ways you improved

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What some struggles you have and how did you go about making improve men's on them? Even if it was a slight improvement. I.e. social skill: if you made some improvements on that, what methods did you learn to help?

Improved in every way.

Executive functions, anxiety, depression, social interaction, sensory issues, balance/coordination, thoughts, feelings, productivity, work, financially etc etc.

How? Diet/herbal treatments for the digestive root cause of all of these things.

Becoming conscious of facial expressions- acting classes, school plays, school improv groups, singing
Dealing with unplanned communication things- improv groups, an English teacher who insisted on brief improv speeches on subjects chosen from a hat, writing out a basic script to leave a message on a voicemail should I encounter one, writing out a basic script to schedule an appointment, writing out a basic script for various other cold call needs
Body language in general- books on body language, watching Lie to Me when I was much older
Organization for school- file folders worked for me. Unfortunately, we were graded on binders
Body awareness/communication- horseback riding, singing lessons
Vocal tone/expressiveness- acting
Eye contact- wearing sunglasses in the sun, looking at peoples mouths instead of eyes if they're far away to not notice, practicing with the family dog (as a result, the family dog had a reputation for being great with eye-contact, people actually noticed and commented on it)
Social expectations- books on etiquette, books on anthropology (an entire field dedicated to studying humans as though they could be creatures from another planet, which my family and I have always joked they are), The Talia books from Heralds of Valdemar (she was an Empath in a political sphere and she was very observant as far as facial expression, body language, etc.), a book I found on international business etiquette and communication
Sleep- a sleeping mask, jersey sheets
Falling behind regular classes due to a combination of bullying and having been in Special Ed too long- Kumon, the What Your_ Grader Needs to Know textbooks
Driving- finding a driving instructor who specialized in teaching foreign students (some of whom didn't speak a lot of English, and a few of whom had never been in a car before), GPS
Sensory issues with using conditioner- detangler spray (Aussie Hair Insurance, if you're curious)
Not wanting to mess with too many bottles in the shower, especially after a hard workout- apple scented three-in-one (I don't always resort to that, but I keep a bottle around for when I need it)
Sensory issues with minty mouthwashes and mouthwash with alcohol in it- bubblegum flavored kiddie stuff

I also stock up on bubblegum flavored kiddie toothpaste when it's on sale

Last edited by BetwixtBetween on 17 May 2014, 2:39 pm, edited 3 times in total.

My dyspraxia began to improve slowly after I was about 20. Now, more than 40 years later, it isn't an issue anymore.

My ability to choose safe and enriching friends improved immensely from learning to recognise red flags, especially narcissism and other toxic attitudes. This was gained through reading and life experience.

Generally I really believe: you know better, you do better.

I've decided that I was going to have a more positive attitude. I've stopped rebelling against mainstream society. I went back to my natural hair colour and a more classic hairdo. I've also rediscovered my favourite band in the process. I also forgave a few people in my life and online. I didn't feel the need to look and act tough anymore. That was in 2009. Not everybody was thrilled about it. There was even one person on here who kept attacking me on account of my favourite band which is also my #1 special interest. That was a few years ago, though.

I like the Kinks, too. Stick to your guns.

Although I wouldn't recommend it, I drank quite heavily for many years and I got to the point where I got so sick of worrying if I'd made a fool of myself, I just gave up worrying about what people thought.

I came to the realisation that none of us is any better than the rest, that we've all screwed up in one way or another during our lives and that we're all as clueless as to why we're here and how we got here - and that we all die and none of us knows what happens to us after that. We're all just little clueless animals on the road of life. Some run a bit faster and make louder noises but we're still just little clueless animals.

I don't think we change that much throughout our lives. I think we experience pain and as a result, we learn to toughen up a bit on the outside and learn coping strategies but I don't think 'we' change all that much on the inside.

Watching anime has started to help me understand facial expressions more. Facial expressions in anime are very exaggerated and therefore much easier to understand and interpret for me.

None, I don't care and i'm happy and have accepted who i am. Screw self help books...If i wanted to be someone else I would read those useless things.

My work, girlfriend and medication helped improve my spontaneous speech weather I liked it or not.

When I stopped worrying so much, my life changed for the better.

To the contrary, I've found them quite.. helpful. They haven't made me someone else, but they have made me a better new and improved version of myself.

In terms of Aspergers, I found it helpful to read The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. I also read a couple of autobiographies: Asperger's from the Inside Out, and Look me in the eyes. All of these were valuable in learning a whole lot about myself very quickly.

As for self help books, I've read many on topics like happiness, self improvement, changing the world etc. Most recently I read a couple that have been quite helpful in terms of focus and being present in general - which are great things to be able to improve for an Aspie. The two books are The Power of Now and A New Earth, both by Eckhart Tolle. I've read many self help type books over the years, most of them more financial/business success oriented, but these two were particularly good and I highly recommend them.

For me I consider myself in a gigantic ocean. Sometimes it's bright, sunny and calm on the water, other times is dark, stormy and turbulent. I won't alter life's course too much knowingly anymore, I'm an insignificant speck on a tiny planet in a very big universe. Important I am not, so I live everyday to the fullest with no regrets. I can't possible improve my life when it is already perfect in this very moment

I can drive an automatic now, I have something approaching a social life in my mid thirties thanks to meetup.com, I can handle phonecalls to some degree, even if I still struggle to understand. I can handle traffic and cross the road safely most of the time.

Added - My sensory issues have also diminished a lot, noises still annoy me but since my early teens I no longer spend a lot of time with my fingers in my ears or terrified of dogs, balloons, fireworks etc.

Last edited by Noetic on 18 May 2014, 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

Yes Meet-up (social anxiety group) helped me immensely. And I am a much better driver than I was when I was young.