Does your family only understand some of your AS traits?

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zeldapsychology
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20 Nov 2009, 9:14 am

My older sister who found the diagnosis and thinks I have it IMO understands the social issues saying things wrong etc. (for example while on a NY subway some creepy guy was on there and my sister started asking her friend when the boyfriends coming etc.) She then kicked me in the leg since I didn't understand what she meant we then preceded to get off the next exit. So the social skills issue she gets but the meltdowns and routine my family hates.

They think meltdowns can be fixed by changing my pills and I'm always planning things ahead of time going to store A,B,C buying item X,Y,Z etc. IMO I do the routine so I don't forget where we're going/what we need since at times my family forgets so IMO have a good memory towards this IMO this is a POSITIVE AS trait and not a bad thing. The meltdowns are an issue but I say I'm fine/tired because IMO I have my OWN reasons for being upset and it's no ones damn business. :-) LOL! I haven't even told the Psychiatrist because IMO he'll just want to put me on another pill. :-( So does your family understand some of your traits or quirks (whatever you want to call them)? I'm sorry if your family isn't understanding of everything but hey there's always WP. :-)



zeldapsychology
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20 Nov 2009, 9:21 am

BTW on the topic of routine issues etc. I've already planned what I'm having on my trip to Burger King/theater LOL! $1 Burger,drink,fry,Sundae=$4+ IF they have it $5 New Moon Edward gift card then at the theater medium popcorn (not sure of price) and medium drink. WOW I love routine LOL!



kingtut3
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20 Nov 2009, 9:28 am

My sister lives under the delusion that she understands aspergers. I tell her what my limitations are and she tells me that they are not really limitations. I wish she had Asperger's so that she would understand what it's like. She should really shut up about things she's ignorant about.



20 Nov 2009, 9:56 am

My dad acts like it doesn't exist because he never mentions it and doesn't say anything about my traits. He just says I learn as I get older.

My mom understands. She doesn't mention it anymore like she used to when I was in my early teens. She used to say "That's part of Aspergers" so it made it sound like lot of things I do is due to the AS and making it sound like I didn't have very little. You always sound worse off when your faults are always pointed out. Now it's rare when she says it. Sometimes I don't even know what she is talking about when she says it. She doesn't mention my traits anymore like she used to. Now she acts like it's part of me which it is.



pat2rome
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20 Nov 2009, 11:21 am

They do only understand some of them, but considering I only understand some of them, I think I can cut them some slack. ;)

One thing that I don't quite understand is my version of meltdowns. I call it my version because it's not like a meltdown at all; it's more of a "shutdown." For instance, after a stressful day at my normally fun summer job, I found that it was extremely difficult for me to speak. If I gave the normal effort needed, I would either just think the response or, at best, manage to get out the first word. I had to talk to my mom, who was in the same room, on Gmail. When we switched to that, it wasn't any different than normal. I still don't understand why that happened.


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poopylungstuffing
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20 Nov 2009, 11:34 am

My parents understand that I have had certain traits that have affected me for my whole life...and my mom has a lot of these traits....what they don't understand is the autistic spectrum..namely that it is a spectrum and that there is a higher-functioning end of the spectrum...and that I am most likely on it and my mom most likely is too...and possibly other members of the family...on my dad's side, no less....
Their only notion of autism is Kanner's style autism...I have tried to explain it a few times, and I find it difficult without my mom automatically going on a rant about mercury in vaccines...and whatnot...
They are not completely unreceptive to the idea, they just seem to have a hard time grasping it.



TheKingsRaven
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20 Nov 2009, 11:53 am

Mostly they just think I'll grow out of it and I musn't use it as an excuse, in their defence Mum's boyfriend also has AS and he's got to the point where you'd never tell unless you really know what your lookng for, no hint except the occasional viewpoint / phrase.

We're both really mild cases though, I'd guestimate we're about as close to NT as you can get and still qualify for a diagnosis, think undiagnosed in silicone vally level.



superboyian
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20 Nov 2009, 3:48 pm

Nobody understands my AS/HFA that much, only my mate does because hes quite similar to me in some ways....
Besides, i've never really told anybody about my issues, i normally keep myself to myself.

TheKingsRaven wrote:
Mostly they just think I'll grow out of it and I musn't use it as an excuse, in their defence Mum's boyfriend also has AS and he's got to the point where you'd never tell unless you really know what your lookng for, no hint except the occasional viewpoint / phrase.


I don't think autism is condition that anyone can grow out of, but is that actually possible?


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sartresue
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20 Nov 2009, 3:59 pm

Traits talk topic

My children are slow to comprehend. They think I may grow out of it yet. :P


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SpongeBobRocksMao
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20 Nov 2009, 5:13 pm

My parents mostly know about my AS traits. And out of my parents, my mother probably understands more of it.


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