Poll: How many of you have Asperger's/Autism?

[StBishop]

-snip-

I used to have teachers aids now and again through primary school, though I never needed them, any difficulty I had in school was due to my own lazyness

thing is Im 99% normal...so things can get awkward at times, (siously, If I had it my way Id be removed from whatever list the department has laying around)

like in my last year at a fancy private school some lady from the disabilty department wants to conduct a stantard "are you suitable for work after school?" interveiw (lady if I can handle going through boarding school I can fucking handle a job) even though I tried to get mum to tell them it wasnt nessicary

cue lots of awkwardness....(and the silly twat askes me why my parents arnt present..Im a BOARDER you know that right?) so my ex engligh teacher was there (who happned to be the rep or whatever) and I have to say "yep! I'm autistic...you cant tell but I am really!" ohhh man how awkward

Sorry to hear that, I know the feeling of being dragged along to councillor's offices to basically say: "Yeah, this is unnecessary. But sure what ever guys."

I also have this bizare habit of tearing up in weird cirmcumstances...and not because Im upset, it just happens

I use to get that too, but it's disappeared with time, also with getting use to being yelled at. Bar work is good for that kind of thing, apparently people don't like it when you tell them no more alcohol. Who knew?

also they wouldn'r let me into the boarding school for obvious reasons...I had to have an interveiw (a couple actually) with head of boarding and......god ,awful memories now

Wait, they weren't going to let you board? What?? That seems strange and illegal. Mind if I ask which school?

 

[StBishop]

-snip-

Anyone here care to share experiences that relate specifically to education and schooling in general?
Positive, negative and just plain interesting are all of interest.

Sure, but I'll give you the fat skinny to prevent maximum boredom.

Had about zero friend my entire school career (hardly remembered anyone's names), my grades were largely bad save for English when we had to either do creative writing or read (latter is a bit iffy though since most of the books we had to read I cared nothing for, therefore hardly bothered with the work for it), I was wholly set on doing a bunch of things a certain way (going to a class a certain direction, organizing things in a special order, things like that), I obsessed over various things (Battle of Mogadishu, the Mass Effect series, reading all the time, just to name a few), and when I talked I would either mumble everything or say everything loud and fast.

Would you say that you were let down by the way you were taught though? I mean for example, most secondary schools in English speaking nations will require you to read some Shakespeare, but if you'd been given the option to choose what you read for other reading assessments (even if only from a set list of various genres) do you think you'd have gotten grades that better reflected your abilities?

 

[Wintermoot]

I do, but please don,t think I,m like Chris Chandler or a guy with down syndrome.

 

[Kae]

I don't have any of those things (that I know of), but then again I've never seen a therapist and NEVER will, mostly because everybody does tell me that I probably have some mental condition and I really don't want to be diagnosed, but I don't think it would be unlikely given how hard it is for me to communicate with other people, seriously I've never met a person that was this bad at socializing, I mean I just feel so awkward when talking with people, I mean I'm 21 years old and I've only had 7 friends, and only talk to 2 of them nowadays and not very often, so I wouldn't be surprised, but I have this irrational fear of mental institutions and for some reason I feel that if I ever talk to a therapist I will be sent there, so it's best to avoid them altogether.

 

[StBishop]

-snip-

This is really what worries me about the huge range of people that are diagnosed with this sort of thing.

Before the surge of ADHD, Apergers and Autism diagnoses, someone with a "tick" might be considered abit odd, but certainly wouldn't be treated different or given "special" help. Children who's behaviour was antisocial to the extreme would have been forced to change it, or face the consquences.

All to often I see people with mild problems having them made far worse from the stigma of diagnosis, while people with severe and antisocial behavior essentially get a "get out of jail free" card because of their diagnosis.

Mind if I butt in?

I have observed people with professionally diagnosed ADD and ADHD who actually function in a more focused, socially... let's say cohesive way, and all around be more polite when not medicated and living in a situation which doesn't acknowledge their difference beyond "If you need something ask for it." which applied to everyone. There was help available to everyone, and there wasn't a culture of being "different" just, being you.

I think a lot of the time when someone is handed a diagnosis it can be a little like being given the label of a sub culture.
Plenty of youths in high school alter their tastes, hobbies, mannerisms and habits to fit a certain label better (eg, jocks, goths, nerd what ever) and I have seen similar correlations with some kids who were diagnosed with ADHD (pretty much everyone I went to school with) acting worse after being given a diagnosis.

