Hi,
my name is Elovic and I'm 30. I have been diagnosed as having Asperger traits or some sort of "Asperger light", as I like to think of it. I've also been said to have ADHD. What complicates my diagnosis is that I have another handicap that where I live is so rare it doesn't have a proper name. I see differently from most people, lots of colour, very little depth and 3D, not so much movement. Basicly I see through memory, I've memorize a thousand doors (to give an example) so I'll know a door when I see it without straining my eyes too much. I think my poor - or different - eye sight complicates setting a diagnosis since the people who do one thing doesn't know much about the other thing. I identify a lot with Asperger, and getting the diagnosis was a great relief since I've always felt different. I've been given all my diagnosises at an adult age, including the poor eye sight thing, so I've gone in a regular school, taken part in sports etc.
What's confused doctors and such is that I'm according to them "too well adjusted", "too succesfull", "too receptive". I've always studied people, I've always done everything to fit in since theres been no help for me. Half blind as I've been as a child and not very receptive to what's been going around me I've trained myself into following others, if only physically, mentally I've always been my own with a free mind.
I work as a film director, script writer and animator. Without realizing it, I've picked fields that involve sight, understanding the world around you and creative a narrative. This focus on my weak points has helped me a great deal. Animation has taught me better eye sight, film making forced me to be more out going, more in charge and better communication skills. I still feel like a freak most of the time - responding too slowly, or in a trained manner, always studying and memorizing, always seeking patterns, always controlling anxiety - although I know from the outside I blend in perfectly.
Well, a hi from me to you. I found this forum this night to my joy. As most people I struggle with many questions, especially regarding interaction - relationships and workwise. Its a confusing world out there, and I ache to take part in it - whole heartedly and on my own terms.
Elovic