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Just a quick Intro

Rob

Rob

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
Just a quick intro - my name is Rob and this looks like a very interesting site. I see a lot of exciting links and resources on Asperger's Syndrome.

I was diagnosed just last year by a psychologist after I had to drop out of a pharmacy tech program here in Kamloops BC Canada. I was diagnosed with AS, Learning Disability NOS, and Depression/Social Anxiety.and

In spite of this, my diagnosis has EMPOWERED me, and rather than being a burden it has been a great light to reveal why my past has been so filled with hard knocks and incomplete successes. Things are much better now. I am working part-time and taking a lot of vitamins to help me deal with the changing demands (although very familiar) and personalities at work. I work at a Chevron service station. Believe it or not it took me over 4 months to learn the job and a great, patient boss has helped me through a lot of difficult circumstances.

Great to talk to you all

Rob

This site is great - there are so many links and resources here.

Looking forward to more time here.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome Rob,
I feel the same way. When I found out I had it, it was a blessing, not a curse. It explained so much, it was like being freed.
 
Hi Peace - how long ago did you find out? Sorry if I am repeating myself - thought I might have pressed the wrong button.

Thanks - Rob
 
Sorry, I have been out of town. I found out about two days before Christmas last year, so a few months ago. It took me about two weeks for it to sink in and to accept it, but after I did, my world changed. The course of events leading up to it was rather tragic (as has been my life), but in the end it turned out to be a great thing. I believe I have figured out a way to use it in a positive way. I am still working out details, but "Hope Looks Ahead".
 
Hi Rob! Welcome to Aspies Central. I'm really proud of you that you don't see having AS as a problem. I felt the same way as I found out about my diagnosis (I was diagnosed when I was 6, but wasn't aware that I had the diagnosis until I was 13 even though I had always felt different from other kids). Sure there are some problems that are associated with my condition, but I don't let them affect me too much because I have so much in life ahead of me that I don't want to put on the sidelines due to AS.

Also very happy that you're finding the resources extremely useful. Please be sure to check back often because we post a lot of links. Another reason for my recommendation is that you will have a great chance of making connections to fellow Aspies who might be going through the same things as you are. Something I've always found on this site is that we are always there for one another if we need advice and/or support from one another; for that reason I like to call this community a close-knit family.
 
No question life has many challenges. That is why it is so good to have a support system. I am currently 45 years old.

One lady I met in therapy in Kamloops (in her 60s) has been especially supportive, as she also has some depression and anxiety issues (without the AS but very sympathetic). I speak to her once a month or so. I had attended these therapy sessions in response to a psychiatrist's recommendation, following my withdrawal from pharmacy school. What made therapy so special for me was that the facilitator made it so easy for all of us to bond together as we all had so much in common.

I have many good memories from therapy, and with all the coping tools that were presented to us it made it so much easier to come back to the social world. Even the owner and cashier at the pharmacy across the hospital I attended for therapy wanted me to keep in touch after I left Kamloops. Just a few weeks ago I called them and was thrilled to hear their reaction. It was about six months since I talked to them, but I did not forget about them.

I also have a good reference from a lady who runs Autism Kamloops, who sends me a lot of great information. She was the one who found this forum for me. I have also submitted some good finds of my own to her.

There is so much to learn from each other. I had learned a lot from what others were going through during therapy, and I believe there will be much, much more to learn from each other in this forum.

Thank you

Rob
 
I'm very happy to hear that you have such great connections Rob :) I've always found it essential for Aspies (frankly any individual with any condition on the autism spectrum) to have a solid support system too. Based on my personal experience, I highly doubt that I would be where I am today (recent college undergrad who has made many strides in creating social bonds with others) if I didn't have the support of those who have believed in me throughout my life.
 
Great to hear back from you. I just had a good weekend with my sister and brother in law, with my niece and nephew. Now it's just me and our dog Sydney. She's half border collie and Australian shepherd. She loves to play but won't play for long with her advanced age of 13 human years.

Talk to you later

Rob
 
sorry I meant she (the dog) doesn't play for long periods of time. But she still likes to walk on the river trails when we take her for a walk. The way I stated it earlier could be misunderstood.

Rob
 
Hello Rob - and I'm going to say welcome to the site, even though you got here first and have already welcomed me! I enjoyed reading your introduction and about how your diagnosis has empowered you. I can relate especially to the part where it explains hard knocks and incomplete successes. If you're anything like me, an official diagnosis took away any feelings of being a loser, from all those times it didn't work out. I'm actually thinking of printing out and framing my diagnosis and psychiatrist's report, that's how pleased I am with it. Anyway, hope you have a great time on here, and I wish you every success!
 
Thank you so much AutumnRed. I have my diagnosis and psychiatric report handy too, and I have to print a copy of the description of my condition in my parents' European (Slovenian)
language so that they can understand it. Even a small alpine country like Slovenia, which borders Austria, Italy, and Hungary, has a lot of information on autism and Asperger syndrome.
Slovenian is much like Czech in writing style.

Thank you for your friendly feedback! I wish you the very best too.

Rob
 
You're welcome :) Are you originally from Slovenia then? I've always liked to meet people from European countries, being white and living in New Zealand I've always felt that half of my psyche belongs somewhere in Europe. Will your parents react positively to the diagnosis do you think? To get my diagnosis I had to get my mother to fill out several pages of a questionnaire relating to my childhood. She was sceptical at first, but by the time she finished she realised just how many characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome I've always had.

One last question, was getting the other diagnosis of learning disability NOS helpful as well?

Thank you too, for your well wishes! I hope your day goes well for you.
 
Hi AutumnRed -

Though I myself am not from Slovenia, my parents came from there. Regarding my diagnosis, I have to give it to them in bits and pieces over a long period of time. That is because my dad is 85 and though he is still quite sharp at home renovations and gardening, he does not understand the language of psychiatry. Furthermore, my 78-year old mom is basically disabled with stroke and diabetes, and very hard of hearing. As a result she understands very little English, let alone the technical details of autism spectrum disorders. Just today I printed a full description of Asperger's in Slovenian from a very good autism website.

Whenever a story on the news surfaces about autism, I then have a great opportunity to describe my condition, and then I can share the material with him. The font is much larger this time, as the original material has a very small font size. Even the Slovenian translation has a lot of technical words and descriptions but it can do a lot for him to go through it bit by bit, as opportunity presents itself.

The good news is that I was finally able to collect $906 per month in provincial disability benefits (British Columbia - Canada) while I am allowed to make $800 per month at a part-time cashiering job at our local Chevron gas station. After filling out many pages of paperwork, describing my own condition (like a psychiatrist would), I finally got the right to collect monthly benefits after seven weeks of waiting!

As long as I pay room and board, I can get the full $906. It was great news that my boss invited me back to work for him, and after I told him my diagnosis, he became more understanding. Employers can overlook difficulties in their employees if they are willing to work hard. For that I am very grateful.

Getting the LD-NOS diagnosis was also helpful, as Asperger's often has co-morbid conditions like LD, depression, and dyspraxia (motor skill disorder). Mild dyspraxia seems to be in me too, as I had a terrible time handling fine pharmacy motor skills and was very uncoordinated in high school PE. Though I did not get the dyspraxia diagnosis, this somewhat applies to me too. This explains why I have a very hard time remembering verbal instructions and non-verbal demonstrations. So, I have to write things down almost every time.

Have a great evening - Rob
 
I've only just joined this forum myself, but just wanted to say your story is pretty interesting! I'm glad you're doing well :).
 
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