From what I'm reading here, some people are feeling this sort of pigeon holing and sub-conscious self-limiting from being told they have Aspergers. (I Don't recall anyone saying they're on the autism spectrum other than asperger's specifically in this thread.) While everyone I've ever met who's got Asperger's seems to be a generally incredible person.

I don't have any of those things (that I know of), but then again I've never seen a therapist and NEVER will, mostly because everybody does tell me that I probably have some mental condition and I really don't want to be diagnosed, but I don't think it would be unlikely given how hard it is for me to communicate with other people, seriously I've never met a person that was this bad at socializing, I mean I just feel so awkward when talking with people, I mean I'm 21 years old and I've only had 7 friends, and only talk to 2 of them nowadays and not very often, so I wouldn't be surprised, but I have this irrational fear of mental institutions and for some reason I feel that if I ever talk to a therapist I will be sent there, so it's best to avoid them altogether.

If you're in Australia, you won't get shipped off to Arkham unless you're a danger to yourself or others.

Speaking to psychiatrists isn't all that bad. I have found it both a relief and a massive frustration in the past but everyone will have varying experiences.
Plus it's expensive usually.

If you are concerned about having a label slapped on you it might be worth talking to someone and just letting them know, "I don't want a diagnosis, I just want to talk about some shit and see what you think." You may find there's a very simple reason you're having difficulties socialising.

I know that when I was in high school my biggest problem was lack of empathy and refusing to consider other people's perspectives. It seems like a minor and obvious thing which you would imagine would be easy to fix, but once I realised that I became a much happier and easy going man. I went from a tightly wound delinquent with few friends and a myriad of self-inflicted problems to one of the more chilled out dudes I know.

Hell, outside of family affairs I don't think I've been angry since 2009. Annoyed maybe, but not angry.

What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't have too much to worry about as far as getting locked in a "mental institution" provided you don't admit to murderous fantasies and even then it's not guaranteed. It might be worth a chat with someone regarding your social skills if you're concerned about them.

 

[Vault101]

-snip-

Wait, they weren't going to let you board? What?? That seems strange and illegal. Mind if I ask which school?

well its actually understandable..the boarding house simply doesnt have the rescources to deal with anyone who is "special needs"

except Im hardly "special needs"...I think my mum may have mentioned...my "thing" which caused them to say "yeah...fuck that shit" she then figured that wasnt the best Idea

I really dont know,(it was such a long time ago) it doesnt matter they let me in once I proved I wasnt an Alien (also the fact that my sister was there may have helped), and no one ever knew otherwise..not even the freinds I made while there (speaking of Aliens though they probably think Ive disapeared to another planet)

I think though the "interveiw/chat" was one of the most stressful things ever...

anyway the school:
[spoiler/] Santa Maria
http://web.santamaria.wa.edu.au/index.php/boarding/boarding-life-facilities/ <- and those photos are staged...especially the foosball one (who the fuck gathers around a foosball table with such enthusiasm?) ....
[/spoiler]

 

[StBishop]

-snip-

Wait, they weren't going to let you board? What?? That seems strange and illegal. Mind if I ask which school?

well its actually understandable..the boarding house simply doesnt have the rescources to deal with anyone who is "special needs"

except Im hardly "special needs"...I think my mum may have mentioned...my "thing" which caused them to say "yeah...fuck that shit" she then figured that wasnt the best Idea

I really dont know,(it was such a long time ago) it doesnt matter they let me in once I proved I wasnt an Alien (also the fact that my sister was there may have helped), and no one ever knew otherwise..not even the freinds I made while there (speaking of Aliens though they probably think Ive disapeared to another planet)

I think though the "interveiw/chat" was one of the most stressful things ever...

anyway the school:
[spoiler/] Santa Maria
http://web.santamaria.wa.edu.au/index.php/boarding/boarding-life-facilities/ <- and those photos are staged...especially the foosball one (who the fuck gathers around a foosball table with such enthusiasm?) ....
[/spoiler]

I've not heard of it. I'm new to Perth and my knowledge of schools is mostly limited to the PSA schools (All Boys Private Inter-school sport league really).

