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Atomsk
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17 Dec 2011, 4:23 am

Do you let the people in your life know you have whichever disorder/s you have? Do you try to hide them?

I have diagnosed Aspergers, but I've only told two people (best friend and girlfriend) outside my immediate family. I try to completely blend in, and for the most part it works.
Trying to see if this is unusual, or the norm.



jamieevren1210
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17 Dec 2011, 5:07 am

I tell only people I trust.



Tjolk
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17 Dec 2011, 5:25 am

Only people I trust. Telling other people in my case would raise more questions than answer them.
My interest in people (not to be confused with wishing to socialize) allowes me to move in the the wold undetected,
My ASD is mild and I've aquired social skills.



Joe90
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17 Dec 2011, 5:30 am

I try to hide them, which I'm usually good at. If they do suspect anything, they usually suspect learning difficulties, Social Phobia, anxiety disorder, or ''a person who suffer with her nerves''. That's it.


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League_Girl
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17 Dec 2011, 5:34 am

Yes and no. I have told my husband and people online. In real life I don't go around telling others.


I am myself lot of the times because I keep to myself. I do hide my stims so I don't embarrass myself. If anyone treats me like crap, I don't talk to them. I also don't talk about my obsessions much.



Atomsk
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17 Dec 2011, 5:41 am

League_Girl wrote:
I also don't talk about my obsessions much.

This is one I break often, but I try to keep it on an obsession that fits with the group of people I'm talking to. Helps that my areas of study for the most part overlap with my obsessions.



AlastorX
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17 Dec 2011, 5:54 am

I started hiding it in college but it became apparent; I hide it at work and it sometimes becomes apparent. Generally, whenever I am somewhere for a while, it becomes apparent but I only told the real reason to certain friends who know me for long time.



DreamSofa
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17 Dec 2011, 7:00 am

Yes, I hide my ASD and tell people on a need-to-know basis only.

I can pass very well superficially but if anyone gets to know me well they realise that there's something slightly 'off'. This is because I've learnt to 'pass' externally but my thought processes and feelings are those of someone on the spectrum and sometimes there is a dissonance between the external and the internal.



Guineapigged
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17 Dec 2011, 7:04 am

I know so few people that I don't really have anybody to hide it from. The only people who I am in regular contact with are the people who are involved with my care, so they know by default (CPN, OT, GP, psychiatrist). College didn't know anything at first but after a couple of months it became obvious because I was missing lessons and getting upset during the day.



Tuttle
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17 Dec 2011, 8:50 am

I don't hide that I am autistic at all. I don't tell everyone constantly, but posted to google+ when I was diagnosed and since that have treated it as common knowledge.



9of47
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17 Dec 2011, 9:05 am

I've only told people I felt that needed to know/should know.

- My friend/recent ex - because I had recently been diagnosed and we both belong to a social group full of aspies so I knew he would be comfortable with it.
- The ex before him - although only that I might have it, I didn't get diagnosed until half a year after I dumped him
- My immediate family who thinks that it's a "thing for uni"

- My Disability Liaison Unit person - she is wonderful
- One of my research subject supervisors (the second in-charge) - I picked the less intimidating of the two
- The third year chemistry (theory subjects) coordinator - I told her in the second semester, she already knew that I had different exam arrangements from the first, she's also friends with the guy in charge of my research lab
- The research subject coordinator, he's also in the neighboring lab to my research group
- The lecturers of both of my maths subjects this semester (one of which is friends with my main research supervisor)
(Oh crap I think I told everyone but my main supervisor :? )

- The administrator of the office where I had a student representative role this year (I'm friends with my predecessor, she also comes from the same aspie concentrated social group - her brother has it - so the admin wasn't surprised)
- People in my social group - and they didn't bat an eyelid, as expected (we belong to/run a few nerdy clubs on campus, but we also have a high number of aspies and people who are socially hindered)

So for the most part, people at uni who needed to know and close friends and family. Although I had no choice in telling my family, because in order to be able to pay for my appointment with the specialist I needed them to pay for it.



dogslife
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17 Dec 2011, 11:48 am

I've always made a habit of not hiding the fact that I'm on zoloft for clinical depression, because there's such a stigma about it that I want people to be more aware.

I've told everyone close to me about AS - half the reason I'd be hesitant to tell others is because ever since being diagnosed a few months ago, it's been a special interest, and I wouldn't be able to shut up about it if I got started, ha. I am more hesitant in general to mention Aspergers to new people though before they get to know me because I feel like they'll think "oh he must be an annoying loser" etc. with all of the stereotypes.



Magnus_Rex
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17 Dec 2011, 12:10 pm

I never tell anyone, which is the reason why I have not gotten a diagnosis yet. I only told three coworkers about Asperger's Syndrome, and that was only because I was about to quit my job. Also, someone asked me at school if I am normal, to which I replied that I am not normal nor crazy.

My classmates reacted as if they were incredulous to hear that: I think they will not be asking questions like that anymore.



Last edited by Magnus_Rex on 17 Dec 2011, 3:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

SyphonFilter
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17 Dec 2011, 12:26 pm

Yes. People have shot my self-esteem enough as it is. There's no need to give uneducated people more ammo to use against me, even if all they know about AS are misconceptions. After all, an insult is an insult no matter what. Not to mention all of the people who believe ADHD is the result of lazyness and bad parenting.



Last edited by SyphonFilter on 17 Dec 2011, 1:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Simmian7
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17 Dec 2011, 1:18 pm

i try to tone it down some when i'm at work. but otherwise no, i don't hide it in my daily life.
however, if i'm on set, filming a movie or something...then i do...only cuz i'm in character...for the role i was hired for.


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17 Dec 2011, 1:25 pm

I was just diagnosed so this is something I have been thinking about. I am estranged from my parents and they don't believe in mental illness etc. I have told my husband and my mother in law. Tonight I may tell one of my best friends (but I think he already suspects it). Part of me wants to tell people because I'm sick of hiding who I am. The other part of me worries I will be treated differently because of that.