Do mental disorders in people turn you on?

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called outsider affect.... why weird draws the weird together

For some reason depressives really draw me to them, because I understand so much how they feel... yeah, I have my major differences with someo f them, but at least we're similar in that way. If they're taking prescription antidepressants and they're not working as good as they thought, that's even better!

Interesting point. I always presumed wierd drew to wierd in order to protect the sane, healthy part of the gene pool from the crazy, unstable part.

As for the original poster, I think I knew how you felt, once, but my reasoning was more to come to the rescue. Awhile back before I knew what AS was, I was schismed between codependant and passive aggressivlu spiteful: a sociopath with a heart of gold, if you will. Internally I was extremely uncomfotable and could never even get most folks to give me the time of day, so knowing how being an outcast felt I wanted to rescue and stand up for other outcasts. As I came to realize upon discovering AS, what I always assumed was empathy for the downtrodden was, in fact, sympathy because I had been there.

Maybe a similar case with you, maybe that was just me though.

No. . . I mean, I wouldn't say there's a normal clone and everyone who isn't it is disordered- But there are clearly groups that include more members and groups that include less members. . . stuff that gets labeled as "disordered," as I see it, often just means "groups with less members. . ." -as compared to the general population, of course.

What I meant is stuff like depression... which is a situation to be in.

That is true. I suppose I have always personally defined a disorder as something that either prevents you from functioning within the majority of your peer group efficiently or something that alters the way you feel to such a degree as to make you or those around you in your peer group ill at ease, though, obviously since this would include AS, I reckon that is a very unpopular view of it.

To be fair, I think the topic poster was referring to the ones that specifically disrupt peoples lives and make them unhappy, it seems. Not merely the little ones like anxiety or mild ADD that many, if not most people, have.

I understand what you mean. But it is inevitable to be tackled into a depressive state at some point in your life. I just see it as a low point in life where you have to a make a few choices/decisions in order to smooth things out. I really don't look at it as "I am diseased, there is something wrong with me and I can't do anything about it because I have [insert pseudo scientific medical term here] and I have to take [insert BS placebo pill that will make you dependent on its use here] to feel better."

I think everything in this respect can be explained and worked out by understanding what you want out of life, what you need to focus on and in those respects what kind of choices/decisions you need to make and what you need to believe in and follow in order to hold your mental system together.

I have found few things more liberating than the potential label of AS applied to myself; it has brought me, among other things, to this discussion.

I know there's stuff I can do about it to get rid of it completely; I really hope so!

Yeah, the label offers a buffet of excuses. Excuses are liberating. But once you reach a certain point in life you realize there are no excuses.

I have found that as interesting as an autistic label can be, the ignorance of the general population will have an affect on your potential.

You think I like the idea of AS because it offers me excuses?

I like it because my whole life, I've been told how strange I am. . . because for the first time ever I can interact with a population in which I am not a .0001% oddity. I was ready to buckle down and have at it alone; I'm glad I don't have to, though. I think this is better.

Is that an excuse?

I have found that I can be very autistic at times, but I can explain and understand why. Thus I do not think that an autistic label may benefit me as to many it activates connotations of mental retardation.

I had one guy tell me "you'd be so much cooler with social skills"

Of course I have social skills, everyone DOES but just may not know it. There are too many ways to act and too many ways to interpet peoples words and actions. No wonder some people just don't know what to do at times. If someone talks to me and I don't feel like it I can pretend that I am interested but then they may interpret my actions as potential friend material and will talk to me everytime I see them even though I may not feel like it. At times I'll act disinterested and distant, but then they may interpret me as not interested. Or I could be obnoxious and rude... There are too many ways to be... I see many ASPIE and HFA people may fall into this type of ordeal and just need to figure s**t out ie: what kind of person they want to be, how they want to be, what kind of life they want to live etc..

are you strange, or are you just creative?

Many people may have called you strange, but it is you that may have interpreted it with negative connotations.

Strange can mean good things. It's all really open.

yes. . . I'm largely fine with how I am, strange, creative, and otherwise. The parts of how I am I'm not fine with aren't because they aren't "normal".

The point was, being labeled has been helpful to me because it has increased my ability to connect with other people; it's done this by bringing me into contact with others who are "similarly different." This was not essential, but it was very good.

And it is precious to me.

I also don't see AS as being a disability at all- probably because a number of the most kind and competent people I know are AS.

I don't know if I find it sexual but I most certainly am drawn to people and historical figures with mental disorders.