Is it good to know you have Asperger's?

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I feel that it's improtant for me to know that I have AS. Before I knew why I was different, I've thought that everything that I did was my fault. I didn't feel that I could do anything right. I've also thought that I was missbehaving, by having obsessions and that I was being yelled at, for that, because I was defective and nobody wanted me to be happy.

I now know that there is really nothing wrong with me. This past year has also been the first year that I was accepting towards my obsessive personality. Before that day, I used to shake my head at myself, for looking at the two Buses that I've had at that time, and shaking my head, whenever I'd start to daydream about London.

I don't do that, anymore. In fact, I've bought myself 11 Routies this year, alone. I'm going to name each of my Red Wonders, once I move into my own place, by November 1st.

I think it's important. It gave me time to accept who I was and not be ashamed of it.

Oh god yes! School would have been so much easier if I had known then what I know now.

So far 30 out of 30 people say it was good to find out.

Yeah, probably the most unanimous poll I ever saw.

When AS first mentioned to me I totally rejected the label & was dismissive of the shrink who proposed that dx. Took many months of researching on my own & discussions w/counselors, before I could even partially accept the idea.
As an adult, it's hard to reframe my past, since I wasn't dx'd until recently. At least I'm sure of how I am, that it's not the label biasing perception/expectation of my strengths & limitations. Grew up feeling odd, only now do I know how very peculiar I seemed compared to others. It's good to finally have the terminology to describe what certain things are like for me, and to realize the relativity of weirdness. I feel less amorphously "crazy", and gradually more like a person with definable (if not quite manageable) complications.

33 out of 33

My vote is YES....If he has many AS traits he is already aware the some thing is "different" about him.In this society,different always means BAD....mentally ill,lazy,defective...I am sure that his mother doesnt want him to go around the rest of his life with this feeling about himself.There shouldnt be anything "shameful" about being AS and the fact that your sister doesnt want him to have this information means she thinks it is shameful.Maybe if she came to this sight she would see that many people with AS are sensitive,caring,intelligent,creative,funny people.He might be able to find advice about ways of dealing with some of the traits that might be bothering him,but he has been afraid to talk about with family?It has been said (by some NT nutter) that "ignorance is Bliss"....I have to disagree...Information is POWER....what he does with it is up to him.I hope you will repect his ability to make that choice for himself by giving him the information he is lacking.Then he can decide for himself,and decide what,if anything he wants to do with the information.

36 out of 36

It seem like I have nothing new to add to this post.

40 out of 40...unanimous so far. Yes, I can only echo what others have said. It helps to know yourself, and others with the same traits. Thank goodness that at last Aspiedom is recognised and beginning to be understood by more NTs too.

I've always known who I am but never became aware of it.. Its like a Seinfeld joke.. did you ever notice this? ever notice that? Right now, I can see its benefits, I know how I learn and I know how I dont.. I'm brilliantly self-aware now..

Yes, I do think it would have helped me in school, I'd know where to direct myself for the best motivation

No, it was not good for me to find out. I got a lot more sympathy when my mom would tell people that I had been dropped on my head as a baby than I do now that I have to explain what I've got.

Pay no attention to the Werbert behind the curtain.. he has a strange sense of humor

Yes, it's been a huge relief in my life to find out about AS. For many years, I've struggled within myself; realising I'm different but not knowing why. I used to think I was not making enough effort to be 'like everyone else,' and if I kept trying, I would suddenly be able to be normal. Of course, since finding out about AS, I haven't given up trying to be more social, but at least I can be less tough on myself now.

The poll results are still at 100%. I think we can safely say it's been a bad idea for everyone to find out