If we all have asperger's...

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I figured I'm going to have to deal with Aspergers all of my life so I might as well use it effectively. Sometimes I have the worst anxiety where I can't get out of the house and sometimes the worst depression where I cry for no reason. I'm trying to improve that, I make sure I get out of the house everyday now. I have a sewing and drawing hobby, I make sure I make an effort to talk to other people. No one can tell that I have aspergers as much anymore, still its not the easiest life...

No more than color-blindness should be called a disease.

It's taken about six months, but learning not to care and how to place the blame on others and society (this is the coping strategy that worked for me before I had a diagnosis, and in fact, it works better logically with one if I just attribute all my problems to prejudice). This is not ideal as a coping strategy. But it should get me by until I figure out which personality disorder I have and get it treated.

It's interesting that the less I try, the better I do socially, and the more I hate people, the more people like me. The more I feel like a sociopath, the more people view me as a good person. I would say I am my own personal version of George Orwell's 1984.

Now, for a few healthy things to realize: (1) you can't be friends with everyone, so quit trying; (2) you can only really be friends with people who are similar to you in some key way, so realize this and act accordingly; (3) if you want to have more acquaintances and casual friends, learn to get rid of the unconfident body language that many of us have due to sensory processing difficulties; (4) never direct bluntness at a specific person when she is present, but aside from this, realize many NT's actually appreciate bluntness; (5) NT's rarely take anything or say anything seriously. The sooner you realize that most of what an NT says is either nonliteral or a joke/sarcasm (90%+), the better you will do.

I have made a few social faux pas on here before, when when it happens, it doesn't seem to frighten me as it does if I verbally make a social faux pas in day to day interaction.

I feel I can say anything here. I am not shy to express myself, and I am not shy to have a conversation either. Weird, eh?

I think most of us have bad days when stress overwhems us and you just have to know it will pass and that things will get better. There is treatment for anxiety and depression but the ASD itself has it's upside as well as it's down side. Being NT doesn't look too much like a cakewalk to me. The main thing is to value the strenths and good qualities that you have. Realize that you have much to offer this world. Then decide to summon up the courage to get out and participate in life.
Some people are clumsy and socially inept and that is not a crime. The world can deal with that and so can you.

Gaby76, you must let go of this "conforming" attitude. it will drive you nuts.

Let it all go, stop comparing yourself to typicals, you will never be satisfied. And that my friend is a very bad road to go down.

You are yourself. You are unique and special and can/will never be like others, or will never satisfy their requirements. Trust me on this one, somebody will always be critical of you, your attitute, your approach, your looks, ect...

Let it go. Be yourself. Be the individual that you are. DO NOT CONFORM.

Life will be a lot happier if you focus on yourself, and to be yourself. Whatever that is, be it.

I could easily tell you many stories of my adventures growing up. But your 21 and I'm confident you'll discover for yourself all the mistakes I made. It's how you learn. Mistakes. Life is full of them, don't take it personaly. It's a learning experience, treat it as such.

Wish you well on your journey.

The question makes no sense.
What are you asking here?

Its like asking "how do you deal with chest congestion AFTER being diagnosed with bronchitis?"

Okay...actually I do get what you're asking.

Unlike bronchitis, but like diabetes- aspergers is a life long condition.

But unlike diabetes its rarely, if ever, a shock when you get dx'd with it.

It doesnt work the same way.

With diabetes - your healthy- but you get unquenchable thirst one day( when you never had it before)- and then you go to the doc- and you get the bad news- that yes- you're gonna have to shoot insulin into your body for the rest of your life- and all the other lifestyle hassles.

With aspergers -youve already had a lifetime of misery because both your
peers and your parents have been dumping on you all your life because you're obviously a sick wierdo with everything in the world wrong with you.

So when you get dx'd you're not getting bad news. you're getting GOOD news. That being that- its not that everything in the world is wrong with you-its that just ONE thing is wrong with you ( everything else stems from that one thing). So atleast in my case- it was liberating to learn ( like Fnord said "all the pieces fall into place").

Also you're mixing in things that are not symptoms of aspergers. Depression might be comorbid with ASD but is not a symptom of it. Difficulty making friends is however- I would think- a defining part of aspergers.

Many in here may not be wired as a Aspergers, but may still be introverts with quite a few autistic traits and suffer from social anxiety.