Hai, I'm a girl and I've just been formally diagnosed with Asperger's. I'm 28, so I'm a bit older
I had a few issues when trying to get people to recognise Asperger's. Firstly, I also have Schizoaffective Disorder, and some of the schizo side of life can seem like ASD. I think it was only when it was clear to my psychiatrist that my Schizoaffective was asymptomatic that he was prepared to reconsider his stance on whether I had ASD, and gave his Seal Of Approval [TM]. Before that, my psychologist had been insisting to my psychiatrist that I had "undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome" due to my issues with empathy, social issues and obsessive special interests that have been persistent since childhood.
Apparently, I also present very well, in the sense that I can make some sort of eye contact with while in conversations, and basically I can carry on conversations with people. My first psychiatrist basically dismissed the idea of me being on the spectrum out of hand [he basically laughed] and said that it was less likely for females to be on the spectrum and besides, I "present too well to be on the spectrum". I told him of my childhood and he said that I sounded obsessive but it didn't mean anything. Suffice to say, he is no longer my psychiatrist.
I don't know if I am "mild" - my psychiatrist didn't use any terminology to describe my Asperger's, except to say that I have it. I would say that over the years, I've developed coping strategies for social situations through mimicry and observation, to the extent where I think it's not immediately noticeable that there is an issue. I did some training as a therapist so I know active listening skills and how to apply them.
Apparently I can come across as cold and aloof, although I'm not sure why because it's not how I perceive myself.
It is surprising though that I have told four people of my Asperger's dx, and all were very surprised. They said things like, "I never would have picked you to have Asperger's."
I would, however, call myself a socially-motivated Aspie. I like social interaction and I like being around people. Unfortunately, I just don't understand them. Humans, for me, are both a source of great pleasure and great pain. Sometimes, the pain that they cause on me have made me cynical and reclusive, and even now I generally find it hard to trust people. I find that disappointing because I really would prefer to view humans in a better light.
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Said the apple to the orange,
"Oh, I wanted you to come
Close to me and
Kiss me to the core."
Think you're ASD? Get thee to a professional!