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.
Generally, perhaps even stereotypically so, people on the autism spectrum have restricted interests that tend toward a technical, or scientific nature: math, geometry, computers, etc.
I, however, have never been, or perhaps only marginally interested in, these things. My interests always tended toward the humanities; art, music, things from the imagination. I believe this disposition also made it possible for my later fascinations with religion, philosophy, sociology, and things along those lines to come out.
I know not all aspies are "technical" or "scientific", but I've yet to meet one other than myself, I believe, whose interests tend to be more abstract than concrete.
I do have a very concrete and technical, some might even say inhibiting, approach to the abstract sides of the brain, as things which are not black and white or clear-cut tend to fascinate, and often vex me. But I've always found mathematics and the like quite boring. This no doubt contributed to why I couldn't tie my shoes until I was about 7, and could not even process the simplest mathematical problem, such as "If Ben has 2 apples, and he gets 3 more from Susy, how many apples does he have?"
Does anyone here share my tendencies?
I, however, have never been, or perhaps only marginally interested in, these things. My interests always tended toward the humanities; art, music, things from the imagination. I believe this disposition also made it possible for my later fascinations with religion, philosophy, sociology, and things along those lines to come out.
I know not all aspies are "technical" or "scientific", but I've yet to meet one other than myself, I believe, whose interests tend to be more abstract than concrete.
I do have a very concrete and technical, some might even say inhibiting, approach to the abstract sides of the brain, as things which are not black and white or clear-cut tend to fascinate, and often vex me. But I've always found mathematics and the like quite boring. This no doubt contributed to why I couldn't tie my shoes until I was about 7, and could not even process the simplest mathematical problem, such as "If Ben has 2 apples, and he gets 3 more from Susy, how many apples does he have?"
Does anyone here share my tendencies?
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I find myself going places in the car and not wanting to get out of the car. I come back home and I don't want to get out of the car. I think it's the only time I spend reflecting. Chronic tiredness from Long Covid plus the immunosupressing meds for my Crohn's is slowing me down but everything just seems a massive effort. I am dealing with the paperwork following my father's death but it's not...
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Wow, it's the middle of the week already!Today is our 11 year anniversary, so we're going out to a nice dinner. I'm losing a lot of sleep these days, hence a wonky schedule and uncomfortable feelings. But I know it will pass, eventually.I hope all of you have a peaceful day, and may good things come your way!
I'm interested in religions but I'm an atheist myself.
Mathematics has always gone into my short-term memory, then out. I still need paper & pencil for the simplest of computations, though I do understand the Big Picture of what is being discussed. (It was "Kathy's chickens & eggs per week" for me. The humiliation of it!) I wouldn't have minded this deficit except that it kept me from a fulfilling career, at least in part.
Beauty. I often see, hear or feel it when others can't. It is frustrating when I want to share my discovery, but get a "Huh" in return.
Religion. Others seem so happy with it. The part of my brain that most people use for religion is simply not there, but my respect for their beliefs is.
Black & white thinkers perplex me. Gray areas do exist (even predominate,) and there are not just "Two sides to every story." That is why the study of religion, philosophy, sociology, etc., can be so enthralling.
We enjoy our particular interests, and that is a good thing. I've always been dumb-struck when a new acquaintance tells me they have no interests
I spend a great deal of time trying to think of solutions to problems through it's lenses (it's Judaism, so it's kind of like a science).
Nice to meet someone who is also mathematically inept :) Is this called "dyscalculia"? I think it is, I first heard that term from someone who claimed they're "dycalculia" was part of their asperger's which I'
m convinced they don't have, but I've talked about that too much.
While trying to sort out a simple math problem in my head alone, the numbers "evaporate" visually. With a pencil & paper they obviously stay, but then my intention of what to DO with them evaporates. If I study intensely (memorize, really,) I can get things to stay put for a few weeks. The last time I took an algebra course (the 3rd time!) I got an "A", but a few weeks later it was entirely gone. Does this "evaporation" thing happen to you, too?
Here's my gut-feeling about your friend, or for that matter, all of us. People are like recipes. Even with identical ingredients and amounts, 5 chefs will make 5 different dishes. We're all unique. Labels are for doctors, insurance companies, teachers & lawyers, so they can easily sort, classify us and have their jobs. (Okay, not always -- I'm still bitter that the label of "Severe Depression" is costing my husband his life. Please pardon me.)
A coincidence: I, too, have been very drawn to Judaism for a very long time. It would've been necessary for me to go with a Humanist Judaism sect, as I'll never get the god thing. What I sense in Judaism is "a guide to a good, honest, productive, responsible and kind life". That you said "solutions to problems through it's lenses" is completely clear to me. I so get it!
It would bring me great pleasure to find that the "drop of Ashkenazi" in my daughter's DNA came from me. Soon I'll know, and so will all of my Aspie friends. Can't help myself! ;-)
was thinking last night how moses and jesus never even knew other planets ever exisited.
giardano bruno a 16th century priest burned at the stake for suggesting there were other planets
and the name of the myth, moses, taken from thutmose, who definately existed.
i wish there was a religion discussion group on this site.
There are a number of member groups for "Christians with X", or "Buddhist Ys" but they are fine as they are using their beliefs as something in common rather than a debating point.
I have always enjoyed drawing, poetry and writing, etc. I have been taking piano lessons for about 20 years now, but that is almost too regimented for me with metronomes and all.
Religion is everything to me. I like hearing about others' religious experiences and have no desire to argue about such things, but I am very set in my ways where it is concerned. I am a Latter-day Saint (LDS) aka Mormon, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is where I find my #1 support group in real life.
My LDS heritage is what also got me started in my interest of Genealogy, but my interest extends to a quasi scientific interest in genetics.
I do like puzzles of all kinds, though. I like Sudoku, but I like Cryptoquotes more, and not crossword puzzles so much. Part of the reason I like the cryptoquotes is the quotations are often quite philosophical. I like it when philosophies can be stated in a minimum of words.
I am very much interested in personality types...can I come out of my closet and admit that I like astrology? Actually, astrology gives me the sense that I can know someone better than it would be physically possible for me to know them in real life. At least from what I have read in Linda Goodman's Sun Signs book, I couldn't do a better job of describing myself than she did under the "Cancer" chapters.
I often say I like "simple math" like adding and subtracting. I have trouble even remembering the formulas for more complex problems. I like prime numbers, though, but have my own definitions for things like "prime," "factor," etc.