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Older Aspies and Younger Aspies
- Thread starter Sportster
- Start date
I finally learned what was "wrong" with me while in my early 60s. I was, and still am absolutely furious I lived those first 62 years believing I was weird, unfriendly, unable to fit in, etc. How different my life might have been if I and others realized I had a neurological and social handicap. It certainly wold have helped me in managing people if I accepted that they were "correct" as NTs. I simply believed that most people were shallow, silly, poorly directed, and willing to let their brains turn to mush. If only I could have recognized that "majority rules" and I was the one who needed to accept them and stop being furious at their totally unacceptable behavior (to me).
Ditto Sportster. My discovery was at 47, yet I own a house, raised two kids and two step kids, worked my whole life (God, the days I had to literally drag myself out of bed despite my depression), pay my taxes and now own my own business (self employed).
Socially, things are much different nowadays though. We no longer have the "Pull Yourself Up By The Bootstraps" mentality. Plus, the medical field and pharmaceutical companies realize how much money they can make if everyone has something wrong with them, so the "Push" is on to justify every possible thing that they can "Treat".
Socially, things are much different nowadays though. We no longer have the "Pull Yourself Up By The Bootstraps" mentality. Plus, the medical field and pharmaceutical companies realize how much money they can make if everyone has something wrong with them, so the "Push" is on to justify every possible thing that they can "Treat".
Perhaps, and this is just a guess on part, the notion of autism and "special needs" wasn't seen as an issue back in the day.
For what it's worth, 30+ years ago you were just a bit awkward and strange. Now people carry labels and it is somewhat "expected" that people fit in the correct category with these labels.
And then there's also that there's an increase of fitting the mold I think. Talking to my parents and their school situation, there weren't really rigid molds that wanted people to fit in. Back in the day it was your own responsibility to drop out, nowadays it seems like school is stepping in so you fit in a certain mold and fall within certain guidelines. Not to mention that I've noticed that "in the now" (opposed to past) there is a lot of focus on things that to me, as an aspie, just feel weird and counter intuitive. I'm not even that old, but I remember that back when I was in high school there still a lot of assignments going on that you needed to do yourself. That pretty much has changed in favor or team excercises all over. No wonder people fall through the cracks now because they're not able to function within a group. To me it also feels that the focus has changed from knowledge to application, and while it's a good thing, it's often (and perhaps it's a stereotype) that aspies have a great deal of knowledge, but it doesn't always translate well to the real world. Think about the stereotypical nerdy kid who is good with computers and shows aspie traits.
A reason why I think the "older" generation of aspies did get as far as they did; jobexperience. Such experience often holds more importance than being a bit eccentric or weird. They weren't judged on their aspieness as much I think.
It would be interesting to see/hear about aspies who are in their 50's now, never held a job and only now got a diagnosis. Those seem to be really rare. But then again, my diagnosis partially stems from being unemployed myself. The reason I bring up the 50 year old is because that actually is the one to compare with if you're going old vs. young. Bringing aspies into play who have plenty of experiences to get by in life (jobexperience, perhaps even marriage and to some extent social skills) feel more like comparing apples and oranges, while an "older aspie" with the same playing field as the young ones (little to no experience) would make more sense to me.
Besides; who says that all the guidance coaches with whom the "younger aspies" get set up, are always right? Judging on friends who have been around these coaches, they don't really work long term plans. They work short term to make some good money and set up many people just so they have a start. Yet, not everyone can deal with "just the start". Some require more extensive coaching, and that's a financial matter alltogether.
Though here's some food for thought; who says it's just aspies who have issues reaching these milestones? I actually think that it's more of a generation issue, rather than a "disability" issue. While I know many people from back in the day, who do great now, I also see plenty of people my age and younger with no significant health issues (mentally or physically) who struggle to hold a job and such. On another aspie forum I frequent there was a topic and it came down to me making this statement (though it's not to full post, but very much in context of this paragraph)
"If anything I might be bummed out by the fact that I live on welfare rather than earn my own money. But I guess it is what it is at the moment. Jobs are already in short supply for the "healthy" and educated. Chances are if I didn't have AS, I might still be unemployed, just with the added stress of being on the job hunt more."
For what it's worth, 30+ years ago you were just a bit awkward and strange. Now people carry labels and it is somewhat "expected" that people fit in the correct category with these labels.
