Cripes. I think I have Asperger's. N00b alert!

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So I was watching a UK comedy show called "The IT Crowd", and was browsing the Wikipedia page on it for more info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_it_crowd

Under the "Cast" section it has a listing for Maurice or "Moss", note the link to the Asperger's page. I hit that article out of curiosity and was stunned when I read the Characteristics section, it was me!

My Background

I learned to read and write by age three. Spent two weeks in the brand-new Kindergarten before being booted up to grade one, where I wrote stories at a grade seven level, but had a hard time socializing. My imagination was fierce and wild, I would make up endless stories and draw elaborate pictures. I was always fascinated my models, dioramas and miniature worlds, built dozens of model kits over the years.

But still I could just not fathom the social rules around me. Small talk I saw and still see, as pointless and boring. I became a real
outsider, still am. I began to suspect I was some sort of alien. Curled up within myself.

My parents took me around on an endless round of doctors, shrinks, brain scans etc when I was a kid. They KNEW something was different about me, just could not figure out what. I was diagnosed with "Hyperactivity" and given Ritalin which they say helped me.

Over the years I have learned many coping strategies, trial and LOTS of error. I started to think I was an arrogant, misanthropic jerk because I had such a hard time relating to my "fellow" humans. All that interpersonal BS and drama which the norms think are so important....in a way I felt LIBERATED from the "herd", and ridiculing the amount of time that they spent on trivial crap.

I grew up. Even found a mate, a wonderful, beautiful and patient woman. We have been together for over twenty years!

In 2003 I started a light [20mg] dose of SSRI's, which seemed to help quite a bit with the sleeplessness and anxiety. After 2 years I weaned myself off them successfully but some of the anxiety stuff came back so I am probably going back on them. Dang.

So last week I found this site, took the online tests and found myself to be strongly AS. I showed my Mum the site and tests, she was stunned, and agrees with my self-diagnosis. I feel so LIBERATED! I'm NOT a jerk. I really CAN'T relate to the norms

My next step is an official diagnosis. There is a doctor nearby who specializes in the autistic spectrum, I'm getting a referral.

I have been dipping my toe into the forums. I'd like to read stories of people with AS, what childhoods were like etc. I am plowing through the forums myself but could use a pointer from an old hand.

Thanks...

Well, I have my story.

I said my first words at around 7-8 months, and by 9 months I was talking in full sentences. There was a place run by Anglicans that measure child development and when my Mum told them, they refused to beleive it. When she took me in to see them at about 12 months of age, I was talking like the average 4 year old, and a few months later, I commented on how we were going to be late home after reading the clock as 3:00 instead of 12:15.

I was reading around 3 as well, and by prep I had the reading level of the average grade 7, but I hated writing because it was dificult to make people understand and be able to read my illegible scrawl I called writing. It was already very evident I would not fit in in any social crowd. I was eventually labeled as having germs and everyone either ran from me or chased me. I simply hung around my, at the time, mildly autistic brother. Eventually, though, he fell into depression from all the teasing we went through.

High school wasn't so bad. I moved from my first after 3 weeks as I later found out because my parents were scared that they suspected aspergers. Apart from the not fitting in part, there was no one running from me or chasing. I even found a few friends.

I was looking around Wiki about a week ago and found Wrongplanet, I fit thing perfectly so... That's where I am now.

Sounds familiar. Thanks for sharing!

I do not have an exact age at which I began to read, but it waas early. In 4th grade I had reading/comprehension at college level. Was found to have abnormally (very) high IQ.

School shrink accused me of underacheivement, duh!

I drew a cartoon of disaffection (Moofy the Mooney) in 4th grade. Have been alone all my life.

Knew that everyone communicated in a way that I did not, but had no idea it was emotion. I have them, but do not deal with them well, this has been to my detriment.

Poor student, bored and out of synch with the rest of the class. I asked my instructor (logic) in college once if logic was now open to the democratic process when he had the class judge my answer.

Not much fiscal success in life.

Alone and generally the secondary feelings of "why am I like this?" worse than the feelings intrinsic to me

Found AS

Identified (do not like word diagnose) my self. I score high, and virtually all of my personality is AS.

Liberation! I have a word, a group and a concept. Without theory I do not handle reality well.

Aspie power and independence!

I am 53 And female.

Welcome,

I am an arrogant misanthropic jerk, please try to define "Human." Give up yet?

Drug therapy works, being in New Orleans I do a lot of coffee, where you are Twinnings is the best drug connection. Caffine works like Ritlin, overclock your buzz.

I have been in your area, great place for my favorite cure, twenty mile hikes. None of that nature walk stuff, move fast, watch for bears, and with body and mind in full use, there is no room for anything else.

I hate people who want to be cured. You were given a new world to explore, don't you watch Star Trek?

Study ancient and forgotten lore, when people annoy you, talk about it.

I am sixty, if you come beat me up there is a mandatory five year, no parole sentence, above the assult charge, wish I had that when I was younger.

Odd behavior is expected from old people, enjoy!

I am with nutbag, we just want to be wierd. I am so old my first Dx was Demonic Posession, I understand it better than AS. Next decade they will find ten things within AS, and expect me to believe them.

Psycohbabbling pill pushers must be right, after all, they got a Degree. Take any five year period of their "Field", none match the rest. They could not make up their minds in the first place, so became Psych Majors, to figure themslelves out. When I was in college, "Psych Major" meant a nut case.

Welcome! You could be typing for me!

Anna I tellya dis: I awanna nuttin t do wit no freakin drugs. I have been as I is fer a long time now. I kinda like me as I yam, no better livin thru chemistry for me!

Septin fer chocolate!

Ah, this takes me back...back to early 2005. I came across the term 'asperger's' and a description of someone who had it on livejournal. Automatically interested I looked it up and researched and researched and researched (repetition intentional). The more I learned the more I saw me. My life suddenly made sense at the age of twenty-two. Then three weeks before my twenty-third birthday I was officially diagnosed. AS and autism in general are still my main perservative interests.

Welcome to WP!

Tim