I recently found out that I have Asperger’s Syndrome. It has explained a lot about my life up to now, and i was curious if anyone else here on the board has it and where I might go in order to meet others with it. I would like to meet some people who deal with it and learn more about how they get hrough life.
You could try www.asperger.org to find a local support group and information.
Here’s the OASIS website, dealing with Asperger’s Syndrome. It includes links to support groups, as well as other links.
One of my roommates in college had Asperger’s, but was (in my crackpot opinion) misdiagnosed with ADHD. Strange fellow… had absolutely no concept of social cues.
Vortex,
This is the reason i am looking for others like me. I too have no concept of social situations. I do not understand social cues. It is a sad, lonely existence
My wife who is a MD thinks I have mild aspergers now. Basically I enjoy my own company, and although have a circle of friends I don’t make a lot of effort there. A few of the other traits on the websites also ring a bell - repetitive actions, especially when stressed etc, avoiding emotional situations, academic job.
However, I was much worse as a child-teenager, when I would have been probably diagnosed full aspergers. Essentially when I realised there was something quite different about me (bout 18-19) I started reading etc, and worked out I was playing the social game all wrong. I then learnt (am still learning) what to do. It doesn’t change so much how you feel inside but means you sort of fit in, and can then get on with your life comfortably.
If you are happy with the way you are, then it may not be necessary to do anything. If there are things in your life that you think can be improved it is possible to work on them. I would say avoid any non-behavioural therapy, as psychoanalysis is useless here. Getting in touch with a support group is probably very useful.
I pretty sure I had it as a child. Growing up with a high IQ, it was difficult for me to relate to fellow students at school, home, and the like. Consequently I became relatively introverted and spent about four years of my childhood doing correspondence schooling. It’s only been in the last 3 years or so when I’ve been tossed into the social monkeypit that is high school that I have become more freindly to others.
Amusingly enough, one of the two factors that withdrew me out of my shell (if you’ll excuse the Mills and Boon expression) was humour. I found that by being sarcastic, I could make freinds… leading to more acquaintances… etc. (simplified) I still prefer my own company most of the time, but quite enjoy being the centre of attention. I think the main thing, as scm1001 pointed out is that sometimes you have to diagnose yourself in order to treat it best.
wanders off
Sorry for the lack of coherence, it’s 9PM on Wednesday and I havent slept since Monday and I have a flu 
sniffles
one of the best books I read was Gerald M. Phillips,
“Help For Shy People” 1981, Prentice Hall, Inc. Many of the traits of aspergers are similar to those of shyness and can be confused. While the book aims to treat shyness in a behavioural manner, most of the exercises are excellent for people with little social clues such as aspergers. Out of print I think but still available
Count me in as another whose wife has unofficially diagnosed as having aspergers. Her knowledge of it has improved our lives dramitically. It’s much easier for us to relate to each other, and we rarely ever fight. Also, she has trained me how to do some sensory integration therapy on myself, which helps me stay much more physically comfortable.
Finding out about it definately explained a lot of my early childhood, and it has really helped me understand my father, who I now believe is one of those rare people who exist at the intersection of autism, depression, and genius.
I’ve read and enjoyed Temple Grandin’s books. She has much more severe autism, but many of her descriptions of her world are familiar and comforting.
Although Temple Grandin has identified herself as a person with autism, her behaviour and abilities indicate that she has Asperger’s Syndrome.
Funnily enough, she also identifies Bill Gates as another successful individual who displays many signs of having Asperger’s Syndrome.
I am a Rehabilitation Practitioner and one of my clients has Asperger’s Syndrome. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s late in life and was formerly diagnosed as being developmentally delayed with autistic tendencies.
Becoming aware of what made him different was a huge milestone for him and it has made treating him and educating him much easier. He is actually very intelligent with savant like abilities when it comes to recollecting events. Most of our work centers on his ability to understand and relate socially with the people close to him and make sense of the world.
rsvp9146 - Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, also known as the SDMB.
Follow some of the links that have been provided and perhaps they will assist you in finding a support group in your area.
Feynn,
I too have savant like abilities, mostly when it comes to memory and music. Socially i dont understand anything. and this is beginning to take it’s toll on me. I am only 24, and I am realizing more and more how hard it is to meet others. Before, back home it was much easier because i had friends who accepted and understood my quirks. I guess because they were simply around me a lot. Nowadays, it’s just hell trying to ask a girl out. Think Russell Crowe in “A beautiful Mind” and you will come close to what I appear to be in social situations. Except that i dont see hallucinations… yet. lol. By the way, my cousin is also a Rehab Practitioner.
Racekart,
my father is also at that same place.
Entity,
YOU ARE SO ON THE MARK! Sarcasm has been my only way to interact effectivley. However i becomeing more and more cynical, and I really dont want to be sarcastic anymore.
I hate for my first comment to be like this, but my sympathies to you.
Asperger’s just sucks. I had no idea why I couldn’t keep friends for the longest time.
Once I found out about AS, my life CHANGED. I knew why I was like how I am, and everything fit. Now I know why I was always the odd kid out in school.
Now I have some coping mechanisms that actually work… I learned to interact postively by reading on the subject, rather than by figuring it out. And that’s a good thing, because I’m INCAPABLE of figuring it out on my own.
By the way, if you have AS, I strongly reccomend the following URL:
http://www.shifth.mistral.co.uk/autism/marc2.htm
A forum for Aspies can be found here:
I also reccomend “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. It’s old, but it puts in black and white common sense that some people could never figure out.
Please feel free to email me.
Johnathan,
I would very much like to know more about your experiences. I cannot seem to email you though. Can you email me?
Who is Temple Grandin?
Temple Grandin is a designer of abbatoirs of all things, who also has written a book about her life with autism called
Thinking In Pictures.
My wife gave me her book to read, as well as another, the name of which escapes me right now. I’ll check when I get home and post if for you.
Ms. Grandin’s book seems to have been written for a non-autisitc audience, to explain what life is like for her. A lot of what she says will likely sound pretty familiar to you as you think about how you view the world.
rsvp9146 - Temple Grandin is a very interesting woman and to hear her speak about herself and on autism is a unique experience.
Her resume.
Holy CRAP!
I had no idea other people felt this way!
I see some of these traits in my daughter also
How does one get tested for Asperger’s syndrome?
Should I have my daughter tested?
zoid, I think the easiest places to start would be with your daughter’s school or pediatrician.
My wife has a masters in special education, and was a special ed teacher for years, which is where her experience and expertise comes from. While teachers can’t diagnose AS, they see these kids so much, they definately know the tip-offs, and can arrange formal testing (at the expense of the school as well in most cases).
AS is one of those emerging diagnoses for which there is really no hard and fast test. It comes down to the doctor observing a combination of AS-typical behaviors.
I don’t know that there are really any treatments available, but knowing can definately help you cope. As I mentioned before, AS and similar conitions can sometimes be accompanied by physical discomfort (it is for me), and knowing how to alleviate that can make a huge difference.
Take heart, though, AS is often associated with extemely high IQ, so if your daughter really has it, with some work and social discipline she may have a VERY bright future ahead of her.
Thanks 
I have been worried of late of being too cynical, but I think the most important thing is to act how you feel comfortable, and hopefully everyone else will adapt… or in the case of my last two SO’s… be drawn to you
ent