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Deleted this post because I didn't want to offend anyone and I am paranoid x

I see where you're coming from and can certainly understand why you would say that we might have it harder because we face a lot of problems due to the fact that we have a lot of social issues that someone who doesn't speak wouldn't run into.

I still don't agree that Asperger's is just as bad as severe autism. I can understand the perks they may have but I wouldn't want their disability and their handicaps.

Your right sorry I was just annoyed at a video wear people say aspergers doesn't exist, just having a tough time at the minuet and it doesn't help when I see videos like that

you can't delete a thread that already has replies. Why would you think this would offend anyone?

You are allowed to be annoyed as well.

I just get really paranoid about getting into arguments and if someone struggling with someone in there family with severe autism I would hate them to take it the wrong way. It's just my mind being silly. Meds changes soon so I should have more self esteem x

Put the title of the thread back - you really explain a point and I don't think it would offend people (although I haven't read all the replies in this thread).

I know I should feel lucky that I only have Asperger's and not severe Autism, but then again I do think it's hard. From a politician's point of view I am as able to work full time as the next person, and that may look true on the outside, but little does society know that I am often feeling very stressed inside. I lack confidence, I find it hard to focus and learn new things, and I cannot cope with having too much to do in a week, I need at least 2 days to myself. To some people it might look like laziness, but it is not laziness.

OK I may be able to go to the supermarket by myself with a big shopping list, and get on buses by myself, and go into town by myself, and go into the bank and draw money in or out by myself, and even learn other independent errands. It isn't a problem. But my anxieties mostly revolve around employment, and that's where it gets misunderstood. Holding down a job is difficult for me. I nearly got sacked a few months ago from my job because of yelling and swearing at my supervisor, because I had gotten all stressed out - even though my workplace know I have anxiety and panic issues. But thankfully I only work part time, so I can have a few days in the week to myself, which helps a lot. But if or when I come to a point in my life where I won't be able to afford to work part time, that is when I'm going to struggle. I suppose it would be OK if I was in an Aspie-friendly job, like being somewhere in the background where you don't have to talk to the general public, just packing boxes or just doing something where I can use my initiative and not be hassled. Boring I know, but if it doesn't add stress into my life then I think I could cope with it. But every job I look for it always expresses that you will be working under pressure, need ''excellent'' people skills (even if the job doesn't revolve around the public or supervising coworkers), and stuff like that. I wish they wouldn't put words like ''excellent'', unless it's a rather important role where people skills is essential.

What you wrote is not offensive to me, nor should it be to anyone else, and I'm the parent of a 3 1/2 year old boy who socially/communicates at about a 9 month old level - moderate to severe autism. It affects everyone differently.

I once heard it explained that both low functioning Autism (or severe) and high functioning Autism (or Aspergers) can both be devastating....just in different ways. With severe Autism you definitely see individuals lacking the skills to do certain things....communicate, self-care, etc, but with HFA/Aspergers you see a significantly increased rate of co-morbid disorders like depression, anxiety,...and even an increased rate of suicide. Everyone on this spectrum has their challenges. In some ways though...the recognition that you are different is probably one of the hardest things to deal with (high or low functioning). You can't really accommodate for that... You can hire someone to help you process it all or give you medications to take, but they can't really "fix" it.

Sometimes I feel like I'm being punished for having Asperger's. I mean, there's no help for me, because in the neurological disability world I'm ''too high-functioning'', but in the NT world I'm ''too unconfident'' employment-wise and ''too odd'' social-wise. So I'm not sure where I'm meant to be really. I'm not very bright, I do have some learning difficulties, but mostly my anxieties hold me back.

But when it comes to help and support, it seems to boil down to IQ. My IQ is, assumably, around average or perhaps below average, but not low enough to be put in the ''neurological disabilities'' category.

I really do wish they would raise more awareness on things like anxiety, depression and stress disorders. The world needs to know that these do exist, and the world would be a much better place if people with emotional disorders would receive more support. There would be less suicide, especially if there was more anxiety/depression/stress-friendly jobs out there. When you're applying for a job and you see on every job advertisement ''must have excellent communication skills'', ''must be able to work under pressure'', etc, etc, it does deter a lot of emotionally fragile people like myself.

It's not just us Aspies that have these issues in life. I have a friend who has (diagnosed) Fragile-X Syndrome, and she's been unemployed for 7 years now, even though she's trying so hard to get a job, nobody will give her a chance. Like me, she is high-functioning so cannot receive extra support what she could do with, but in the NT world, she is looked upon as ''worthless''. It's terrible. I feel more sorry for her than I do myself, as I am currently in employment. Also my brother, who is not Asperger's but suffers with chronic depression, is also struggling because the world misunderstands depression so much. It's easy to say to somebody who is depressed, ''oh snap out of it, we've all got to do things we don't like'', but that cliche just makes people with depression feel worse.

There needs to be more awareness with (high-functioning) ASDs, anxiety/stress disorder, depression, Bipolar, Fragile-X, and other conditions that can affect a person's social and emotional state, more than IQ.

I think every part of the spectrum has its own challenges.

There was a time when I was younger, when I almost managed to succeed at work, and pass for NT. And as so many here have said, it was exhausting, confusing, demoralizing, and illness-inducing. It felt like I was constantly drowning, with no one to help me, since doctors told me my problems were 'all in my head'.

Nowadays, I am reluctantly coming to accept that I'm in the truly 'disabled' category - though I don't look disabled - and that has its own challenges. My family knows how hard I've tried all my life, and they are the only ones who understand, and don't judge me for being 99% housebound, and struggling to do simple things like use the phone, or bus, or go to a doctor's appointment. But to the rest of the world, I'm just lazy, and not trying hard enough.

Unless someone spends a week with us, 24/7, and sees what our lives are really like, behind the scenes - when we're not smiling, and trying to act 'normal' for their benefit - they have no idea, how severely autism affects us.

I understand why you want to delete your post, talking about the low end of the spectrum and any of other mental disorders can be a minefield subject that can set anyone off no matter what. But you handled it pretty well.

Being HFA/Aspie is can be worse in some ways since you're disability isn't as visible and you're just as intelligent if not more than your NT peers so they think you're just weird and/or rude/as*hole intentionally. Breaking social norms can have incredible backlash were people were people can feel justified in hurting you for breaking an unspoken rule or sticking out.

With the amount of protection the lower functioning and more visibly disabled people get, it is a whole lot more risky to pick on someone with Down's Syndrome or is in a wheelchair since you could be seen as the bad person even if the DS or wheelchair guy is an as*hole. Heck take a look at a video that came out a month ago of some student trying to bully a blind kid, another student who was a football player came in and kicked his ass.

But in July a teen with Asperger's was severly beaten by another group of teens because he was "weird" and "creepy" since he didn't follow social norms they even stated he was creepy for trying to be friends with people he didn't know and was always by himself.

You as an Aspie/HFA appear alright so they won't recieve backlash or as much for attacking you since you're aren't seen as vulnerable.