"Suffers from Asperger's Syndrome"

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I've been reading a few articles about aspies lately and all of them say this exact phrase. I don't know how other aspies feel about this but I think it's such an ignorant thing to say and it makes me afraid to tell people about myself because they will think I have a horrible syndrome and I'm suffering. I don't know where this originated from or why it became the standard thing to say about all aspies but I want it to be changed. Maybe there are other aspies who feel the same, is there anything we can do to change it? I mean it's almost like saying black people suffer from African Pigmentation Syndrome isn't it? I don't see much of a difference so a complaint should be acknowledged?

Because Asperger's is a disease. It's a disease because it...affects your physical health...just like all other diseases.

Is that a joke? I know it sounds like a disease "I have Asperger's Syndrome" sounds just like "I have AIDS" but I don't say that I say I'm an Aspergian or I'm an Aspie because I don't have a syndrome. My body is in good shape, I'm healthy. I guess you were joking.

I've seen this phrase a few times too, and it certainly can't help people's perceptions of AS. I wouldn't personally say that I was suffering from it, I may say though that it has effected my life negatively in the past.

I think it might be good to remove the word "from" and to just say "suffers Asperger's Syndrome". Doing that would remove thoughts of "victim" and imply strong character.

I suffer because of my ASD. I may be really smart and employed and high functioning an all that, but I have been utterly stymied and externalizing my true internal states in a fashion that give me any sense of contentment. Why do you think the suicide rate among aspies is higher that average?

I LOVE my hyper focus when I can find that zone. It is like a drug. But I visit that place so rarely because I am tossed about in a sea of social information that makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Literally. Fortunately I've learned enough self control to not due such self injurious things. But it is a sliver away.

Yeah. I suffer from Asperger's.

I dislike "suffers from" language for any disability because it's assigning an emotional burden to any disabled person that is quite possibly not present. While I do consider AS to be a disability and a disorder and whatever other language implies it causes difficulties, and I am honestly confused when people say they do not consider it in the category of things that cause impairment.

So I do not want to be described as "suffers from Asperger's Syndrome" or "suffers from autism" or "suffers from ADHD," but I think it's perfectly reasonable to acknowledge that both of these things cause some serious challenges. I mean, what wavefreak58 said is pretty relevant, and I can relate despite my own lack of long-term employment.

Sorry if I come on strong but I'm upset that every article I've read says this I think it's damaging and prejudiced. I mean even if there was an article about the happiest person in the world and they happened to be an Aspie I bet it would still say "Suffers from Asperger's Syndrome"