An Autistic's thoughts on Autism

[CrazyGirl17]

READ THIS FIRST BEFORE YOU POST! Thank you.

I realize this may be a bit of a tricky topic to do, so just hear me out, okay? I have my reasons for doing this. See, the term Autism has been misused a lot in recent years, and I want to clear the air a bit. Some topics I'd like to bring up:

1. I honestly don't care much for people with self-proclaimed Asperger's Syndrome. Let me tell you something: I was diagnosed with Asperger's when I was... like six or seven years old, back when no one knew what the hell it was. Now it's used as a reason for their nerdy interests or an excuse why they can't get jobs. And well... it's not meant to be a "fashionable" trait. Really. There's a difference between being socially akward... and being a socially akward geek/nerd (though as a geek/nerd myself, I realize I'm not the best example).

2. Nor do I care for people who use it as an excuse to be assholes. Seriously, cut it out, you're giving us a bad name here. Also, it does not make us like the Rainman. Sorry to disappoint you.

3. There's some debate over exactly what causes Autism, and chemicals in vaccines have been reputed to be the cause. Well, scientists have debunked this theory, but some people just can't drop it. Some people think we should even cure it, which annoys me to no end. I don't want to think I have some incurable disease, and frankly, I like being able to look at the world differently than most people.

Look, I'm not trying to be harsh here, I'm writing this thread not to rant abbout my condition, but to make my fellow Escapists think, and have decent conversation in the process.

So please, be respectful. If you are also Autistic (and not self-diagnosed either), I welcome you. Wish me luck on this thread.

EDIT: I'm sorry, I forgot about the lower-functioning Autism. In that case, I do think we should at least study Autism to at least figure out where it comes from and how to treat it...

EDIT 2: If I come across as aggressive, that was not my intention. I do apologize if I offended anybody.

 

[JoJo]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Symdrome when I about 10, it's certainly isn't an excuse not to get a job or to be an asshole; I have the former and am certainly not the latter. I'm pretty socially awkward though I've improved a lot in the last couple of years as I've put a lot of effort into learning how to small-talk and socialise normally, I'll never be 100% "normal" but I've reached the point where I can have a regular conversation and make non-Aspergers friends.

Here's my advice to any other fellow Aspergers/Autistics:

PRACTISE!!! That's what you need to improve your social skills, I didn't believe it either before but now I've tried it isn't that difficult, by doing lots of social activites you can learn to overcome atleast some of barriers!

 

[FalloutJack]

I can appreciate this sentiment.

The fact is, I've always found that a foundation attempting to find the 'cure' for Autism to be this iffy thing that rubs me the wrong way. They may sound like decent folks, but as soon as you start using the C-word, you're not talking about helping autistics function in society. You're talking about it like it's a tumor to be removed. When people do that, I must sigh in irritation. You can't TELL these people what it's like or how autism should be received. Even if the explanation makes sense, they still may miss the point.

On the flip side, none of this is an excuse for horrible behavior. This is not a shield or a banner to hide behind. Go and pursue life's interests. Do not be an asshole about it. This is a line of thinking that should apply to ALL people in the world. The diagnosis should be treated with respect, and the people who have it should respect it the most. This is not the end of the world, so both sides should never treat it as such.

 

[Thaluikhain]

3. There's some debate over exactly what causes Autism, and chemicals in vaccines have been reputed to be the cause. Well, scientists have debunked this theory, but some people just can't drop it.

Argh! Yes, vaccines are important, don't neglect them just cause some celebrity with no medical or scientific knowledge said you should.

[small]And yeah, people shouldn't use it as an excuse for being an arsehole, because not having an excuse is sorta the whole point of being an arsehole.[/small]

 

[JohnnyMolotov]

I have Aspergers and in no way shape or form do i think it's something to be 'cured', the more i think about it the more i think it raises the question 'define normal' so....meh

Most the friends i've managed to make say they wouldn't of guessed i had AS if i hadn't told them and only a year ago i still found it nigh impossible to walk in and buy something from the local shop, you just need to work at it and it's worked out pretty well for me.

