Personal stories.

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Hi!

Feel free to post your personal stories about how you experience life with AS (++)

I'm wrting an article about AS in the school paper, so if any of you would like to give me hand by letting me portray your story, let me know.

Your stories will not be used without your permission.

This is a great chance for everyone who's sick of being portrayed negatively in the media to shine and show that Aspies are awesome people. I'm not officially diagnosed, so I will step aside for those who actually are diagnosed Aspies to share their experiences.

I'm going to post my story of being diagnosed here. It's a little graphic, so I'm sorry in advance if I upset anyone.
On Saturday, May 6, 2006, I was at my dad's house with my sister. He was at his girlfriend's house, so we were by ourselves. She was in her own room, with the door closed, so she wasn't paying any attention to me. I was upstairs, feeling the most emotional and physical pain I have ever felt in my life.
I realized I was never going to be normal, and no one was ever going to accept me for who I was. All anyone would ever perceive me as is a freak who is meant for another world.
My dad left his medicine bag in his bathroom, and I walked slowly into the bathroom to see what pills were inside. I found a full bottle of Xanax.
I started taking them one by one, waiting a minute to take the next. I knew by experience that if you take them all at once, you'll just end up vomiting them back up. I didn't want to make that mistake again.
After a half hour, I completely blacked out. The next thing I remember is being at my mom's house in her bed. I saw a hospital bracelet on my wrist. Then little slides of the incident came back to me. I was at the ER, and I was convincing the doctor that I only took 2 Xanax. They didn't try to prove me wrong.
I slept off and on that Sunday, then I went back to school on Monday. I was still pretty out of it, considering I took a massive overdose.
During 5th period, I decided I was going to end my life once and for all. I went into the bathroom with a pair of sharp scissors.
I went into the biggest stall, and shut the door behind me. That's when I burst into dry, monotonous sobs. I then started cutting my arms in every direction. I couldn't feel anything, so I pressed harder, and cut deeper. I didn't realize there was someone else in the bathroom. My poor judgement saved my life.
Her name was Heather, and she was an autistic boy's mentor, and she helped him to his classes and all that.
She told me to open the stall, unaware what I was really doing. Reluctantly, I opened it, and she gasped at the sight of the blood all over my arms and on the tile and walls.
She then took me to the office, and I was immediately put into an ambulance and taken to Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley. It turns out I didn't get a vein or artery, which was pretty lucky for me.
Then they told me I was going to get help. By that they meant I was going to a Psych Ward. They also said I was going to go through psychiatric testing to see if I need anymore special attention.
There I was checked on every 15 minutes, and my psychiatrist and nurse observed my behaviour throughout the first couple days. I didn't interact with the others very much, and I felt happy that I had a routine to adhere to. They noticed I was displaying certain behaviours, so they decided to ask interview me for a little while. I told them I suspected I was somewhat autistic, and they said I exhibited autistic behaviours.
Then I was put through psychiatric testing, which took a while, and I was really bored by it because I didn't like having to describe every detail of my thinking to people I didn't even know. I was then given a packet to have my parents fill out, and they answered the questions of how I was as a child.
After a few days, they determined I had Asperger's Syndrome. It was a relief in a way because now had an explanation.

The End.

Well, because this'll probably wind up being a "How did you discover you had AS?" thread, I'll post how mine was found out.

Well, throughout most of my life, my parents figured I was normal. Being their first child they didn't know what to expect, but I guess they began to see major differences when my younger sister came about. My AS was first discovered when another mental hiccup, Epillepsy reared it's head and made me have a fit one school day. While at the hospital waiting around for like, three days doing nothing (which I couldn't stand, I hate waiting around), my nurse noted to my mum my odd walking posture, among other things (like gazing around and not really listening), and lent her a book on AS (probably a Tony Attwood one). On the car trip home, my mum was in tears at how well it described me.

About a week or two later, I got a diagnosis and, sure enough, I came up AS.

I dont know if you want stories of how we found out or suspect it, at least, or how we actually live or what.. Its hard to me put my life into a few words

I have always been odd to people. talking about the same subject over and over. losing friends because they can't take it anymore.

in 1992 i had this tv show I had to watch, not because i even liked it but because it was on. my dad tried to change the channel and I went "nuts" I was like... " I NEED to watch it" my mom at that moment figured out I was autistic.

then a few years ago a friend mentioned aspergers to us.

I have been to a dr. who specializes in educational problems. but he didnt mention autism to us, he thought it was a vestibular problem, BUT most of the autistic behaviors I have are not related to vestibular problems. I pretty much have all the symptoms of Aspergers.

I am debating to get a official diagnoses but not sure. Self diagnoses is ok for now.