I'm a little different, even from other Aspies

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Hi, I'm new here on Wrong Planet. I'm a 17 year old guy from Singapore. A month before I turned 17, I discovered I had Asperger's Syndrome, and that people around me has been hiding it from me all the while (though it's not wise, I don't blame them because it's out of goodwill). After reading up so much about AS, I realised that even though AS explains many of my characteristics (like communication & social confidence, some physical clumisness, sleep, interests in many unusual topics), I am still somewhat different from other Aspies. First of all, I may have sensory overload at times, but I can't identify where it's coming from (probably because I'm so used to getting exposed to different kinds of surroundings). 2nd, I've probably learnt the basics of figurative language over the course of my life, because I can understand (most) jokes, idioms, etc. 3rd, I can also detect a person basic emotions, but not things like sarcastic facial expressions. 4th, unfortunately, I don't know the 'severity' level of the words (in terms of meaning, tone, intensity, and how literal are they) that I'm saying, so I can be rude even if I don't know it. 5th, I simply can't take any form of criticism (whether the accusations are true or not). In fact, if the criticism is valid, my self-esteem will be affected (because I gave people a bad and/or wrong impression), and I will break down in tears (this is a result of the 'thinking trap'; see number 6). If it isn't, I would've gone all out to correct it ( like the Aspie trait of intolerance to social injustice), and actions can be extreme, if not, just hold resentment for it. 6th, I know that us Aspies have a different perception of the world, and also can be quite focused or immersed into something. That forms a 'thinking trap', where negativity can form a vicious cycle of negative thoughts and emotions, and I can get so paranoid that I can burst out unexpectedly (this is not merely trying to bottle up feelings, somehow my mind can do it automatically. Just like in the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy's ABC worksheet, when it is supposed to be like when A, the activating event crops up, B, beliefs are formed, and C, consequences arise as a result, I happen to jump from A to C immediately even before B can happen). This is one of my main problems here. 7th, I couldn't link my weak adaptation to my new school, a polytechnic (even though that is a problem), with my AS, other than weak adaptations to new environment. 8th, I've got poor problem-solving skills. When I am stuck in a situation it is more common for me to panic rather than find a solution, even though I might already have a solution in mind. I do this mostly because of the emotions from my thinking trap has already taken over me. OK, you noticed I have a considerable amount of differences from other Aspies, but why am I convinced that the problem is still AS and not with my personality that my attitude screws up? Because I believe that I have overcomed some negative aspects of AS, and I still possess most (not all) of its positive aspects, some of which I have not discovered yet.

OK, don't get offended (especially Singaporeans) for what I'm about to say, but I don't foresee a good experience once I get checked-up and enlisted for National Service. Because it's AS not Autism, the Ministry of Defence may not understand why will it be difficult for me to go through, and therefore stream me with the rest, which will put me through a hell lot more hardships than the others, and yet adds another reason to why I hate National Service even before I'm enlisted. I've read a Singapore newspaper recently; they've dedicated one whole section for examining the lives of autistic people and aspies in Singapore. I read it through, of course, and I realised that there is ABSOLUTELY NO support system in the whole of Singapore for autistic people and aspies above child's age, other than counselling (which the counsellors, even though they may have enough understanding of AS to help us, may not accommodate us as well as how Autism centers in the USA and UK would). I was very disappointed when it means I have to go to USA or UK if I need specialised help, which I may need in the long term. Oh well, when I get the chance to finish a bachelor's degree in the USA, then only will help be on the way, but that would be 5 years away (OMG). Singapore would've made me wait for 22 years since I was born before I can get anything more than just counselling.

Hi, I'm from Malaysia. Welcome to WP!

Does you "sensory overload" include mental overload? Because I get that, and my physical organs are unaffected usually, except for finger tapping.

AS can manifest in unique forms. But the denominator is, poor social and interactive skills and average or higher IQ. My symptoms are startlingly similar to yours.

Is AS well-recognised in Singapore? If you want you can PM me about it. I am curious to see how it is perceived in Singapore because I may consider working there some day.

I don't know what to advise you, but you obsession can become a skill over time. It's not always skill that matters; it's raw intelligence. Aspies lack streetwisdom, but they can analyse well. What are your favourite subjects at school/junior college? You may not be good at problem solving, but you may do well in abstract thought or critical thinking in a philosophical way. My math is really bad, but my chemistry is rather above average, and my essay-writing stands out according to the English teacher. Just to console you. Are you good at analysing music, or perhaps you are artistic?

Congratulations on aiming for a degree. If I get the grades, I am going to Imperial College this October. I'm 19 by the way. I found out I had AS at age 17/ What about you? Don't hesitate to PM if you need counselling.

