AS Identity?

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I've noticed in my wanderings through this forum that AS seems, for many, a key part of their identity. I'm not yet interested in whether I have AS or not, but I am interested in the many personalities here who remind me so much of myself that it's eerie. Do you feel that AS is a critical part of your identity?

Yes. The social difficulties have a huge effect on my life, but at an even deeper level than that, the cognitive profile and the things that go with it -- intense interests, the ability to absorb vast amounts of detailed information about those interests, and the tendency to focus on details ("weak central coherence") -- are at the core of who I am, and they're some of my favorite things about myself.

It is only an identity when looking for a mate (I am limiting myself to other Aspies because I am tired of all the mind games NT women have played on me).

Tim

I should add that I don't necessarily consider the AS *label* to be a critical part of my identity. There's really no objective definition of what AS is at this point, and it's likely that the labels will evolve along with scientific understanding. I'm looking forward to the day when the neurologists take over for the psychologists and really explain what's going on inside our heads, and by then AS may be obsolete as a diagnostic category.

I wouldn't be the same person without some of the things that the label refers to, however.

Yes, I believe that AS has made the person I am, I love knowledge and learning and am proud of that. This is probably the thing closest to my heart in the whole world.

AS isn't me. I'm me. The label doesn't describe me either. I should be proud of who I am and thank god I have only little. Someone should write a book about someone who is aspie but isn't really quite because he is borderline AS. Perhaps I should do that.

I identify with AS as far as it's a good explanation for the way I act. I like understanding things, especially my self... and AS is the best justification I've found for the way I act.

But I don't "identify" with AS... as if it were some badge I carry with myself. I just act like myself... and let the labels fall where they may.

I don't really like labels all that much...

I used to think I had a personality, but since being on WP I've found that all the things I thought made me the unique person I am are actually AS symptoms ! !!

It's a part of my identity, but not a critical part.

I hate to say it, but SAME HERE! An IBM consulting slogan here is something like "What makes YOU special?". I have to laugh and think if only I knew earlier!

Are you related to Arthur "two sheds" Jackson, the famous composer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLjS3gzHetA

I think my childhood DX of HFA is a part of my identity, and am happy to, after 24 years, come to terms with it, and not sweep it under the carpet as it appeared my parents would have prefered of me after I got mainstreamed in 5th and 6th grade.

it is there even though I don't want it there
I was never raised to have pride in my AS, I was raised to try and be like everyone else

I've only known for the previous three months that I've been "pretty damned autistic" my whole life; medication that removed most of my mental illness revealed it to the world of no one. I mean, 25 years of being like Simon in that movie (better at some things; worst at others) and no one picked it up -- it's insane. I'm still trying to comprehend how I even made it this far....

Whatever identity I have, it has nothing to do with the past three months and everything to do with my first memory and who I was then....

Hey, Tim_Tex! I am an Aspie female, and I have been told it is ME that plays the mind games! And this is from NT males, too, so they should know! When someone does something that the other person does not understand, often this is considered a 'mind game'.
I do stuff that other people rarely comprehend, let alone understand and even more rarely condones. Does that make it a 'mind game?' I suppose to them, it does.
I have often been told "oh, I get it! you want me to blah blah blah . . ." and I am totally clueless what they are talking about, or they will accuse me of some horrendious social abuses ( like being committed to a mate and adulterating the commitment with a relationship (sexual or not) with another person) not realizing 1. how wrong they were, or 2. how much the accusation hurt me. I find I freeze up at the mere suggestion of such treason! This they take as me being 'cold and uncaring' because I am so outraged and blindsided and hurt I am forced into some sort of catatonic state.
When I thaw out, the only emotion that is allowed to excape is rage and then they certainly KNOW they don't want to be around me! I remember when I regained control of my body I grabbed the kindling hatchet and chased him down the streets of midnight Seattle!

so .. . good luck with them Aspie Gals, Tim_Tex

Yeah, I didn't know I was AS until late last year, so I guess my 'specialness' was not due to my own personality, but to some neurological situation. My chuckle comes from finally having an answer when someone "asks" "What is YOUR problem?"

LOL