Thoughts about the nature of Asperger's

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2 or 3 years back I got my diagnosis, it didn't mean anything to me to begin with, then I entered a phase where I used it as an excuse, if I did something unacceptable or prick-ish, I'd just wave my diagnosis around hoping for immunity, then a period where I would blame anything that went wrong on the diagnosis, and I literally loathed having it. That didn't last a long time since I realized that it would lead me nowhere in life. So what I did was to ignore it in a way, in fact thinking about it now I realize that I haven't discussed it or thought about it in any way for a really long time. But I recently started to invest myself into exploring the nature of my diagnosis, since I found it interesting to learn about, and I began with simply googling it, browsing forums, and the like, and what I noticed was that the Asperger's community is really, really, unified, on the internet, it's almost like a mini-nation. But what I found disturbing was that for some the diagnosis had evolved into extreme arrogance and self importance, people acting superior to 'Neurotypicals' and people which do not share the diagnosis. In addition I noticed some associate a large number of physical qualities to Asperger's, such as keener hearing, or better eyesight, and I feel that's a bit stretching it, but it got me curious.

Personally I just feel that I'm a pretty regular guy with perhaps larger assortment of quirks than most.

But now I ask, what does having Asperger's mean for you? What do you feel are the defining properties of Asperger's in your experience? I realize that there may be other threads about this somewhere but I felt compelled to ask myself.

JonniD

Welcome to the forum! I was a little apprehensive when I joined WP because I'd seen some of the arrogance and illitism you mentioned happening around the Internet, but not everyone falls into that trap, and I've learned a lot since I joined.

I don't know if I can really answer your questions since my diagnosis is high-functioning autism which seems to be a little different from Asperger's, but like you, I've always felt pretty regular. From what I can tell, it seems like the autistic spectrum blends right on into the regular neurotypical spectrum.

I was diagnosed as 'Somewhere in between high functioning autism and Asperger's' whatever that means.

If there's anything I've noticed that might relate to it is that I am a chronic wise ass

I'd say "(not much) talking autism"

I was recently diagnosed at 21. My Asperger diagnosis seemed to mean quite a bit to me because it explained a lot about me that my previous diagnoses of OCD, ADD, and Social and Generalized Anxiety Disorders haven't. Although I am still open to finding a more all-inclusive explanation of my complicated array of quirks and deficiencies, Asperger's syndrome seems to fit me pretty well thus far. However, another theory that describes most, if not all of my quirks and deficiencies, is the fact that I'm extremely sensitive to the environment. Although being sensitive to the environment can be very beneficial, anything to the extreme can cause problems and therefore hinder the potential for healthy development.

Hi JonnyD! Yes, I can relate to a lot of what you say here. My attitude towards AS has certainly gone through several phases, not absolutely identical to yours, but quite similar. I now regard "using it as an excuse to do nothing" as not a practical way to live in the long term, but in the short term, very helpful towards 'healing' the self-hatred that had built up over many years of perceived social failings. However, learned helplessness is a real possibility.

Perhaps the 'arrogance' is oversteering from one extreme to the other. Having spent several years feeling deeply 'broken for life' (and there are plenty of sources who will fully support you in reinforcing that belief), it's not surprising that many switch to the opposite judging NT's as 'all broken'. Now, I believe I have absolutely NO right to expect them to accept me as I am, if I do not accept them as they are.

It is also far too easy to underestimate the stress, anxiety and inner hurt that many, possibly most NT's feel too - possibly because NT's do hide it better, but it is still a mask...


Yes, I think that too. I've seen it written in psychiatric descriptions of AS that "the symptoms of AS are also exhibited in the entire population". It is the number and intensity of them that is significant. Funnily enough, I originally had what I now believe to be a misunderstanding when I heard of the "Autistic Spectrum". I instantly assumed, and stayed with that assumption, that the spectrum had Kanner's Autism at one end and NT at the other! I don't think that's what the psychiatrists mean, though.

Last edited by ManErg on 12 Jun 2009, 8:06 am, edited 2 times in total.

what AS means to me.. different habits, talants and insights than what is regarded normal as for the mini nation thing.. humans of simular disposition naturaly gather together and pull away from others.. think goths, chavs or any other social group.

I heard an NT say once, "We are ALL on the spectrum," and for me that made me irritated, because it showed little sensitivity to the differences. I don't feel autistics are better than NT's, so I don't experience that type of elitism. I also don't think NT's are better.

I've gone through stages, too. I've been through the "I love my AS, I don't want a cure," and "I've suffered so much through my life, please give me a cure," and I think most of us have.

Welcome to the Forum~

Hello to all re:

[b]
Having been diagnosed as an Aspie in last 18months (at the age of 57) I too have shifted between shaking my head in disbelief, to outright rejection, to calm and relief, to geez 'I am weird...like everyone has told me since, afterall...', to reading furiously on everything ASD. Family and friends are still struggling with this new aspect to our relationships and its implications for family tree. Old friends always thinking of me as 'the nerd with blunt manners, nice and honorable - now don't know what to say to me for i always stood alone among them, but now i have a 'classification...a place to be with like others...and happily that place is full of variety and differences-exactly what i feel comfortable with, but no more alone. My family has clear examples of ASD but I am the first to find it and open myself up to be the human model i am made to be.

ASD as a descriptor of the complex physiological make-up of being human, i think, is opening the door for all people to one day be able to see everyone first and foremost as human, as opposed to a belonging to a culture, a class, a race, a religion. In this way the visibilty of ASD via such communities as WP, and on personal levels, i feel is expanding our human consciousness.
Perhaps others might agree that all humans really do need to adapt and change lots of attitudes and functions we currently hold toward each other to sustain our place in life on earth. .. ?

The more time I spend researching it, the more confused I get.

It was simpler when I was younger - I sort of just pushed the diagnosis into the back corner of my mind, and got on with living.

I've been wondering lately whether that was the right idea all along (despite hardship).

I don't believe in elitism in any form; every single person in this world is unique and equally valid - there are not groups of people inherently "better" than others, even to say so is ridiculous, because how can one subjectively orientated individual ever decide which traits are "superior" and "inferior".

Since the viewpoint of every person on earth by nature is subjective, how can any human being ever truly know right and wrong/good and bad/better and worse?

..

Anyway, getting off topic, but I digress. Aspergers is generally first and foremost to me an aggravation. But I accept that many of the traits I like about myself stem from Aspergers, thus making it a necessary aggravation.

I agree.

I went from 'I'm destructive and bad and I hate myself' to 'Yay for my ASD', and eventually came to a balanced mentality.

I know what you're saying. I don't think it's necessarily an accurate perception that all individuals who participate in NT-bashing are trying to be part of some collective culture of aspie nationalism. Some of it is just people coming here and venting their personal frustration with like-minded people who can sympathize. I realize though that after a while all this anger and venting has begun creating addition negative stereotypes and stigmas on us which is unfortunate.

I'd say "(not much) talking autism"


Love it, hehe too true at the mioment I am in the diagnosis ad discovery, learn my strengths and weaknesses
Sasuke Kun is awesome

I'd say "(not much) talking autism"


Love it, hehe too true at the mioment I am in the diagnosis ad discovery, learn my strengths and weaknesses
Sasuke Kun is awesome