Welcome to the Wrong Planet Support for autistic people here in Florida, P.S.A. is nearly non-existent as well. Things are beginning to change, but that is because of each other and not our robber government. If you want support in Singapore, Malaysia, P.S.A., or any where else, you will get it when you and other spectrumites set it up.

Hi young man,

u are very right about zero support for aspie in singapore. I an an undergrad psychology student, though I am 37. I spoke to a classmate who works in Pathlight (autistic school for children). I ask her where does the austistic adult go for help, she says maybe Mental health Institute. I ask her don't the autistic child grow up ? what happen to them. She says there is enough no. autistic adult in their data base for them to creat a support system, however they are working on it. So far they only have about 20+ in their record. Many aspie does not know about aspie and even if they do many will denial and do not wants to be diagnoise. I only discovered aspie is an disorder recently and have been searching all over the place and just couldn't fine a place or anyone that is experienced enough to do a diagnosis, let alone the support. I am doing this because I finally discovered that my husband is an aspie. I told him about that and now, not only he refuse to admit, he refuse to talk to me, resent me ane decided he is moving out and leave the kids to me.

Hey, it's cool, you know, most AS cases don't always fit the book, they're all different. But I'm delighted to say that you and I have very similar aspects. I too have difficulty problem solving especially when it involves in math, I get sensory overload, I can detect basic emotions and I tend to sometimes give people the wrong impression and it hurts a lot when I get the criticism. I get caught in the thought trap too and it's caused me some trouble in the past with social interactions. I also have a difficult time judging word severity. And I know how you feel about the whole lack of help and specialization. Like Sparrowrose said compared to most countries Australia and England are really on it when it comes to AS however the US is also a good place. I understand how difficult it is when a person is diagnose late, a lot of my friends went through that, someone I know from group therapy was diagnosed at 28 the same year he joined our therapy session. I'm eighteen, a girl from the US but I was diagnosed at age 12. A lot of the therapy I went through came from outside studying. Studying the behaviors of Neurotypical classmates, the way they dress and speak and kind of sorting through what I collected. I had a hard time accepting at first that there were good sides to AS but there is, and also it is natural to believe AS can cause problems at times, because it can. Trust me. It's not just your attitude AS can be quite the difficulty as you have noticed. Well if you ever need a friend I'm new too nice meeting you.

Well we can improve our lives, Aspie or not, through determination - which i think you have plenty

Hi I am the admin of the Spectrum forum and also a Singaporean with a disorder that has traits of ADHD and Autism.etc

Anyway In singapore sadly we dun have support for adult Aspies/auties like what that newspaper article recently said and many of them are on their own. But dun worry ArdinYJX you are not alone. In AspieRing and the Spectrum, we face the problems together.

also it has become quite certain that Pathlight and AspieRing are going to ally themselves with us to help adults soon.

I have the same symptoms as you, except for #5. I've found it's harder to take criticism from my family than from anyone else though, because I can't avoid them, they know my weaknesses, and most people are closer to their families than to anyone else, so criticism from peoples' families naturally hurts them more; I think this is true for both Aspies and NTs.

I can easily identify all 8 of the OP's (Original Poster(?)) differences in my own life. I am not yet 20, and I was misdiagnosed with ADHD until I was about 16 or 17. Often, when I mention my Aspie status to people for the first time, they say they wouldn't have known I had AS if I hadn't mentioned it.
Hmm...Maybe it's not Asperger's, but another, similar ASD, kind of like a binary star system. (I don't know why I made that connection, but at least it wasn't a Pokémon reference, like most of my odd analogies. My family sometimes makes comments that "every conversation, she has to bring up Pokémon" or something like that. I even make the comment myself once in a while, but then it's usually something like "At least I didn't make a Pokémon reference right away." Ah, the irony.

Hi ArdinYJX,

I'm from Singapore too and having 'higher functioning' autism aka asperger's.

Like Chiemi mentioned, I too have sensory overload and difficulty getting solutions when problems involve maths - something which I really dislike about myself.


Hope you get the support you need.


- skribble

I hope you get the help you need eventually.

I understand very well how you consider yourself different, even in an Aspie way, because the spectrum in which Asperger's falls upon is not a typical spectrum.

Most spectrums (When drawn on a piece of paper) have a climaxing "hump", where most people fall in. With Autism/Asperger's, it's a flat line. Each case is unique to the affected individual.

If you indeed have Asperger's, the best thing you can do for yourself is understand the way you tick. What makes you work better, and what can screw you over will affect the way you live your life.

I hope this post helps.

The 1st, 4th, 5th, and 8th ones are normal but can very between different people.
For the 2nd one it's isn't abnormal to pick up some social skills by the time your 17. Also a lot of the stuff you researched about AS is probably exagerated (Blame NT for that).
For the 3rd one most people with AS discover alternative ways to detect emotions and sarcasm, like the sound of a person voice.
For the 7th one an inability to adapt to change is normal for people with AS.