07 Jul 2011, 2:35 am
10 Jul 2011, 12:00 pm
butterfingersbeck
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: 10 Jul 2011
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Posts: 33
Location: London, UK
11 Jul 2011, 4:45 am
11 Jul 2011, 9:27 am
PrivateEyes
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 11 Jul 2011
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Posts: 65
Location: San Bernardino, California USA
12 Jul 2011, 3:57 am
What is your first name? Brandon
Age: 49
Location: Southern California
Hobbies and Interests: Music: composition and performance - reading and blogging on music, faith and science - Skiing, hiking, screenwriting.
Why are you here? After 20 years + of anxiety and depression, including multiple hospitalizations and finally the loss of my job about a year ago, with the support of my family, I've looked into the possibility that my problems started when I was a child, and not simply when I was diagnosed with clinical depression as an adult. While I haven't been fully diagnosed, Asperger's syndrome seems to fit me quite well - particularly issues of eye contact, facial affect, clumsiness - (particularly with sports and computer games - can't do them), many childhood meltdowns, problems in social situations in general, remembering peoples' names and faces, obsessive behavior and interest in narrow and often trivial subjects, being touched or hugged by others,and general self-imposed isolation from others. Many of these issues I've overcome significantly, but others remain. I'd like to connect with others who have had these experiences and offer some insight and gain some of my own. I particularly would like to see if I can find the best place to be properly diagnosed, as with the changes coming in the DSM-5, there may be further benefits on the way for people with this "disorder." I personally don't believe Asperger's is necessarily a disorder, but it does lead to other social problems in life, and I believe that people with the diagnosis are entitled to benefits. In California many people with an Asperger's diagnosis are turned away from benefits with the department of developmental services. I think this needs to change, because state mental health services are carried out by the Counties, and there are very few services for people who are "dually-diagnosed," and may require more than simply medication. I've been on most of the major anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications, and they don't seem to help much, if any. But these seem to be the only services available from the counties. If people with AS could get services from regional centers, which receive more funding, then I think they could lead better and more independent lives. Since the APA is set to do away with Asperger's syndrome as a diagnosis and rather include those with that diagnosis within the Autistic spectrum, such changes may be in place in the future; so it sounds to me like a good thing.
When were you diagnosed?(skip if you don't have a disorder): N/A (I'm currently seeking professionals in my area who are qualified to diagnose. I'm on disability, so I receive Medi-Cal benefits. I need to find someone who takes Medi-Cal. If anybody else in So-Cal has any pointers, I'm open to them.
Favorite subjects: Science in general, Christianity and religion, history, stories about crime (not serial killers, though 
).
Year/Grade: I graduated from an international boarding school in Austria in 1980. I attended several community colleges in Canada and the US, and then I attended 3 years of college (Eastern University, St. Davids, PA (I dropped out due to problems with the college atmosphere). My major was sociology for some reason - don't know why.
Favorite music: Classical, blues/folk, some pop, rock, bluegrass, gospel.
Books: I met the author of "The Fleagle Gang: Betrayed by a Fingerprint" (NT. Betz) via email. We've been talking about turning his real crime book into a screenplay. I'm currently reading the book. The screenplay has already been written, but it will go through some revision.
I enjoy books on the history of Christianity, Intelligent Design, astronomy and astro-physics, biology, general world history, true crime, some sci-fi, but not much.
TV shows/Movies: I don't watch much TV, but I do enjoy "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and reruns of any of the Star Trek shows. I love movies - as I stated, I write screenplays, so I'm interested in how movies are made. I would say I watch 4-5 movies per week. I like indies as well as Hollywood productions - particularly action/adventure, sci-fi and thrillers. I don't so much like most new comedies (there are rare exceptions) or horrors (how many more zombie or vampire movies do we need?)
Instrument: I play guitar, piano and harmonica. I was learning the clarinet my first year in college, but didn't continue. I'm very musical. I've written one symphony, a piano concerto and many solo piano pieces.
Do you like sports? Not in general. I don't enjoy team sports, but I do like skiing. I like watching the winter olympics and some other winter sporting events.
Family: I'm originally from Canada. I have family here in California and some in Canada.
Clothing: Jeans and T-Shirt kind of guy.
How did you find this website? Surfing the web.
Job: I was employed for 11 years as a Program Director for a mental health program in a locked nursing home, so I'm very familiar with the issues in the treatment of mental health. The job eventually became too stressful and I had to resign. after being homeless for a while, I started receiving disability benefits about a year later. I also worked for 7 years as a residential counselor in homes for persons with developmental disabilities. It was doing this kind of work, which helped me to work on some of my own idiosyncrasies, such as eye contact and personal contact. I'm now a lot more comfortable around others.
