Hello, I'm new.

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I'm new (that's not my name ) and just wanted to say hey to everyone. My name is Justin and I'm a 19 year old with undiagnosed aspergers, diagnosed dysthymia and depression (redundant!). Despite these things I still just consider myself the same person I would be without them, just Justin. I'm here to talk to people I can hopefully relate to, discuss the struggles we all have in our daily lives (even those of us not on the spectrum) and have some nice conversation.
I've suspected I've been different all my life. For a long time I thought I had OCD which is very common in my family, thought I had a photographic memory (haha), thought I was just stupid and didn't know how to relate to people, had many complexes about myself, low self confidence, I thought lots of things! But never knew what it was until 8 or 9 months ago. I had a wonderful counselor who helped me and suggested I read about Aspergers. I did, and the first book I ever read about it was Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything by Kenneth Hall. I cried the happiest cry of my life while I read the book because I finally understood what was different about me, what set me apart and didn't allow me to connect with people the way everyone else did. It helped me understand why I can't touch fleece and other fabrics, why I can't use or be around pencils because of the sound they make, why I can't touch paper, why I can't be in public places with lots of people, why loud noises upset me so much, why I don't feel the desire to talk to people like other people seem to, why I have to have lotion on my hands all the time so they don't feel rough because it hurts me to touch things, and so many other things that I always thought made me a freak. I felt reborn and accepted myself in a way I never had before. Since then I've come to embrace all of these things and the other all the other things about myself that make me different and set me apart from the majority. I even feel that although I'm different I have so many abilities that I love that I wouldn't have otherwise.
Sorry for the long post but I've been working on it for a long time, trying to think of a good way to introduce myself to people who probably understand me more than anyone else has. I'll end it with a saying my grandpa has told me since I was very young. He was one of the people who helped me appreciate my desire for solitude, quietness, and many quirks.

There was once an owl
Who lived in an oak
The more he saw
The less he spoke

The less he spoke
The more he heard
Why can't we all
be like that wise old bird?


Glad to be here

Welcome!

Welcome to WP

Welkome to WP!

Mick

Hi and welcome Justin! Out with the depression! Fill your life with projects and dreams and trust me depression will go away!