I don't know if everyone does this or not, but I thought I should introduce myself, I'm Irvy, I live in Coleraine, N Ireland (just a few miles from the Giant's Causeway), and I'm "unofficially" diagnosed with AS. I used to work in day care, and one of the therapists was puzzled by how well all of the profoundly autistic patients took to me, and how much more comfortable and less likely to have an outburst they were if I was working with them. She also noticed things in my own behaviour and tendancies, and got me to fill out a few questionnaires, and basically told me that I was high functioning, and after talking for a while, I decided that I could deal with things on my own, just as I always had, and didn't want to go down the route of a formal diagnosis, and certainly didn't want medication.
I now work as a graphic designer, design and creativity are my "thing". Not only am I good at it, but it gives me an outlet and can greatly help me when I'm feeling stressed and trapped. I'm hoping to start work on an art project to depict how it feels to be AS.
I'm not ill, I don't have a disease, or symptoms, nor do I need a cure. Everyone on the planet has their own set of skills, and their own sets of things they just can't do and probably never will. Mine are just easier classified.
I've learned (I think) quite well how to be sociable, when to smile and when not to, and how to have small talk with customers in work. My boss is very supportive (he knows that he has the best designer in town working for him, so if that means giving him his own office, so be it!), and I was open with him about my AS from the very start, and while I don't particularly like talking about, I answer any questions he asks me, and I think he's even done a bit of reading up on it himself.
To be honest, if I had the chance to be NT I'd turn it down. I'm very happy with my life. I'm good at the things that matter to me, and the things I can't do I'm not that bothered about doing. I know people see me as a bit of an oddball - I'm a complete perfectionist when it comes to work, colours must be right and everything must be clean and tidy, but at the same time I'll quite happily go out in old tatty clothes and not bother to comb my hair.
The only thing I would change, and the thing I work hardest at, is socialising. I have a few very good friends, and on a one to one basis I can handle things pretty well and don't get lost, as long as there's no tv or music playing in the background. However, add another person, regardless who, and I start having problems keeping up with the conversation. Add 2 people to the mix and there'll be long periods when I can't speak at all.
That's probably enough for now, I do plan on being an active member of the forum, so there's no point in giving my whole life story here, there'll be nothing left to chat about if I do!
16 Feb 2009, 1:38 pm