Plans for the future? A friend and I are starting a film production company. I plan to use my own musical compositions in some of our films. We will start with some shorts, for which we already have ideas and some scripts, and we of course have two feature length films we would like to make ourselves, but that's not written in stone. If someone in Hollywood or another indie prodco is interested, we would certainly go that route.
Any comments? Looks like a really friendly forum. 
Sorry for the long post - hopefully you find it interesting.
13 Jul 2011, 10:32 pm
15 Jul 2011, 12:31 am
15 Jul 2011, 6:30 pm
SilentOwlScribe
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: 13 Jul 2011
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 39
Location: On Earth, with socks on
16 Jul 2011, 9:27 am
16 Jul 2011, 6:43 pm
What is your first name: Tom
Age: 30
Location: UK, North Hertfordshire
Hobbies and Interests: Anything electrical with a processor excluding food making equipment, diy, metalwork.
Why are you here? Because i have just been diagnosed with aspergers and am feeling more like a freak than normal.
When were you diagnosed?(skip if you don't have a disorder): last Tuesday
Favorite subjects: Technology, science, geography
Year/Grade: errr... 25?
Favorite music: Oasis, Nirvana, old skool hiphop
Books: Anything Cormac Mcarthy
TV shows/Movies: Too many?
Instrument: Vocal
Do you like sports? No
Family: Girlfriend, 2 children 2 step children.
Clothing: Semi fashionable UK apparel?
How did you find this website? Google.
Job: PC technician (self employed)
Plans for the future? LOL (good question 
)
Any comments? Anyone in the same boat as me? Drop me a message if you are
17 Jul 2011, 6:51 pm
18 Jul 2011, 7:37 am
What is your first name? Kiana
Age: 37
Location: England
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, Psychology, Martial Arts, Art, Photography, MMORPG, Graphic and web design
Why are you here? I have Aspergers, as do my 2 boys
When were you diagnosed?(skip if you don't have a disorder): Just last year
Favorite subjects: Psychology, Art
Year/Grade: I left school in 1989
Favorite music: lots.. I like all sorts, I mostly listen to recent music
Books: Anything! I read 4/5 books a week, last book I read was aspergirls, if you haven't read it do!
TV shows/Movies: Don't watch much TV, but I watch friends over and over again 
Movies: HP, LOTR, Disney, Action, Martial Arts, I generally don't like horror or comedy films
Instrument: Not really, but I can read music (I have no idea why)
Do you like sports? Martial Arts, Circuits, Weights, Running, Skating, Climbing... I don't do team sports
Family: 2 boys age 6 and 15, daughter age 16
Clothing: Jeans and t-shirts (with labels cut out ofc)
How did you find this website? Google
Job: Project Worker for young homeless adults with support needs
Plans for the future? ummmmm... win the lottery and open my own gym/dojo? Seriously.. I have no idea I just go from one crazy idea to the next
Any comments? If anyone reading this is working on raising awareness or research of female adults on the spectrum please let me know if there is any way I can help, society needs to know we exist!
MsMarginalized
Veteran
Joined: 18 Jul 2011
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,854
Location: Lost in the Delta Quadrant
19 Jul 2011, 9:36 am
MsMarginalized
Veteran
Joined: 18 Jul 2011
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,854
Location: Lost in the Delta Quadrant
19 Jul 2011, 9:40 am
19 Jul 2011, 12:51 pm
MsMarginalized
Veteran
Joined: 18 Jul 2011
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,854
Location: Lost in the Delta Quadrant
19 Jul 2011, 5:02 pm
loving the word "aspieness"!Why thank you, Kiana; it just came to me on the fly!
Was reading some of the other posts on this page...one dude mentioned he just lost his job & all....I'm in my mid-40's & have NEVER been able to keep a job...the average time at one workplace would be about 3 months w/18 months being the longest & 2 weeks the shortest. All was pre-AS diagnoses...so I've been battling MAJOR depression for years, struggling w/Adult ADD (that was diagnosed in 2000) & then my AD diagnoses in Aug. of '08...
WHAT A RELIEF IT WAS WHEN THE DOC. TOLD ME WHAT I HAVE & WHAT IT IS! It answered sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many questions. Then I got mad. 3 yrs ago I got all into another discussion forum (have no idea WHERE it is....) & I mentioned that I would LOVE to be cured of AS. Was told that would be like a cat walking into a drugstore to look for a cure to it's "feline-ness".
LEFT THAT FORUM PRETTY QUICK!
