Aspies younger than chronological age?

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Rocket123
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19 Jan 2014, 8:17 pm

I have always sensed that I was always emotionally younger than my peers. I always seemed a step behind (both socially naïve and much less sophisticated). Once I became an adult, I used to hear words like “sir”, “mister” and “man” and figured that these did not apply to me. It’s like I never grew up. Even though I am now 50.



charcoalsketches
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19 Jan 2014, 8:39 pm

That certainly explains me. I use my extended youth as wisely as possible, but try not to let it take over. The reason I hold onto it is because when I see kids, I see someone honest, emotional, open, sometimes happy. Even as we grow, we should be holding on to that. Be men and women but never lose that feeling we had as young people.


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19 Jan 2014, 9:36 pm

I physically look like in my teens to about 20 even though my chronological age is 30 (next month will be 31). My emotional age (mental age used to be a term for how IQ compared to chronological age, also now I know now its based on standard deviations though) is in my teens. But my "internal" age feels about 90. I'm always in pain. My memory is inconsistent. For some things its close to photographic memory, for others I barely know who I am. I also have hot flashes. I call it Old Age Syndrome. Being on the young age, but starting to have symptoms of old age.



loner1984
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19 Jan 2014, 9:44 pm

I would say im stuck around age 16 or so. Age is 30.

I just looked at a site today, where the danish people are like 30-40. They are clearly way more advanced in their talking / writing, i could hardly understand half of it. They write really wierd to me. Makes me feel lacking.



LtlPinkCoupe
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19 Jan 2014, 9:57 pm

I feel younger than I am, too...I once read a blog maintained by two teens with AS, and one described herself as feeling like an "ageless being" inside her head, and that's how I feel about myself, too. On the other hand, in some ways I feel more mature than other people my age, and even some full-grown adults.


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AspieWolf
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19 Jan 2014, 10:46 pm

I appear physically much younger than my actual age of 68. Most people say that I look to be 10-15 years younger than I really am. Mentally I feel that I am MUCH older, maybe as much as 20-50 years older. And by mentally I mean my spiritual development and my ability to form and grasp concepts much easier and faster than most NT's. Emotionally I seem to be like many others here in that my emotional development seems to have stopped during my teenage years.


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rapidroy
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20 Jan 2014, 12:43 am

I feel like a 14 year old ready to begin high school yet I graduated 4 years ago. Kind of sad because myself hanging out with 14 year olds I am sure would appear creepy to their parents. Some people who know me and think I am about 16ish while some think I am closer to 30 based on knowledge (usually special intrusts)alone.



skibum
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20 Jan 2014, 2:04 am

LtlPinkCoupe wrote:
I feel younger than I am, too...I once read a blog maintained by two teens with AS, and one described herself as feeling like an "ageless being" inside her head, and that's how I feel about myself, too. On the other hand, in some ways I feel more mature than other people my age, and even some full-grown adults.
I feel very much like you. In some ways I am super young but in other ways I am very mature even moreso than some of my peers.


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Sethno
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20 Jan 2014, 10:58 am

skibum wrote:
LtlPinkCoupe wrote:
I feel younger than I am, too...I once read a blog maintained by two teens with AS, and one described herself as feeling like an "ageless being" inside her head, and that's how I feel about myself, too. On the other hand, in some ways I feel more mature than other people my age, and even some full-grown adults.
I feel very much like you. In some ways I am super young but in other ways I am very mature even moreso than some of my peers.


The maturity can have to do more with mental functions and life experience, the "younger than chrono age" thing being different, maybe emotional.


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Ashariel
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20 Jan 2014, 12:00 pm

I feel like I'm about 7, in terms of emotional and sexual maturity, social skills, and overall functioning ability. If it's not something a 7-year-old could handle, I probably can't handle it either. :?



Chazzer
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20 Jan 2014, 12:44 pm

When I was around 12/13 my internal age was probably around that of a ten year old. But when i was 13 depression hit me hard and I matured very rapidly. Interestingly enought My family have always said that I am very mature and sensible for my age. Also I have a friend with hfa who seems to still like childish things.



Chazzer
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20 Jan 2014, 12:45 pm

In fact I probably feel older than I am



redcatbluecat
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20 Jan 2014, 1:30 pm

skibum wrote:
I am in my forties but often times act. think. speak, perceive. and comprehend like a preteen or even younger. Sometimes I function at my chronological age but many times I function emotionally between the ages of 10 and 12 or around 4 or younger. Sometimes with things like executive function I can function around the range of 12 to 15 range or so. I also look 15 to 20 years younger than I am.


This is me exactly. I have had very childish special interests, like an obsession with Harry Potter in my 30s and early 40s. My mum says I sometimes sound like my 6 year old nephew! I actually dread people at work finding out how old I am because they'll know there's something wrong with me as I am nothing like the other over 40s (they don't know about my Asperger's). I don't lie about my age - I just don't mention it.



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20 Jan 2014, 1:42 pm

Jojopa wrote:
I think there's something in what you say, at-least in my own experience. I often feel more like an intelligent 9 year old than my actual age of 21, though it's a mixed thing. I can hold down a job, manage money, keep my emotions in check as well as most adults so I guess you could say I am mature in some respects, but equally I have childish interests and honestly I'd rather play imaginative games with preteens than talk with fellow adults or engage in adult pastimes. I tend to think I have the intellectual capacity of an adult, but the emotional age of a child... no idea if that's accurate or not.


I would describe it the same way, for me, although I am 52, yet feel closer to 25 years old, emotionally and perhaps, socially, as well. : )



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20 Jan 2014, 2:08 pm

When I was young I felt and looked like I was much older than my years. It evened out when I was in my late teens or early 20's. Since then people tell me I look much younger than my age. I think it is my personality and expression more than my actual physical appearance...although my physical appearance is young too. My skin is very smooth. But I have had silver hairs popping out since I was 25 and I think they are noticeable if a person is really looking. They just take for granted that I am young because of my demeanor. I don't know if I feel young. In some ways I do, and in some ways I feel like I must be at least 5000 years old.



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20 Jan 2014, 9:43 pm

Jojopa wrote:
I think there's something in what you say, at-least in my own experience. I often feel more like an intelligent 9 year old than my actual age of 21, though it's a mixed thing. I can hold down a job, manage money, keep my emotions in check as well as most adults so I guess you could say I am mature in some respects, but equally I have childish interests and honestly I'd rather play imaginative games with preteens than talk with fellow adults or engage in adult pastimes. I tend to think I have the intellectual capacity of an adult, but the emotional age of a child... no idea if that's accurate or not.


It could have something to do with your display pic. Kidding. I think Asa is a great actor. Hmm...I wonder if people who look much younger than they are feel younger too? I'm talking non-autistic people like Asa Butterfield. He could still pass for a 12 year old (okay maybe 14) but is 16.

I'm short and look younger than my age and feel about as old as I look, which could be around 15, though I think I'm closer to 13. I kind of identify with Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and protagonists around the same age, but I always seem to be reminded of him when I look in the mirror.
I have childish interests too. I seem to be looked at by others as a cute little kid rather than a 28 year old geek which is what I am.

The most awkward thing is when a teenager asks you out. I just run for the hills. Although it amuses me to see the disbelief in peoples faces when this 14 year old says they're actually 28.

people around my age or older seem to talk less maturely than me though. I'm just too polite and still get shocked by rude words. I'm not even that stuck up. I can find that type of humor funny and use it myself but sometimes I get stuck in a different frame of mind. And sometimes that language still feels 'forbidden.' You know, like when you're a kid and your parents or teachers would clip you on the ear if they ever heard such filth coming out of your mouth?


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