Hi! I just landed here.

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Hi!

The following is an excerpt of my "coming out" letter to all of my NT friends and family:

After many years of trying in vain to explain, and apologize, to everyone around me for what they perceive to be insensitive, inconsiderate, and/or downright offensive behavior in many of my attempts at social interactions, I went home to my only constant companion, my laptop computer, in search of an explanation. The results of a couple of online self-diagnostic tests helped me to reach the unsettling reality that I am indeed afflicted with “The Horrible Asp*”, also known as Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a high-functioning form of autism.

Growing up in a special education environment at a time when my inclusion in a regular school setting was considered potentially dangerous to myself, other students, and teachers, one could only imagine the rejection, loneliness, and isolation that had become of my daily childhood experience. Such social isolation only made a bad situation worse, as I rarely had an opportunity to develop the social skills needed to grow and evolve as a complete person. Most attempts to socialize with my peers were met with rejection and derision, so I preferred to keep completely to myself. Whenever my parents or sisters had company at the house, I disappeared into my room and locked the door. As you can imagine, I had very few friends despite my best efforts and intentions. My first inclusion in a regular school environment was as a freshman in high school and it was not at all a pretty sight. In spite of my academic success throughout high school, my extreme shyness and inability to relate to my classmates, especially to the ladies, in any meaningful way made life in high school almost unbearable for me.

Even in adulthood, I still have a great degree of difficulty making friends and establishing social, especially dating, relationships of any kind. I am very uncomfortable in most social situations, including the workplace. Although I have earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration, I have had difficulty establishing the social connections needed to land any kind of relevant employment. As a result, I am very unhappy in my two pizza delivery jobs because I know deep down that I am worth much more than the way I live. Those of us who have been “bitten by The Horrible Asp*”, as I sometimes refer to those with Asperger’s Syndrome, have many behavioral, sensory, and self-esteem challenges that we must face on a daily basis.

What is the most appropriate way to share my AS self-diagnosis with those who really need to know?
How can I rechannel the tendencies associated with AS into more creative endeavors?

<* No offense to any of the members is intended here...just an attempt at humor. >

hehe. I didn't realize you were displaying humor until I read your note at the bottom! I think that note would not work at all with NT's. They'll just try to explain away your problems and give you advice that you are completely unable to follow concerning everyday social interactions.

I don't know what to tell you about telling others about your Asperger's. But I'm replying because I'm in a similar situation. I'm not sure who to tell or how much to tell who. My great desire is to tell everyone everything and just be myself so I can stop acting NT for everyone once and for all. But I'm afraid people just wouldn't get that.

But as for rechanneling. That is possible! Your terrible focus can zero in on your interests, and at the same time, possibly create an income for yourself even a career. In my case I'm obsessed with media creation, visual effects, machinima, video games, fantasy genre, rpg's, and so on. Somehow, with help from others, I'm able to live off those obsessions and make enough money to barely pay my bills.

But the key is that 'terrible' is not a negative word! When I say 'terrible focus' I mean it in a positive way. Because of our unique ability to focus on a very specific subject we can become much better at it than any NT could even dream. So use what you know!

Welcome to WP!

Welcome to WP, RW7!

I gave some printed information to my boss after making my self-diagnosis a few weeks ago, and that has since proved very helpful at work. However, none of my family members have responded at all after my sending to them a link to that same information. So while discovering and learning about my AS has proved (and continues to be) invaluably helpful to me, that has yet to do much at all for anyone else ... and I do not expect that to ever really change.

Again: Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to the Wrong Planet, RoadWarrior7.

To WrongPlanet!! !