For all autistics out there

Post by **AnimeGuru0** » Tue May 04, 2004 1:20 am

I see. Thanks for all the replies.

The reason i asked was because I'm an only child. As such, i didn't really develop socially amongst others my age and didn't really know how to interact with them. I was increadibly shy growing up, and would oftentimes hide behind my mother's leg when I met someone new. I tend to notice that people who have siblings who are close in age to them or who have large families tend to not be shy or have social anxiety. Anyways.......

In elementary school and middle school, kids can be cruel. I had about zero self confidence at that time. I developed severe social anxiety. I didn't like large groups of people where i didn't know anyone, i had trouble talking to people, etc. For example, when i was walking through the mall by myself, if someone walked by me and laughed, I'd immediately assume that they were laughing at me. Add to the fact that I was still increadibly shy.......and you got yourself a bad combination.

I probably could have gone to a doctor and had him diagnose me with some type of disorder, "Say something is wrong with me doctor", but i didn't. I just kept it to myself.

High school hit, and a whole new world opened. I met some of the best people in my life, I realized everyone doesn't hate me, in fact most people really like me, i gained self confidence. My social anxiety subsided greatly. Right now I consider myself to be very self-confident, and while at times I feel uncomfortable in certain groups, who really doesn't? I feel comfortable talking to just about anyone and if you want to talk to me, I'll talk to you.

So what's my point? I'm thinking I'm going to have to agree with Tiff to an extent. I think a real problem in our society today is the fact that doctors are willing to diagnose any type of mental strain there is. The danger in this (in my opinion) is that instead of trying to better ourselves and fix our problems, we tend to say "Oh, well this is why I'm like this, and there's nothing I can do about it." I'll disagree with that to the very end. For the most part, all of us are capable of ridding ourselves of social anxiety, shyness, stress, etc and things of that nature. We just have to find out what works for us. The first step I would say is realizing that YOU are worth something. Somebody cares about you. There's reason why you should be confident in yourself. After you gain self-confidence, everything else just falls into place. Of course I'm speaking from my own experience.

Now that's not to say that there aren't people with real problems. Real problems DO exist, and some of these can be indicators of more serious problems. However, just because you show some of these signs doesn't NECISARRILY MEAN you have a mental problem though. Do I make sense? I think we're far too quick in our society to point the finger at something/someone else.....because obviously, it's easier that way.

I guess the real point of my post is the danger at pointing that finger and saying "I have a problem" when in reality, do you? The danger in doing this is that you could possibly fall into a rut which you will never be able to get out of. "Well, i'm sad, but that's cause i have this condition." and you're never willing to go out and fix your problem or better yourself. I think we tend to think that we're the only ones feeling a certain way. Trust me, almost everyone does. Even those "popular kids" at school or the "jocks" or the "Cheerleaders" have thier own trials, their own battles, and their own demons. We can't demoralize ourselves into thinking they're any better, or that we're any worse than them or anyone else. Things are not hopeless. *nods*

I guess I'll stop there before I go totally off subject =P

Post by **Tiff** » Tue May 04, 2004 12:59 pm

AnimeGuru0 wrote:
So what's my point? I'm thinking I'm going to have to agree with Tiff to an extent. I think a real problem in our society today is the fact that doctors are willing to diagnose any type of mental strain there is. The danger in this (in my opinion) is that instead of trying to better ourselves and fix our problems, we tend to say "Oh, well this is why I'm like this, and there's nothing I can do about it." I'll disagree with that to the very end. For the most part, all of us are capable of ridding ourselves of social anxiety, shyness, stress, etc and things of that nature. We just have to find out what works for us. The first step I would say is realizing that YOU are worth something. Somebody cares about you. There's reason why you should be confident in yourself. After you gain self-confidence, everything else just falls into place. Of course I'm speaking from my own experience.

Now that's not to say that there aren't people with real problems. Real problems DO exist, and some of these can be indicators of more serious problems. However, just because you show some of these signs doesn't NECISARRILY MEAN you have a mental problem though. Do I make sense? I think we're far too quick in our society to point the finger at something/someone else.....because obviously, it's easier that way.

I completely agree, and that's my point as well. Most of this sounds like typical teenage angst, IMO, and can be changed. Although, it doesn't happen overnight, but it can change.

Take a look at the net sometimes. You go to websites, weblogs, and forums, and it seems every person between the ages of 13-18 have some depressive mental disease...and they all say the same things: "I have no friends. I can't go out. I hate crowds. I feel sad. I'm lonely."

Yeah, mmmkay. That doesn't diagnose you with depression. And doctors DO fling diagnosis and pills left and right. My friend went to him with problems, and he just wrote her a prescription and sent her on her way. Those pills ended up fucking with her even worse than before...so she stopped taking them, got medication for social anxiety, and then changed herself...and is far, far more happier than i have ever seen her in my life. She changed her ATTITUDE. She did things for HERSELF. She no longer gave a shit and tried so hard to meet people, and eventually, those people came to HER, and she made closer friends than before.

