Range of Abilities

Post Reply New Topic

We all know Asperger's encompasses a wide range of abilities, some which impact us negatively and some positively. What do you think is the trait you have associated with Asperger's that gives you the most difficulty? What do you think is a trait you have associated with Asperger's that is one of your biggest strengths?

For me, what causes me the most difficulty is my inability to interpret ambiguity in all it's forms, though mainly with people. I have a very hard time knowing what people mean unless they are very specific. I also have a hard time responding, either way.

My best trait associated with AS is probably my logical thought process, and my ability to analyze.

Interesting, I just realized it, but it seems my strongest trait associated with AS is what helps me compensate for my weakest one.

I'd say the hardest part to deal with is my procrastination with anything involving social interaction. I have a really hard time motivating myself to go out into the world and do things with other people, even when it needs to be done.

The best part is the immense patience it gives me. Without AS I probably couldn't enjoy reading 1000 page novels, exhaustively searching for new music, or spending ages polishing any big project I commit to into perfection. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

It's very much the same for me.
What has always given me the most trouble is trying to devise some sort of code of conduct that I can live by. I have always been frustrated by the fact that even following "the golden rule" does not always work, because others seem to want to be treated in a way that I have no comprehension of. Also "just be yourself" is not feasible, because many people resent this, and see it as selfish.

This ridiculously anylitical approach to everything is of course my strength.
What I finally realized is that most people do not even ask these questions, because they understand intuitively how to behave in social situations.

That said, I do love my analytical mind. I would not trade.

Biggest problem: things falling from my memory. If it is not in my field of interest and not something that is a currently pressing issue then I will often forget about it.

Biggest strength: Seeing details. I remember spending a trip on the bus looking at a screw in the floor and admiring the beauty of engineering in the way that this simple machine (a variant of an inclined plane) can help hold together such a huge and complex device. I knew that all the screws were doing the same thing in that bus, but this particular screw was what caught my attention.

Who better to come up with this topic than Michelle! I can't get over it!

Anyway, the trait that signifies my biggest strength is my intellect. Although people don't understand what I am saying sometimes, my intellect is a blessing. I try my very best to decipher what I am saying so that other people can understand what I am saying.

The trait that signifies my biggest weakness is my inability to adapt to my surroundings. It is difficult to determine whether the people around me are having fun or not. So, I just back down. For example, right now, I have no clue what is going on with them because I am here, in my bedroom. I don't know whether they're happy or not. I am too afraid to see what is going on with them. I often use this website as a coping tool for my emotions. This is another reason why I like this website. I can't get enough! There are times when I am on this website for hours on end. They say it is harmful to get too much of a good thing. Well, this is not the case for Wrongplanet.

So, in other words, it is a weakness that is impossible to make a strength.

My biggest weakness is social interaction. I can't say it's a matter of ambiguity, anxiety, or apathy; it is a general symptom. I can walk away from a conversation thinking that I did quite well and that I was well received; later interactions often prove my interpretation to be mistaken. This reminds me I am oblivious to more things than I realize, and I only occasionally catch a glimpse of what I am failing to comprehend at moments when my interpretation is thrown back at me, corrected. I can at least sometimes understand what someone might be feeling or thinking, and I am well aware of my own emotions and thought processes; but maybe I fail to form a gestalt idea.

I sometimes sense that this missing gestalt may be depriving me of the core of identity or personality that most other people have. The identity I do possess is deficient: It does not express itself to others what it means to me. People misunderstand everything from my beliefs to my intentions all the time. In terms of personality, the dichotomies of impulsive-conscientious, introverted-extroverted, and conflicting-agreeable don't seem to hold stable for me. The way I act seems to be determined in part by those who are around me, the time of day, recent events and internal factors like my mood and goals but also a component of what might be called whim (although not willed). Why am I such a hyperconscientious and introverted student and employee but completely impulsive and extroverted at home? Why can I be so agreeable sometimes and just stubborn and even conflict generating for my own petty amusement at others? Why can I be so distraught if certain people don't seem to like me but not particularly worried if I have offended my own parents? Why do I sometimes show deep empathy for some people and, at other times, show a complete lack of concern for anyone?

Despite having Asperger's syndrome, I seem to sense out people's beliefs and personal biases intuitively; yet I still fail to develop friendships and romance. Everything from my sense of humor to my manner of speaking seems to adjust around different people. It's like I'm trying to be all things to all people, to live up to many different sometimes conflicting ideals while expunging myself of all negatives. Then I come to think of myself as possessing these ideal characteristics, but who knows if I have them all in reality, yet I'll carry on as if I do. I have recently taken the action of cutting myself free of some of this dependence by not caring so much what other people think of me: I will do what I enjoy and offer my generosity freely; people can think what they want of me for it; a side-effect of this has been a sort of numbing away to the extent that now even something like flirting with a beautiful woman might produce very little effect on me despite an outward appearance of cheerfulness.

