Nice range of musical interests you have. I started listening to metal when I met my fiance. I especially like Metallica. They are very musically gifted. Keep playing the drums. The social networking does improve as you get older, I have found. Mind you the older I get, the less socialising I am driven to do.

I was originally dx by my primary psychologist(T) after 2 years of intensive therapy and nutting things out from all the confusion of the past. She then decided to offer me the opportunity to see a T that was more specialised in AS so I was referred to a clinic here called Hearts and Minds with Prof Tony Attwood http://www.mindsandhearts.net/. I have excellent social skills from years of learning how to read and understand people, but I really struggled with actually instinctively understanding the social dynamic. In other words I am great at delivering a service or solving problems in the work arena, but not very good in gauging correct social cues and so on. So this new T will help me get my confidence back and provide myself and my family with some skills to cope with the not so nice side of AS. I tend to have really bad rage attacks. They have tapered of as I get older, but the world is still as frustrating as it always was. We also talk about managing sensory issues, self-care and so on.

I am currently on disability as all of this gets sorted out. I just "stopped functioning" at the end of 2007 and slipped into a severe depression and psych unit stay. I couldn't stay at my job and I had to defer from my bachelor. Depression and anxiety are common comorbids with AS. Do you feel that you need some support in your situation? CBT(Cognitive behavioural therapy) may help with some of the more frustrating and confusing aspects.

Take good care and keep playing your drums. It is important to keep doing the things that you love. Feel free to ask me other questions if you have any.

Michah