Questioning
Like quite a few others here on the forums, I don't know whether I have Asperger's or not, but I find I fit many of the traits.
As a child I was very talkative, you couldn't shut me up, unless I didn't know you. My inability to talk to 'strangers' and look them in the eye lead my parents, thinking I was an extremely shy child, to enrol me in drama classes, which was probably the best thing for me. There I learnt how to pretend to be like everyone else and thus as an adult of nearly 35, I can fake being normal but find it extremely tiring. I still dislike social situations with people I don't know well and thus have to engage in small talk with- just can't stand small talk, it seems so pointless. However, get me started a topic I know something about and you can't shut me up. I'm working on not dominating a conversation, but it is a work in progress.
I am finding working in an office surrounded by non-geeky women that I don't think or feel like they do. I have one co-worker who gets extremely frustrated that I don't get very excited about events she feels I should, like my upcoming birthday or an overseas trip. I don't see why I should feel that way, but apparently it is odd that I don't. Throughout my life I have had trouble finding and keeping friends, but in my adult life (well the last 10 years) I have been fortunate to find some fantastic geeky people who seem to enjoy having me around.
Like many aspies, I was an extremely awkward and clumsy child. I was enrolled in dance classes, but failed every single ballet exam and it took me ages to learn a routine. My rheumatologist (I have a pain disorder) has commented many times that I move like I am uncomfortable in my body and haven't worked out how it all works yet which I feel is a very accurate description of how I move. My handwriting was appalling and I had to take remedial classes in primary school to improve it. I worked really hard in my late teens to improve it, but if I don't concentrate on forming my letters than it goes back to scrawl. I also have difficulties hearing sounds in words which makes my spelling not fantastic (thank gods for spellcheckers) and learning a new language a nightmare.
I also suffer from anxiety and get extremely stressed out in certain situations like crowded supermarkets (have learnt to shop early on a Sunday morning) and I really don't like it when my routines get upset or things don't go to my internal plan. I am happiest when I can plan out how my day is going to progress and have it happen the way that it is in my head.
Well, I feel I have gone on about me for far too long. Looking forward to getting to know everyone here and finding out more about Asperger's.
richie
Supporting Member

Joined: 9 Jan 2007
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Posts: 32,003
Location: Lake Whoop-Dee-Doo, Pennsylvania
To WrongPlanet!! !
_________________
Life! Liberty!...and Perseveration!!.....
Weiner's Law of Libraries: There are no answers, only cross references.....
My Blog: http://richiesroom.wordpress.com/
happymusic
Veteran

Joined: 10 Feb 2010
Age: 44
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,165
Location: still in ninja land
Hello Brennan, welcome,



Enjoy your stay on the Wrong Planet!
_________________
1975, ASD: Asperger's Syndrome (diagnosed: October 22, 2009)
Interests: science, experimental psychology, psychophysics, music (listening and playing (guitar)) and visual arts
Don't focus on your weaknesses, focus on your strengths
As a child I was very talkative, you couldn't shut me up, unless I didn't know you. My inability to talk to 'strangers' and look them in the eye lead my parents, thinking I was an extremely shy child, to enrol me in drama classes, which was probably the best thing for me. There I learnt how to pretend to be like everyone else and thus as an adult of nearly 35, I can fake being normal but find it extremely tiring. I still dislike social situations with people I don't know well and thus have to engage in small talk with- just can't stand small talk, it seems so pointless. However, get me started a topic I know something about and you can't shut me up. I'm working on not dominating a conversation, but it is a work in progress.
I am finding working in an office surrounded by non-geeky women that I don't think or feel like they do. I have one co-worker who gets extremely frustrated that I don't get very excited about events she feels I should, like my upcoming birthday or an overseas trip. I don't see why I should feel that way, but apparently it is odd that I don't. Throughout my life I have had trouble finding and keeping friends, but in my adult life (well the last 10 years) I have been fortunate to find some fantastic geeky people who seem to enjoy having me around.
Like many aspies, I was an extremely awkward and clumsy child. I was enrolled in dance classes, but failed every single ballet exam and it took me ages to learn a routine. My rheumatologist (I have a pain disorder) has commented many times that I move like I am uncomfortable in my body and haven't worked out how it all works yet which I feel is a very accurate description of how I move. My handwriting was appalling and I had to take remedial classes in primary school to improve it. I worked really hard in my late teens to improve it, but if I don't concentrate on forming my letters than it goes back to scrawl. I also have difficulties hearing sounds in words which makes my spelling not fantastic (thank gods for spellcheckers) and learning a new language a nightmare.
I also suffer from anxiety and get extremely stressed out in certain situations like crowded supermarkets (have learnt to shop early on a Sunday morning) and I really don't like it when my routines get upset or things don't go to my internal plan. I am happiest when I can plan out how my day is going to progress and have it happen the way that it is in my head.
Well, I feel I have gone on about me for far too long. Looking forward to getting to know everyone here and finding out more about Asperger's.
I'm 95% sure if you presented to a psychiatrist and told him all this he would diagnose you with Asperger's!

I used to have unbearable anxiety but I found fluoxetine (Prozac) helped a lot with that. It helped chill me out a bit more too. They can't 'cure' Asperger's but they can help you manage some of the side effects.
welcome brennan
lol... thought you may be questioning... lol but yeah...
Find it hard reading massive posts like that...
Short posts are good
I found out I had AS 3 years ago now..
Similar Topics | |
---|---|
Questioning |
25 Apr 2014, 3:30 am |
Questioning |
08 Mar 2011, 11:55 am |
Questioning |
07 Jul 2010, 5:38 am |
questioning |
13 Apr 2008, 6:10 am |