Anybody Here Over 30?

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I'm 40, and I found out about Asperger about 6 months ago, and I suspect that I probably have it. Hopefully I'll find out more from this board

Jeff

I'm 34 years old and was diagnosed with Asperger's at age 25. But if I were to "play doctor", and had I known about Asperger's at that time, I would probably have been diagnosed at age 4. With the lack of knowing an actual name of the condition, my pediatrician simply said I was "immature" for a 4-year old. My parents would simply say that I was "different", and this started back when I was about 8 years old, when I became more aware I was not developing the way I should have been for my age. Of course I was "different" at least as young a 4 years old; I just didn't know it.

It is amazing how many people I see are not diagnosed with Asperger's until well into adulthood. But my theory is that most of these people probably had it in childhood, but it was just not well enough known until a few years ago (I'm not a doctor though, so don't assume I'm right).

I'm 31. And I found out about Asperger's only a week and a half ago. It's been an absolute revelation for me. It's like things are making sense in my life now. I have constantly 'gone through' a lot, relentlessly from birth until now, non-stop, absolutely no respite. But now I know why... something has been different and it's been blamed on me - but then Asperger's is a recently discovered concept. All my life I've apparently been 'different', 'weird' and some sort of freak - now I'm an Aspie. That makes a whole lotta difference.

I'm already working on getting a dx. I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday to see about getting dx'd for Asperger's... indeed it may just as likely be autism. There is a centre in Edinburgh (I live just outside the city) which specialises in adult autism spectrum disorders. My appointment on Thurs is to see about being referred to there.

I wasn't really antisocial as a kid, though people understandably thought I was. Just very confused.

When your parents are ashamed of you and refuse to get you help and you don't know how to make or keep friends you are utterly ALONE most of the time. That was the first 22 years of my life.

I'll be 40 this year, knew all along that there was something wrong, suspecting something like autism back in high school when I was browing psych books to try to help myself and found one on 'minimal brain dysfunction' (one of the things they used to call AS) and have known I have AS (self-dx'd) for six years.

Most of my life makes sense now thanks to that and that feels great.

Now I know where in my life imitating normal people will work for me and where it won't and so not to bother trying it, and where some feelings and behaviours come from - the condition - and thus can control them. What a relief!

Been completely on my own since I was 22 (disastrous first six years) and can get along a lot better in the world now but it's still hard to connect with people. I'm in a relationship now and it makes me realise how far behind I still am. Do I feel like I was cheated/that I missed out? Hell, yeah!

I'm happy today that most kids with AS don't have to go through what I did growing up. And am also humbled because a lot of you grew up with a lot worse (actual physical violence at school).

I'm 40 years old. I've posted in another thread about what a struggle it was getting along in life without a diagnosis. I knew from about age 25 to 39 that there was something "wrong" with my brain. Like a previous poster, in years past I had gone to the library and learned about "minimal brain damage" and concluded that this was my problem. I got one diagnosis of LD at a free clinic. I went to MDs about half a dozen times over the years but never got anywhere in terms of a full diagnosis. There just weren't any doctors who dealt with brain disorders in my area. I finally learned about AS at the age of 40 and went to see a psychologist who interviewed both myself and my parents. She concluded, "There is no doubt in my mind that you have Asperger's Disorder."

I honestly feel that I have lived most of my life as a refugee whose immigration papers have not been processed and there is always the threat I might be tossed out of safe haven. I feel that I have been a "visitor" in the world of NTs, and not really very welcome by NTs because of discrimination and lack of understanding. I feel that I have existed in a state of fear and anxiety throughout most of my past largely because I was unable to match NT standards.

Very recently I qualified for a disability pension. I feel very fortunate to have gotten a diagnosis and qualify for this assistance in terms of a pension.

Leaving my previous scared, harassed, trying-to-pass-for-NT-situation behind though, in order to start living with my disability and managing in realistic ways is a bit messy. I have a few loose ends to tie up. I have to sort out some of the debts and problems associated with my former situation before I can truly take advantage of some of the resources available to me now that I am on disability.

I have found that it is not so easy to go from being an inadequate trying to pass for NT to a Disabled person. The transition is problematic because of former debts and other issues. Is this a common problem that relates to those of us who were diagnosed later in life?

I'm 48, and have known I was different ever since kindergarten. Haven't decided yet if I want to get a formal diagnosis. Right now it's just cool to have reached the "Aha, so that's what's going on!" phase.

I'm 32 and will be 33 in November and only came to Aspergers' Syndrome as a diagnosis post-diagnosis of my oldest son at 29 months old in 2003 with Moderate Autism and then mine at 31 (2005).

I am 32 and only heard of Asperger's recently. I am undiagnosed. I knew that there was something different about me. I was completely unable to handle small talk. I found the way most people interact socially like they were speaking a different language. I did consult a psychologist, briefly, back in the early 90s, but Asperger's was little known back then. Then late last year, on a website that I frequent regularly, someone mentioned that they had Asperger's syndrome, and listed some of the traits. I thought that sounded exactly like me, and have been reading about Asperger's ever since.

Last month I turned 52, although I feel a lot younger. A few years ago, I read a book about high functioning autistics, which led me to other books on Asperger’s. I’m self-diagnosed, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I have it.

I missed out on a lot, especially when someone was trying to connect with me and I didn’t have a clue how to respond.

I'm 35 and was diagnosed with AS 12 months ago.

I've run into a few of people here on other threads and had no idea you were older. It's kind of reassuring to know. I always feel a bit embarrassed getting into socio-political arguments around here knowing full well I'm talking to someone 15 years younger than me. I have to resist the urge to say, look here you young whipper-snapper...

I'm 39 and definitely in the camp without a formal diagnosis (yet, will be talking to my doctor about that) but where finding out about Aspergers seems very strongly to make a lot of the bafflement and frustration of my life seem to "fall into place". No matter what any doctor might or might not say about me, I can confidently say that I will always, at the very least, believe that I have an awful lot more in common with the aspies than anyone else I know of.

I'm 32 and the first time I heard about something called "Asperger's Syndrome" was back in 2002, although I never thought I could have it. Then last year I came across a comprehensive web site (http://www.asperger.es, if you're fluent in Spanish) and when I read the list of characteristics I was like "It's got a name!". Then I started investigating and, months before I got officially diagnosed, I was pretty sure I had AS.

The harder part was convincing my family that what I had was an Autism Spectrum Disorder. They believed that what happened to me is that I was intellectually gifted and that I couldn't possibly have any "disabilities".
Anyway, at least some of them are finally opening their eyes to reality...

It's been hinted at strongly by a number of psychologists since age 20 that I displayed strong HFA characteristics. But I've always known that my social skills were grossly defficient for my intellectual age. Luckily my ability to learn and modify my behaviour and skills in communication have enabled me to reach 37 before seriously considering a formal diagnosis. Having researched and spoken to loads of people I now know I have Aspergers and dyspraxia. The coming months will see me getting that confirmed and then coming to terms with being 'labelled'. Whatever happens I'm just finally able to understand what's right with me

You were diagnosed last year at 31? And you'll be 33 in November? I'm afraid to ask, but... on the 16th? They would be not one, not two but three coincidences!

I Turned 33 on november 16th... this is like a chain of neurodivergency!

49 and 11/12ths.....

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