Are you "okay" with having Asperger's?

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Thank you mate =] That means a lot



You have horseys? I love horseys. Thank you for your input.

For me, having Asperger's can be problematic at times, but I've always been fully accepting of the fact that I have it. Sometimes it's even been a good thing: it's led me to pursue some enjoyable interests and sometimes meet new people when doing so. Asperger's is part of my identity, and I don't know what kind of person I'd be without it - but I do know that the me with Asperger's isn't such a bad sort.

For me, the answer is yes. I like being different. There are times it has made my life harder but there are other times that it has made my life easier. I think that Asperger's is what gave me some of the musical talent, including perfect pitch. I like being able to play the piano and sing. I also feel that the Asperger's makes me sometimes appear younger than I am which I feel is starting to become a good thing at my age. The only major drawbacks are that I am seen as being really shy and sometimes I do behavior that is a little weird. I am the type of person who is perfectly okay with going to theme parks by myself and going out to eat by myself. There are times it would be nice to be normal but I remind myself that if everyone were the same, it would be a boring world. I personally do not consider Asperger's a disability. Asperger's just means that we think differently from NTs.

Two great answers. Thank you very much for your inputs.

I also feel that Asperger's somehow keeps me looking younger than I am, but in my case I figured that could also be put down to sleeping whenever, little direct light and lots of weed.

I turned 27 less than a week ago - I looked in the mirror closely under a bright light three nights ago and I still have the exact skin, facial and fat composition that I did when I was 17. Not a single thing has changed. It really is unreal at this point and other people can not believe how young I look.

I actually am wondering if it does have something to do with Asperger's.

Yeah I'd have to agree with that rough time diff too, as a 38 year old male who appears 30ish.

Another thing I think may be linked to this is being toned/cut. I've never been able to put fat on, only muscle, but also I'm almost never physically relaxed. I have to literally tell my body to shut down properly and relax last thing at night, at which point I realise how much tension I carry in my lower back and abdomen all day.

I am most definitely not ok with it; it's nothing... nothing but a problem and one I'd gladly be rid of. Other people talk about "positives" but I haven't seen any. Autism is a disability, and it very much feels like it.

That said, I accept that it's not going away and I need to deal with it. Acceptance does not mean I have to like it. I tolerate it.

Good ol AJ, always telling it like it is.

This is pretty much my thoughts on the topic. When I was told about it and then looked into it more, it somewhat made my life fall into place and make sense.

I am still in the processing of accepting it. I go through periods where I will deny that I have it. Then, I have a little crisis where I have to face that I am struggling in a way that others around me don't seem to be.

I recognize that there are strengths and weaknesses that come with it. I too have the experience that I need some more time to process things, but that I tend to arrive at useful results that others don't sometimes.

I also look very young for my age. I am 32, and most people think I am 24. It seems to vary with my mood, as well. I think when I am calm and at peace I must have a very innocent look about me. It's during those times when people think I must be 20!

Right now I am accepting that I have it. It is bringing me a lot of comfort and understanding at this moment.

This is how it was for me, too. My autism diagnosis came as a relief because it explained so much.

However, I'm less "okay" with my comorbids.

I can fully relate to your comments here. I, too, have naively assumed that if I just take a few minutes to explain myself to friends, coworkers or other people at church, that they'll become more understanding of my specific issues. Instead, in nearly every case it's as though I had been speaking gibberish. Even if they act like they understand at the moment, it doesn't take long before a new situation arises and their attitude is one of, "You just need to get over [fill in the blank]." Like a coworker who keeps telling me I need to learn to multitask despite my repeated explanation that my brain won't allow for it.

Apart from that frustration, some days I'm OK with being on the spectrum. Other days (like yesterday, when I didn't get enough sleep the previous night), I want to hide away in some quiet space and shun all of humanity. Yes, my neurology imparts certain strengths and insights, but often at a cost.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a say in being who we are.

More considered, honest answers here. Thank you very much for sharing guys (and gal!)

If your not I think youd better be.

I mean it seems we will always have problems. (In such wierd ways too. I mean why must we have a socially hard time, not be able to take a test in a normal amount of time etc. etc.?)

OK with it? Not really. It's a bit of a pain in the arse.

It might have given me one or two unusual abilities, but overall my life would have been much better without it.

Still, there's no cure, so ... s**t happens. We have to deal with it.

Thank you for your response, may I ask, were you early or late diagnosed?