So i'm not saying nobody here has autism, or depression, or whatever. But I'm saying I don't believe some of you for one minute. I think that some of you either have it stuck in your head that something's wrong with you, or your doctor decided to tack a name onto it.

*Shrug* And that's my opinion.

Parallax · Post by **Parallax** » Tue May 04, 2004 1:58 pm

AnimeGuru0 wrote:Question to all those who said they had AS -

Do you guys have siblings? Like lots of brothers and sisters or are you all only children? And if you aren't only children are you close to your siblings? Just wondering.

I have two brothers, four sisters. And yes, I have Aesperger's Syndrome. I was diagnosed with it about three years ago.

I was not able to have many "normal" relationships with other people, but somehow, I managed to adapt.

Post by **Tiff** » Tue May 04, 2004 2:19 pm

Jusenkyo no Pikachu wrote:
And Tiff, 1 out of every 300 people is an Aspie.

I'm not sure if you chose to ignore it, or just didn't see, but I posted my statistics, and that doesn't make me believe it anymore than it did before.

These symptoms just sound like puberty, hormonal mood swings, and every other normal occurance that happens during your teenage years.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Tue May 04, 2004 7:21 pm

Tiff

And doctors DO fling diagnosis and pills left and right.

That actually scares me a lot, because there seems to be a pill for everything today and lots of them have side effects that can't be good for people. That's one of the reasons that I hate going to doctors or taking any kind of medication, because I'm scared that I'll be worse with the medication then without, no matter what it's for.

DreamEmpress · Post by **DreamEmpress** » Tue May 04, 2004 7:35 pm

My younger sister Becky was diagonised with autisim with mild retardation back when she was like 6 or something. She has the mind of a six year old and the speech of a 2 or 3 year old. Her mind itself is quite smart and she loves to draw, but she still has many habits and behavior of a small child. She's a handful to deal with. I'm her respite care provider for the last few years now. She went all the way through high school in the special ed department, but never seemed to go past 1st grade in her education.

I don't know much about the problem except what I have experienced from taking care of her my whole life. It was bad enought to be violated by someone outside the family when I was a little girl, but to have this throwed on top of that, hasn't made things any easier. I've suffered from depression ever since I was small and at 19 I decided to seek help, but found out that the medication and stuff made things way worse. It's been easier to just deal with everything on my own and as the years go by I'm finding it's easier to handle things.

From the view point of the siblings who have to deal with this, it's not easy and is in fact very stressful. No matter how much you love them and try to care for them, it feels like a part of you is being sacrificed. So much of the time I had to plan my life around her or just forget about somethings. Autisim comes in degrees and every child is different, so I can only express my feelings of how it is dealing with her. to top it off, I've had to share a small bedroom with the kid for 23 years. We're finally moving and I get my own room. (as stated in the Moving on Up thread) I'm praying this helps me.

*deep sigh* I'm really sorry. This stuff has just been brewing inside me for the last couple days especially because of something she did yesterday and I'm just under more stress than I can deal with. I do apologize.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Tue May 04, 2004 7:50 pm

DreamEmperess

*deep sigh* I'm really sorry. This stuff has just been brewing inside me for the last couple days especially because of something she did yesterday and I'm just under more stress than I can deal with. I do apologize.

It's alright, I know EXACTLY how you feel. My brother is the same way and I often have to give up a lot of things because of him. My family can't always go out because he has this habit of screaming, and this is a VERY high scream that really hurts your ears. I'll admit that I've reacted in ways that I'm not very proud of and have lost my temper many times with him.

I'm in a very large an important play that will be preformed this month and we have a lot of rehearesels and I can't make a lot of them because I have to watch my brother a lot and it's frustrating.

So I know you're pain and it's okay :pats you on the back and hands you a peach:

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Tue May 04, 2004 9:04 pm

Tiff wrote:
Jusenkyo no Pikachu wrote:
And Tiff, 1 out of every 300 people is an Aspie.
I'm not sure if you chose to ignore it, or just didn't see, but I posted my statistics, and that doesn't make me believe it anymore than it did before.

My post was made 7 minutes before yours.

And yes, I've gone through depression myself and I've gone through the typical angst bit, but I'm 20 now. I do believe my hormones should have settled down already.

Post by **Tiff** » Tue May 04, 2004 9:11 pm

Jusenkyo no Pikachu wrote: My post was made 7 minutes before yours.

And yes, I've gone through depression myself and I've gone through the typical angst bit, but I'm 20 now. I do believe my hormones should have settled down already.

Then you didn't see it *shrug* no big deal. Our stats were pretty damn similar anyway.

And don't take things so damn personally. Did I ever point you out? Nope. I said SOME PEOPLE on here, and this INCLUDES the depression forum. It also includes most teens on the internet in general.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 4:35 pm

This is something that is sometimes stuck on the mild side of the autism spectrum, but there's also some things that say that it's not related at all to autism. What does that have anything to do with me? Because I have a mild form of it.