And then there's also that there's an increase of fitting the mold I think. Talking to my parents and their school situation, there weren't really rigid molds that wanted people to fit in. Back in the day it was your own responsibility to drop out, nowadays it seems like school is stepping in so you fit in a certain mold and fall within certain guidelines. Not to mention that I've noticed that "in the now" (opposed to past) there is a lot of focus on things that to me, as an aspie, just feel weird and counter intuitive. I'm not even that old, but I remember that back when I was in high school there still a lot of assignments going on that you needed to do yourself. That pretty much has changed in favor or team excercises all over. No wonder people fall through the cracks now because they're not able to function within a group. To me it also feels that the focus has changed from knowledge to application, and while it's a good thing, it's often (and perhaps it's a stereotype) that aspies have a great deal of knowledge, but it doesn't always translate well to the real world. Think about the stereotypical nerdy kid who is good with computers and shows aspie traits.
A reason why I think the "older" generation of aspies did get as far as they did; jobexperience. Such experience often holds more importance than being a bit eccentric or weird. They weren't judged on their aspieness as much I think.
It would be interesting to see/hear about aspies who are in their 50's now, never held a job and only now got a diagnosis. Those seem to be really rare. But then again, my diagnosis partially stems from being unemployed myself. The reason I bring up the 50 year old is because that actually is the one to compare with if you're going old vs. young. Bringing aspies into play who have plenty of experiences to get by in life (jobexperience, perhaps even marriage and to some extent social skills) feel more like comparing apples and oranges, while an "older aspie" with the same playing field as the young ones (little to no experience) would make more sense to me.
Besides; who says that all the guidance coaches with whom the "younger aspies" get set up, are always right? Judging on friends who have been around these coaches, they don't really work long term plans. They work short term to make some good money and set up many people just so they have a start. Yet, not everyone can deal with "just the start". Some require more extensive coaching, and that's a financial matter alltogether.
Though here's some food for thought; who says it's just aspies who have issues reaching these milestones? I actually think that it's more of a generation issue, rather than a "disability" issue. While I know many people from back in the day, who do great now, I also see plenty of people my age and younger with no significant health issues (mentally or physically) who struggle to hold a job and such. On another aspie forum I frequent there was a topic and it came down to me making this statement (though it's not to full post, but very much in context of this paragraph)
"If anything I might be bummed out by the fact that I live on welfare rather than earn my own money. But I guess it is what it is at the moment. Jobs are already in short supply for the "healthy" and educated. Chances are if I didn't have AS, I might still be unemployed, just with the added stress of being on the job hunt more."
I'm only 21 years old, I think it helped a great deal to a certain amount that I more or less grew up with what I have. I have come to accept it, understand it more and generally can help myself quite well in situations that I would otherwise find hard to deal with. Having that said, the country where I come from doesn't allow for people like me to get special help. 'As long as you can't see someone has a disability on the outside they're fine and they should behave find and if they don't they're outcasts and cannot function properly.' I run into that quite a lot myself lately. I certainly do need help with things, but I can get out of bed without help, I earn money without help, I can make dinner and do my laundry so 'I'm fine'. The biggest problem in there is the people that now tell me 'I'm just fine' are people that don't know anything at all about aspergers, autism or any kind of neurological or social handicap. They know what money is and which people shouldn't get extra money for extra help (me).
When younger I remember something similar, and how harsh it may sound my parents told me to behave as autistic as possible so they could get money to give me the help I needed (which I got, back then). However, due to me growing up and generally being able to handle myself quite well in situations that don't require any or much social interaction I can't get the help I need anymore.
When younger I remember something similar, and how harsh it may sound my parents told me to behave as autistic as possible so they could get money to give me the help I needed (which I got, back then). However, due to me growing up and generally being able to handle myself quite well in situations that don't require any or much social interaction I can't get the help I need anymore.
Harrison
The Mad Taoist
My story too, although I was 50 when I found out.
Often look back at relationships I had and wish I had known about it earlier, it might have saved a lot of heartache.
Harrison
The Mad Taoist
Agreed, most of us older aspies got to here without drugs or therapy. We found ways to play to our strengths, many years ago I had the priviledge of meeting a shaman. A real one rather than the new-age players that seem to abound society today. He 'read' my life and all he said was 'we walk the same path'.
