Do you have Asperger's Syndrome? If so...?

Question

Did you learn about it as a child or an adult?

Did you find it easier to function "normally" and socialize better once you became aware and learned more about your AS?

Do you regularly tell new people in your life about your AS? How do they react? Do you feel they treat you differently once they know about it?

I have AS and I only learned about it last year (at the age of 25). I still find it difficult to socialize and just live life in general, but once i became aware of the why and how, it seems to have brought me much more peace about my 'flaws'.

I think understanding gives me a foothold to learn from my mistakes and challenge myself.

I still struggle with whether or not to share it with people. On one hand, I don't want it to define who I am (anymore than it already does), but it does seem easier to just be up front about it, so I'd like to hear others experiences and methods.

Also... this site was a big help to me when I learned about my AS.

www.wrongplanet.net

bmac... people tend to treat you differently anyway, because you are different. sharing with them can help them understand why.

its a dilemma between how much can i overcome and how much am i stuck with.

Answer 1

I have a friend who is 34yr old and has just been diagnosed with AS. I was pleased he shared it with me because it explained some of his behaviour. His friendship is important to me AS or not. There is no need to tell anyone that you have AS, and if you decide to tell someone and they react badly they were not a friend in the first place

Answer 2

People are probably reacting to you like you have some infectious diesease. When people don't understand your mental condition or illness, they tend to react this way. I wouldn't give these people much thought. It's difficult enough for you to have to deal with and work through without adding the burden of people with little or no knowledge of the syndrome.

No one should treat you any differently then they treat others. It is very wrong for people to stereotype people but they do unfortunately. People have complained throughout history that they are treated differently just because of the colour of their skin, their religious beliefs, medical conditions, the kind of jobs they have, and so on. I feel it is very important for you to know that you are not alone.

If you are not troubled by your condition, maybe you should contact Dr. Phil and tell him about it. Maybe he will bring you on to his show. I'm very certain that there are many other people with the same condition that have either been diagnosed with the syndrome and are feeling isolated more than ever from society or others that can't figure out why they feel a particular way and no one else seems to fit that bill. By getting on the Dr. Phil show, you would also be able to tell the world how people are treating you. Make people all over the world aware of AS. I would think it would be an excellent thing.

Answer 3

Yes, the diagnosis didn't take care of the problems, however. No, I used to talk about it a lot, but now I don't, except on yahoo answers. My best friend treats me like I'm a person, and so did all the other people I told.

Answer 4

You are in famous company:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculation_of_famous_people_who_might_have_autism
Also: Woody Allen, Bob Dylan, Steven Spielbery

Answer 5

Why would you regularly tell people you have this? Telling people means you want them to treat you differently and you are looking for attention. I assume it's a mild case since it is usually found in childhood. If you made it to 25 and didn't know it, it can't be too bad.

Here is their foundation. http://www.asperger.org/

Answer 6

Yeah I just found that out that I have it but at a lower degree and i foun this out in my early teen years when i was 13 and that was the hardest thing to exept i have a disorder.