How do you explain to others about being on the spectrum.

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I was just thinking about this and trying to think of an easy way how to explain to others about being on the spectrum.

Generalizing about people with Aspergers is difficult, as if you know one person on the autism spectrum disorder, you just know one! We are unique individuals, just wired a little differently...

The way I usually start is:
NTs think one way
Aspies think another way
and our wires continually get crossed..

How do you explain to others, without having to read the whole official criteria?

I'm not sure it's possible. It would be like an NT trying to explain NTism to us. It's hard to grasp others mental concepts. I don't understand what ADD is either.

I know i am "not supposed to" because I am not diagnosed...

The thing that most frequently comes up is "Face blindness"..since i am constantly seeing people who recognise me while I don't recognise them...So I am always saying..."I don't always recognise people very well"...but that is not telling people that I might be on the spectrum.

Somtimes I toss around the phrases "executive dysfunction" and "social anxiety"

And it has gotten to the point where Flakey has had to explain to some people the best way to handle me so I don't get overwhealmed and shut down.

I do not use the term "ADD"...for fear of potential debate...even though I am a diagnosed ADDer

If I do ever mention that I might be on the spectrum, I am usually consumed with guilt and embarrasment...(because I am not diagnosed)

Edit: Oh...how do I explain what the spectrum is?...good question....that is kinda difficult....
I use examples I guess....sometimes of things that are difficult for me that are easy for others...and i talk about my sensory issues and whatnot...

First of all, I'm very selective as to whom I disclose my AS to. I only usually disclose my AS when I can see that someone is starting to misunderstand me, and I think that disclosing my AS would dispel the misunderstanding and make our relationship easier. For instance, I have had people notice that I take jokes literally and think that I'm stupid, arrogant, pedantic, or whatever.

Once I have decided to disclose my AS to someone, I first find an opportunity to raise the issue that has caused a problem; then I say that I have behaved as I have because I have AS. I then ask the person what they know about AS, or autism, listen to what they say and build up my explanations from there. It may be a case of saying "Yes, what you are saying is right, that's how it affects me" or "What you are saying is right but it is only one part of the picture, there are others, here are some who affect me" or "You misunderstand the condition, that's what it is really like." Since AS is multi-faceted you can't possibly explain every aspect of it to everyone. I make sure I cover the core aspects, and my key differences and difficulties; and I make sure I don't ramble on on the subject!

I'm very open about my disorder. I let people know that I have AS and that it is related to autism and some of the ways it effects me. If they want to know more I tell them. One of the first things I do explain is that aspies are just as unique as "normal" people. If they are interested in knowing more or ask about it I explain it to them in as simplified a form as possible, usually relating it to autism which is more communly understood. It still gets pretty tecnical though.

I don't, partly because I am not diagnosed, and partly because I don't want people to think I am even stranger than they already do.

Usually I will just discuss whatever issue has come up, e.g. "Why are you ignoring me?"

"Sorry, I didn't intend to ignore you, I was just trying to finish what I was doing. I can only do one thing at a time!"

I haven't outwordly told anyone, the opportunity hasn't really arisen. I do hint at it occaisionally, saying things like "the doctors think I have something", or when asked about certain symptoms (that they don't know are symptoms) like being quiet, going on about my current obsession, or sensory problems, I just say "that's how my brain's wired". Apparently my friends like me enough to accept vague answers. (:

I try to explain that there are different types of Autism and they occupy a broad spectrum of behavior. These vary from the person who is totally unable to leave the house, to someone who has difficulty dealing with people, to someone who leads a reasonably normal life. Aspergers just occupies a position somewhere on this spectrum.

This explanation may not be correct but it's the only way I have found of explaining AS to someone who does not have a degree in psychology.

Ed Almos

as an aspie , i agree that i think in other way than a normal person
but i think that its a positiv question

again i dont tell anyone as i am not officially diagnosed. i have told one close friend that i think i have is who agreed with me. when i told him we were talking about me being different (i had been stimming a lot that day & had just had a hyperactive episode as a result of too much sugar!). however i found i could not tell him that i thought i had AS, i dont know why but i could not say the words. instead i just kept asking him why he thought i was like this & he could not give me an answer. later on when we had both gone to bed i text him to tell him that i thought i was different because i had AS & he text me back saying he agreed. we have never spoken about it since, but he now understands why i do "odd" things now.

when i get asked "why do you do that?" or "why don't you like whatever?" i often feel like replying "because i have AS" to shut them up about it if nothing else. but i feel as because i dont have an official diagnosis it is a bit of a lie as i don't know i have it for sure, i just know i certainly show many of the signs & symptoms of it!

I tell friends and family, but mostly I don't even try to explain. The easiest way is, "I'm like rainman, except I'm no good at math.".

4 me dis is quite simple basically i tell most NTs AS is a form of autism at da higher functioning end of da spectrum or otherwise milder form of autism i have problems wid social interaction n have certain routines but on da otherhand i have a good memory 4 facts n figures such as train timetables n have excellent time keeping.

I usually start with the sensory issues which people can understand, as they can be blinded by bright sunshine or have felt their skin hypersensitive after an inset bite. I explain that it's like having my senses turned up a few more notches on the dial and that I have 'bat like' hearing.

Then I usually mention the face-blindness and social inputs in case they think I'm rude for not recognising them in the future, or interrupting them in meetings because I have missed the cues they want to speak. I talk about the anxiety last, as by this point they can imagine themselves with sore skin and not recognising people and kind of get how anxious that would make one feel. I then explain that stimming is a way of my burning off my excess anxiety, so if they see me vibrating or rocking not to worry.

I explain that the reason I'm like is because my brain is wired slightly differently to most people. I only tell friends and relevent workmates, but run my own company so I'm totally WYSIWYG now. I'm planning on coming out publicly later this year to help raise awareness.