Once I learnt about Asperges, once I began to watch those with it I saw how many similarities there are. Maybe we all walk a 'shamanic path', maybe the footprints any aspie sees are just the footprints behind them. I don't believe for a second that we all convert to some spiritual doctrine, I do believe he was intimating that our unique viewpoint of what surrounds us seperates us from society not because we are broken, but because we are focused.
Too much is made of the shortfalls of being aspie, too much invested in curing what cannot be cured. The other road is to learn what you are, uniquely are, and to forge your path from that. When we try to identify with NT's we are comparing wolves and labradors. For me, I know what I am now, I accept what I am now and I will not share my path with anyone that can't see that.
(I've also had a drink or two, so might not make much sense)
I'm 22, and was diagnosed at a young age. I can't remember what age, I just vaguely remember going to a few doctors, then not going to them anymore, and some time down the line I was told by my parents I have Aspergers. At first I was in denial about it, but eventually it started to sink in and feelings of anger and depression began. The crazy thing is that I really had no reason to actually be upset. I was generally a happy child and had never really felt like I had any trouble up to that point. The only thing that a diagnosis at that point could have helped me understand were my meltdowns, but somehow it never got mentioned that Aspergers and meltdowns were connected, and I didn't really make the connection until years later, long after I had already gone through the guilt and shame of having meltdowns. So being told about my Aspergers didn't really give me the comfort of understanding why I was the way I was like so many who get diagnosed later in life. Rather it felt like being told, "Listen, I know you're happy and everything, but you really shouldn't be because you're defective and that's bad." I know that wasn't how it was intended, and it's definitely not true, but that's how it felt.
After that I just tried to pay no attention to my diagnosis. I had a little therapy in the form of a class for social skills (which was useless rubbish, if I'm being honest, and I only agreed to go since the course gave a toy to each of the kids, which I only played with for about five minutes) which ran for a few weeks, but after that I just went on with my life acting like nothing had happened. But of course I was constantly reminded of having Aspergers due to having Aspergers. Like when I was younger, pacing back and forth while swinging my arms thinking, "Man, Aspergers is weird. Why is it making me do this?" I guess in the long run this was a benefit of being diagnosed young, it helped me understand certain things about myself that otherwise would have been very confusing. Still though, as life went on and became more difficult in a number of ways, knowing about Aspergers didn't really soften the blow of having to deal with these challenges. Feeling lonely over the past few years has been particularly brutal, and knowing about my Aspergers doesn't really make it any more comfortable. To be honest, sometimes when I'm feeling depressed I find myself thinking things like "I can't" and "I'll never," next to "because Aspergers."
I sometimes see older aspies saying they wished they had been diagnosed at a younger age. I don't know how they expected things would have have gone differently if that were the case, but I feel like it may be a case of the grass being greener on the other side. Sure, understanding can be a plus, but early diagnosis isn't a magic wand that makes all challenges go away. If you are an older aspie, just pat yourself on the back for making it this far, remember that a label like 'aspie' probably wouldn't have done much to negate any challenges you faced and survived on your own and be glad that at least now you have some closure. But hey, that's just my opinion.
After that I just tried to pay no attention to my diagnosis. I had a little therapy in the form of a class for social skills (which was useless rubbish, if I'm being honest, and I only agreed to go since the course gave a toy to each of the kids, which I only played with for about five minutes) which ran for a few weeks, but after that I just went on with my life acting like nothing had happened. But of course I was constantly reminded of having Aspergers due to having Aspergers. Like when I was younger, pacing back and forth while swinging my arms thinking, "Man, Aspergers is weird. Why is it making me do this?" I guess in the long run this was a benefit of being diagnosed young, it helped me understand certain things about myself that otherwise would have been very confusing. Still though, as life went on and became more difficult in a number of ways, knowing about Aspergers didn't really soften the blow of having to deal with these challenges. Feeling lonely over the past few years has been particularly brutal, and knowing about my Aspergers doesn't really make it any more comfortable. To be honest, sometimes when I'm feeling depressed I find myself thinking things like "I can't" and "I'll never," next to "because Aspergers."
I sometimes see older aspies saying they wished they had been diagnosed at a younger age. I don't know how they expected things would have have gone differently if that were the case, but I feel like it may be a case of the grass being greener on the other side. Sure, understanding can be a plus, but early diagnosis isn't a magic wand that makes all challenges go away. If you are an older aspie, just pat yourself on the back for making it this far, remember that a label like 'aspie' probably wouldn't have done much to negate any challenges you faced and survived on your own and be glad that at least now you have some closure. But hey, that's just my opinion.
