I’m not looking for sympathy; I’m looking for practical advice.
So, basically, all my life I wondered why I was so different from everyone else and seemed to have trouble making friends, etc. Then, I happened to hear about the disease Asperger’s and things started to make sense. The monotone, unusual voice patterns, strange motor movements (e.g. I walked without moving my arms for years until this was explicitly pointed out to me, but my arm movements are still very forced and artificial when I walk), social incompetence (e.g. difficulty discerning facetiousness), difficulty with eye contact, nervousness/tension most of the time, excellent math skills, ability to focus on one task like a laser beam (and also the ability to space out), explosive temper, etc. This was finally cemented when I spoke to someone who was formally diagnosed with the disease, although I’m pretty sure she had a more severe form because she is unable to hold down a full-time job and rocks when she sits. Ironically, I spoke to her because we were the two people who were not successfully joining the social cliques that were forming at the event.
Here’s my position in life: Thanks to the lucky compensation of great math/logic skills, I graduated college and have a good job. But, I’m stressed out by the social aspects of my job.
So, what do I do now? Any advice from people in a similar position? Should I see a psychiatrist? Should I get formally diagnosed? Do I keep this a secret or tell people who wonder why I’m such a weirdo? The main thing I’d like to fix is the nervousness and tension. If I could just get rid of that, I think I’d be just fine.
Just sharing your experiences will also be very interesting in itself.