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hi Ive been lurking here a while now, but decided to introduce myself now i have started posting.

Sorry I didnt introduce myself earlier as i didnt have anything meaningfull to say so didnt bother.

I'm 26 and live in the UK. I have an unofficial diagnosis of AS from a civilian pshycologist, but an trying to get an official diagnosis from my employer who also provide all my health care.

I am an Officer in the Royal Navy serving on submarines, although Im currently banned from sea for "pshycological reasons".

If truth be known Joined the navy:

a) to get away from guardians and a confused life where social interaction was forced upon me.
b) to get a set routine at age 18 considering my routine of school was over.
c) I am obsessed by modes of transport and ships was my obsession at the time, and warships are the ultimate ships hence navy!! That changed to submarines 3 years ago and i am also obsessed by cars specifically the Ford Puma.

I know some people may think something as aspergers is incompatable with Forces life, but that is not the case in certain specific jobs.

As an Officer you have a very sheltered life and very organised routine. Social skills may seem important and in Cocktail parties they are, but my solution as a very junior officer was not to participate and just escort guests from gangway to the party so no talking or if you have to it is very repetitive. You have your own accomodation and are generally working alongside very few people, so it is easy to be alone socially when you need to be. Living with smaller numbers makes it easier to avoid voluntary social interaction.

Only problem with surface ships is there is some illogical actions and patterns such as cocktail parties and pointless cleaning etc.

Submarines are much better as the routine is very rigid in the Trident submarines i was in and only logical jobs are done. Was totally at home on submarines. The working pattern is tiring but means social interaction is minimal when in "off watch" due to people sleeping, and the programme is very rigid and planned a long way in advance.

I moved to Attack Submarines this year after 7 months of mixed routines during training courses which messed me up and I struggled to cope. The new submarine had a totally fluid programme and No routine as the boat was constantly in and out of port breaking down which made me less able to cope!! My stupid mind chose to remeber bad memories from the past at the same time and I officially went crazy which bought my problems to the attention of my superiors DOH.

So then spent the next 2 months with NO routine and they were surprised i deteriated further until I got sent to the loony bin for a few weeks for attempting to destroy one self. Was just prior to this I got a diagnosis of AS from a civilian pshycologist who is a friend who had been anlaysing me for a while.

Currently stuck with a basic routine of support group in mornings with alcoholics and stressed people (they dont understand nor can i disclose in a group) and paperwork in afternoons. Trying to convince the navy to properly test for AS is a struggle as they have very little experience and wont even talk to my civilian pshycologist because she is a friend!!

G'day Wazza

Nope.

I was in the Infantry (Reserves) for many years. I joined the reserves only because they would take me into Duntroon (the Defence Force Academy), otherwise I would have liked to be in the Regular Army.

There are quite a few Americans here with military service.

Welcome to WP.

Bazza

Welcome to WP!

Tim

Hi and welcome to WP

Welcome to WP!

Welcome to Werbert's Planet. Crack the fly and light the wig!

Hi Warren, and welcome to WP.

Welcome to WerbertPlanet

Thanks everybody.

I'm still analysing everything I do and have done to work out whats caused by what so i can see which things i just accept or try to overcome.


I find it quite amusing that the more i try and disprove any Aspergers sysmptoms I have i actually end up reinforcing them and finding more stuff to consider LOL

I still struggle with acceptance for a lot of my mental problems and the concept of aspergers is still new to me as i was only told in mid october after my pshycologist friend had been analysing me for several months. I did wonder what half her questions were for LOL.

It also has implications for my career too.

Hey, i'm glad you found out about AS, though it can be a bit of a shock , although i'm sorry it's negatively affecting your job, sometimes life just sucks.

Anyway, hope things work themselves out and stabilize for you.

Welcome to Werbert... wait what am I saying...I meant, welcome to Wrong Planet!

(I'm supposed to be on a break from WP, but after two weeks I've decided to check up on things.)

Last edited by hyperbolic on 18 Dec 2006, 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If it effects my job negatively is more down to if I recieve an official diagnosis from the Navy.

It is uncharted territory in the Royal Navy especially for someone in my position. It could go either way on diagnosis. Depends on their interpretation of my abilities and if it is compatable with continued service especially with the social difficulties which so far Ive managed to hide successfully and kept the problems a local knowledge nl to those immediately around at the time and not recorded anywhere officially.

If they throw me out at least I will get a pension.

That's thinking positive.

I don't see why they should kick you out, ok, so i have no knowledge of the Navy, or anything similar, but if you your job right then what reasons could they give, of course, i always assumed with any type of services(?) job socialising wasn't a priority as long as you go on with all the people you work with, of course, i not exactly an expert on the subject.

Getting them to get you a formal diagnosis would help, i think, as it would explain your behaviour and it would help you in future as they would have a better understanding of some of your reactions, so really, it's in THEIR best interest. 'Course this is all supposition, feel free the tell me to shut up if i get too perky.

Hi, Warren!

Wow! You must be a very responsible person!

For a minute, I didn't understand whether or not you said you joined the Navy, but then I understood you said you did.

Are you enjoying the Navy? Do you like the customs they do every day?

Welcome, and I'm glad you decided to join us here!

Being an Officer makes a huge difference as so much more is "expected" of you socially, yet your failings are more easily hidden and kept under wraps due to the smaller peer group.

On every report ive had social skills mentioned as a weak point but because it was relating to skills outside work place nothing can be done. My social skills in work are the same but Ive been able to cope by avoidance or taking a different role.

Unfortunately becoming mentally ill recently means they have dug up all my old reports to try and work out patterns and work out whats wrong

Unfortunately the royal navy is still quite old fashioned in the Officer Corps and it is still common for those who dont "fit in" to be bullied out or forced out when minor work problems get blown out of proportion. Luckily my work record is good so far.

Wow!

We'll try to help you in the near future!