Harrison
The Mad Taoist
I enjoyed your response Mike, thank you.
Agreed, knowing earlier would not have significantly changed anything, for me the concept of knowing is deep within me rather than externally.
For example.
I am not prone to loneliness because I understand it is my nature to be alone, I do not seek its opposite. That doesn't mean I am never lonely, as I can be when I put my mind to it.
When I used to be asked; 'why do you keep shaking your leg?', 'why do you sit staring?', 'why does everything in this part of the room have to stay the same?', all I could say was 'I don't know'. That is a small selection of so many 'I don't knows'.
In understanding my true nature I also remove the 'I don't knows' because now I know why.
When we know why we are empowered. Nothing is greener, nothing has probably changed, except our viewpoint of self.
I am indeed glad that I have gotten this far in one piece. I have had adventures enough to write a book or two, yet along the way I have lost loved ones because all I could say was 'I don't know'.
Agreed, knowing earlier would not have significantly changed anything, for me the concept of knowing is deep within me rather than externally.
For example.
I am not prone to loneliness because I understand it is my nature to be alone, I do not seek its opposite. That doesn't mean I am never lonely, as I can be when I put my mind to it.
When I used to be asked; 'why do you keep shaking your leg?', 'why do you sit staring?', 'why does everything in this part of the room have to stay the same?', all I could say was 'I don't know'. That is a small selection of so many 'I don't knows'.
In understanding my true nature I also remove the 'I don't knows' because now I know why.
When we know why we are empowered. Nothing is greener, nothing has probably changed, except our viewpoint of self.
I am indeed glad that I have gotten this far in one piece. I have had adventures enough to write a book or two, yet along the way I have lost loved ones because all I could say was 'I don't know'.
GallacticGorilla
Well-Known Member
Diagnosed at 30:
Interesting to read all of your experiences guys. I suspected I was mildly autistic, or something in that neighborhood for as long as I can remember, but I never fully invested myself in the idea, because from what I knew, those were severe intellectual disabilities. While I was intellectually very pour at some things, I excelled at others. In fact , it was interesting that I was put in both the "gifted" class and the "special needs " class as a child. Its funny, because I think that is a big one of my symptoms, being intellectually imbalanced. having sharper strengths and deficits.
I knew there was an autism quotient test available on line, that i went back and forth on getting the courage to take it for years. I was scared to know if i had it, i was scared to know if i didnt have it. I dont know how to explain it .Maybe cause I had started therapy and was trying to be honest about everything in my life. Anyhow i end up taking the test one day ,I answered as honestly as I could humanly had answered, and I scored some number, Which led me to some reading. Once i read the very first in depth analysis of what this is, it was like reading someone describe me to the letter. I ended up reading a million other things, and joining on AC to talk about this huge part of who i am who has always been there. Talk to my therapist and then doctor about this.
Looking out over the span of my life, i can clearly see the cause and effect that ASD has had on my life. I mean, i can pinpoint a 10,001 instances.
But if it was there every day, for my whole life, such a large part of me, how could it take me so long to figure out what it is???
That seems crazy to me. I was diagnosed with something as child by a psychiatrist, I highly suspect he gave my mom a possible autism heads up, but she didn't believe it, because I was smart, and they didn't understand these things as well 20 years ago, I believe.
It helps to know what you are. I look at like this, if I had diabetes, I would want to be very aware of my symptoms and the cause and effect, so I can balance them, and then there is no reason i cant live a productive life. I think the same is true for AS diagnosis. If you can pin point your quirks and weaknesses, than you can plan accordingly, and mitigate any discomfort and live a normal productive life .
If i was diagnosed early though, I wouldn't have tried so hard socially, and I wouldn't have had so many very painful trial and error lessons growing up. But those lessons made me who i am, so , what can you do?
Interesting to read all of your experiences guys. I suspected I was mildly autistic, or something in that neighborhood for as long as I can remember, but I never fully invested myself in the idea, because from what I knew, those were severe intellectual disabilities. While I was intellectually very pour at some things, I excelled at others. In fact , it was interesting that I was put in both the "gifted" class and the "special needs " class as a child. Its funny, because I think that is a big one of my symptoms, being intellectually imbalanced. having sharper strengths and deficits.