 

[Vault101]

-snip-

Wait, they weren't going to let you board? What?? That seems strange and illegal. Mind if I ask which school?

well its actually understandable..the boarding house simply doesnt have the rescources to deal with anyone who is "special needs"

except Im hardly "special needs"...I think my mum may have mentioned...my "thing" which caused them to say "yeah...fuck that shit" she then figured that wasnt the best Idea

I really dont know,(it was such a long time ago) it doesnt matter they let me in once I proved I wasnt an Alien (also the fact that my sister was there may have helped), and no one ever knew otherwise..not even the freinds I made while there (speaking of Aliens though they probably think Ive disapeared to another planet)

I think though the "interveiw/chat" was one of the most stressful things ever...

anyway the school:
[spoiler/] Santa Maria
http://web.santamaria.wa.edu.au/index.php/boarding/boarding-life-facilities/ <- and those photos are staged...especially the foosball one (who the fuck gathers around a foosball table with such enthusiasm?) ....
[/spoiler]

I've not heard of it. I'm new to Perth and my knowledge of schools is mostly limited to the PSA schools (All Boys Private Inter-school sport league really).

fair enough...just one of many private schools (reason being as far as boarding goes theres not many options for going public)

 

[smithy_2045]

I have been diagnosed as having Asperger's, which I'd suspected for a while beforehand. I've never used it as an excuse though. Just because I have to work harder at socialising doesn't make it any less worthwhile because at the end of the day, loneliness sucks.

 

[soren7550]

-snip-

Anyone here care to share experiences that relate specifically to education and schooling in general?
Positive, negative and just plain interesting are all of interest.

Sure, but I'll give you the fat skinny to prevent maximum boredom.

Had about zero friend my entire school career (hardly remembered anyone's names), my grades were largely bad save for English when we had to either do creative writing or read (latter is a bit iffy though since most of the books we had to read I cared nothing for, therefore hardly bothered with the work for it), I was wholly set on doing a bunch of things a certain way (going to a class a certain direction, organizing things in a special order, things like that), I obsessed over various things (Battle of Mogadishu, the Mass Effect series, reading all the time, just to name a few), and when I talked I would either mumble everything or say everything loud and fast.

Would you say that you were let down by the way you were taught though? I mean for example, most secondary schools in English speaking nations will require you to read some Shakespeare, but if you'd been given the option to choose what you read for other reading assessments (even if only from a set list of various genres) do you think you'd have gotten grades that better reflected your abilities?

Eh, I was educated by the city of New York. Can't say I expected anything from them. And yeah, if I got to choose the book, I know I would have done better (Once that I can recall we got to pick our own book, and I did very well on that, partly because I did a bunch of extra work).

 

[StBishop]

Had about zero friend my entire school career (hardly remembered anyone's names), my grades were largely bad save for English when we had to either do creative writing or read (latter is a bit iffy though since most of the books we had to read I cared nothing for, therefore hardly bothered with the work for it), I was wholly set on doing a bunch of things a certain way (going to a class a certain direction, organizing things in a special order, things like that), I obsessed over various things (Battle of Mogadishu, the Mass Effect series, reading all the time, just to name a few), and when I talked I would either mumble everything or say everything loud and fast.

Would you say that you were let down by the way you were taught though? I mean for example, most secondary schools in English speaking nations will require you to read some Shakespeare, but if you'd been given the option to choose what you read for other reading assessments (even if only from a set list of various genres) do you think you'd have gotten grades that better reflected your abilities?

Eh, I was educated by the city of New York. Can't say I expected anything from them. And yeah, if I got to choose the book, I know I would have done better (Once that I can recall we got to pick our own book, and I did very well on that, partly because I did a bunch of extra work).

That sucks. I can't really say much about the education system in the US as I've never researched or experienced it.
It's funny that many of the minds which are influencing the changes currently taking place in the Australian education system are American yet it seems their ideals and goals for legislation aren't being adopted in what is supposed to their country's (let alone worlds's) greatest city.

 

[Soviet Steve]

I was diagnosed along with my mother and younger brother for aspergers syndrome when I was 17ish. My younger brother had been observed to have severely disruptive behaviour in school a number of times. I have the difficulties in social situations and speak largely in monotone, I also have the particular interests (history mainly), and the need for routines.

