I feel I have an interesting story and I'd like to share.
My name is Mark, I am an undiagnosed 23-year-old male with Asperger's Syndrome. One late night about two years ago I became so stressed with my inability to connect with the world, I scoured every page on the internet for something, anything to explain why I felt so different, why I felt like i was walking around inside this giant bubble, disconnected from everyone.
I began researching what I felt were my symptoms when I began reading about autism. I decided to look into it further and came across the criteria for AS, and it made sense. It made a lot of sense, but I couldn't help but thinking "how could my parents not have noticed this?" I thought about the atypical behavior I displayed as a child and always thought it was simply just that. But, in fact, I showed signs of AS from an extremely early age.
Still, I was not yet totally convinced, because I had read about AS usually being a genetic disorder. Then I took a good, close look at my father, and within about five minutes realized that he had it to, probably worse than I did, even.
Finally about four months ago, I asked my mother what she thought and she said "I missed it at the time, but there's little doubt in my mind now that you have it."
I am a camp counselor during the summers and during this past summer I got to work with a seven-year-old with AS. Previously, I had never met another person (adult or child) with AS and it was quite an experience to see a mirror held up to me. This experienced convinced me to begin reaching out to others like me, which brings me here this evening.
As I previously stated, I've never met an adult with AS or any ASD, so it has always been difficult for me to talk about it. No one understands, although I couldn't expect them to. I do have friends, but they're all related to some activity I pursue, mostly hockey and music. I don't have any friends I'd consider close, but I think I have a decent support group backing me, at least. That's something.
I'm from New Jersey, I'm a college graduate, but not currently working a full-time job. I hope to be on my own one day and independent. I think I can do it. Its nice to meet you all, I look forward to connecting with individuals that are in the same position as me, it will be a first.
08 Mar 2009, 12:57 am
