Hi from OK

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*waves* I've lurked here for ages, been registered for months, but just haven't gotten around to posting until now. Decided I'd rectify the situation.

I'm 26 years old (27 in a few days!), and only a couple of months ago was finally diagnosed with Asperger's. My mother was convinced for some time that I had some form of autism, which I initially dismissed because of my ill-informed perception of the autism spectrum. (My only image was lower-functioning people like my youngest cousin.) When she told me one of my therapists thought from the get-go that I had AS, I looked it up... and it was a watershed moment. I remember sitting on the floor of the psychology section of Borders with an AS book in my hand, nearly crying, because it was all me.

The lack of eye contact. The constant feeling that there's a glass wall between me and other people: able to see and hear but not to interact. The constant mental fatigue. The moodswings, especially when I was younger, over little things like forgetting my toothbrush at a sleepover. My sensitivity to touch. The way I would obsessively fixate on one thing at a time, like dinosaurs, maps, astronomy, Australia - and drive people nuts with it. The inability to read people even when they're taking advantage of me. My frequent hand-rubbing/flapping and foot-jiggling. The flat/unintentionally loud voice. Being called "rude" or "in my own world" by teachers and coworkers and having no idea why. And on and on.

This site, especially these forums, has been a major resource and haven for me recently. Such a relief to know there're so many of us oddballs out there! I wish I'd found out about AS or this place sooner; it would have made at least the last few years of my life a little easier.

Thank you for posting and letting us know that you are lurking in here. I can very much understand the watershed moment of finding out that there is a name for your issues and a community of people that are similar. And definitely also can feel empathy for wishing that you had known sooner. It's a pleasure to hear from you, and I hope that it will become a more frequent communication.

I second Descartes

This is a nice place.

I felt how you described when I started reading up on AS - really just like you said. I can especially identify with getting upset over odd little things. Speaking of toothbrushes, once I nearly had a meltdown when a dog ate my toothbrush when I was babysitting overnight. kinda embarrassing considering I was 17, but what do ya do?

Anyway, welcome officially!

First, I'd like to welcome you to this great community we called WrongPlanet, it's great to have you here.

Anyways, I've always thought that my doctor was wrong because I seemed in my own mind, to be "normal". A few weeks ago my Mom (out of all people) was looking up Autism on you-tube and found out about this site and told me about it. I lurked around and it seemed I suffer many of the same problems as others here, so my doctor must be right.

Welcome to WP from that big chunk of the land to the south!

Welcome to WrongPlanet, where we can all be ourselves.

Hello Aeryn21, welcome, enjoy your stay on the Wrong Planet!

Welcome to the Wrong Planet!

What part of Oklahoma do you reside in?
I have family in Eufala, about 2 1/2 hours west of Tulsa.

To WrongPlanet!! !