The daily life of any one with Autism? My story.

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Hello out there.

I'm new here at WrongPlanet. I thought that I would share a little bit about myself, and the things that I have gone through, and the things that I am currently going through. My name is Zach, and I am 20 years old. I was diagnosed with PDD/Autism at age 3. Life for me has been somewhat normal, but difficult in many different ways. Growing up I attended a special elementary school, which I hated going to because I knew it was for children who were different that others. I was on medication for a very short time, but stopped using because it gave me bad rashes, and I haven't been using any medications since. I was sort of a trouble maker through out my childhood, and having friends was never a difficult thing, but it wasn't easy. I always tried to hang around my older brother (Who has ADD) and his friends, but that never ended well. I always let my obsessions get the best of me, and people never understood me. I guess I didn't really understand myself either at that time. My high school days weren't all that easy also. I went to 3 different high schools, not because of my disability, but because I simply was not happy. But I graduated with a diploma, and that's all I really care about.
Now, I am enrolled in community college taking a drawing course to help enhance my natural talent as an artist. I don't like calling myself an Autistic savant, because in my head that's not true. Today, I try not to let my differences get the best of me. I'm a pretty normal dude living in a f****d up world. If you met me you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with me, unless you have spent several days and hours with me. I don't show any symptoms off bat, because I have learned how to control them. I have prefect eye contact, and am able to hold a conversation with just about anyone. It does however, take me a few seconds to figure something out, or to get something right, which often people become upset with me, which Is why I try not to have too much communication, or take direction from others, along with being very clumsy, and always running into something, or someone. I am ashamed of myself, and also the fact that I have this disability, and it is a very sensitive subject for me to talk about. I am always afraid that others will look at me through a different light, or treat me differently. I do everything that any other 20 year old out there would be doing. Sometimes, I just don't understand myself, and it's quite depressing that my life has to be like this some days. Please feel free to share your stories and responses with me.

welcome to this thing of ours, samson
my life can be summed up in two words- genteel rural poverty. ok, that's three words but you get the idea. i live in a tin can out in the sticks, without much $$$ to spare. at least i don't live under a bridge. so far. i am largely nocturnal except for this month when i have to get up early morning for jury duty which i hate. it is the same deal every time they call me, they find out i am mentally addled and i am dismissed from duty with cause. but not before they wasted several hours of my time. i get up, eat a banana, take vitamins, read the paper, do the crosswords so my brain won't rot in place, then put on my workout uniform of scrub bottoms and net top undershirt, do calisthenics and then bike around the neighborhood for 2 hours or so. fitness is the only thing that makes me feel alive nowadays. i can't function out in the world but at least i can still fit into my younger person clothes at "a certain age." i take whatever meager accomplishments i can muster. then i shower, and pamper myself as best i can for the rest of the day, logging onto WP and spending way too much time here, then doing DSP work on my other 'puter with NPR on the radio playing in the background. then, since i can't sleep with a growling stomach, i eat a sandwich, brush my teeth, and go to bed. once a weekend i force myself to drive into town for sundries to last until the next weekend. boredom is my friend.