I'm in my late thirties. Just found out I'm an aspie.

Post Reply New Topic

Hello all,

I found out about three weeks ago (after taking some 4 hours' worth of tests) that I have Asperger's. In retrospect, everything in my life now makes perfect sense. Even the very fact that I've always felt "not human"--well, apparently, I really am from a different planet!

It's comforting to know that there are books available to teach me about how I'm supposed to act and how neurotypicals think, so that I can maybe fake it a little better. (Not faking NT behavior has gotten into a world of trouble over the years.) I got my first job almost two years ago, and every time I've messed up, it's been because I wasn't "thinking like a NT."

But that notwithstanding, I do feel really down about this. It's affected everything in my life, and I feel as if I've had to work that much harder at even the simple things (like eye contact) that everyone else takes for granted. It would certainly have been great to have learned this twenty years ago--I lost 15 years of what could have been a productive life because I just plumb didn't understand how to human. (My ex-husband kept me in the house without a car or access to the bank account because I "embarrassed" him.)

I feel like, now in my late thirties, that I'm just now starting life, and I have so much to learn about the simple things you're supposed to learn in your late teens and twenties.

I hope this forum helps me feel not alone/gives me good advice on handling life on this planet.

Hey wodensday welcome.

wow, wodensday. your ex-husband sounds like he would have found an excuse to be abusive no matter what. welcome.

I'm early 30s and I feel the same as you do. How my life could've been different had I learned 10-15 years ago.

Welcome to the wrong planet, I also only found out in my 30s.

Pitty your partner kept you isolated in the house, sounds like abuse to me.

_________________
Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man !

Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

glad he's your EX.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hi and welcome to Wrong Planet. I didn't find out until I was 40 but for me, it didn't make much difference with respect to how I act. I am me and I only know how to be me. Putting on an act to me is fake and false and I just can't do that. It may make life harder but I'd rather be happy with myself than have friends, have to keep up the facade and feel like a liar. That's the way I am.

Welcome to the war.

Well the good news for you is now you have access to an invaluable network which can give you advice on where to go and what to do in order to secure financial and other forms of resources. I would also suggest that you begin to call all the different Autism support groups in your area, find out which ones you think will fit your needs and also find ones that offer in person monthly or weekly meetups in order to discuss different strategies on how to find, obtain and maintain successful employment.



You may be without a network. This is the start of your network.