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Hi, I'm a 23 year old Aspie male, though I've always known on some level that I was different; my mother tells me she would even call me a 'little professor' when I was a young child, and I remember having what would generally be thought of as bizarre obsessions with random objects like doorknobs, doorbells, fans, and staircases.

I was diagnosed in 2001 when I was 19 after crashing and burning very, very hard out of the 'typical' college/dorm situation (if there is such a thing). It was compounded by a couple of deaths in the family, one of which was very sudden, and I just couldn't handle it. At the time, I didn't know why, and this, naturally, contributed to some lingering feelings of inadequacy, but I feel that I'm slowly recovering from the entire ordeal. As far as I'm aware, I'm the only one in my family with AS, though I do have a cousin who's a classical autistic. Given the relatively recent nature of the diagnostic criteria being formalized, it's hard to say if other, older family members have it, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a little strain of predisposition in the family.

I was born in Massachusetts and spent 18 years of my life there (non-contiguous). I recently moved to Ann Arbor to live with my girlfriend and her family, we have two very weird cats and two adorable little rats. I'm interested in writing, primarily, currently writing a novel, and looking to find some pointers on self-employment, or doing freelance work from home, even if it's something simple and repetitive like typing stuff up--I don't mind monotony, and I can type very quickly.

I'm currently between-schools, as it were, I've taken distance courses for about 2 years now and am planning to transfer to the school my girlfriend is attending in the fall, hopefully as a major in their Children's Lit program.

Nice to meet you all, and looking forward to conversing with other Aspies!

-patrick

Hello Patrick, I also crashed and burned as a result of my college dorm situation back in 1972. I am fifty-one now and currently in recovery from a major work-related meltdown. My son Jonah is diagnosed with PDD-NOS since age four, but is currently being reevaluated, becuase the asperger's diagnosis seems more accurate. My present dagnoses are Bipolar 1 and Personality Disorder NOS. Asperger's is often misdiagnosed as Personality Disorder, and since Jonah and I have so many characteristics in common, I am also undergoing an evaluation for asperger's. To me it just seems like a formality to make official what I already know. Undeniably I am also bipolar. (I thank God that Jonah shows no signs of bipolar disorder.) I have a nephew that is diagnosed with asperger's and a cousin that I believe is. My husband has many asperger characteristics. I've come to realize that beyond a simple physical attraction, our asperger's characteristics have complemented each other. We have a solid relationship that has lasted 29 years and is still going strong and stronger. As painful as living with this has been, I still feel so lucky, because how many people can say this about any relationship. So what that I'm not some kind of social butterfly, don't know how to be, and I realize now wouldn't want to be. Anyway now I'm going really off when what I really want to do is say, welcome! welcome! welcome!

Hello Patrick, welcome to WrongPlanet. It's nice to meet you.

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome PDD-NOS in September 1998 at the age of 21 years, two months... it was a struggle going through thirteen years of school not knowing what I had, but it could of been worse. I wasn't bullied, in fact I was rather popular for being so quiet.

I am also a fast typer, but not much into writing.

Where did you live in Massachusetts? If you don't wish to answer here, feel free to PM or IM me (or PM or IM me whenever you wish, anyway).  As you can see, I am originally from Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Hi welcome to the fourm. So your name Kosh refers to one of the Vorlons in B5 you are a fan of B5 ? Big fan of B5 myself

Tom: I was born in Danvers and lived there for about 6 years, then when my family moved back to MA in 1991 or so, I lived in Melrose (where my mother had grown up) until 2003. I wasn't terribly bullied, but I think a lot of that came from perfecting the art of making myself invisible and calling as little attention to myself as possible. Not the healthiest way to go about it, I imagine, but I didn't know any better.

V111: Yes indeed, very much so. I have a Kosh figurine I bought on eBay staring at me from this desk right now as well as all of the season sets on DVD and a fair amount of the novels. There's a lot about the Vorlons I identify with, just in general... everyone sees something different, a love of order, being generally taciturn and sometimes overly cryptic.

Yes, I too have been married a very long time. I'm of the opinion due to the overlap of behaviors, and the fact that psychiatry remains very much an art, those with autism can be left only being given medication. Without opportunity for the significant services needed in Occupational Therapy and Social/Communication Skills Training. Especially for one who is thought capable of survival due to intellectual ability. Although, the ultra brain research is now bringing some hard fast science to the field.

Here is part of an article below that presents some of these things regarding PDD. I'm still trying to locate the research that I read in that it said very few diagnosed with PDD at a very young age are in fact autistic people. It all remains very confusing in the overlap of behaviors for many who are caught without assistance that will improve their quality of life.

LadyBug

http://www.autism.org/pdd.html

Plain Talk about PDD and the Diagnosis of Autism

Written by Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.
Autism Research Institute
4182 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116

"Clearly, the PDD designation, along with its cumbersome bureaucratic baggage (i.e., PDD-NOS: "Not Otherwise Specified") should be relegated to the Archives of Failed Attempts, where it will have plenty of company, while we go on about our business. "

"There are many more children with autistic-like disorders than there are children with autism itself. When I founded the Autism Society of America in 1965, I urged, and my recommendation was followed for many years, that all ASA stationery, brochures, and other printed materials carry the wording "Dedicated to the welfare of all children (later 'children and adults') with severe disorders of communication and behavior." The need for an encompassing title for this group was evident even then."

Yes Kosh i had the whole show on videotape and now iam slowly buying the dvds. Have seen JMS in person at comiccon in Orlando, FL he showed a bloopers reel. my fav B5 site
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/lurker.html