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Hi.

I am 27 and diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.
I wish to hear (read? be linked with..) stories of people diagnosed in their twenties. I am really down right now because what Asperger's points at is that I am organically incapable of doing many and important things other people find only natural. Now loneliness, alienation, etc. are inescapable. I do have a few high school friends, but I can't make new ones IRL. Maybe you've got some positive message?

bit of history

I've been diagnosed with pdd-nos + personality disorder about three years ago.
They first thought maybe I have Asperger's syndrome, but then changed their mind.
When the psychiatrist mentioned the word Asperger, I started laughing. I only knew it exists as a thing on the internet and a few outliers with very weird behaviours.

A few weeks ago I've been reevaluated with a full blown Asperger's syndrome. They've removed the personality disorder diagnosis because they believe

I can read faces, I can understand when people don't wish to keep conversation with me. (I stopped talking about things that interest me with acquaintances because I understand they do not like it)
I do not know how to socialize. It's like everyone know exactly how to use their chit-chat widgets in small talks, but I can't. I don't know how to react to certain things.

Things are rarely as bleak as we think they are. Many of the things NTs do intuitively we can learn to do by making a conscious effort. After all, you are not a robot, you are a human being and we humans adapt to our environment and situations. Your choice to cut down on talking excessively about certain subjects proves that you can change and adapt. Now that you understand where your difficulties lie, you can learn to compensate for them.

In a way, I envy you. I wish I had figured this out in my 20's as it would have let me learn how to have a more successful social existence and I could have avoided some of the struggles I have had. Instead, I am just figuring this out at 38, when there are far fewer social opportunities. So, cheer up. Aspergers isn't a death sentence, it's just a different set of thought patterns.

I am not even sure I understand what it is to be with Asperger's syndrome. I don't know what's it that I "get" and what it is that I don't. I don't know what part of my behaviour and thought patterns are NT and non-NT.

Welcome to Wrong Planet.

Asperger's isn't the end of the world, just an explanation.

One thing to keep in mind is that you are an individual, and our experiences are unique. I, too don't talk about my interests to others because I can tell they don't get it. On the other hand, I can't hold down a job which another aspie can do fine. So we are all different. AS explains us, but it isn't some black-and-white thing.

Now that I've been diagnosed, I don't know what to make of it. My psychologist suggested that I go to a halfway house specialized with young adults with Asperger's syndrome.
I am not that independent and this could teach me how to do that.

BTW, thank you all for replying.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welkome to WP

Mick