late life diagnosis

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I accidentally discovered this site three years ago (at age 59), and it was like stumbling onto Brigadoon. I had always believed I was snakebit in a unique way, and that nobody else went through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in inexplicable isolation, notwithstanding what would appear to be all kinds of advantages. Then I started lurking on this site, where it turned out that pretty near everybody was experiencing a version of my life. Asperger's seemed to explain nearly everything, especially the fact that from my earliest memories it was always more important to me to be right than happy (no matter who I pissed off in the process). Took the online test several times - consistently scored in the 140s, with a prominent Aspie bulge in the northeast quadrant. Got evaluated by a shrink with a subspecialty in child and adult Autism who told me I was definitely "on the spectrum". (Not sure if this qualifies as a diagnosis, not sure if it matters). In any event, not only did I recognize myself in the content of the posts on this forum, I also noted a precision of language and thought in many of them which is also characteristic of the way I tend to express myself. While this annoys many people it is also what has kept me - against all odds - employed. I have a number of questions which I'll save for another day.

Welcome to Wrong Planet.

Hi there. I'm in a similar boat. I haven't been officially diagnosed, but I do have about 90% of the Asperger symptoms. I work freelance and was self-employed prior to that. I have worked in a corporate setting before as well, but it was hellish. Asperger's explains just about my entire geeky youth, and the way I am now... It has its benefits, but I'm only now starting to come to terms with the social awkwardness I've been exhibiting. Over the years I''ve 'learned' to fit in as much as I could, and I can usually get on with people pretty well during first meetings, but after that it can get challenging... In one way, realizing that I'm an Aspie is liberating. It explains so much, but it is also daunting, knowing the challenges that lie ahead... I am a parent, one of the relatively few of us who have children, and it's incredibly challenging. Both of them are overall neurotypical, and I worry my own quirky traits are rubbing off on them. Long journey ahead....

Badaboehm -

I also have kids - two daughters - the younger of whom is biological and she seems to have inherited just enough autism to make her interesting, but not the full dose which would impair her like her old man. She has plenty of friends and acquaintances, but they are all kind of offbeat - the kind I might have gotten along with had I been able to get along with anybody. I am also - incredibly - married; my wife had no idea what she was getting into, and I couldn't have warned her because I didn't know either. My dad told her at the time, "Good luck. You're going to need it".

Rosewood -

My writing is in the legal field - appeals - which is probably the one area of law where you can survive without social skills. Plan to retire in two years and might try to write some fiction, but I'm probably too left-brained for that.

Just noticed that the system has upgraded me from an "Emu Egg" to a "Tufted TItmouse". The idea of a transsexual being described as a "Tufted Titmouse" set me chuckling ...

Welkome to WP

Mick