has been as natural and easy for me as anything could be.

 

I don't understand my quote here and then the reply.  What am I missing?  Why was I quoted?

I was making a personal differentiation between "autism" and "Asperger's". No disrespect meant towards your post. To me there is a difference between people who are autistic in the sense that they are unable to take care of themselves, hold down a job, deal with society in general, and those like Temple Grandin who are just different in the way they think but who lead amazing lives.

 

Again, it is a personal way I look at things and may not be valid for other people.