Although I am undiagnosed (and do not feel any desire to be diagnosed), I feel that I have more traits in common with those who have Aspergers or Autism than I do with Neurotypicals. This is all that truly matters in my reason for being here. I am quite certain that I would get a diagnosis if I were to seek it, but to me, the diagnosis is not what defines me, because I am unequivocally unique. There is no single other person in the world who is just like me. But there may be many who have a lot of similarities with me, and who share many of the quirks with me that cause me to be an outsider in the “normal” world. That is why I am here – not to seek an answer or a diagnosis of a “syndrome” that I believe is just a different way of thinking and processing information – but to potentially connect with people who have the same interests, ideas, and abilities as I do. If I identify with others with whom I have a significant amount in common, then why does it matter what we call ourselves? The label does not matter to me so much, and in fact I would prefer to not be labeled at all, because I am an individual and my identity is mine alone. I do not wish to be called normal any more than I wish for a diagnosis. Who defines what is normal anyway? Is it not the victors who write history? In the same way, it is the “normal” people who are defining normalcy based upon the traits they see in themselves. No, I do not need a diagnosis to know who I truly am. I simply realize that I may have much in common with some of the people on this forum, and am intrigued by the idea that I am not alone in feeling different from the majority of the world. It just might be nice to talk to people with similar social issues as me, especially since I do not have a lot of friends. I hope I didn’t offend anyone with my ranting, and I wonder if anyone feels the same way, or if I am alone in this too?
21 Nov 2011, 3:52 pm
