Aspies For Freedom

Only psychologists who specialise in ASDs and other Aspies!

Everyone else just thinks I'm weird!

No, they just think I'm weird or, more charitably put, "eccentric."

New age sewage, hah, I gotta remember that one, I'm gonna use that for a black metal song title, I'm writing something atm and that is a rockin title!

If you don't mind of course

Meh nobody at the funeral batted an eyelid, those that do know don't care.

A lot of autistic kids I work with, especially lower functioning kids, seem to figure out I'm autistic.
Bus drivers seem often to realize I'm developmentally disabled, though I doubt they specifically recognize autism. They notice that I seem disoriented and ask unexpected questions, such as after several blocks on a bus, ask if it goes to 'place X' when it's headed the opposite direction. They don't talk to me about being disabled, but their manner changes, and if they're talking on the radio to get me help they'll describe me as disabled. Once when I got lost on foot some people who helped me get home realized I was disabled.

I read your 'sticks and stones' article Ettina - I like the way you write, very direct, honest and quite touching. I am curious to know - how are you gifted?

I've got an IQ above 130.
Mainly, my gifts are in verbal skills and abstract reasoning. I've always had a big vocabulary, I'm an excellent reader, etc. My younger brother is the same way, except not as good a reader as I was at his age.

People have always told me that I'm 'weird'-  even those who hardly know me. I also seem to get picked on a bullied by people - including complete strangers I've never seen before - than my NT peers. People also ask me why I'm limping sometimes (I don't actually have a limp, but I walk a little awkwardly due to dyspraxia) so it does seem that I do seem to stand out as being odd and different even though I doubt that they could actually identify me as aspie.

I have not had anyone recognize me as being explicitly autistic, but my bf recognized the characteristics.  He and his family always referred to people like me as being "changelings", or "fae".  I suppose we seem rather otherworldly.  He said he recognized it from the way I walk and hold myself.
Other than that, I have been told that I seem aloof and arrogant- which is unfortunate because I am actually quite shy, I wish more people would talk to me but I don't know how to make myself approachable.  And I have been told that those people whom I have told about my self-diagnosis talk about it behind my back and think that I am delusional.  That kind of hurts.  But I think the only reason they don't mention it to me is because they really do like me and don't want to hurt my feelings.

Oh, just remembered-
There was one person who asked me if I was "a little autistic" after we read a book in class with an autistic character.  She seemed nervous about it though, like she was afraid she would offend me.

I also recognize other aspies really well.  There's different "types"- some I recognize from the way they walk, some from the way they talk (or don't talk), some from their special interests.  It can be a little easier or harder depending on the person.  Sometimes I can identify an aspie just walking down the street; sometimes I need more time.  I have identified 10 people at my school who are definitely aspie, although I think many of them are not diagnosed.  One of them is also Epileptic.

99 is average. I don't understand what is so bad about that... The average seems to be always the most comfortable place to be in society; everything's geared to the average.

  You should see me when I'm tired!  It's like I lose my ability to think, to speak clearly, etc.  I act almost exactly like a 4 year old.  It's disturbing to strangers who see me like that in public.

I also suck my thumb as a regular stim.  I take my teddy bear to school.  I skip.  I get extremely jealous about my bf looking at other girls- and then I turn right around and oggle at girls, myself (I'm bi).  If that's not immature, I don't know what is.  I could go on and on, but I'll spare you.
If you really feel bad about these things and want some advice, go ahead and post them (maybe in the support forum which is members-only?).  A lot of aspies have "childish" and immature behaviors and may be able to help you out or at least commiserate.

(of course, you didn't say much about what kind of behaviors you have- so if they're way more extreme than this, please don't think I'm trying to belittle your experience.  I only want to help)

Hubby and I have developed quite good 'Aspdar'. We are in Aspie heaven at the moment - a chess tournament! Lots and lots of Aspies!

Some make 'odd' eye-contact; some (like hubby) have an 'odd' walk; some seem to have, yes, an 'aura' around them like a kind of invisible 'stay away' zone...

On Saturday I was told by a lovely old Irishman I was chatting to that I looked far to young to have fifteen-year-old twins! He thought I was 37 - and he has a forty-year old daughter for comparison. I had to show him the pictures before he would believe I'm fifty and also have three children in their mid-twenties, and two six-year-old grandsons! I, of course, am not at all getting a big head about this - I blame the 'beer-goggles' effect!

I've really enjoyed this trip to Sydney! It has been ever so cool and damp - my favourite weather!

My mom just told me yesterday that I often act like I'm flirting with guys.  This really surprises me.  I knew that in 7th grade, every boy in my classroom flirted with me extensively, because a friend told me so- but until now, I thought that my not-knowing had made them back off, because I didn't respond to them.  Apparently not so.  My mom says they all thought I was flirting back.  I guess it was because I was so nervous- I get bouncy and out-of-control when I'm nervous, and I suppose that could have led to me doing things that could be misinterpreted as flirting.
It's weird.  I wonder if that sort of thing happens to many aspies?  And if so, doe it cause it to be harder to spot the aspergers?

The psychologist who diagnosed me is aspie, but I didn't know that till he told me, and he wasn't sure about me till after 6 weeks of deliberation (he also thought I might be socially avoidant or maybe schizoid, and in his report he described my affect as "almost schizoid-like").  Most people find me a bit odd, even if they do like me. (Some of the likability comes from my weird humor!)