Asperger Syndrome Support Group
Asperger syndrome - also referred to as Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's, Aspergers or just AS - is one of five neurobiological pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and is characterized by deficiencies in social and communication skills, normal to above normal intelligence, and standard language development.
Hello everyone, I'm MelodyJane & at 53 years old, I am newly diagnosed with Asperger's. I've been reading through some of the recent posts & can see myself in many of your stories and situations.
It is a comfort to find people who look at the world the same way I do. For the longest time, I didn't understand why the World was all "wrong". Now, I understand that it is my brain's wiring that causes me to look at the World with a different perspective. Understanding the mechanics of Asperger's doesn't make this journey called the "rest of my life" any easier. It just explains why life has been so difficult up to this point.
I also wonder quite often how my different my life up to the Now would have been if I was diagnosed at a younger age. I do hope that learning new skills to cope with my "self" & my future will be less of a challenge than I am presently imagining it to be...
Hugs to all
It is a comfort to find people who look at the world the same way I do. For the longest time, I didn't understand why the World was all "wrong". Now, I understand that it is my brain's wiring that causes me to look at the World with a different perspective. Understanding the mechanics of Asperger's doesn't make this journey called the "rest of my life" any easier. It just explains why life has been so difficult up to this point.
I also wonder quite often how my different my life up to the Now would have been if I was diagnosed at a younger age. I do hope that learning new skills to cope with my "self" & my future will be less of a challenge than I am presently imagining it to be...
Hugs to all
As for wondering how life would have been different: well there's no answer to that. It may have been better, but maybe not.
Having been the one that helped my son through his issues, I'll give you this advice: Life should be about 97% comfortable. And you should push yourself on the other 3%.
I was the one helping my son to figure out the direction that sound was coming from and teaching him what an appropriate strength of touch was (my son craved touch...he'd run into you and it would feel good to him). I could list a thousand other things, but he didn't confront them all at once. One thing at a time.
If your life is really hard, the first thing I would do is to do what you can to make it more comfortable. Then start working on whatever seems easiest.
In any case, home needs to feel good. Sleep needs to feel good. You've got to have a place to retreat back to.
Patti
Thanks for posting this.
You wrote that "Understanding the mechanics of Asperger's doesn't make this journey called the 'rest of my life' any easier."
I think you might find that getting a diagnosis will makes things easier. It won't be easy. Life never is, and so many of our challenges and so much of our suffering is just about Aspergers.
But understanding ourselves does help, I think. It has helped me, and I hope it helps you.
You are correct- the diagnosis is liberating.
At the time of my post, I was truly newly diagnosed. I was not yet finished working through the emotions that overwhelmed me for a short time. Things will be easier in the sense that I now understand why I am different. I know my path will become more positive as I learn & go forward to my future!
Thanks, AGM!