Aspie diagnosed at 32

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I am an Aspie, diagnosed at the age of 32. I was first diagnosed as a result of my wife, searching for answers as to why I am the way I am, suggested I see a specialist. My entire life, it was evident to me that I was different, but I never knew how or why. I was skeptical, and read a few books on the topic. It only reinforced my resistance, as many texts portrayed people with significant struggles, failed marriages, frequent unemployment, and many other social issues. While my life is nowhere near simple, I am married. I have children. I have a successful career. At a glance, I am simply eccentric. I was "lucky". Nonetheless, I sought an evaluation, primarily to put the issue to rest. I paid cash, just in case the diagnosis was confirmed, to avoid possible stigma or professional issues.

I was, without question, confirmed an Aspie.

I sought a second opinion, with the same results. It was a lengthy process, having gone undiagnosed for many years, I have adapted as a result of studying the behaviors of those around me and mirroring what most appeared "normal". Now, having learned there is a name, and a fair amount of research, my life is certainly different. I am a complicated person, frequently described as "eccentric" and "quirky".

Searching for answers to many questions not yet asked I regularly contribute to the many autism forums and discussions on the Internet. The autism spectrum, being a broad world, often buries Asperger's topics in the majority.

Therapy comes in many forms. As such, I have launched a forum, exclusively focused on Asperger's Syndrome. I seek the collaboration with others like me and with to share with others what I have learned. I have been posting my thoughts and insight, awaiting peers to join.

Please join me in discovering what it means to have Asperger's, and helping those just beginning their journey.

Last edited by anon0915 on 14 Jul 2009, 8:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.

cool I'll check out the forum tomorrow. I just registered but it's after midnight , so i'm going to bed.

I too was just diagnosed at the age of 28. Thank ypu for sharing. If you want to coorespond more, let me know. Nice to meet you.

I was just diagnosed at 37 and I'm 40 now. Having the diagnosis will go far in helping you cope with your life. As far as starting a new forum, good luck. The one here is (I think) the most popular on the web and it is hard to build up a new forum. I tried and failed.

Ummmm, diagnosed at 47 so I think I win. What's my prize?

I'm sure that I'm not the only one on Wrong Planet who was diagnosed with AS late in life and then suddenly thought Ah!! All of a sudden we discovered the reason why everything had been going wrong for the last twenty or thirty years. My only regret is that AS hadn't been recognized in the mid 1970's when, in my case, it all started going pear shaped.

Welcome to the club, anon 0915. Pull up a chair and sit down.

Vanilla_Slice

I am 35 and waiting for the "stamp" from the psychiatrist, but I have had a my family doctor, my councilor, an educational assessment and my daughters psychiatrist all more or less confirm that I have AS. The doctor and councilor are the ones who sent in the referral for the psychiatrist. I guess I just wait now..... Being a woman with AS and having a preschool aged duaghter with AS and a teen that likely has AS (or at least what Attwood calls the AS personality type), I recently decided to start a blog/forum for women and girls with AS, HFA or other ASD. It's that whole realization that you have so much information to share and so many experiences to get off of your chest. I totally know what you mean about "therapy comes in many forms." For me, it was in the form of a "forum".....

Anyone watch the "Wonder Twins" as kids?? Hehehehehe.....

There is a link for my blog/forum at the bottom of the page.....

Thanks for hopping on. Let me know what you think. I have built up several forums and portals, but only in a corporate (private) environment. this is my first in the open.

It is hard to get one up and running. i have always developed forums with a ready to use community (i.e. corporate workgroups, etc). this is my first open to all, so should be interesting. i suppose having the most popular forum isn't necessarily the goal, just the journey of building it and watching it grow. Cheaper than a therapist

[email protected]
www.discoveraspergers.com

You get a cookie
i recently read somewhere about a guy who was diagnosed in his 70s. i will try to find it.

anon0915
Moderator, Discover Aspergers.
www.discoveraspergers.com

well, i am not a female, so i am not sure if i can contribute to your forum, but certainly would like to compare notes on the process as a whole. i am just getting mine going. Let me know if i can help in any way.

anon0915
Moderator, Discover Aspergers.
www.discoveraspergers.com

I was diagnosed this week, and I am 42. However, I have not felt that I was different. I always felt that so many other persons were different. I seem to relate to myself as being "normal" and I have so many times wondered why "the others" were so strange. In the diagnosis interviews I found it hard to answer questions like "Are you different in X" because I just could not see myself to be "different." It were all of those other strange persons, who were "different."

That is an interesting perspective. i guess i never thought about it that way. if "different" is defined as the comparison between two objects or states, anything in contrast is different. if A does not equaly B, then A is different than B, but B is similarly different from A. alot of terms get thrown around (normal/abnormal, neurotypical/autistic, or whatever), but the bottom line is that there are two groups. i view one as the majority (neurotypical) and us Aspies as the minority. the majority is the norm, so we are not, or so they say.

i too think everyone else is strange, similarly to them thinking i am. i guess in the end, my questions more relate to how the differences help. tall people sure are handy reaching things high up, but probably have a real disability when it comes to purchasing clothes. there are pros and cons to both. i posted a few weeks back on the topic on my forum here, if you are interested.

I was "assessed" at 32..(I am 33 now)
She told me I could treat it as a diagnosis..but the uncertainty still haunts me.
I can't afford a formal diagnosis..but I am going to see a doctor for ADD at the end of the month and hopefully he can refer me to some place where I can eventually seek something more formal.
One of the reasons I am troubled is because I am not a "typical" aspie...(if there is such a thing)

for privacy reasons, i even avoided using my insurance even though mine covers such visits. It can get expensive. out of curiosity, what is it that makes you not a "typical" aspie?

Must be a popular age 47 for AS dx, ditto. Like the original author marriage difficulties were the catalyst. A relief to find answers, understanding and reasons for my poor choices/decisions in life. Knew around six years of age I had a problem and was very different from others. At least I know why I did not emotionally mature around 16yrs of age like my peers, which still distresses me to this day. As one professional said, " You have to accept that some of us are born differently", then I realised there are no miracle remedies available. Some meds can assist in lessoning the symptoms of comorbid disorders otherwise I'm locked in my world of understanding.

Dx has stopped most of my temper tantrums because of awareness of the triggers.

Will definitely look into your website.

Not knowing why i was different, i spent a good chunk of my childhood being "weird" and the rest of my teenage years a social chameleon, mimicking my peers. i often wonder why kinds of things i missed out on, being so oblivious to the intentions of those around me.