Unfortunately though it seems these days arsing around, being rude and not doing jack shit are enough to have you classed as having AS,ADD,ADHD or whatever.

Also, it does not make us like the Rainman. Sorry to disappoint you.

This made me chuckle .

 

[Doclector]

I have aspergers syndrome and it isn't the syndrome that needs curing, it's societies reactions to people who differ from the established norm. The syndrome itself has barely effected my ability to function socially at all, I feel. The, for want of a less melodramatic word, trauma from my experiences of other people's lack of understanding and tolerance.

 

[Shirokurou]

READ THIS FIRST BEFORE YOU POST! Thank you.

I know a guy who was supposedly autistic in childhood, but I'd never think of him as socially awkward or anything, quite the contrary, seemed pretty extroverted to me.

 

[Feralcentaur]

Someonce once mentioned the "abnormal ratio of Aspergers'/Austism people" on this site. What exactly is that? Sorry if I'm being thick-headed here but...?

Aspergers syndrome is like a more mild form of Autism.
It's sort of like how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares, with rectangles being autistics and squares being Aspergers syndrome havers.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

How many hours of minecraft do you play each day? [small][small]kidding, kidding[/small][/small]

Autism is really weird because it runs the whole gamut from einstein to chris-chan. Can't really say I know any though.

 

[Dags90]

Autism is really weird because it runs the whole gamut from einstein to chris-chan. Can't really say I know any though.

I've never heard anything about Einstein being autistic, nor does it really mesh with what I've heard about his biography.

I think the Autism/Asperger's divide is stupid, just call all of it Autism spectrum. The link to increased intellectual abilities is often overstated or misrepresented as well.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

Autism is really weird because it runs the whole gamut from einstein to chris-chan. Can't really say I know any though.

I've never heard anything about Einstein being autistic, nor does it really mesh with what I've heard about his biography.

I think the Autism/Asperger's divide is stupid, just call all of it Autism spectrum. The link to increased intellectual abilities is often overstated or misrepresented as well.

It's debated whether he had asperger's. I just threw him in because he's pretty much the opposite to Chris.

It's hard to diagnose dead people.

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

I was diagnosed when I was 5.Something that I have learned is that Asperger's is common among family,inherited through example.Personally,I see it as a double edged sword.It has proven me with so many advantages and yet so many vexes.I used to want to be normal,to be stupid,as I thought most people were.Don't get me wrong.Now a days,that divider has proven useful in sorting out people as friends,but it just kills me.There are these speech classes that I had to take because I was different and its screwed with my head to where I can't think right anymore.If only everyone were like us.

 

[Feralcentaur]

Someonce once mentioned the "abnormal ratio of Aspergers'/Austism people" on this site. What exactly is that? Sorry if I'm being thick-headed here but...?

Aspergers syndrome is like a more mild form of Autism.
It's sort of like how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.

Ah, and what exactly does it entail? I'm too lazy to Google right now, no offense intended.

Well to try to summarize Aspergers in short, it can cause some what unusual obsessions with certain subjects or activities, often will have a sort of need for things to be orderly or same, and social interactions can be more difficult than it would be for others, many "Nerds" tend recognize themselves as such, someone full blown Autisim has all the same difficulties and more, both will have more difficulty in society than others, but those with Aspergers will have it much much much easier than someone with Autism and those with Autism will often need assistance, those with Aspergers can usually do fine on their own.
Wikipedia would probably better explain it than me...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

I myself happen to have been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome (and ADD but that diagnosis was probably full of crap), but I do decently in social interactions for the most part, I only drink water out of the same cup, there was a time when I would wear the same Sweater every day, I'm quite obsessive over people littering, and as of now my current interest/obsession would be Ants.

Edit: I just wrote you an entire paragraph for your benefit and you don't even say thanks? My feelings are hurt good sir/madam!

