by KateWild 51 Replies latest members private
I have a friend with Asperger's Syndrome. We work together at the same company sometimes. He is a very smart and cool guy. A great musician too. So what is it like? How did you even get diagnosed? How is it different than being raised as a dub and just being socially akward? I always tell my friend that I have ASSburgers. He says I need to get help. We laugh, humor is good.
DD
Is it something that you can pretty well work around or is it a constant challenge?-TTATTelder
Getting the right support for where each one is on the spectrum is a challenge. My style of communication, can be blunt and impetuous, people tend to draw away from individuals like that especially women. But writng things down in a forum is really good. I have always been told to think before I speak. That make no sense when you have ASD. But reading through befor you post is good.
Does it give you any advantages like in certain skill sets?-TTATelder
YES. One of my skills is that I can make higher order abstractions better than the general population. Simply put I can read between the lines, see someones motive instantly even if they don't realise it themselves.
This got me onto a heck of a lot of trouble before I knew I could do it. I exposed teachers, bosses, elders, anyone you can think of and offended many. Oooops! I know now and tread carefully.
Kate xxx
I know someone else on the forum with Asperger's also. Helps to understand some things to know it. But otherwise I might just assume a person with Asperger's is set in their ways. I am sure there is more to it than that, but I think its crazy that you are being discriminated against over that diagnosis.
Peace,
tammy
Thanks phizzy. Aloof Asperger's (AS) can cause problems and misunderstandings. My son sometimes displays aloof characteristics in some situations, he thinks others are beneath him.
He is extreme in his literacy skills and grammar, he can't help himself correcting teachers and other pupils. Very aloof, and somewhat arrogant too.
There is also passive and active AS. I am mainly active. But any individual can display all types depending on the circumstances.
Kate xx
I guess I wouldn't think about it at all, and just accept the person for who they are. People's natural personalities do the things that you are saying that asperger's does for you.
Peace,
tammy
I know someone else on the forum with Asperger's also.-Tammy
LOL! I know many who have it on the forum. When you know a lot about it it's so easy to identify it. Like I said the stats are rubbish. It's mainly a male disorder, and men hate admitting anything like that. Don't worry guys, I know who you all are and I won't challenge you about it. Apparently it's not socially acceptable. Don't understand why, but I will let it go.
Kate xx
this has been discussed here before: try using the search engine on this board and check out some of the other posts/posters that have discussed this over the years.
Thank you for sharing.
Is Asperger's considered to be a disability, or a difference?
Is it more disabling than the common assessments that, "Women are feelers (emotional) and schemers (manipulative)", while "Men are thinkers (lateral/predictable, logical*) and planners"?
*I originally wrote "predictively logical," but I revised.
So what is it like? How did you even get diagnosed? How is it different than being raised as a dub and just being socially akward? - DD
Lots of questions, DD thanks for showing an interest. AS affects us all in different ways so my answers are specific to me and we can never generalise.
So what is it like?
It can be frustrating in many ways. I don't grasp what others say always if they environment is noisey and busy, other don't grasp what I am saying due to my tone and pitch especially when I am stressed. I put a stretegy in place for my JC. I practiced my lines, if I was interupted I prepared myself not to rise to it. It was double tiring for me than a nero-typical person going to a JC which is bad enough.
How did you even get diagnosed?
2009 at age 36
How is it different than being raised as a dub and just being socially akward?
I can't generalise on the answer DD. As I said, even though I was only in half my life, sometimes I don't know what is and isn't cult related or AS related. So in many ways born in JWs do have the traits of the disorder inflicted on them as they are emotionally harmed in childhood. But there are many differences with ASD born in kids and non ASD born in kids that are easily identified in the formative years.
Nugget are you up to explaining this better than me? Nugget has an excellent understanding from this standpoint and is very well informed of all the difficulties and abilities.
Kate xx
Since it is a spectrum, placement would make a big difference. It is an "in" disability in the United States. Several TV shows have featured Asperberger's character. One such show was Boston Law with William Shatner, of Captain Kirk fame. The character was introduced as a lawyer who was allowed no contact with clients. The man, however, was brilliant. He could analyze thousands of cases. James Spader played a lawyer who could not be bothered with much research. He had to rely on the lawyer with Asperger's. The part started out well-written. No matter what the other lawyers would throw out, the Asperger's lawyer could do better. The question was why was he not a partner? Sadly, the show went for comic effect. The Asperberger's character became a fool in social situations. He was a regular character for several seasons.
The only Asperger's person I know was so sharp in discussions. He said he was very high functioning. I thought he was fooling me b/c he seemed very socially adept. He said he could fake it for a while. Sadly, he was right. We all liked him so much. Alas, women have negative reactions when you reference rape repeatedly. We thought perhaps he was guarding against rejection by women but he said it was his Asperberg's/ There was something very compelling about him. He was respected.
I can see that anyone out of the JW norm would be challenge for the elders. Did you see certain patterns in the KH before others? I wonder if you were the child who screamed out that the Emperor had no new clothes. Kate, I bet you could write a sitcom for British TV about your recent KH and JC adventures! The Asperbeger's could be a device to show the wackiness of closed religions.
