Asperger's - My "Aha!" moment

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I've lurked around for a bit, and have finally decided to jump in...

I'm Sakhmet, 34 years young and presently self-diagnosed - my psychologist is still ruminating on an official dx, says she wants to rule other things out first

I kept seeing "Asperger's" pop up in another member's signature (on another unrelated site) and kept wondering what on earth that could be. It haunted me, in my sleep even, until I finally started doing some research on it a few weeks later...

Well, I was dumb-founded at what I read; it was like someone had emptied my soul inside - out. This was the thing that I've spent my whole life trying to put my finger on; I've always known I was "different". I was - and still am - convinced that school was invented principally as a devious method of torture; I enjoyed the classes, it was the students and some of the teachers/instructors that I couldn't stomach... grrr...

It is such a relief to finally be able to put things into context...

Hello Sakhmet!
Figuring it out is a little like wandering through a Fun House Hall of Mirrors and all of a sudden,you look into a specific mirror . . .and , THERE YOU ARE with no distortions, but sharp and clear for the first time in your life! After a lifetime of nothing quite making sense, BINGO, and we know it to our soul!
Welcome Home.
Merle

Merle,

Thanks for the welcome!

I love how you described that...awesome image! That appeals to me especially since I'm so visually oriented.

I have always wondered how people recognize their faces in a mirror. I have excellent vision, however I don't scan faces very well. I have to see people again and again and again to recognize them quickly, and if they change their hair (or their shirt! or if I see them in a different context (out at the Mall rather than at work) I don't know them from Adam!
If I don't see them for a while, I have to start all over again, too.

Merle

I have this exact same experience, even though I'm a supposedly NT mother of two Aspies. It's a very hard thing socially, because people recognize me, but I often don't recognize THEM, especially out of context (a teacher of my child's when I see them in a store, a friend I've just met from church when I see them at the movies, etc.)

Kris

Faces I remember... Who they are (in context) and what their names are is what's problematic to me!

oh, names. . .I hear them and poof! they are gone like so much dust in the wind. . .

I always knew I didn't remember names and so often people are like just faster objects than stationary objects.

Welcome to WP!

Tim

I know exactly what you mean; it's like you wander through life wondering what's the matter with you and why you are so different and then you wind up somewhere with the word ASPERGER'S around it/on it/in it and you're like "What's that?". Then you look it up somewhere/with someone and you're like "They must have been stalking me because that's EXACTLY what I'm like."

Doesn't it feel good to know?

Glad you feel more whole. ;^)

~Annie (Aspiegirl89)~

Thanks, Tim_Tex!

Annie, that's exactly right; I was being stalked alright!

It does feel good to know. Good to know that I'm not crazy, and that there are reasons why I am the way I am. It's even better knowing that there are many other people who can relate to how I feel, no matter how strange it seems to the world at large.

Thanks for being so sweet! It means a lot!

Welcome!

You are certainly welcome! I hope you can get all the info you need off these boards; I know they helped me figure out everything too.

You're definitely not crazy, and there are a ton of people who know exactly what you're going through right now. While we might not be the most social bunch in person, there's a lot of people on here who are definitely willing to help you out, myself included.

Also, note, the world is very much a strange place; probably much stranger than you or I put together. It's best to take what the world, full of neurotypicals, says with a grain of salt. ;^)

~Annie(Aspiegirl89)~

aspiegirl89@hotmail.com

I was sorta like you. Just sorta more gradual.
But welcome! I'm kinda new myself.

Same here. I spent my whole life thinking I was an idiot until I learned about face blindness a few years ago. Still, doesn't ease the embarrassment much...