I knew there was an autism quotient test available on line, that i went back and forth on getting the courage to take it for years. I was scared to know if i had it, i was scared to know if i didnt have it. I dont know how to explain it .Maybe cause I had started therapy and was trying to be honest about everything in my life. Anyhow i end up taking the test one day ,I answered as honestly as I could humanly had answered, and I scored some number, Which led me to some reading. Once i read the very first in depth analysis of what this is, it was like reading someone describe me to the letter. I ended up reading a million other things, and joining on AC to talk about this huge part of who i am who has always been there. Talk to my therapist and then doctor about this.
Looking out over the span of my life, i can clearly see the cause and effect that ASD has had on my life. I mean, i can pinpoint a 10,001 instances.
But if it was there every day, for my whole life, such a large part of me, how could it take me so long to figure out what it is???
That seems crazy to me. I was diagnosed with something as child by a psychiatrist, I highly suspect he gave my mom a possible autism heads up, but she didn't believe it, because I was smart, and they didn't understand these things as well 20 years ago, I believe.
It helps to know what you are. I look at like this, if I had diabetes, I would want to be very aware of my symptoms and the cause and effect, so I can balance them, and then there is no reason i cant live a productive life. I think the same is true for AS diagnosis. If you can pin point your quirks and weaknesses, than you can plan accordingly, and mitigate any discomfort and live a normal productive life .
If i was diagnosed early though, I wouldn't have tried so hard socially, and I wouldn't have had so many very painful trial and error lessons growing up. But those lessons made me who i am, so , what can you do?
GallacticGorilla
Well-Known Member
I thought what Mike says was very interesting, I never thought about it like that .
But a little glib. I could see being angry and anxious getting this diagnosed as a child. I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit HYPO activity disorder, and i totally thought it was a bunch of crap, that they were just trying to make an excuse for their own failures to raise me the way they thought i should be.
BUT- I think for someone who has had social and sensory issues that they have not understood and uncomfortably tried to fight their whole life's. Just always excepting the fact that anxious overwhelming situations are just part of life, that you have to force yourself to endure, because well "Everybody else does, I should be the same way as everybody else."
I think If you have had to deal with that your whole life, and then all of the sudden, you figure out , that no, the rest of the world does not endure socially awkward and anxiety ridden sensory overwhelmingly moments to the extent that you do, and that that is OK> That you aren't broken , you are just a little different. , Than I think a diagnosis absolutely can be a "grass is greener " Moment.
But a little glib. I could see being angry and anxious getting this diagnosed as a child. I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit HYPO activity disorder, and i totally thought it was a bunch of crap, that they were just trying to make an excuse for their own failures to raise me the way they thought i should be.
BUT- I think for someone who has had social and sensory issues that they have not understood and uncomfortably tried to fight their whole life's. Just always excepting the fact that anxious overwhelming situations are just part of life, that you have to force yourself to endure, because well "Everybody else does, I should be the same way as everybody else."
I think If you have had to deal with that your whole life, and then all of the sudden, you figure out , that no, the rest of the world does not endure socially awkward and anxiety ridden sensory overwhelmingly moments to the extent that you do, and that that is OK> That you aren't broken , you are just a little different. , Than I think a diagnosis absolutely can be a "grass is greener " Moment.
I had to find out why I was "different" by myself after 50...I am not sure if an earlier diagnosis would have helped a bit...I am from the older school of act proper,not find out why you are a mess
I am spectrum but not defined as AS by the labelers who have done more damage than good to the autistic by placing us into categories to suit their whims while understanding us so little
I see repeated patterns of failures in the professional world concerning how to "treat" autism,so far an untreatable disorder
plugging away at symptoms instead of what caused them
Self-employment were the only times I had total control of my destiny that was always included alongside "gainful" employment over the years...my skills were exploited by employers and I was trusted with many difficult tasks with little formal education so I got to write my own tickets at those places until I got pissed off and quit over their making stupid decisions in management
My personal circle of friends are hand chosen and I have no doubt now that many of them are spectrum as well...I have the autistic radar detector factory installed...another nice option courtesy of the spectrum
I am spectrum but not defined as AS by the labelers who have done more damage than good to the autistic by placing us into categories to suit their whims while understanding us so little
I see repeated patterns of failures in the professional world concerning how to "treat" autism,so far an untreatable disorder
plugging away at symptoms instead of what caused them
Self-employment were the only times I had total control of my destiny that was always included alongside "gainful" employment over the years...my skills were exploited by employers and I was trusted with many difficult tasks with little formal education so I got to write my own tickets at those places until I got pissed off and quit over their making stupid decisions in management
My personal circle of friends are hand chosen and I have no doubt now that many of them are spectrum as well...I have the autistic radar detector factory installed...another nice option courtesy of the spectrum
Loomis
Well-Known Member
I spent 40 years on an intense quest to discover why I had communication and social problems. It was a life of complete dedication toward understanding why I was so obtuse in social situations along with intensive therapy to overcome my dysfunctional social skills and abilities. I succeeded in my therapy in so far as I fully adapted to the NT world but the gnawing compulsion to know why never left me.
