Good morning, beloved strangers! My name is Tom Head.
I was born with Crouzon Syndrome, a craniofacial disorder that resulted in two reconstructive cranial vault surgeries. We know there was some fairly substantial brain damage that went along with this, and for some reason, maybe related to the brain damage and maybe unrelated to the brain damage, I immediately began to show autism-spectrum symptoms: muscle reflex issues, self-stimulation, severe separation anxiety, profound hyperlexia, need for constant reinforcement, God knows what else.
I've been diagnosed as having ADHD, but I don't know what the hell I've got. I'm assuming it's some unique, beautiful, profoundly dysfunctional snowflake. That said, the better you get to know me, the more obviously I fit the stereotype of a spectrumite. I didn't completely realize just how well I fit the stereotype until I ran into some people with Asperger's, who proceeded to claim me as one of their own. I don't think I fit all of the Asperger's criteria, at least not the stereotypical ones, but I'm keeping an open mind.
I'm author or coauthor of 24 nonfiction books and hold office in several local nonprofit organizations, which is a nice way of saying that nobody can get me to shut up.
I tend to self-stim, zone out, suffer from more pronounced anxiety and self-image issues, etc. etc. etc. in March and September, when the weather changes. After snapping to in the kitchen the other day and realizing that I'd just spent 20 to 30 minutes in another world waving my hands around, and that this sort of thing was not necessarily new or unusual for me, I decided an autism support community might be a good idea.
I also have some neurological issues that don't fit on the stereotypical autism spectrum. In particular, I epicfail at spatial mapping to the point where I can't drive and sometimes can't navigate rooms.
WrongPlanet is a brilliant name, btw.
I don't really have much else to add except that if you want to friend me on Facebook, I wish you would (it won't let me post URLs yet, but you can follow the link on my profile). Just be sure to tell me you found me here, so I don't get confused. I do a lot of online writing and some of the people who try to friend me are completely insane.
Thanks, lovelies. Looking forward to conversing with all of you.
Cheers,
TH
04 Sep 2010, 5:48 am
I just like the song House of the Rising Sun! I don't like putting where I really live. But I do like the south, and would like to visit it.