"Symptoms" include:
-oversenstive senses (Specifically, I have especially sensitive hearing; I sometimes need music like a drug otherwise I get VERY tense)
-repetitive speech, that is, mentioning the same words or topics over and over again
-a lack of empathy with people
-lack of animation in the voice (I actually DON'T have this)
-lack of eye contact (I don't usually have this, unless if someone has an expression on their face I'm trying to avoid looking at)
-a tendency to take things literally (I actually have this to a milder extent than some other people with more intense forms of this)
-an intense dislike of changes in one's environment (I only have this to a small degree)
-having trouble with abstract thought; being more visual (this is opposite me, actually)

I just wanted to mention this because some of these traits affect the way I act on the forum, obviously, and just so you know. The reason I didn't mention it before is because I not only found this out fairly recently, but it's been hard for me to not want to reject this "label" because it sounds like it's something very bad, even though some of my good points, like my musical talents, are related to it probably. (because I have acute hearing, that is)

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 5:39 pm

I hate to rain on your revelation here, Rainbow, but there was already a post about autism/AS made in the Other section:

http://www.smuncensored.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=787

I can understand, however, your not catching it, seeing as it was a bit buried on the second page.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:36 pm

I'm so sorry! I have no problem with this post being moved, or should I re-post it there?

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:44 pm

Well, looks like it was taken care of for both of us, huh? ^^:;

Post by **Tiff** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:45 pm

Starscream wrote:Well, looks like it was taken care of for both of us, huh? ^^:;

Behold my l33t admin powers. *Pose flex flex pose*

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:53 pm

WOW!!! Thank you so much, Tiff, especially since I was just so mean to you earlier today! That was EXTREMELY kind-hearted of you!

yoshmaster5 · Post by **yoshmaster5** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:31 pm

I'm suprised I haven't posted in this.

I'm not autistic, but I have a cousin who is. VERY severe case, he's 5-6 years old, and still: Wears dipears, dosen't really talk, wears a bib. I understand it's not his fault, and I'm not sure why he was born like that. either way, his is sadly a case where he probebly won't be able to live for himself, or get a very good education. Brandon... does have good things. He enjoys puzzles, and enjoys the outdoors. the puzzles part definatly is a good thing, because it may help him when his parents put him in school. It's really depressing though... my parents really feel sorry for him and my Aunt and Uncle. Brandon has to be watched all the time, once at my sister's family party, he was climbing on the rails over the stairs. about a 15 foot drop... if he fell... *shudder*

(EDIT)
One problem is my aunt is completely oblivious... ;_;

And yes, just because someone is mentally retarded dosen't mean he/she is completly incapable. there's one special ed. girl at my school who is a social nut. ALWAYS talking. I know it's her nature, but it bugs people. A lot of kids were fed up after being in a class with her for a while. And a different girl who seems like she would be a good special ed. teacher. it's really good to see kids that may overcome their mental disabilities... but saddening to see ones that never will.

o/t
about doctors handing out perscriptions like crazy: some do, those are the idiot ones. My dad dosen't, I know that.

RoastedTwinkies · Post by **RoastedTwinkies** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 11:46 pm

yoshmaster5 wrote:o/t about doctors handing out perscriptions like crazy: some do, those are the idiot ones. My dad dosen't, I know that.

I read an article somewhere that doctors do it because they get paid by the drug companies to do so. It in turns, gives the companies more profit, and so they're returning the favor for the doctor. Basically, it's only the doctor and drug companies that benefit from that. end of o/t.

Rindesayu · Post by **Rindesayu** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:27 am

OT: Aside from a lot of you supposedly having autism, isn't there ANYBODY within these forums that is actually outgoing and doesn't have social problems of some sort? When asked what type of person he/she is, most people here seem to give the same answer: "shy, lonely, (cold-hearted) introvert". I know I'm not perfect either and I'm really not trying to sound narrow-minded in any way, I'm just a bit bewildered...

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:37 am

I'm goint to be OT here but I'm answering the question right above. I think I'm pretty outgoing, I'll talk to anyone who's polite... as long as it's not a guy trying something. I've been discussing for 45 minutes a few weeks ago with a guy I didn't even know, and it was fun n_n

*that's why being part of the friendly staff of a convention helps.

Of course, the fact that I've got some weight, that I talk too loud, that I laugh too much *I'm a furious optimistic o.O* can scare people away, but most of the time, they become addicted because I'm a funny nut

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:46 am

I'm not shy or lonely, those imply (to me at least) that I'd like to be with people but either I can't or am afraid to, neither of which is true. I LIKE being alone. I am the Merry Recluse, a term I found on another Myers-Briggs INTP webpage. (that's my type)

I can actually be talkative, just usually when I want to and often only on certain topics. (which is a trait of Aspergers)

Also, the Internet, so I've heard, attracts more introverts anyway.

Sailor Moon Uncensored

For all autistics out there

How to abuse a subject line

Re: How to abuse a subject line

Asperger's Syndrome