Hi
After decades of being the weird outcast that worked very hard to fit in, but never did, I now have some insights.
Typical of my life: for my fifth birthday mom gave me a pirate themed party. She announced it was time to search for treasure. All the other kids understood my "hidden" small gift bags with candy and small toys. I did not understand: I dove under the deck searching for a shiny rock I remembered seeing down there. A few minutes later I crawled out triumphantly with my rock and covered in dirt as the kids laughed at me - each holding multiple bags of candy and toys. I wanted to participate, but I was the odd man out - the other kids understood each other, laughed and played. I was all alone at my own birthday party.
I have a severe hearing loss, and have worn hearing aids since I was three years old. My parents moved so I could attend a special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, but was pretty much mainstreamed since I managed to function in regular classes by sitting in the front row, and staying after class to as questions. If I read the books (which I did) I could usually figure out what I was supposed to learn even if I did not understand what the teacher was saying.
I had lots of issues through school and college, but my parents really worked with me to cope with the world.
In Junior High when asked to write about my hobbies - I wrote about reading and napping. Not about "real hobbies" like photography or backpacking with my dad. (Both of which I did at the time.) How weird is that? I still enjoy photography and love in the woods, but honestly reading and sleeping are far more my hobbies than photography or enjoying the outdoors.
As a kid I dreamed of living either on a desert island or in the mountain wilderness, so I could live a life alone reading books. As a fair-skinned red-head desert islands were not realistic so I moved to the woods far from neighbors - so I can be alone.
I also have hypothyroidism - probably had it not of my life, but it went undiagnosed until a few years ago. That diagnosis explained a lot for me.
A couple years ago a very frank co-worker made a comment about my being on the spectrum. I did some research and learned a lot. Probably due to my wrong impressions of autism and aspbergers it never even crossed my mind before.
The more I learn, the clearer it is that I am indeed on the spectrum.
I have an aspie score of 153/200 and a neurotypical score of 52/200.
After decades of being the weird outcast that worked very hard to fit in, but never did, I now have some insights.
Typical of my life: for my fifth birthday mom gave me a pirate themed party. She announced it was time to search for treasure. All the other kids understood my "hidden" small gift bags with candy and small toys. I did not understand: I dove under the deck searching for a shiny rock I remembered seeing down there. A few minutes later I crawled out triumphantly with my rock and covered in dirt as the kids laughed at me - each holding multiple bags of candy and toys. I wanted to participate, but I was the odd man out - the other kids understood each other, laughed and played. I was all alone at my own birthday party.
I have a severe hearing loss, and have worn hearing aids since I was three years old. My parents moved so I could attend a special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, but was pretty much mainstreamed since I managed to function in regular classes by sitting in the front row, and staying after class to as questions. If I read the books (which I did) I could usually figure out what I was supposed to learn even if I did not understand what the teacher was saying.
I had lots of issues through school and college, but my parents really worked with me to cope with the world.
In Junior High when asked to write about my hobbies - I wrote about reading and napping. Not about "real hobbies" like photography or backpacking with my dad. (Both of which I did at the time.) How weird is that? I still enjoy photography and love in the woods, but honestly reading and sleeping are far more my hobbies than photography or enjoying the outdoors.
As a kid I dreamed of living either on a desert island or in the mountain wilderness, so I could live a life alone reading books. As a fair-skinned red-head desert islands were not realistic so I moved to the woods far from neighbors - so I can be alone.
I also have hypothyroidism - probably had it not of my life, but it went undiagnosed until a few years ago. That diagnosis explained a lot for me.
A couple years ago a very frank co-worker made a comment about my being on the spectrum. I did some research and learned a lot. Probably due to my wrong impressions of autism and aspbergers it never even crossed my mind before.
The more I learn, the clearer it is that I am indeed on the spectrum.
I have an aspie score of 153/200 and a neurotypical score of 52/200.
