Dunnyveg wrote:
Yayjess, all the things you mention apply to me. More specifically:
It sounds to me as if you need some self-discipline. I did too, and consequently went into the Navy. So, I didn't start college until I was 22, and was a little more mature. Since I had to pay for most of my schooling (the Navy did have a program, but the money didn't go very far), I worked during the day and attended classes in the evening, which gave me an added impetus to do the work. It is tough.
I too have problems concentrating on stuff that really doesn't interest me. It's back to the maturity issue, which unfortunately is a word we don't hear often anymore. Part of maturity is realizing we all have to do things we don't want to do. More practically, this is the reason I limited my study time each day, but did it every day. If I read or studied much more than two hours, I quit retaining the material.
Here's a thought for you. One of the ways I got through my enlistment in the Navy was to compile a list of the days I had left. Every evening before I went to sleep, I'd gratefully scratch off that date, meaning I had one less day to go. It reminded me that my enlistment wasn't interminable Maybe you could do the same thing.
I've never had substance abuse problems, but I had a brother who did, and attended some twelve-step meetings with him from time to time. They used to say they had to take things one day at a time, or even one minute at a time. When things got really tough, I'd take this approach toward my responsibilities. It was a good way to keep from becoming overwhelmed.
At the time, I was very interested in Zen Buddhism (though I now identify as Christian). Part of Zen is sitting in meditation, which takes great discipline, and did wonders for my concentration. You might want to find a way to incorporate meditation into your spiritual or religious practices.
Having said all this, I loathed and dreaded every minute I spent in school--from kindergarten right through grad school. School for me was a means to an end, and worth it. It put me where I want to be in life.
One of the other posters said college isn't for everybody, and this person is correct. You may want to think about at least suspending your schooling for a while and getting yourself a job--hopefully in a field that comes close to matching your interests.
One final thing: When I was in school, they didn't have any such diagnosis as AS; I thought I was simply a freak of nature. My handwriting not only wasn't very pretty, it hurt badly to do it. And considering most of my upper-level exams consisted of three hours writing in a blue book, today I can barely write at all, and my handwriting is barely legible. I would definitely arrange things so you can use a computer rather than possibly doing permanent damage to yourself the way I did. Barely being able to write out a check today isn't worth it, especially if there is an alternative.
I am the most self disciplined person I have ever met in my life so the basis for your argument is null. I am 28 years old, not at all a child or very young adult. Being in the structure of the military seems like a place where someone with AS would excel very easily. My father, who I am 100% sure had this, volunteered to go to Vietnam, he came home, then went back.
I will be in school until I am in my mid to late thirties, I think counting down the days on the years I will have to be in school is a waste of time.
You seem to be under the impression that I am just some young overprotected whiner and you are 100% incorrect in that assumption.
I have read the Dhammapada about 5 times, meditate on a regular basis while doing every day things. Meditation is merely being mindful of the present and living only in the present and not allowing your thoughts to go to the past or future.
Yes, ill stop going to school and have thousands of dollars to pay in student loans. I'm pretty sure that not being employed would be an issue in my ability to repay the loans. My obsessive interest is diseases of the human body, maybe I could just become a doctor if I will it with my mind.
What kind of job should I get? Ive been fired from every job I have so please fill me in if there is some magical place for a person on the AS without any training in a specific field that I could enter. I would be very interested in working for this company. Oh and I can't do any heavy lifting or stand on my feet for a long time because I've had two spinal surgeries.
I was diagnosed last year after Ive been diagnosed with about 10 different things since I was 4 years old. In 1994, when Asperger's was entered into the DSM I was 11 years old. Until I was 22 I had not even been diagnosed with ADD (girls weren't able to have ADD, just like they weren't able to have anything on the AS) So I have never received any intervention or assistance for this in my life. I use a computer every day but I will only be allowed to use one to type essay questions on a test through the disabilities office at my school.
19 Dec 2011, 10:41 pm
