Disclosure: "I have Autism" VS "I have Aspergers"

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I can't say that I've noticed any difference. I've been open with most people about my diagnosis since I received it, and generally describe myself as "autistic", though I have little doubt that I'd have been diagnosed with Asperger's if it had been done under the older guidelines. Occasionally people have asked whether by "autism" I mean the "the Asperger's part of the spectrum" or something like that. If people prefer to refer to it as Asperger's, it doesn't really bother me, and I've no problem with people asking why I refer to myself the way that I do.

I thought Asperger was well known in the US. Apparently for most of the world either we don't exist or we are idiotic stereotypes. When will this change?

In the last few years there maybe more public awareness of aspergers than I am....aware of! Autism awareness in general seems to be greater among folks today then even like three years ago.

But aspergers was not an official diagnosis in the US until 1994. And even ten years AFTER that when family members suggested to the lady shrink I had been going to that I might have aspergers she told us that she had never even heard of aspergers before, and had to read up on it that night. My psychologist said that!

I usually use autism spectrum disorder. If they seem confused, I specify Asperger's.

My mother (who I'm pretty sure had Asperger) went to the psychiatrist to talk about her problems and he replied that her problems were of spiritual origin. He said that she is in fact a psychic and that she needed to develop her abilities. In other words: there is no way to trust psychiatrists very much.

People have identified me as both Asperger's and autistic interchangeably. I identify myself at autistic for a couple of reasons. First I find that more people know about autism than Asperger's and understand it better, second I feel that my level 2 severity pushes me further down the spectrum than what is generally covered by Asperger's, and my use of autistic better reflects my higher support needs to people. I still kind of wish Asperger's was a diagnosis, it just made things clearer.

I'm usually able to "pass" unless in high-stress or high-stimulation situations, and ignorance and bias are still widespread, so I rarely disclose my condition. If I do, I prefer "I'm autistic" to "I have aspergers" for the following reasons:
1. I prefer saying I "am" something to I "have" something. Autism is not a disease or something tangential; it is an essential part of my identity. The adjective "aspergian" is likely to be met with incomprehension.
2. There is a tendency for people to make light of aspergers as just simple awkwardness or nerdiness. Autism carries a bit more weight and demands more "respect." I may be able to pass in most social situations, but it's exhausting, and I also struggle with serious sensory and executive-functioning difficulties.
3. In some countries, aspergers does not or no longer exists as a formal diagnosis. I am actually diagnosed as being autistic. If there were ever a need of recourse to the law or courts, I'd rather use the officially accepted term.

I never disclosed to anyone, but I like the term "Autism" or "Autism spectrum" because it feels more inclusive of the entire "Autism family", rather than the breakaway faction that is Aspergers.

Aspergers would be fine too if trying to add specificity, but only if someone already has an idea of what that is. Also, if you're trying to go for Autism awareness, it seems like people would understand the range of the spectrum better if the so-called "high-functioning" people accepted the broader "Autism" label instead of saying, "Autism? No, I just have Aspergers."

(Sorry for the run-on sentence.)

"I'm autistic" ... because I don't have Aspergers.

I don’t know if it’s the area I’m in, or if it’s because the younger generation is simply more up-to-date with this kind of stuff. My (NT) classmates have a basic understanding of autism, and that Aspergers is a high functioning form of autism. I’ve never disclosed it with them because I feel like they already know something’s up with me. But if I did, I think they would understand both the terms HFA and Aspergers.

If then I would call it rather Asperger's. But most people don't know anything about autism and Asperger's. That's why I would prefere to describe what my differences are.

I can't really say about one compared to the other since, other than my wife (who is fine with it), I've only disclosed to one other person as a sort of test. She's an old friend. I disclosed via email that I was diagnosed with autism and I never heard from her again.

I'm finding that the term Aspie bugs me. I'm not entirely sure why. I think because it sounds like a catchy pet name for a real disorder and as such downplays the real challenges I face. It just doesn't feel right for me to say.

I used to say that I have Asperger's because it's more specific, but now I say that I'm on the autism spectrum because what people think of when they think of Asperger's syndrome is much more high-functioning than me, and I'm so tired of constantly being overestimated and then having people accuse me of just not trying hard enough or not caring when I can't meet their expectations, when in actuality I was trying my hardest - basically telling me my best isn't good enough. I think saying I have Asperger's just makes them more likely to do that.

I very rarely disclose the diagnostic to anybody; I think it's rather common to divulge everything about oneself to complete strangers as the ghastly fashion goes now. But I know exactly what you mean; I'd NEVER disclose my diagnosis as autism, except to clarify the meaning of "Asperger's", given that the former is more widely known.

I've done this but it feels inauthentic and like I'm hiding something.

Makes me feel like more of a freak.

I'm wondering if real disclosure would be better.

I wait til it comes up in a group conversation then go with the majority.

I tend not to use 'have' language though. Either I say 'I'm autistic' or 'I'm aspie'. I find have language too negative for how I experience myself/my autism.

In my friendship group in proper adulthood, I find that it's almost 50-50. This might seem surprising cos we're such a minority in the general population but I guess we find each other? I'm friends with people all over the country who I've met irl rather than being friends with people due to proximity.

With people I only know due to proximity, I let them think I'm eccentric but clever (Most people tend to just think I'm quiet but clever tbh). I hate being patronised by NTs who have no idea about how I might see being autistic.

Or I refer to specific negative 'symptoms' like when I have light sensitivity, I literally just say 'I'm sensitive to light, do you mind if you turn the fairy lights off please'. People like that because it's concrete information. Helps that I now live in a town/neighbourhood where people tend to not be judgy & to genuinely care.