Why do people act like Aspergers is a race?

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My psychiatrist has diagnosed me with a generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder and has diagnosed me with major depression, but I see it this way-

All my life, since birth, I have been experiencing life on a different level and having my experience interpreted and defined to me by neurotypical people. I've internalized those definitions to the point where I view myself as a hopeless loser, just because I don't function according to the way most people do and I struggle with things that are "supposed to be" easy.

I've learned (without even being conscious of it) to cover up my true nature and hide what I really think and feel because I see how the brains of other people function and want my brain to function the same way. I don't want to be an outcast. I want validation and respect and love from the people around me, and I know that if you are different, people will usually avoid you or look down on you.

This has caused me major amounts of stress that have actually caused physical problems such as gastrointestinal problems. It also results in my using impulsive or sadistic self-harm brought on to somehow relieve the stress or distract from the pain. It's also caused me major depression, where I don't see what the point is in trying any more because I feel so obviously not cut out to succeed in life. Again, more physical harm as I try to drink and sleep away the sadness and confusion and stress.

I look at these problems mainly as symptoms of the greater neurological differences due to autism/asperger's. I can't say with surety that all of the anxiety and depression in my life is due to AS difficulties (I have a hunch that part of my depression is due to genetics) but I can say that since I've had autism/asperger's explained through the words of people who are actually on the spectrum instead of hearing NT definitions and experiences, I realize how AS problems have contributed to and amplified my anxiety/depression problems!

It doesn't matter how well I've been able to function and cope in life, or how much I've been affected by AS; it does affect me, even if the results of the effects aren't perfectly defined as limiting my abilities in areas such as being able to keep a job. I can keep a job, but the massive amount of stress it causes has a negative affect on my life, and that stress is what displays itself to an NT.

It's easier not to see it as something being 'wrong' with you - seeing it as a different way of thinking and perceiving the world is better in my opinon. It's the fact that the majority see the world in a 'standard' way that causes the problems as they try and force people who are different to conform to what they see as the norm and often judge them harshly when they don't/can't.

Was self dx for years, but I now its official. So my self dx was not a figment of my imagination.

About cliquishness: why not?

You can subdivide the human race in infinite ways. And people form groups around infinitely different commonalities that set them off from others. So why should aspies being any different from Freemasons, Catholics, Celtics fans, and barby doll collectors, by forming clubs?

A group like aspies who are disadvantaged are especially interested in mutual assistence and mutual understanding and emotional support. So I dont see the problem there.

But yes- some people do get nutty about it and go overboard and seem to think of us as a "race", or an ethnic group.

One poster here is even worried about "aspies going extinct". Thats like worrying about lefthanded people, or obese people, "going extinct". Several kinds of stupid, So some do go overboard.

I think a necessary part of any pride movement is some group that is mutually agreed upon as "the problem." I go to a lot of Celtic Fairs and Scottish Games, and there is a great deal of England bashing there. I'm also involved with the Deaf Community, where hearing people are often not looked upon very positively. When angry gay people get together, they often talk disparagingly about breeders. So when I hear autistics talk about how stupid neurotypicals are, it does not really surprise me.