Do you ever feel trapped by your limitations?

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I recognise my limitations, but often I embrace them. I recognise that my limitations are only a challenge to improve on (although there are some limitations I'm happy with), because if I had absolutely no limitations whatsoever, life would be meaningless. If I had perfect knowledge, perfect talents and perfect characteristics, life would be incredibly depressing.

Nevertheless, I certainly wouldn't treat anybody else as inferior with the exception that they treat others as inferior. That is the only exception. Anybody that asserts superiority over another person is already inferior.

I often feel trapped, although it took me a long time to admit or realize they were limitations. I just thought there was something wrong with me as a person for not being able to do things that other people did every day and took for granted, and did not think of myself as different, just... not able to figure out how to not be "lazy" or leave clutter everywhere or finding instructions very difficult.

I now have a professional opinion - actually three or four - that state that my autism is the most severe problem I have. I have heard this from people here, from professionals, and from friends elsewhere, and I find I have trouble internalizing that knowledge, because no matter what I know, I feel "normal" to myself. I don't know what it's like to be someone else, so perceiving a "normal" that is not based in my own experience is difficult.

It depends.

I no longer want what I cannot become. I do not drive a vehicle if I can help it so I go on the bus (that puts me into a whole panic mode). I'll find a boyfriend who can help me in life to deal with financial problems, so I'll never be alone, and be my friend.

I have beauty, and I rely on it. My life on Earth will not suck.

I feel like my limitations are the problem. I'm high-functioning....yet I'm not. I can do shopping on my own easily. I can catch a bus on my own easily. I can walk miles on my own easily. I can wash and dress myself (been doing that from a young age, just like everybody else). I can read, write and count. I can communicate with others OK (with only seeming a little odd sometimes). I can do my voluntary job well. I have a good CV.
Yet I am completely unemployable, or so it seems. I can't do retail work because interaction with customers is not one of my strengths. I can't do office work because most I have gone for all seem to involve an extremely busy environment and the employers always want a person with good communication skills and able to use the telephone. I can't do cleaning work because (I've been told by a manager of a cleaning company) that I might not be able to cope with being left on my own to clean up a whole place, or I might not get it done quick enough (thanks a lot! ) I doubt I would be able to do kitchen work because it involves multitasking. What the f**k CAN I do? And the real problem with that is, I'm too high-functioning to require extra support or to go on ESA or incapacity, but I'm not good enough for any job. It's like there seems to be something against my Asperger's in every job, and no employer wants to take me on because of it.

Also I desire friendships and socialising, yet at the same time I find socialising difficult and utterly boring. Well, most social events aren't much fun when you're shy, especially if you appear standoffish, no matter how much you try to smile and make eye contact with people. To me, socialising is bearable in small doses, but I do like time to myself too. I wouldn't mind going to someone's wedding if I can find my own way there so that I can just show my face and stay for an hour or so then leave when I want.

I always feel trapped by my limitations. But until I can broaden the scope of what I can do, I guess I will feel that way.

Joe, not being able to work qualifies for social security assistance, doesn't it? And can't you hide your dx when applying for jobs? I know if I disclosed, I'd never ever be given a chance at any type of job.

That's the way I live. I don't have anyone to support me, so I work at a place until they kick me out for being odd. I usually last a year or two, making every humanely possible effort every second (and still being the scapegoat and very often tortured). Then again, benefits in my country are enough for either rent or food, not both, so I have to keep myself off the streets at any price to my psyche.

I forgot to mention that I also thought I'd be considered too high functioning for benefits, but was surprised to discover that having AS and being constantly tortured at and fired from jobs does make me eligible for benefits. If this is so in the third world, I'd think it'd be worth checking in the UK.

yes, aber hallo!

It is almost unreasonable what I feel. Just too many uncertainties in my life. And tons of stress.
No way out it seems. Just awaiting it to get better.

what do you do when you are stuck and really miserable?

When the cat is away the mice will play...

Sad thing is only that when the cat returns the mice will not recognize it and they'll vanish into their hole with the last of the energy that is left.
The cat then will sit in front of it and just wait, It'll wait forever!

Then you'll run with top-speed out of your hole.
"Oops I didn't think about where to run" and run back in.
"How do I now find out what is there outside when I always stay here because the cat is there"
Big cat is watching you. And eventually tries to stick its paws into the hole.

And as soon as you escaped the cat then there will be the mousetrap. Purely mechanical one.
Some that will always work in a certain way.

If it hits the cat because it was stupid, that hurts quite badly.
But the mouse will almost certainly die...

Hmm should the mouse take the mousetrap and let it snap to the paws should the cat ever try to put its foot into the hole???

Funny though that there are so many cats in the forum

I am too aware of what my limitations are, which is why I'm so miserable. I want to socialise and make more friends, and it makes me feel miserable knowing I can't because of being so shy.

There's a quote I have printed out that is sitting right above my computer: "The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourself." You would be amazed at what you can truly do. I try to prove to myself daily that I can do things I previously thought impossible.