Aspies For Freedom

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LOL!

Oh... I didn't know they were looking away because they are uncomfortable... that changes things...

learn something new everyday I guess!

A couple people suggested I might want to look into it.  I did, and saw myself.
(I'm 57--got clued in during my late 40s--there's a lot more info out and available now than there was then.  And NO info when I was growing up.)

I self-diagnosed about 10 years ago but it came to a stage where if I didn't have an official diagnosis, I would not have been satisfied. There were still far too many people expecting things of me that I simply could not fulfil and without the diagnosis, I would have lost my job and not been eligible for assistance in finding another.

The self diagnosis was a useful first step but eventually I needed the absolute certainty of an official diagnosis. This might not apply to all other people and self diagnosis might be enough for them.

I've had some disagreements with a couple of other aspies who said I shouldn't "label" myself but it's my life and it's not a "label", it's a definition. Having this "label" has provided a sense of identity and so I don't see it is a negative thing. If others see it is a bad thing for them, that's their business as long as they don't try and force it on me.

Years ago I read that is what is known as the "Aspie Death Stare". That is what the book author's spouse called it.

Have you (anyone) ever had anyone tell you to stop thinking so loud?
That's happened to me a couple of times.

I think it meant that someone was uncomfortable with some sort of intensity or force field they were picking up from me.

I like that Aspie Death Stare thing... ha ha ha. I'm going to use that one...to, uh, whoever listens to me talk to myself.

That's a great list!  I'm thinking of sending it to people that have asked questions... wonder if that would be well received- I don't think most people like reading that sort of thing...  Guess if I receive another question I could direct it that way...

I have no idea how to self-diagnose people, even though I am formally diagnosed.

Tim

It would be cool if there was some visual way to spot other Aspies, though.

Tim

Bella, you're in Brisbane aren't you? I thought Tony Attwood had a clinic there? Then again, I also hear there is a long waiting list for people to see somebody there.

Ha. Don't we all seem to know more than the "experts".  I know that sounds obnoxiously prideful. I don't mean it as such really... just that at this point I would be likely to give a doc a pop quiz on asperger's as an introductory interview.   A quasi-serious joke.  It just seems hard to find someone who really knows what's really going on.

Guess we could clone Tony Atwood.   (that's a joke because we all know cloning doesn't really work this way...)

ha ha ha, we could do some sort of aspie gang sign. That would be fun.

Like the Vulcan salute? You might get accosted by trekkies, but aren't most (all?) of them on the spectrum anyway?

^  hee hee hee   live long and prosper.