Already Feel At Home Here

Post Reply New Topic

The other day I saw a mention of Asperger's and decided that since I didn't know much about it I would research it (I do this several times a week with various subjects). And then I though, "That sounds a lot like me." But I know the danger of thinking everything applies to yourself, so I read more and took a couple of quizzes online. And realized it sounded even more like me. Then I read Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's, and suspected the guy had been following me my whole life and recording everything about me. There is no doubt. I'm an Aspie.

It was a lot to take in at first, but in general I'm relieved to learn that I am, indeed, wired differently. I thought my social awkwardness was left over from when I had social anxiety (was treated for that in college, but my therapist was a graduate student and she never recognized the autism in me). Now I know that the social anxiety stemmed from the Asperger's. I don't get anxious much anymore, but I still find conversations confounding.

It was weird realizing that so much of my personality is Asperger's. I take everything literally, at least at first. I used to joke that I had a literal degree instead of a literature degree. I have sensory issues and used to wonder how people could handle the crowds and the lights and the noise when shopping, but now I realize it doesn't cause them to shut down and they can actually enjoy it. I know I stim, but I'm often oblivious to it until my cat decides to attack my hands or foot. I prefer walking on my tiptoes (I'm 30-years-old). There's much more. I even have an engineer dad and grandfather (Attwood mentions that a higher than expected percentage of people with Asperger's have engineer dads and grandads).

I work at home which is a relief. I don't think I could spend so much of my day out in the world. I've been happily married for over nine years. Other than my husband, I don't bother talking to anyone. I think I would like to have a friend or two, but so far I haven't felt like the effort is worth it.

Happy to have found this place.

Welcome greetings to the Wrong Planet community, buriguri.

Welcome to Wrong Planet, buriguri!!

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

Welcome to WrongPlanet!

Welcome to WrongPlanet, and welcome to my time warp.

My name is Shelby, and I like the 60s.

Welcome to WP!

Welcome!

I'm also plowing through that book. In spite of the wariness of "thinking everything applies to you" I'm totally amazed by the depth of relevance each chapter has shown me.

You sound like a delightful person. I'm glad you're here.

I am feeling the EXACT same way as you OP. Kind of at home in a weird way but not knowing you're an aspie and thinking you have everything but the feeling that you think you have everything is actually a symptom or something...