Hello! [Self-diagnosed because of my nephew...]

[Jorge_lou]

Hello, there. Sorry if I make some mistakes, english is not my natural language.

I'm 29 and it's been about two years since I started suspecting about having Asperger's, but now I decided to take it ahead and find a specialist. Y'know, it's weird when you try to help someone and end up finding you are in the same boat.

My nephew is 9 years old and reminds me a lot of myself back when I was a kid. I never thought I could have asperger's or that I would fit in the espectrum (I just thought I was a bit weird), but when my sister said my nephew was an aspie and I decided to get some information, I was impressed.

All the problems I had, all the troubles and weird perks.

The weird interest in Geography when I was 7 or 8, memorizing huge numbers of countries, national capitals and currencies (it did help a lot when I started playing Carmen SanDiego), my extremely peculiar food habits, how I could NEVER tell if a girl was hitting on me (my wife has some amazing stories about it), how I feel by social interactions, avoided eye contact, hated (and still hate) phone calls and lost touch with good friends. Or why I simply found small talk an impossible task. Networking in my area is a nightmare to me.

Reading about asperger's, everything began to make sense. These are just some examples, there lots of other situations that made me sure I am in the espectrum. Oh, and about my nephew, I'm his favourite relative (besides his mother, of course) and the only one that manages to calm him in certain situations.

Sometimes I ask myself what would have happened if I was diagnosed as a kid. I don't know if it would be good (knowing why I am how I am) or bad (being treated like an unable or not-as-capable person).

Are there many here who found out about it at a later age? How did it feel for you all?

 

[malortie]

Jorge_lou

Welcome to the forums.

My nephew is 9 years old and reminds me a lot of myself back when I was a kid. I never thought I could have asperger's or that I would fit in the espectrum (I just thought I was a bit weird), but when my sister said my nephew was an aspie and I decided to get some information, I was impressed.

Asperger, as well as anything that fits within Autism spectrum is hereditary. If you are autistic, chances are that some of your family members can inherit from these traits.

The example I could give on my side would be my grandfather. I noticed some traits that are present in him, so I asked my father if there was a possibility that he had Asperger. My father never knew about this until I asked myself these questions, and he reminded me that my grand father had this obsession of noting the exact work time spent by other employees at his workplace. There are more, but that is not the main subject of this thread.

Sometimes I ask myself what would have happened if I was diagnosed as a kid. I don't know if it would be good (knowing why I am how I am) or bad (being treated like an unable or not-as-capable person).

I am still awaiting a diagnosis, but I am pretty convinced for myself that I have Asperger. Upon asking this question to ourselves, we try to imagine if our adaptation could have been better, life times less difficult to go through. Most of the others, as well as I know how you feel.

I, along with the others give you a warm welcome and will do our best to help you go through these situations.

 

[Jorge_lou]

Jorge_lou

I, along with the others give you a warm welcome and will do our best to help you go through these situations.

Thank you. Really.

 

[Rocco]

Welcome aboard
I received my official diagnosis around 32 years old. It is quite an adjustment to accept and comprehend at a fully developed age. It was a massive relief at first then it went on like the stages of grief/acceptance.
Best wishes.

 

[Jorge_lou]

Welcome aboard
I received my official diagnosis around 32 years old. It is quite an adjustment to accept and comprehend at a fully developed age. It was a massive relief at first then it went on like the stages of grief/acceptance.

Not diagnosed yet, but finding it was a weird mix of relief and sadness. I broke down in tears while reading experiences of people with aspergers and seeing so much similarities with my life when I first accepted it. I made a test (at that site RDOS) that scored pretty high and everything felt so weird.

On one side, I was angry that I was different and why I had to face the world the way I did, completely unaware of why I had the difficulties I had. I am a journalist, so yeah, some moments were extremly hard for me. On the other side, I felt such a relief because I found an explanation for things that have always haunted me. I thought my family didn't like me because they always seemed so tight and well together while I stood as something apart, something that didn't quite fit. And I also felt so much closer to my nephew and understanding of his problems.

 

[Mia]

Hola Jorge_lou Welcome to Asperger's Central.

 

[Myway]

Welcome. Hope you find us to meet your expectations. Ask questions. We are very friendly here. Make yourself at home.

 

[Adora]

Hi I think it's possible because I have a older brother with autism and last year I found out by my psychologist that I am also on the spectrum,I also struggled with eye contact and was very naive when knowing when a guy liked me because it wasn't always obvious to me yet it was obvious to everyone else around me,I hope that this site can help because you will probably find similar stories to yours here.

 

[Jorge_lou]

Hi I think it's possible because I have a older brother with autism and last year I found out by my psychologist that I am also on the spectrum,I also struggled with eye contact and was very naive when knowing when a guy liked me because it wasn't always obvious to me yet it was obvious to everyone else around me,I hope that this site can help because you will probably find similar stories to yours here.

I was reading some old topics and I already found very similar stories. Sometimes it's very heartwarming.

I think I may have some more people in my family. My dad had some similar problems. He was very anti-social. Never rude, but very introverted. To the point of, many times, leaving his own birthday party early because he wanted to be alone a bit. Like me, he also had a hard time sleeping and some different habits linked with work and locking doors (sometimes he would get to the point of locking and unlocking a door tens of times just to make sure it was locked). To most of my family, he was "a bit weird".

 

[Elemental]

Hi & Welcome to Central I think that your story is not unusual, in that many people only start to consider themselves in light of spectrum when another family member is diagnosed. I wasn't diagnosed ASD until aged 35 & that was only by circumstantial chance really but I knew in childhood one of my first cousins was already diagnosed & in residential care. I look at my siblings, one of whom is a high achieving eccentric, the other obsessive & fastidious regarding routines & rituals & I wonder if they may be too. Certainly their do seem to be almost clusters within families sometimes. Good Luck on your journey & know that you are not alone, even if it might feel like it sometimes. .

 

[Cosmophylla]

Hi Jorge_lou, welcome to AC.

Not diagnosed yet, but finding it was a weird mix of relief and sadness. I broke down in tears while reading experiences of people with aspergers and seeing so much similarities with my life when I first accepted it. I made a test (at that site RDOS) that scored pretty high and everything felt so weird.

I was the same...reading others' experiences of it was like reading my own story, and it was amazing.

I hope you find the support you need on your journey here.

 

[Progster]

Hi and welcome. You certainly aren't alone - I wasn't diagnosed until I was 41

 

[Elemental]

a high achieving eccentric .

...eccentric high achiever, I meant