Eccentrics United: An Asperger’s Syndrome Blog
Welcome to Eccentrics United. This is a blog for people with Asperger’s Syndrome, their parents, and their friends. My name is Julie and I am a 30-year-old woman on a lifelong journey to understand herself. When I was growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I dealt with a society that I did not understand and one that understood me even less. I had a difficult time making and keeping friends and got inordinately obsessed with certain movies and television shows. I knew this constellation of quirks was unusual, and during my childhood it was a condition with no name.
Today, I know that the condition is called Asperger’s Syndrome. I first learned about it in 2002 from reading a sidebar in an issue of Time whose cover story was about autism. After a year of further research, I diagnosed myself (a psychiatrist later confirmed my self-diagnosis). At last, I had some answers to the questions that had been eating away at me for so many years. Everything finally started to make sense.
Through Eccentrics United, I hope to celebrate individuality and eccentricity and give others insight into Asperger’s Syndrome. I encourage you to share your stories about yourselves or a friend or family member with AS. I am also happy to answer any questions you may have about this perplexing condition. I am not a psychologist by any means, but is it not helpful to get advice and insight from someone who actually has AS rather than who has just studied it?
On Eccentrics United, I address a manifestation of Asperger’s that has only recently been documented. Primarily affecting females, people with this type of AS often live in a fantasy world. They become obsessed with movies, literature, music, theater, or animals rather than the stereotypical Asperger’s obsessions such as computers, trains, or math. They are often creative artists, writers, actors, or musicians. They would love to be a part of fantasy worlds such as Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. This is the type of AS that I have and thus understand the best.
I hope you find this blog useful. Check for updates every Friday.
I wish you lived closer to my area. We would have a blast. I paint, draw, write...etc. I create my own little universe that I live in and if any of my family want to join then they are welcome to. Presently I live in Wonderland with my aspie granddaughter and we have a blast hunting Jabberwockies. I even go so far as to redecorate my house depending on my world. I think you would have loved it when it was Lord of the Rings. I even had a Frodo manequin in my livingroom. Now he is the Mad Hatter. I never did fit into the "normal" world and I really don't care to. Everyday is an adventure.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI'm actually not into "Lord of the Rings" but point well-taken! Glad you like the blog! Please sign up as a follower! :)
This is great!!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading a book that stated, kindof uoted from...that many people with AS go undiagnosed and that this has caused a general stereotype to exist about AS, which in some ways has led to it being underdiagnosed.
ReplyDeleteI know I fit so many aspects of AS but some of the stereotypes sometimes blur things for me...
Any thoughts?
Well, the stereotypes involve hand-flapping, literally minded people who are oblivious to sarcasm. I was never any of these things, but I certainly had problems reading social cues growing up. And let's not forget the obsessions. The problem is that the stereotypical manifestation of Asperger's is more common in boys than girls, and that is why more boys are identified. Hans Asperger mostly observed boys, I think. Anyway, if you read "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" by Tony Attwood, he discusses the differences with girls on the spectrum.
ReplyDeleteI know for me I have only had one or two friends at a time, really struggled with my temper for years in and out of school when I culdn't get what I wanted, did and said things that seemed funny to me but odd to others, always bullied throughout and never quite fit in throughout life... some sensitivities but very mild. The thing that tips meoff is that I didn't speak till 3 years old, once I did though it was non-stop at home, first word was Bob (my stuffed lamb), took me along time to understand certain things that others got right away, just always felt like I never truly fit in and was understood, find eye contact very uncomfortable unless with people I know, quick temper and become frustrated easily with people when they don't understand something I know, also tend to be very egocentric to the point of being called arogant at times, and really have to recharge after social things (have to play a role just to get through)..... plus other things but find it hard to make the leap to AS plus not too sure how people would respond to me saying I did..
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the speaking delay and the eye contact issue (eye contact is no longer an issue for me), this sounds exactly what I went through growing up. If people aren't understanding you or are put off by you, my advice is to "come out" to them. People tend to be more understanding of these things once there's a explanation.
ReplyDeleteWhy do specialist explain AS is such frustrating ways at times? Many come across as insulting to me anyway... almost like everyone with AS needs to be taken care of and protected by doing A, B, an C. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI think the research is really still in its infancy and only now specialists are learning that it is not limited to kids who flap their hands, take things literally, and recite train schedules, for example. Here's another example of a stereotyped condition: Tourette syndrome. People automatically associate Tourette syndrome with uncontrollable cursing, but that manifestation is only in a tiny tiny minority of cases.
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