[ShantheArtist23]

I'm not sure if I can speak for anybody else with Aspergers out there, but I know for me- I'm actually kind of proud of it. I mean- it's just kind of like a Constant Companion or something. I feel like with Aspergers, it can make the world more colorful. Like normal people just see gray, and people like us can see colors or hear words or see music or what-not. I know that there's some downsides to these things, such as the anti-social spectrum and communication skills are pretty low, but I feel like it opens doors to many facts and answers. Kind of... maybe that's just my mindset. But... yeah. I've been thinking about this all day. I'm even doing a research paper on it in school right now. (I'm 17). But there are some days where I either feel super intelligent, or have the mind of a five year old. Some days I'm confident in my socialization skills and other days I only stare at the floor. But it's just like... is Asperger's really all a bad thing?

[Lexi232]

I think it depends on the individual and how they view it(or how others view them). It was kind of a weight lifted when my parents finally approved of them saying that i had autism. i guess i'm a tad bit different, because i'm only with most of the aspie traits when i'm on my stimulant med at the right dose. but off of it, i'm autistic.

I think if the people around the individual is caring and accepting, then the individual would likely find being an aspie as a positive thing. but if they can never get things right, and have no one understanding them, then that could cause them to likely not see it as a positive thing.

[doyoutrustme]

Who said it's a bad thing?

[RichardBrooks]

I don't think of it in terms of good or bad; for me it just is. I wasn't diagnosed until I was thirty four (just less than a year ago), so I spent my entire life to that point not knowing why I couldn't seem to understand people and they couldn't seem to understand me. Having someone suggest Asperger's to me and reading about it, I felt like I was reading my life story and it finally made sense. Finally being diagnosed was a confirmation of what I already strongly suspected, but it was also a license to be myself. Finally I understand that there isn't anything 'wrong' with me; I'm just fundamentally different from other people, and that's okay.

[CosmicWolfStorm]

I'm proud but when people talk down on me and so on, I'm not so proud anymore.. I wouldn't wish not to have it but I just don't like how others view me, what im incapable of and so on, how I can hurt people from not understanding, misunderstanding or not being able to show affection.

[Izabella23]

Yeah, the behavior of her school teachers is quite strange. Instead of this diagnosis they should support her. I just completed reading a post on famous people with aspergers and felt happy that they achieved success even after facing such problems.

[Hellion]

I don't really see it as all good or all bad...It is a significant neurological difference so not something that can effectively be 'removed' from someone. Some aspects of it cause me a lot of difficulty, other aspects of it don't...and sometimes it depends on the situation. For instance I have sensory sensitivities so lights too bright, noise too loud, too much chaos/movement but then also sensitive to things like the energy of an approaching storm which I love the feeling of...from what I gather most people don't feel that. I can certainly analize things to death which can be good has served me in the past for writing essays/learning about a topic but it can also be a downside if i end up dwelling on something upsetting or anxiety provoking and can't quit thinking about it and analyzing it. In my case it causes more difficulties than plesantries, though I also have anxiety, PTSD and Depression so perhaps those are interfering as well. I admit since the PTSD I cannot focus the way I used to especially with reading.

[juniper1959]

I agree with Hellion. I have a disability, not autism, and it has some good parts and some bad parts to it. But, generally, it is still a disability that makes me have to make some adjustments to my life that others don't have to and limits things so that I can't do everything I want to do. And it causes a burden to my family because they have to make a lot of adjustments, too.

I also have a close relative on the spectrum. I see how it makes certain things harder for him. I think he is lonely because he has a hard time relating to people, even other people on the spectrum. I try to be extra-patient with I'm because I know he is trying very hard. Other people in my family are not so patient. I've never asked him if he wished he did not have AS, but I suspect he would say he wished he didn't. I think it's the sensory overload and the social anxiety that are that is the hardest things for him.

That said, I'm not going to give up and he's not either. We still have many mountains to climb! And I hear the view from the top is wonderful!

[Travelinglady]

My understanding is that people with Asperger's often show remarkable abilities and the capacity to learn many facts about specific topics. I think those qualities could be good things.

