Aspergers is not an excuse.

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I have to admit to a visceral dislike for motivational speakers because they have especially before my diagnosis had the opposite effect that they intended. They made me perservate about my "charactor flaws".

Trying to balance the negative with the positive when posting here is tough.

How can one tell if they are having a burnout than having anxiety or depression or going through stress? There have been a few times where I thought I was going through a burnout but then I would get over it and I realize that was probably just depression I was going through and stress and it was one of those moments again my brain decided to do. One of my fears is going through a true burnout and then my mom thinking I am doing it on purpose and then use Asperger's against me by saying I am trying to be that but I hope it won't happen. But I don't obsess over it. Temple Grandin is nearly 70 and I have never seen her talk about a burnout yet or John Robison or Liane Holliday Willey so there is hope. Plus I remember a member here telling me not everyone experiences a burnout and used Temple Grandin as an example.

Also is a burnout permanent or temporary and then the person is back to their best selves again? AKA pretending ASD people like to call it.

Another phenomenon that I have noticed on WP is that when people share their achievements or somehow convey that they have done well in life or are doing well, they are sometimes dismissed as so high-functioning or their autism is so mild, and that is why they got where they are.
I suggest that it is their hard work and personal character that got them where they are, a bigger contribution from these than being lucky from birth.
People have even posted that it is wrong to admire people who achieved a lot in an intellectual field like Stephen Hawking in physics, because that somehow denigrates those who did not achieve a lot but supposedly had the ability to achieve a lot if they were luckier than Stephen Hawking? Had fewer disabilities than Stephen Hawking?

It's a theme I've noticed too even in the past - any sign of success is shot down, invalidated or dismissed on here. It hurts too close to home for some because it only reminds them of their failure to learn from their failures. Failure is a major learning tool in achieving your goals so it really shouldn't be ignored.

Some seem to hint that my AS isn't as severe or that I wouldn't have done so without my GF - however what they forget is that my GF is also on the spectrum, with her own struggles, and I can assure you that my AS definitely bites me in the arse when I think I'm doing well. However, I'm not going to stop posting on what I achieved just people some people don't like it - I honestly do think we need more to stand up and be proud of what they've achieved, no matter how big or small. The AS community is very misunderstood so having more spending saying "no actually, I have achieved this, this and this in my life despite my AS" would really help others and lessen misunderstandings, especially with NTs.

Will I "burn out"? Possibly, one day - pretty much everyone does as they get older. But I can still look back and remember what I achieved when I still had the energy to do so.

Members who are parents are sometimes the targets of prejudice and resentment too, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly. At least the forum is relatively free of the reverse prejudice.

And NTs posting on here get flak too.

Some people might have it worse, some not - but at the end of the day, they're still human, with their own goals. I don't see the problem in encouraging them to achieve their goals.

Some NTs have trolled here, and that has a lot to do with it. We do have some wonderful NT members though, who are very well liked and who contribute wonderful posts (SocietyofAutism, Tawaki..) which are constructive, thoughtful and sensitive.

I thought waterfalls was on the spectrum?

Yes, I think I misconstrued that because Waterfalls often posted as a parent with an AS daughter, though now I see other later posts of hers from a personal AS perspective with which she identifies, so will edit.

thumbhole, you're my new hero.

I'm 8 years younger than you, but I'm already very pessimistic about my life. Right now I'm in the middle of a nervous breakdown, just because I've been outside with friends all day yesterday in a very chaotic environment, without breaks and then they tried pressuring me into going out again after a few hours. I obviously did not. I still can't calm down. I came back home and heard my dad say I should make another effort just to go out with my friends AGAIN (after 12 hours of being together non stop) and make them happy. I just decided to ignore everyone and go to sleep. I had to take an extra dose of xanax and felt like my entire body was just floating, all of this while having crippling anxiety. I still don't even have the energy to talk or get out of bed.
It's one of the worst meltdowns/shutdowns I've ever had in my life.

I'm scared to ask for help because I don't want to be blamed again and being told I am making up excuses. I haven't been formally diagnosed, I only had my therapist say it is ASD but then she did nothing else to help. No formal tests or anything by other therapists or psychiatrists.
Never been to special schools. I had to learn how to deal with stuff myself.
Family blames me more then it helps me. I also have a mood disorder which makes things worse. All I get is blame.

I'm only 23 and despite my recent graduation I feel pessimistic again because of this huge, scary meltdown. When I push myself to the limit this is what happens

The OP triggered me and I'm sure it triggered others too. Very poorly written.

I can understand where you're coming from. Sometimes, people need a break. I need a break sometimes.

I'm fortunate that I am not in a situation where I have to go to lots of parties--rather, no parties at all!

But, still....this has nothing to do with people achieving success, despite the odds.

People should never give up. They should strive to be the best they can be.