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Introduction

Toponoetikos

Toponoetikos

Well-Known Member
This is Mark from the USA and I have lived in Bangkok, Thailand for almost 20 years. I am a practicing artist and photographer who earns his living with a small company that sells and supports scientific equipment for life science research and materials testing. Somewhat by accident I recently learned that I have Aspergers Syndrome. I have not been extensively tested because the testing is not yet available in Thailand (to my knowledge), but a neuropsychiatrist confirmed that I almost certainly have Aspergers based on my history. This is coming as quite a surprise this late in life as I am sixty years-old. My brother also has Aspergers (also self-diagnosed), although his is much more noticeable.

I am grateful for this discovery as it explains so many things about my life and past history as well as my current functioning and preferences. I am looking forward to learning from this group and sharing some of my experiences. I do plan to get tested when I have a chance to visit the States.
 
Welcome,
I can relate to the "Surprise Late In Life", as I found out very late as well. Knowing sure makes things easier as you have an understanding of so many more things.
Enjoy
 
Thanks for the feedback. When I was in elementary and high schools they did not really know about this. I suppose they knew about extreme forms of autism, but even in my 20s and also after I started therapy in San Francisco during my 30s I still had no idea, nor did my therapist. Looking back I can see that I was engaging in CBT (from the therapy and also self-taught) and it was highly effective in helping me in my jobs. I went from a low paid "technician" working on some very advanced projects to a well paid business manager because I changed my behaviors. But it was still difficult and exhausting. Now I have run out of energy to manage people or work in groups. Now that I know that this a manifestation of Aspergers I have a sound reason to change even though I have been working on changing my environment, work and relationships.

I have read about 10 books, dozens of articles and watched more than 50 videos on Aspergers in the past few weeks. I relate to nearly everything with only variations in degree. If you have any suggestions for books, websites, blogs etc, I will be very grateful. It is almost like I am a new person starting a new life at the age of 60.
 
Welcome to our forum :)

Most of us spectrum riders with a bit of age on us had little or no help and many of us taught ourselves to fit in...

This forum should be helpful and friendly for you to gain more insight
 
Hello Mark, welcome to AspiesCentral. I am glad you found a home with us. Have fun exploring your new life :)
 
Nitro said:
Welcome to our forum :)

Most of us spectrum riders with a bit of age on us had little or no help and many of us taught ourselves to fit in...

This forum should be helpful and friendly for you to gain more insight
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot for the welcome. I have found out in the past week that it is basically impossible to get professional testing for AS in Bangkok. In some ways it does not matter but in other ways it would be good to talk to a professional with experience. I guess the whole matter is complicated by the changes in the DSM 5, which tell me that AS is not yet well understood. I certainly relate to most of what I have read in this forum so far, and yet there are some differences in my traits with what is described in the DSM 5, or at least how I understand it. Books and videos about AS make more sense to me.
 
Toponoetikos said:
Thanks a lot for the welcome. I have found out in the past week that it is basically impossible to get professional testing for AS in Bangkok. In some ways it does not matter but in other ways it would be good to talk to a professional with experience. I guess the whole matter is complicated by the changes in the DSM 5, which tell me that AS is not yet well understood. I certainly relate to most of what I have read in this forum so far, and yet there are some differences in my traits with what is described in the DSM 5, or at least how I understand it. Books and videos about AS make more sense to me.
Click to expand...
Professional diagnosis is a very subjective event that most often only helps if your pros understand autism and your insurance is required to have one to spend their money. The DSM series has many flaws in it for diagnostic work alone...in the big picture,reading about personal experiences will let you understand more about it than trying to make sense of medical guidelines written to play with finances. The spectrum has many surprises in store for each person in it and makes little sense as to who gets what. It is fairly obvious that you have learned to cope as you aged like many of us who had no idea that we were autistic to some degree or another, stumbled across it and finally got answers to many questions about our pasts...
 
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