Anyone ever get the "I'm not normal either" commen

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Sorry if this was mentioned upthread, but it occurred to me that some people may make the kind of comment you describe as a way of saying "I am not a threat." Kind of like saying, "Don't worry, I won't poke fun because I have my own issues."

So, it's not necessarily always trying to minimize others' issues. I know that when I say something like that, I'm trying to say, "You can relax around me because I won't poke fun of you for revealing whatever it is you revealed."

I did have some lady get angry with me when I told her I think I have Aspergers. The woman was teasing me about being shy because she asked me question because I blushed when she started talking to me. She smiled at me and asked me what it was so I told her it was mild form of Autism. So she says to me you think you have autism? My son is autistic you cannot even tie his shoes without screaming just because your a little shy you think your autistic. Then she went on about me being an a**hole then I just turned around leaving to fume. I am not going to argue with her or explain the spectrum to her she was not going to listen anyways. I guess it was better to walk away she just a stranger I hopefully never run into again.

Funny, maybe that's true.

Before I ever knew what AS was I used to try and explain to my friends how "unnormal" I felt and that, even around them, I often still felt like an outsider. They usually just said "Well, everybody feels that way sometimes." But really? Do they? I can never figure out what it must be like to feel like everyone else.

I used to do the same thing and get the same answer. Then I would see them doing a million things I have never been even close to being able to do and I know they are NOTHING like me. I also told people many times, it is the wiring-electrical-my brain isn't installed correctly. It is a liquid connection with the environment around me; it is spacial, visual, auditory, nasal, atmospheric...I meltdown from sensory overload. I might have been able to handle it if it wasn't hot, my shirt was tight, it smelled funny, it was windy. Interacting with people I have to have the truth, I can't guess. I have no idea what to do in most situations. I was raised by maniacs so if I try to guess then I will guess it is something bad, someone is lying or I'm being tricked. I have to run away when I am on overload or I could implode and become dust.

Yeah, I don't cope well with overload either. If it's too hot and I have to spend the day outside I become a royal beeyotch. I understand completely. I'm better with it now though than when I was young.

My friends just invited me to a beach party this weekend. It's gonna be over 100 people and like 90 degrees with 90% humidity. I'm already freaking out. I wanna go cuz I haven't seen these friends in a long time and I want to get out of the house for once. But I can imagine myself just getting really cranky and running away or complaining the whole time I don't wanna be that way.

That comment makes my nerves tingle. I can't stand it, when people say that, to me. I'd really like for those people to define, the word, normal, to me.

Although it isn't what I'd like to hear in all cases, I think people do that because they're trying to make you feel better. So although it doesn't, I do appreciate that maybe that's why they say it.

It's on the same level as when something awful happens; someone dies, or you have a fire, etc etc... Everyone comes and says "I know how you feel". That's a lie, but I know they say that to be polite. And then they say "If there's anything I can do to help"... And that's usually also a lie, as there isn't anything they can do. They mean well, but it's almost annoying when they say that.

Charles