Hey everyone. I found these forums last night while doing a little online research, and decided to take the plunge and join in, for what it's worth. While I haven't been 'professionally' diagnosed as having AS, it's clear to me (and my wife) that I do...and I'm kinda having a hard time adjusting to the whole concept of being someone with a 'condition' instead of someone who just marches to the beat of a different drummer.
I've always known I was a little different, but basically just chalked it up to nothing more than a different personality. But after doing a lot of research, taking the online tests, etc., there's no longer any question that I have AS. Reading about the common traits of AS is like someone describing me to a T. It definitely answers a lot of questions I've always had, but...
I'm just not sure what to make of things now. Knowing what I know now does changes things quite a bit, at least for me personally. I haven't told anyone (other than my wife), and probably won't. I'd rather the few people I know and interact with continue to think of me as someone with a quirky personality rather than someone with what I can only describe as a slight mental handicap. I don't know if I'll ever be ready to 'come out'...I'm here more to just educate myself, listen to those with similar experiences and learn from their experiences in dealing with AS.
Anyway, I'm in my mid-40s, married with 5 children (one in college from a previous relationship, the others range between 3 and 8 ). My wife is my only true friend, I'm just not a people person...I simply don't like people and avoid situations where I have to be in a crowded environment or a social situation. I'm into vintage cars and trucks (I'm restoring two '60s-era vehicles right now) and have designed and maintain several very popular automotive enthusiast websites.
Like I said, I'm still trying to come to terms with the knowledge of my condition, and as yet I'm not completely comfortable with the AS label. While it's kinda nice to start to have an understanding of why I am how I am, it's also causing me to second-guess myself and my decisions. (Did AS cause me to think/say/do that? What SHOULD I have thought/said/done?)
Not sure where this ride's gonna take me or what the future has in store, but I guess I'm in it for the long haul, so I might as well learn what I can, and find ways of dealing with day-to-day things that other folks have no problems with and take for granted.
05 Feb 2011, 2:10 pm