 

[Phlakes]

My brother was diagnosed with Aspberger's when he was in middle school. It kept him from being a high school drop out, it got him into college, and it's getting him jobs out of pity. And he isn't really autistic, just a socially inept asshole using it as an excuse.

Hell, my mother would call it his "safety net". He got everything for nothing, and I had to work my way through life like everyone else. It's bullshit.

 

[bluebomber138]

I have autism, and I have been diagnosed for about 4 years. I don't like it when people talk about a cure, because to me it feels like a cure for being a certain nationality, or a cure for being a certain way. I don't see where people get off saying that people like us are "weird" because we're "different." In fact, I saw a statistic that said that about 65% of Americans "suffer" from some form of mental "disability" such as schizo, autistic, OCD, or depression. wouldn't that make us the normal ones, and everyone else the weird ones? We are the majority!

Also, its nice to see other people like me.

 

[Flac00]

For me, autism is a weird disorder. As it is a socially based disorder, I honestly constantly catch myself qualifying someone with autism as just an asshole or a person who never learned how to interact with other human beings. I know that isn't true, and I am sure many people with autism work hard and long to become socially viable. I have met many people with autism (in fact I had to babysit one once), and it certainly is not easy. All I can say is good luck.

 

[Flac00]

I have aspergers syndrome and it isn't the syndrome that needs curing, it's societies reactions to people who differ from the established norm. The syndrome itself has barely effected my ability to function socially at all, I feel. The, for want of a less melodramatic word, trauma from my experiences of other people's lack of understanding and tolerance.

True, but it is also true that one of the "tests" that we have to go through life with to survive is becoming a social being. I mean, humans cannot function without having the ability to interact with each other. Society may have some problems with people who differ, but the people who differ can't claim that they are perfect and don't need improving. I'm not saying autism is curable (it is just about as curable as homosexuality), but that those who suffer from disorders in any way can work to overcome it or use it to their advantage. Take ADD for example. My brother has it, and he uses it to make him focus so heavily on some of the things he does that he is amazing at it (making him a mechanic at a large automotive mechanic shop). So to put it simply, it is a two way street. Society will be tolerant of you as long as you are tolerant of it.

 

[Terminal Blue]

I honestly don't care much for people with self-proclaimed Asperger's Syndrome. Let me tell you something: I was diagnosed with Asperger's when I was... like six or seven years old, back when no one knew what the hell it was. Now it's used as a reason for their nerdy interests or an excuse why they can't get jobs. And well... it's not meant to be a "fashionable" trait. Really. There's a difference between being socially akward... and being a socially akward geek/nerd (though as a geek/nerd myself, I realize I'm not the best example).

Easy tiger..

I was diagnosed about the same age as you. I seem to have grown out of most of my symptoms (it's been suggested to me that I actually haven't and am just high-functioning enough to compensate), but I was a classic autistic child and that diagnosis has never been retracted.

But the fact is that we call it a spectrum disorder for a reason, because it represents an excess of traits which are present in almost all people. It's likely that most people who self-diagnose do have symptoms, and while I agree that it can easily become an excuse for refusing to engage with real problems in your life, the best way to deal with that is not by saying 'shut up, you're not really autistic' but by acting as a positive role model.

I was checked for epilepsy a few years ago, and the neurologist said something which stuck with me. He said that in time, as neuroscience progresses and better models emerge for understanding brain function, it's likely we'll start to appreciate that massive neurological diversity exists within the supposedly 'healthy' human population and our society as a whole is going to have to adjust around that realization. Autism is one area in which we can already see this happening, and the pathologization of relatively minor traits, while it may be annoying, is an important phase in recognizing and adjusting to the way different people work.

In short, I think neurology is going to end up posing huge challenges to the liberal assumption that everyone basically works the same and that what works for one works for all. Pathologization and overdiagnosis is a step on that road, but ultimately the excitement will die down and be replaced by newer discoveries and frontiers. Just be happy that autism as a condition is getting so much attention, because it will ultimately make our lives easier.