Newly Diagnosed With Asperger Syndrome

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My name is Lexi and I'm 20 years old. My AS was diagnosed a few days ago; it's gone unnoticed mostly because my mom was happy to see me find so much joy in what others perceived as mundane and I was homeschooled. However, now that I'm in college, I'm having a lot of trouble with the world in general. My friends call me, but I can't motivate myself to answer the phone. I can't make eye contact with anyone I know, and I'm so gullible that I've kept a lot of examples of this particular trait secrets for my entire life.

I started seeing a therapist because I stopped being able to get along with my family (I live at home). I was being misunderstood, saying and doing things without knowing why, having huge lapses in judgment, and holding back reactions to things until something small set it off and appeared to be the only trigger. I've always been respected and even admired for my talents and intelligence, but I have always felt condescended to and like others felt I was weird.

My latest intense obsession was the phylum Plathyhelminthes. Last year I read every book about flatworms in the Hillsdale College library twice, even during meals... lately I've been unable to get enough of anything by Dostoevsky.

I know why I've been lonely for a long time, but if someone says something, it'll make me feel really good. Thank you.

To WrongPlanet!! !

"Hello," Lexi. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to the Wrong Planet.

Hi Lexi, and welcome.
You're going to be fine, even if it might take some time.

Have you spoken to a counselor at your college? There are adjustments that can and should be made available to you. I don't know what they all are, it depends on what you need. You shouldn't be trying to meet performance demands in a new situation like college. This would be different from therapist stuff, I think.

Re communicating with friends - can you communicate in some other way? something cyber, maybe? I tell people I have difficulty using the phone, and so far nobody's offended. I like email and people don't seem to mind that either.

Your perseverations (flatworms & Dostoesvsky) will probably get you qualified for something, eventually. Are you taking biology? You might be ahead. Find a biology prof and talk about it, ask where that kind of knowledge might fit in.

And as for Dostoevsky - me too! And many more, I should think. It's been a while since I read him, but tell me - what's your favourite? I was enraptured by Notes from Underground when I read it the first time.

You sound very interesting to me, and amazingly self-aware. I think that this is the beginning of understanding things about yourself -- and you seem to be the type of person that will be able to learn and adapt to the world around you. Just give yourself time to learn more about what Asperger's is all about, and you'll do well.

Hi Lexi! Welcome! I'm new here, too. Feels pretty good to be surrounded by other weirdos, huh?

Welcome aboard. Commiserations on the diagnosis - the bad news is it doesn't get better; the good news is it doesn't get worse. Unless you have schizophrenia elements somewhere along that bargain basement genome ?

Hi Lixi, welcome from another Aspie diagnosed at 20.

Commiserations? Nah - the good news is that the bad news isn't bad. It's not a bad condition to have. It's a bugger if you don't know what it is and how to deal with it, but now that you know it's all benefits. Just let yourself enjoy being an Aspie - it's nowhere near as bad as you might think.