Coming across as immature or young because of ASD

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04 Jun 2012, 10:39 pm

Out of curiosity, I often am told that I look much younger than my real age. When I asked, one person explained to me that most older persons are meaner, in a way, than I am.

Well, I know for me I can come across as being socially immature as well as having complete strangers tell me I look younger than I really am.

Does anyone else have the same problem, or problems because of Asperger's?


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redrobin62
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04 Jun 2012, 10:50 pm

Looking younger is a problem?



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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04 Jun 2012, 10:57 pm

Up to about age 39, I used to look a lot younger than I was.

But then, and now :wink: , some gray hair and a few wrinkles around my eyes.



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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04 Jun 2012, 11:16 pm

When I was younger, I had issues with inappropriate laughter. In fact, if someone at work in a position if authority is playing a role and it strikes me as obvious they are pretending a role, that can get me on the funny track. Also an aspect of giving up and if you can't beat them, join them.

Now, a little more charitable, I guess. And a little more tolerant of things being messy and nonperfect.

I have an A game in which I'm alert, observant, zen-centered. Still working on developing more of a B game.



ThinkTrees
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05 Jun 2012, 12:15 am

Yes, but mostly it's not a problem as I'm pretty solitary.

Condescension is annoying.


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Warsie
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05 Jun 2012, 12:36 am

Well people have mistaken me as younger than I am, mainly younger people I think.


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rebbieh
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05 Jun 2012, 1:03 am

I look much younger than I am. I'm turning 22 in a few months and people often think I'm 16-18 years old. Also, people (especially my parents) have said I get very immature when dealing with conflicts.



vanhalenkurtz
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05 Jun 2012, 1:16 am

I do look longer than my age would suggest. 52, still have hair, most of it brown, and still waist 30. Energetic. Then, I flap hands or air guitar and, instead of being a "good looking man," I'm the village idiot. To answer your question, yes, with some regret.


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justmyself
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05 Jun 2012, 3:11 am

Me too, I look younger than my age as I'm often told. It happened to me only once in my life that I had someone guess my age and he was correct in the first try.

But then, I don't really mind what others might think of me. I'm quite over that by now.



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05 Jun 2012, 3:19 am

I don't think young looking has anything to do with ASD, there are NTs out there that look quite young. People think I am younger. As a kid people thought I was older because I looked older.

I have childlike qualities.


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SteelMaiden
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05 Jun 2012, 4:42 am

I have AS and I've been told I still look like I'm 16 (I'm 22). My dad has AS traits, he is 62 but he looks like he's in his late 40s apparently.


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05 Jun 2012, 7:31 am

redrobin62 wrote:
Looking younger is a problem?


Lol. Sometimes? Depends if you like to get IDed

League_Girl wrote:
I don't think young looking has anything to do with ASD, there are NTs out there that look quite young. People think I am younger. As a kid people thought I was older because I looked older.

I have childlike qualities.


Yeah, maybe not, but I feel like my style of dress is not the most fashionable, and I tend to fail at keeping my hair and makeup in the style of most young adults. Also I worry if it has something to do with the way I act, because even people who know me are surprised to learn that I'm out of high school.


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Mindsigh
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05 Jun 2012, 8:07 am

My face is kind of expressionless most of the time and blank. When I was 41 I took a picture of myself and when my coworker saw it, she thought it was my daughter. She said I looked like a sullen teenager. 8)



VMSmith
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05 Jun 2012, 10:02 am

yeah i am constantly mistaken for younger than i am. i play it up too and exploit it. i am told if i just give people a big, brown eyed look they will believe anything i say and i look really innocent so i use it to my advantage. it comes in useful when i need a student discount at the hairdressers and they assume i am a kid or when city rangers stop me on poster runs(which are totally legal- the mayor said so) and they threaten to fine me but let me off because i look like i am 15 or 16 apparently. my god i am manipulative. i do not know why people think i look young. is it my mannerisms?



Washi
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05 Jun 2012, 1:58 pm

Yes, at first glance I can pass for a teenager and I'm 35, when I took my son out trick-or-treating several people offered candy "for big sister" ... my partner also looks much younger than he is - he's 41 but looks 10 years younger .... but that's still not enough to stop people from mistaking me for his daughter or giving him the occasional dirty look for thinking he robbed the cradle - they generally realize I'm older once I start talking.



ECJ
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05 Jun 2012, 2:23 pm

Yes, people often think I'm still a university student even though I'm 29!