he doesn't have any ideas either.

i was homeschooled except kindergarten, 1st, 10th-12th, and part of 6th and 7th. no idea if anything was noticed when i was little - if anything was, my parents wouldn't have believed it. later on my problems were probably assumed to have been because i had been homeschooled.

on the psychcentral test i score 37.

i took a more extensive test a month ago and came up with this, higher than a lot of diagnosed aspies on the site i found it through:
Your Aspie score: 151 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 46 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie


so yeah, as far as online tests go i look like i have it, but i can't find out for sure without insurance, and can't find any adult programs around here...

and having been homeschooled complicates it... but if that was the cause i really think i'd have learned something by now...

Hi Taonuviel,

You are an artist by what I see of your profile. This is incredibly important! Keep it up. You are so talented!

When you finish University, after the summer, I hope you are able to use these gifts in not only jobs you get but in a career that you pursue! Have you done the Myers Briggs Testing. Perhaps you could through the Career Counselling at the University. They will know, if you ask them. I can PM you a website if you like.

All the best. You are working very hard!

Taonuviel,

I still hope for you to be able to use you artistic skills wherever you go, careerwise or otherwise.

I especially love your dress made with ties. What a fabulous idea!

I had a certain problem with this as well. My issue was that I had learned that I only had a person's attention for a very short period of time (thanks mom!) so I had to be quick in getting my point across. What this did for me is made me talk fast and put incredible pressure upon myself. I got over this by understanding that I deserve attention. Yes, we actually grow up thinking that we don't deserve anyone's attention, we shouldn't bother people. It does wonders for the self esteem!

To be absolutely honest, I'm not sure how many therapists and pdocs are familiar enough with Asperger's. I have some of those traits myself, and it's been my impression that relatively specific and targeted treatment is best, since specific neurological issues rather than emotional issues are involved.

I think a University would have educational specialists on hand who would be trained at least some in this. Can you contact your University Administration to see what might be available?

Certainly, therapists can help you learn to communicate better with neurotypicals. But if you do have Asperger's, I'd guess that treatment designed for that would be best.

It is by no means hopeless. But it might require some determination on your part to get the assistance you need.

Also, while I don't have the website URL, if I remember correctly there is a very supportive internet Aspie community that may be able to help you explore your options.

Dinah

my t says he's worked with aspies before. the uni's website has information on as and says they can accommodate for it, but doesn't say anything about counseling for it. i know there's someone in the psych department who is listed as a local as professional, but she doesn't work as a t here, she's a prof.

i really don't see how they could help me to change even if i do have as. i'm very self-aware, i really think i would have some hint of an idea if there was something to help me, even if i didn't know how to work on it myself, but i don't.

are you talking about wrong planet? i have an account there, though i'm not posting much.

I thought it was something with aspie in the name, but I could be wrong. I did some reading there because I've never considered myself neurotypical. But it was a while back and I don't seem to have bookmarked the site.

I don't think it was self awareness that was at issue. I think it was more of training of a very practical nature. I don't really think of it as change either, so much as just learning the mechanics.

I guess I don't think of these differences as something that need to be changed. They are differences, and part of the advantage of a group oriented species is that differences can be valuable. For example, the analytical skills could definitely be valuable. It's just a question of learning how to communicate in such a way that the value can be maximized.

Of course, you're not sure yet that you are Aspie. At the very least, I would think the university would offer some evaluations services, since they offer accommodations.

Does your therapist have any ideas on this, since he has some experience?

As the mom of a kid with AS, I couldn't agree more with this. We love him just how he is, and have NO desire to change the basic essence of how he thinks and the way he views the world. BUT he needs help learning the mechanics of relating to neurotypical people, just so life won't be so darn complicated for him. There are very practical skills that can be taught and learned, and make his life a bit easier... maybe there are opportunities for you to learn these same skils, if you need to...

i just want to be able to have relationships, for people to actually want to talk with me, to have friends and not be alone constantly, to meet someone and marry someday... that's the change i want. but it won't happen. it's just... incompatible with me...

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Tao))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Sending love and hugs and HOPE your way.....

Tao, how old are you? You have your whole life ahead of you and you have thrown the towel in already???????? One of the first steps to being successful at something is being able to believe that it will happen........ If you imagine failure this is exactly what will happen..........

24. yes. i'm sick of trying! it's been 15 years... i believed it could change but i just keep finding out how wrong i was to believe so. i used to hope and believe... but when life just gets more unbearable how can i hold on to hope? now i don't even have a map to follow.