Greetings,
I was just diagnosed with Aspergers a couple of days ago. I scored a 107 on the KADI test -- which was the high part of the high section. Still sort of unsure what all that means... but I'm sure that understanding will come as I continue to speak to my therapist and learn more. This diagnosis came after my wife spotting some of the classic Aspie behavior (something she knew from working with special needs kids in the past) and looking further into it. At first I disregarded the idea, but after looking into it myself and taking a few of the online tests... it started to make sense.
So... I'm almost 31 years old, married (to the most awesome and supportive woman I could ever imagine), and have two children. I am currently trying to finish my undergrad (pursuing a BA in History) so I can get on with it and get my Masters in Architecture -- my plans are to use the two degrees together an work in some capacity in the Historic Preservation field. That being said, my main area of interest right now is mid-nineteenth century America -- from the Bleeding Kansas period through the Civil War. I am what some would call a "hardcore" Civil War re-enactor (though I just call it living history). Everything I use is made from period materials and constructed using period methods. If I didn't make a garment or accoutrement by hand, someone else did. I won't use it if it has no provenance to the period or unit I am portraying. I spend a lot of my free time researching, developing, and improving my impressions. This is just a more recent hobby -- maybe within the last year and a half. Before that it was World War II Germany, roots music, religious studies, archaeology, etc. There has always been one thing I have devoted most of my attention to. Between some of these areas of interest I can become obsessed with smaller sub-genres or particular items -- particular records or movies or books. During those periods talk about those particular subjects is almost all I can muster. I think I know it's annoying... but maybe I don't.
I always knew I was odd, but I thought everyone was odd in their own way, I guess. It never occurred to me that there are people who do not have deep intense interests in subjects or hobbies. In fact, when I would meet a person who did not have an area of interest or a hobby, I would wonder why? I guess what I really thought was that everyone else was odd... not me. So, with this diagnosis, I can't help but feel a little isolated because it is NOT everyone else... it is ME. On the other hand, the diagnosis is also a bit of a relief because it explains so much about me and my behavior and all the things I've done wrong or screwed up in the past. Maybe, in a way, it gives me a little freedom to forgive myself for some of those things and stop lingering on why I did them. Maybe.
Anyhow... I'm not sure what I've accomplished in this introduction.
I should just say hello!
16 Feb 2013, 11:06 am
