Thought I would say hi

Post Reply New Topic

I have been lurking here for a few months, I am feeling very lonely so have finally picked up the courage to say hi.

It is a bit difficult to know what to say about myself - I will try to keep everything brief, I have a habit of waffling

I am 28, live in scotland and was officially diagnosed in December - I have been in the mental health system since I was 16 (in a mess way before then!) but they never really knew what to do with me. I read about aspergers a few years ago but thought it couldnt apply to me as I didnt deserve a label that would explain me.

Despite being a total mess in most parts of my life, I have done better in others, I managed to turn one of my interests into a phd (I graduated in December). It took twice the time that it takes other people in this country and I lost a year due to being totally over medicated. If I had tried to do it 10 years ago (obviously I couldnt, but someone in my position), I would have been thrown out, but now the university has to be seen to support people with disabilities (I / they didnt know about the as, but I was very open about my mental health problems). There is a thread on the general discussion board about being highly educated - I will write a bit on that at some point as I want to let people know that you can do badly in secondary school and still go on to higher degrees in some circumstances.

I am currently taking some time off to 'sort myself out'. I was very depressed, doing some serious self harm etc through most of my life, I still get low, but am beginning to feel better. I am doing a bit of voluntary work, I hope to build that up, then find some part time work, perhaps towards the end of the summer. The problem is I am not very employable, Lots of people say 'but you have a phd' - but studying, especially with the allowances that were made for me, is very different to working, especially at post doc level. My subject area is very small and everyone knows each other - none of them are likely to want someone as temperamental as me. At the moment the voluntary work I am doing is not at all related to my study, I am hoping that I can start helping out at the university for a while to get me back into academic work, although Im not sure if it will be possible.

My main interest at the moment is horses and riding, I have always been interested but wasnt able to ride when I was younger - I had a few lessons but I was very allergic. I have lost most of my allergies now. I thought it would be too late to start to learn now and I had put on a lot of weight because of medication, at school, it was the pretty, thin, popular girls who got to ride! But I was reading on a random forum about adults starting to learn so I emailed a local stable to find out their weight limit to give myself an incentive to loose weight and they said there was no limit and to come along and have a go! I have now been riding 16 months, progress is slow as I have rubbish coordination, but I have private lessons and my instructor is excellent - she pushes me just enough. I have also lost quite a bit of weight (still lots to go though). I am trying to use riding to encourage myself to get employed - if I can eventually get a good enough paying job, I will be able to have my own horse. Im not sure if it will ever happen but at least it is something to give me hope.

Welcome to WP!

i just started last night, no need to be shy this place is cool. dont swear though, ive already been yelled at for it

Hello and welcome.

I am also Scottish. I live in Los Angeles now. I attended Duncan of Jordanstone college of Art, an annexe of the University of Dundee. I had a hard time growing up in schools too. I was in and out of special ed throughout my first 5 years of Primary School. They were clueless and let me go back to regular classes. High school was a disaster. College was a little more tollerable.

I remain undiagnosed for the time being. I have no health insurance and because of my inability to score a decent job I don't have much in the way of finances. It's very frustrating.

I am happy to hear you are horse riding. I used to ride with my cousins when I was little.

Welcome . I'm curious, what is your field of study? Sorry if you mentioned it and I missed it-I'm kind of hyperlexic. You said it was a small field. I wonder if there is someone here that is interested and would love to talk to you about it.

Hi , read your posting on this site, sorry you are lonely...that really sucks..but maybe we can help each other. I am the mom of a son who is in his twenties...I really think he has aspergers, I want to help him, I love him a lot, but don't know what to do. what is the best thing I can do for him?
If you are lonely I can assure you that there is a lot out there in the world to connect to, you have to put yourself out there somehow....
chris

I wish I could understand how to stop at green lights, right now I only do it for red ones

do you have aspergers? what is your connection to this site...just curious..just looking for information...

Are you asking for my papers? My son is diagnosed AS and watching him is like watching my own life play over. My connection to this site is I like it. Think I'm going to change that sig line now.

Thank you for the replies

My field is aquaculture (fish farming), I dont want to say exactly what my thesis is about because that makes me very identifiable and I am not ready for everyone to know who I am (yet) as some of my family dont know my diagnosis.

I have kept fish since I was 11. If anyone wants to talk about fish, I can talk (well, type) for Britain on the subject!

i keep koi in my back yard

bully_on_speed - I love koi, what kind do you have? I dont have koi here, but my parents have my koi in their garden, they are not good quality or anything, but I helped breed some of them them while I was in college so have known them since they were sperm and eggs!

Welcome, good on you Seren.

Welcome to WrongPlanet.