[kim_johnson]

I can only speak for myself... But I think that some of the things that cause me (and perhaps others) most pain are things that cause me most pleasure.

E.g., I'm very sensitive to environmental stimuli. That same sensitivity that means I can experience great pleasure from great works of art and literature and from nature etc... Means I suffer great pain from noisy, crowded, cluttered, toxic environments. They are like 2 sides to the same coin. Getting rid of it... Would be changing me in some fundamental way...

It means I need a little help sometimes, for sure. But I think it also means that I can do stuff that other people can't, really. So... It is good that people aren't all the same....

[kim_johnson]

Similarly my love of spending time alone gives me lots of opportunity to learn stuff that requires... You to spend lots of time alone... Chattering away to yourself about various things that much of the world simply doesn't give a **** about. Some gregarious people try... But they simply can't be happy without all the people about.

I tried... But I simply couldn't be happy with all the people about when I was doing a course in personal training... I was quite shocked to find that most people simply won't exercise for themselves... They simply can't get past constantly scanning for the approval of others...

[krisakira]

I have a love/hate relationship with Asperger's. I love that it explains who I am and how I am and finally I know what the hell is up with me after all these years. Diagnosed this year at age 26. My family doesn't accept the diagnosis. But that's a different story. Anyway, I love that it explains me, but I hate the social part to it. I think it's because my whole life I have felt like something was so wrong with me, and even with the diagnosis I still feel that something is wrong with me. I can't make friends really easily and it's hard to talk to people. I don't have any friends other than my husband. It saddens me to not have friends but I do like the good parts of Asperger's such as intelligence (at least I think I am? lol) hyper focusing on hobbies and interests, I love science and get really happy when I'm learning about it. That's always fun. I just wish I had people to share myself with. At least I have my husband. He understands me.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

My understanding is that people with Asperger's often show remarkable abilities and the capacity to learn many facts about specific topics. I think those qualities could be good things.

I don't feel I have any very remarkable abilities.

[kim_johnson]

Originally Posted by Hellion

I don't feel I have any very remarkable abilities.

Maybe you haven't found them yet...

Everyone has a unique contribution to make. The unique blend of things that is you...

Not many people get the opportunity to truly flourish / to truly pursue that which they are passionate about / the opportunity to find their passion...

Do you have a special interest, at all?

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by kim_johnson

Maybe you haven't found them yet...

Everyone has a unique contribution to make. The unique blend of things that is you...

Not many people get the opportunity to truly flourish / to truly pursue that which they are passionate about / the opportunity to find their passion...

Do you have a special interest, at all?

Well I am 25, I'd think if there really was some special talent I had it would have shown itself by now. Closest thing to a special interest I have is music, but I cannot play it just am obsessed by it I listen to music every day I also have a ton of CDs, some vinyl records and a few cassette tapes I am mostly into psychedelic rock and various forms of metal but I listen to just about anything that's good even if it doesn't fit that category.

[kim_johnson]

Meh. Some people don't find their talent until later in life...

Do you not have a desire to play it? I enjoy music, but I don't like making it, myself. I enjoy art more generally, but really think of myself as a consumer, rather than a producer.

I wonder if you could develop your interest in some way...

[Neodymium]

According to a recent news item, Poetin is on the autistic spectrum. Asperger so they say. True or not, some Aspergers do remarkable things but most achieve nothing. That's not necessarily because the majority of them don't have any special interests, but perhaps the outside world doesn't recognize or appreciate their talents. Asperger is both a blessing and a curse.

[kim_johnson]

I remember studying intelligence in philosophy of mind... Thinking about how if we discovered a form of life (on another planet, say) that was completely alien to us... Then we probably wouldn't know that it was intelligent. This might be a little weird... But I remember going through a phase of thinking that rocks were really super smart... They were so smart they grasped the futility of movement... Why move... They didn't need for anything.. Moving would be pointless. Or trees... C'mon, how wise are they??? Obviously???

[kim_johnson]

But then people say 'dumb as a post'. I guess that is... What the tree gets for not moving. Ahaha. Sorry...