New to the Forum

[New to the Forum]

Thank you for your kind reply.  I hope to retire next year, but the Access to Work scheme would have been helpful.

[New to the Forum]

Hello,

I am new to the Forum.  I joined because I think I probably have Asperger's.  I'm in my 60s,  and I wonder if there are any advantages in seeking a diagnosis so late in life?  Or could there be disadvantages?

My "symptoms"/characteristics are as follows:

• I find it very difficult and uncomfortable to make eye contact.
• I scored 32 on an online Asperger's test - I think 28-30 was an indicator of Asperger's.
• I was a very shy, sensitive child. Fortunately, perhaps because of this, my parents sent me to a very small private school, where I was always top of the class.  At grammar school I hardly spoke until I reached the Sixth Form.  I did reasonably well academically and went to university, but I think I under achieved.  I never felt part of it.
• I have always felt different, but have never known why. I never feel part of groups - it's not really shyness - I just feel different.  I would quite like to feel part of a group.
• I have quite a few acquaintances, but few real friends.  I seem to be attracted to more unusual people.  I don't feel many people share my interests (which include Baroque music, history of architecture, the Georgian Period, homoeopathy, etc.).  
• I have always had "special interests," which change over the years.  As a child I was obsessed with horses and ponies and reading. I now have various interests, which I like to research in depth - for example I won't just knit a jumper, but will research the history of knitting in the British Isles, etc!  I accumulate interior design magazines and find it hard to part with them.  I like the information in books and magazines.
• I can't cope with office politics and I can't stand injustice - I get very upset by it.  At present I work from home on a freelance basis.  I only really have e-mail contact for my work and am much happier with that.
• I am an anxious person, but have learned to deal with it to a certain extent.  As a child, I was terrified of going to the dentist and hairdresser.  
• I am no good at small talk - I don't know what to say.  Over the years I have learned what to say to a certain extent, but am not comfortable with it.
• I have very little spatial awareness.  It took me ages to learn to drive.
• I only like comfortable clothes;   however, they can be stylish and comfortable.  When they wear out, I like to buy something similar if possible.
• I am happily married to an equally shy person!
• I would like to be tidy, with everything in order,  but in fact I'm quite untidy.  
• I enjoyed the "hippy" era, because I could identify with it and feel part of something.  I still like "alternative" ideas.
• I am a serious person, but I have a sense of humour ...

On the other hand, I am not good at maths (I think I have dyscalculia - I can't seem to read numbers) and I am not interested in technology, although I enjoy connecting with people via Instagram etc.  I don't think I am particularly over sensitive to noise, although I can't stand the noise of electric hand dryers in public loos.  As a child I was terrified of the Hoover and the noise of steam trains (that shows my age!).  

My father was a scientist, my son is a scientist and my granddaughter is going to study physics.  I think I was put off science and maths at school because I disliked the teacher, who was very boring.

Does any of that sound familiar to anyone?  Is there any help for people with undiagnosed Asperger's?  I would be interested to hear your views.