My mental health was quite shaky before the diagnosis and I had serious issues with other people because I wasn't sure what the hell was wrong with everyone for them to be behaving in such ways. After the diagnosis and reading up on some guidelines on how to best cope with my condition I've been far better off and much more sound in the head.

The other thing is, these labels seem like a convenient way for phychiatrists and pharmacuetical companies to make money. Think about it, you have to see a psychiatrist or mental health professional every week or fortnight or whatnot for the REST OF YOUR LIFE and often take multiple pills which pharmacuetical companies charge quite a lot for. We're talking probably hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of your life.

Well I read a book by a fellow with aspergers and that massively cleared up my life. I'm not sure what my mom pays for her library card but it was money well spent in my opinion.

This is really what worries me about the huge range of people that are diagnosed with this sort of thing.

Well when you have a condition that is only recently being recognized fully amongst professionals it can't possibly be that big of a surprise.

Before the surge of ADHD, Apergers and Autism diagnoses, someone with a "tick" might be considered abit odd, but certainly wouldn't be treated different or given "special" help. Children who's behaviour was antisocial to the extreme would have been forced to change it, or face the consquences.

It's not confined to children. I'll use my grandmother as an example, she suffered from it as well. She did poorly in school and was alienated from her family as a result of their inability to cope with her condition. She was never able to finish any variety of education or hold down a job. She's watched her entire life go by with just about all relationships going up in flames and now lives impoverished and resentful of the world.

Your post would seem to suggest that this is a desirable course of events because she didn't receive help.

All to often I see people with mild problems having them made far worse from the stigma of diagnosis, while people with severe and antisocial behavior essentially get a "get out of jail free" card because of their diagnosis.

Have you ever stopped to consider that the people with mild troubles who are helped along by their treatment are the ones you fail to notice?

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

HA! Oh this is gonna be a good thread. You should however have added the caveat that they have to be professionally diagnosed as most on here would just have read a wiki about it, decided they liked the sound of it so diagnose themselves with it.
Then again I personally am skeptical even of most "professionals" as I am a 80s child and during the late 80s to early 90s every fucking kid was diagnosed with ADD. It just became the new excuse for lazy ass parenting or kids just being fucking kids.

 

[DanielBrown]

No. I've done an Aspbergers test not long ago, on suspicion for it. Scored like... as low as possible. Didn't see the point since I don't share a single symptom with Aspbergers.
My sister has a fairly severe case of it though, diagnosed and everything. She didn't find out until about half a year ago(she's 23 now).

 

[Charli]

A very mild case of autism. Milder than mild even.

Or whatever doctors claim it is, I'm sure in years to come there's a name for it (I used to just call it being an antisocial heartless *****, but my parents required a socially accepted doctor approved name for it.), but I have trouble placing other peoples troubles in perspective unless it's on a grander scale.

And I'm very un-empathetic. Just been told the saddest story while someone I love is sitting next to me sobbing their eyes out over it? I'll probably just awkwardly pat them on the back while staring at a floating piece of dust

Social skills I have very very few as well, no amount of drink or merriment seems to make it happen.


But yeah, I don't go around saying 'oh I have autism' because it utterly pales in comparison to the people who truly are struggling with the full blown condition.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

I have self-diagnosed "Read the Wikipedia Article and Identified With It" Aspergers...

Which probably means I'm normal and just like to have a convenient label that also makes it sound like I have special mental powers in exchange for my social awkwardness.

I'll one up you on that diagnosis. I share many of the characteristics of psychopathy, aside from criminal activity. This would be a problem if self-diagnosis's carried any weight. Or, y'know, I cared.

OT: Nope, I've never had anything that resembles Aspergers. I may have been socially awkward but that isn't reason to believed I have a mental disorder.

 

[JLML]

Can't say for sure, as I've never been diagnosed or anything, but a friend of mine who knows quite a bit about this stuff (her brother has aspergers, amongst other) says I show signa of autism, and some other stuff. I think she's right, though I'd never bother get a diagnose or anything. Also, I don't like doctors/psyciatrists/whatnot.

 

[Sandjube]

I have self-diagnosed "Read the Wikipedia Article and Identified With It" Aspergers...

Which probably means I'm normal and just like to have a convenient label that also makes it sound like I have special mental powers in exchange for my social awkwardness.

Bahahaha, not sure if it's appropriate to laugh or not, but I did nonetheless.