It's official, by the way

[unixronin]

Repeated in an unlocked post for those interested enough to read, but not on my restricted-access list:

The results of my recent neuropsychological testing are in, and I have now been formally diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.  I have almost certainly had it, previously undiagnosed, all my life.

Knowing this (and, before now, the increasingly clear indication that it was the case) has made a great many of the things that have baffled me in my life much clearer.  Not that I now suddenly understand them; rather, I now understand why they have always baffled me.  Understanding the reasons behind such things gives me direction for ways to learn to cope with the differences in the way my mind works¹.

I have moof² to thank for the post³ that first set me on the trail of Asperger's.

[1]  Asperger's is not necessarily a handicap, except socially; it's more that Aspies think differently, our minds operate differently and process information differently, compared to what's considered "normal".

[2]  Who had, for some reason, inexplicably vanished from my friends list. No wonder he didn't seem to be posting much lately....

[3]   I'd point you at his original post on the subject of what life with Asperger's is like for him, but I've lost track of it.  (No, I never got into the habit of using the Memories feature.)

Comments

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

Everyone has things that are hard for them, and things that are easy for them. Asperger's is just a way of codifying an odd collection of strengths and weaknesses. On balance, I would say that Asperger's has helped my work life more than it has hurt it.

That said, there is still stuff that I will likely never understand. That being the case, why does it matter?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

It matters to me because a lot of the things that are complete ciphers to me are social comprehension things that make it exceedingly difficult to interact socially with people, and has forced me to live as far more a loner than I would have chosen to.

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

And me likewise. Will I ever understand what I am missing? Probably not. I took a mime class at age seven that has been quite valuable in interpreting non-verbal ques, but my understanding of social situations is synthesized. It is purely cognitive.

OTOH, I have the ability to do some technical tasks at incredible levels of detail, a gift of Asperger's. Some things are harder, some things are easier.

[beckyzoole.livejournal.com]

It sure does feel good to understand what's going on, doesn't it?

Also, keep in mind that your intelligence both magnifies the Asperger's, because high-intelligence frequently displays in Aspie-like ways anyway, and disguises it, because you have automatically learned how to compensate.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

<barbie>Life is compilated clocipated collimated compiled uh, hard.</barbie>

;)





(and so is typing HTML, sometimes, it appears)

[jilara.livejournal.com]

I rather thought so. Just things I've noticed in the way that you process. When I found out about Asperger's, a lot about both you and a couple other people made much sense...

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I wish I'd know it a lot earlier. Say, thirty years or so.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Well hi there fellow neurologically-weird one! Your diagnosis was a BIG surprise (NOT!). I know just what you mean about suddenly understanding why you didn't understand certain things. That's just how I felt after my ADHD diagnosis.

If you feel the need to burble or be burbled at or ask questions or what the heck ever, you know where to find me.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I'm amused that so far, all the responses are from people who are friended and should have been able to read the earlier, somewhat more full results report. :)

[ehintz.livejournal.com]

Good to have the official diagnosis...