Interview with an Aspie...

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I think you've nailed how AS manifests in me to a T. As was mentioned before, NTs se me as completely normal. But you can see hints of "lite" AS if you know what to look for.

It's a little hard for me to believe that I have a lack of facial expression though. I always thought I was normal in that aspect. A little while ago, my friend even said to me that I have "dramatic facial expressions" so I always though that I was doing too much of tha stuff, rather than not enough.

My eye contact is fine, as far as I know. I think I mastered it in the early years of high school according to accounts of people who know me well. My eyes do dart around a lot in order to relieve myself from it though...it oddly initiates a "threat" response in me, even around people I've known for years such as my mentor.

Damn, I thought I had being 'normal' nailed.

I don't see how her facial expression changes though...

NTs can never tell. I know the awkward looks on their face and reactions when they're confronted with something or someone different, and I never get any of that. I've learned these reactions from having a developmentally delayed sister as well as friends with a wide variety of 'issues'.

When I bring up my presentations and childhood, they don't believe me. Of course, I only tell these things to my closest friends who have known me for a while and have seen my ups and downs...but still, they completely dismiss it.

The only characteristics I still have that would point to AS are some mild anxiety (which was major before I was put on medication) and the more unusual interests I pursue in my spare time, which I very rarely tell my NT friends about. Otherwise, I seem to be socially, behaviourally and emotionally NT. Everything else existed in my childhood at some point, but not so much now.

Last edited by anneurysm on 29 May 2009, 11:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hear, hear! I totally agree!

That's why my family was reluctant to get me a diagnosis...they didn't want me pathologizing mysel of seeing myself as one of a few things. They saw me as a brillliant, original kid with potential that went beyond a label.

Thank you so much for the encouraging words, millie! And apolgies for the abckground noise...we were trying to go somewhere as quiet as possible but unfortunately we were limited in our choices. I have my sights set far and hopefully will mould what I'm doing now into some sort of career in the future. Thank you!

That's good.

I see you're diagnosed.

So essentially, you're labeled and you've labeled yourself with a "syndrome".
That's essentially (and unfortunately) a "pathological" label stating lots of negative criteria.

Okay. I'm not sure I really understand.

I'm not having a go at you, it's that my parents were against the idea of a label from day one and they still are. That's why they tried to get rid of mine. They didn't honestly think that a negative description did me any justice at all: it just turned people against me who'd have otherwise been friendly. It would also limit my opportunities.

All the same, people did the best they could with the information they had at the time, which wasn't honestly a lot.

So I'm just curious (and you don't have to answer if you don't want to), what eventually made you accept the negative term "syndrome" as part of the diagnosis?

Also, what kind of support do you receive?

Me too.
Lots of times.
It's certainly not been "for want of trying".

It can just become a vicious circle and learned helplessness.
This is especially true if the people around you aren't nice or understanding to begin with.

Some people will never want to be your friends no matter how hard you try.

"It takes two to tango"

If the other person or group isn't willing to put the effort in then...you're stuck.

People move around too fast for me to keep up socially.

They also have these peculiar little groups that they stick to, whereas I'm more tolerant of others from different groups.

It is a completely different culture from home.

They also sometimes seem to take offense at me offering to help them or being truthful for some bizarre reason.

Last edited by AmberEyes on 30 May 2009, 12:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Cool, that's what I though was there too. I was confused about people asking her if she had it and not pointing out to the signs until I read your post.

Just thinking that eye contact was superficially all good but there was something strikingly different about it no matter where she's looking. It's definitely not like the eye contact of your average person. No offence, anneurysm.

I was just interested because my presentation varies a lot but I do present similarly sometimes. Especially during lectures and when I get to explain something.

I only skimmed the beginning of your interview so far because I'm busy, but it looks really great and interesting. I assume the greater non-autistic audience will be interested too.

I don't think we've been annexed by our bellicose southern neighbours yet, but maybe news of our new overlords taking over hasn't reached the west coast yet

Those opportunities aren't available Canada wide. They are concentrated primarily in Toronto, and administered in a territorial manner (someone from out of the province, or even the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), would not be permitted into most of the programs there). Actually, the paucity of resources in this country is appalling.

Good to see you found help though anneurysm, and that you are now doing well for yourself.

*edit* Although there were few signs of AS in the interview, one would be the distance between you and the interviewer. You were right at the far edge of your chair, whereas she was leaning towards you during the last segment ^_^ Interesting, because I can't tolerate people within 3 feet of me.