Two years ago I was diagnosed. The last two years have answered my questions, ended my quest and given me a new, satisfying, happy life. I know who I am and have renounced my NT facade I used to navigate the world. The only method I was able to use to succeed in social situations was to acquire a pseudo-NT personality. It worked but it was not me and I knew it. But I could not discover any alternate strategy although I gave it my best. That is over. I live as an aspie now not as a pretend NT and there is a huge difference. My anxiety is nearly non-existent now because I accept who and what I am. I do not try to present any face to the world other than my true one.
So no, it is not a matter of the grass being greener on the other side. My life would have been different if it had not taken a lifetime to discover the truth. If I had known my brain physiology was structured to use empirical and logical systems to navigate the social world that NTs intuitively understand I could have developed those logical structures much more effectively than I did. I would have known exactly what I needed to do instead of flying blind. For the last two years that is what I have done and the difference in my life is nothing short of amazing.
Mattymatt
Imperfectly Perfect
One thing that helped me learn some social skills was to learn to become a listener. TThis was hard because at times I would be screaming inside to talk or monologue. I had to learn to listen to others without bringing my own bias in. When I can manage to listen well, I can actually hear the person speaking and gauge other people's reactions.
The best and harshest advice I ever received was to shut up and listen. Being a talker and a rambler, this was a challenge and at times, still is. If younger Aspies can learn to become good listeners, it can help in the brutal world of the NT
The best and harshest advice I ever received was to shut up and listen. Being a talker and a rambler, this was a challenge and at times, still is. If younger Aspies can learn to become good listeners, it can help in the brutal world of the NT
Jimbo
Well-Known Member
In a way I am glad I didn't find out about it until I was 44. If I had known it may have held me back from taking risks. I may not have had the courage to adopt my daughter or start my own business or be a lay speaker in various churches. I'm glad I know now why I am different and I can look back at all the things that have happened and realize why, like loosing a job or not fitting into certain groups.
I guess at my age I have sort of figured out that I am who I am so being an aspie isn't too big of a deal. Heck, I kind of like me
I guess at my age I have sort of figured out that I am who I am so being an aspie isn't too big of a deal. Heck, I kind of like me
Loomis
Well-Known Member
The older aspies who post here at a minimum have a computer with an internet connection and the wherewithal to find an aspie forum.
The world can be a cruel, uncaring, mean and nasty place for people who do not fit in. Many older aspies are not here because they have come to a bad end. I suspect a good portion of aspies born in the 1950s and 1960s are dead, homeless, in the throes of alcoholism or drug addiction, in jails and other unpleasant institutions or suffering from severe health problems due to poor medical care. (The United States is notorious for providing substandard medical care for its poor.)
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vickygleitz
Well-Known Member
I grew up with being taught to do it [legally] or die. And death was not an option. It has been so difficult for me to understand the young Autistics who are not taking advantage of what, to me, are fantastic opportunities, and , no,I am not just "mildly" affected by my wiring. I do lean hard to the left politically, so I am not a "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" type of person. I am thinking that all of the extra"help" is being administered totally incorrectly.
I was not diagnosed until I was 62. I am 68 now. While a diagnosis did little to change my life, it did answer a lot questions about myself. I always knew I was different from everybody else, I just did not know how. When I found out about AS, I researched and found out all that I could about it (sound familiar?). After a few trips to a doc, I got the diagnosis. I have been very lucky. I have worked doing the same thing since I got out of school. Except for the first couple of years, I have always worked in the field. Being a field service tech. meant that almost always worked alone. I believe that this was the key to my success. That and really liking my job. I guess being a Aspie really defines me. It's why I'm good at what I'm good at and bad at what I'm bad at.
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