Hello!

[AdamJ]

Hi, I'm Adam. I've just registered and this is my very first post.

 

I was formally diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in April this year. I always suspected something wasn't quite right but since I had no means of knowing how other people experienced life, I ended up just assuming everyone else was the same as me. I became more conscious of my differences in my teens but even then, I just put it down to having a different personality and different interests. I'm sure there has also been a lot of denial going on in my head over the years.

 

Having been diagnosed only recently, I'm still learning how I differ from neuro-typicals and in many ways, I still don't know what I don't know. For example, I'm still reeling from the revelation that it's possible to gauge how someone is feeling just from their eyes. I didn't know that - the specialist had to abandon my 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test’ because I couldn't even begin to do it. Maybe I should first try harder to deal with my dislike of eye contact, then I might learn something!

 

On a positive note, I dealt a blow on behalf of the ASD community by scoring the highest IQ (99.9th percentile) that my psychologist has ever tested. Who wants to be a neuro-typical anyway!!

 

My current interests are photography, drag-racing a distressingly fast motorbike and taking care of my two wonderful daughters (they live with my ex-wife but I see them every weekend). I've got many things to be grateful for and I hope to have even more by making some new friends through this forum.

 

Best wishes,

 

Adam

 

[Tally]

Hi Adam, and welcome to the forum.

 

I was diagnosed with Asperger's about 3 years ago now. I've learned a lot about myself since then, but I'm sure there are still a lot of new things and skills I need to learn. I think it's a lifelong process for everyone anyway, but a diagnosis of Asperger's can really shed a lot of light and leave you with a lot of catching up to do!

 

Since you obviously have a high IQ, have you ever considered joining Mensa? In many areas they have an active social community, and it may be an opportunity for you to socialise if that's something you are looking for.

[AdamJ]

Since you obviously have a high IQ, have you ever considered joining Mensa? In many areas they have an active social community, and it may be an opportunity for you to socialise if that's something you are looking for.

 

I score highly on paper but the level of functionality I have in real life is quite markedly restrained. For that reason, I'm much more interested in connecting with people with AS than people with a high IQ. I want to learn to overcome the issues I have from people with the same condition as me. I hope that makes sense.

 

Best wishes,

 

Adam

 

[Tally]

I absolutely understand that Adam. I am the same. However, I think you would find that many members of Mensa are also not academic types who come across as highly intelligent. The good thing about forums is that you can pick and choose which suggestions to try based on what you know about yourself and what you want

[trekster]

Welcome, im an asperger as well who has asperger mates many of which are still in denial about their AS.

[Tenhands]

Hi Adam,

 

Hope you can find what you are looking for. I'm an adult with diagnosed AS. I don't have much contact with other adults diagnosed with AS, so can't comment on how useful they might be to you as friends.

 

 

It might be helpful for you to know that I learned how to make and maintain eye contact from two sources: Karate classes and when learning how to deliver a presentation to people. I hate presentations but can at lease now giove the illusion of making some eye contact. Can't interpret or judge what I see but it must make the neurotypicals feel more at ease. It seems that neurotypicals have some ability in that area, must be down to the different wiring.

 

I had some really useful sessions on body language with a psychologist, who made loads of effort and produced some video so we could evaluate different scenarios. Mainly learned how to look as though I'm interested when listening to someone as some of the interpretation was just unfathomable to me (and more than a little amusing).

 

I'd be keen to hear how other adults cope with sensory issues.

 

Best Wishes

Tenhands

Edited July 8, 2010 by Tenhands