Is There Anybody Else Here With Aspberger's Syndrome?

[justbugged]

Well I can't tell you how happy I am that I didn't kill the thread. I am rather sensitive because I don't can't always tell if I bug people. I know that I am smart, but I make most people uncomfortable. So everyones replies have been helpful. I totally understand losing the conversation. This also explains why I am actually happier when I am on my own.

 

[justbugged]

PS I would be cranky about the others standing around the cave "chatting and socializing and not getting anything done." Because I would be making sure that the fire was going and that something was cooking, so that we could eat. I would also be expecting them to have at least gathered the wood for the fire. Even then I would still be in trouble from the rest of the group because I didn't do it the way that they wanted me to do it. I think they are all nuts. They make me crazy.

 

[annaraven]

Heck, for all we know, an Aspie invented fire! I mean really, who else would be nuts enough to sit there rubbing two sticks together or striking stones together over and over and over and over just to see what happens? It might interfere with gossiping!

 

[justbugged]

 

[cmjust0]

Quote:
Expanding on her belief that "curing" the entire Autism spectrum would not be a very good idea for the continued evolution and innovation of the human race, Temple Grandin also said:

"I would think in an ideal world, you don't want to have people who cant talk, but on the other hand, you definitely don't want to get rid of all of the autism genetics because if you did that, there'd be no scientists. After all, who do you think made the first stone spear back in the caves? It wasn't the really social people!"

That's probably my favorite Temple Grandin quote because she's almost certainly correct.

 

[boxermom]

I've been reading this thread for a long time. It has been very interesting to me because I see many signs/symptoms of my older DD. She was tested for Aspergers, but nothing was said about that afterward. She has been diagnosed, however with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and also a "non-verbal" learning disorder. She too, can't read faces or innuendo and sarcasm. We have been struggling with all of this for 8 years, but she wasn't diagnosed until last Mar. She is 14. What I know, but am still in the process of "learning" is that God doesn't make mistakes. His plans are perfect and He has plans for all of us. No one is "not good enough." There is someone out there that each and every one of us will touch. That touch will make a difference to that someone. Thank you for being so candid. You are touching people.

 

[annaraven]

Remember that the "test" for Asperger is still in a crude, subjective state. There is no physiological test. In any case, if you think you might or your child might have Aspergers but they haven't been officially diagnosed, there are still some workarounds that may be helpful for the specific issues, eg, planning for transitions, teaching/studying body language, etc.

Since it's a spectrum, I wish more people were simply willing to make allowances for all our differences as human beings, rather than on insist on a label before giving someone the help/tolerance they need.

 

[dragonlaurel]

My husband has lots of these characteristics. Thanks everybody for posting all the info and your experiences with this. We took the test online and he got a 28, which is under the line- but not by that much. He is also into computers and almost anything science related. He also had Disrythmia (a math problem) and I wonder if this is linked to it. Looks like we should be doing some reading on this for a few tips. Our communication styles are pretty different, and I'd like to find a way to make that easier.
BTW- My score was a 15, so we balance each other. I was always a "people person" and roll with change well. I tend to do the more public stuff and then pull him out of the house for stuff he's more likely to enjoy.

 

[Widget]

For anyone who is interested there is a show on NBC called Parenthood (Tuesdays 10 PM EST) that has a character with Asperger's. The producer of the show, Jason Katims, has a son with Asperger's so he wanted to have a character in the show that also had it. It is not normally the type of show I watch but I did watch a few episodes last year. The character of Max is well written and shows how Asperger's might manifest itself.
There are two scenes that I could relate to in one of the episodes. One was when Max was in the classroom trying to take a test. The fish tank's air pump was bubbling away and Max couldn't concentrate. The teacher told him to pay attention. He asked if she could quiet the tank. She didn't. Next scene shows Max's parents in the classroom asking the janitor if there were any survivors while he cleaned up all the broken glass from the broken tank. Now I have never broken anything to 'make it stop' but I certainly can understand the urge.
The second scene was at the dinner table. Max wanted to be excused. His father said not until Max ate his peas (or beans). Max didn't want to but his father told him that for every bite he would get an extra five minutes of tv. So Max thought a moment and then ate twenty peas. One pea=one bite. So he got an extra hour of tv. Now that is something I would do.

Other shows that seem to have Asperger's characters who aren't intentionally written as such would be Dr. Brennan from Bones and Sheldon from The Big Band Theory. Two shows I do like. I can easily identify with both characters and know I do some of the same things they do. Unfortunately I'm not surrounded by people who are as understanding as their friends are. I think I need new writers

 

[justbugged]

I would love to be Bones. It does seem that the people around Bones are super understanding, to the point where it is unrealistic. I could use a group of those understanding and accepting people in my life. It sucks to be different without being as smart as someone like Bones. I think that it is easier to be different if you are extremely smart. Society seems to love very intelligent people, and will excuse some of their quirks. But if you are average then you are on your own, and have hope that you can adapt. I have found that sooner or later you will be ostracized from the group because you are different.

The problem with things like Asperger's and Fibromyalgia is that you look completely normal, so it seems that all the NTs seem to assume that you are just faking, when all you are really want is to be more like them.