It seems like, without positive social interaction or the prospect thereof, my personality and mood rapidly deteriorate: depression; rumination; binge-eating; and emotions shifting between boredom, self-pity, anger, and contrived attempts at happiness. I have trouble keeping myself occupied because I get so little out of doing stuff by myself. I feel no motivation to keep me at a task I've started in such cases. I just pass the time blindly. I do everything to cultivate an attractive façade so that women will find me attractive; I try to use positive thinking so that they will want to be around me for being so upbeat; and I try to keep myself occupied constructively when I am alone.

The positive aspects of having Asperger's syndrome for me at least are above-average intelligence, strong analytical ability, perseverance at a desired goal, and gifted verbal intelligence.

Biggest weakness: My compulsive worries.

Best strength: My ability to look outside the square.

That's the way I did things and it actually works if you do it right! More people here should try it.

Biggest strength: Absolute focus. I get things done on time almost all of the time, and can stay totally zoned-in on the task at hand for extended periods of time. I'm goal-driven and should be able to get the career I want as a result.

Biggest weakness: Absolute focus. I obsess about little things that need to get done. I don't procrastinate because I need instand gratification relief from the guilt that comes from putting things off. I get things done because if I don't they will often eat away at me. I can't 'let things go' and that impedes my own personal mental health and relationships with others- the others because sometimes I can't let go of something they do which upsets me. I also can't forget it if I do something wrong myself, and that eats away at me too. I have been known to clench my fists or talk to myself in public trying to drive thoughts of my own screw-ups away.

That's what first came to mind for each, anyway...

Or the circle?

I think one of my strongest traits, but I won't necessarily say good or bad, is my analytical mindset. This can be good when harboured by a deadline (so I don't over analyze) but disastrous when let out of control. Same thing with my will power, which is very strong.

My weakest points would probably have to do with socializing. I'm an introvert who tends to talk. A lot.

Most troublesome: I agree, dealing with ambiguity. Peoples' contradictory, sloppy, evaluations and explanations. It reduces me to -- literally -- terror in short order. Coupled with that, their seeming inability to hear what I'm saying and appreciate that I'm saying exactly what I intend for them to hear. Waste too much time and heartache on this problem. Right now I'm waiting for a meeting with two people who overwhelm me with ambiguity, and I'm dreading it.

Most beneficial: My ability to "see" complex logical constructs in a sort of "organic" fashion. I design extremely complex, high functioning, and robust systems because I can visualize a logical construct from any level. Other people find it disconcerting, because I can freely "drill" up and down in systems without loss of focus.

Hmmm, what is my most troublesome trait? When I'm in social situations I do or say something I'm not supposed to but when I ask why, I just get told, "Because you're just not supposed to." even though the supposed rule I'm breaking is completely illogical or stupid.

Like, one time, I was in the car with my ex and his friends and he hid my chocolate bar from me. I told him to give it back but he claimed he wasn't hiding it. I got out the car and while I wasn't looking, he put it on my seat. When I saw the candy, I picked it up, telling him to stop playing. I said "I know you just put that candy there because it's not warm from me sitting on it."

Everyone just groaned in disgust but I couldn't understand why because it was true. My exe's friends later told him they didn't know what he saw in me seeing I wasn't exactly the "sharpest knife in the drawer." And I think he agreed since he's now an "ex". I don't hang with anyone, now, since I'd rather be alone than have to worry constantly if my behavior is "acceptable".

My best asset is that I'm very detail oriented and remember things I learn from just about every subject years afterward. If someone asked a question about anything, I usually know the answer whether it's art, quantum physics, architecture, building codes or astronomy. I also have a great long-term memory and can recall things from the time I was 18 months old. My grandmother still can't believe I can remember that far back.

Sounds pretty quick on the uptake to me. Your ex doesn't know what he's talking about. What did he expect you to do, laugh and join them in making fun of you for some imaginary awkwardness you couldn't even see? How dare you not deliver yourself up on a silver platter for them to tease.

Weakness(es): Executive Dysfunction. 1. Especially with some attention problems slowing down my reading.2. Also not being able oftentimes to put my emotions/thoughts into words and thus being able to communicate my needs at the time of relevance to the situation. 3. Slow-thinking. 4. Difficulty with off-the-top-of-my-head thinking especially in times of higher anxiety. 5. Central Auditory Processing problems: extreme extreme difficulty with understanding verbal instructions and inconsistent auditory comprehension.

Strength(s): Creative talents like poetry-writing, 2-D art production, and creative thinking in general. Extreme logical thinking also. I feel lucky to be well-balanced between the Creative and the Rational, each of which it seems I received from my parents. Logic from my father (AS) and Creativity from my mother (NT with some mild ADD symptoms).

biggest weakness- coping with new situations, places or people. it takes me a very long time to warm up to new people, im very tentative at first.

biggest strength- probably imagination and seeing things differently. i like to look and observe everything and just play around with it in my imagination. it helps me when i write because i can pull out a large number of descriptions at will.