I am 16 years old, with an interest in writing, philosophy and performing, composing music.
This is my 2nd day with the knowledge that I have Asperger's.
I match over 15 symptoms, as well as many traits of NLD.
All through my life up until 7th grade, I was a complete nerd, tight ponytail and glasses.
But I starved to be normal socially, so much that it became an obsession that took place over academics.
I got contacts, and started obsessing over my new hairstyle and clothes so much that I may as well been body-dysmorphic. I tried to hard to make friends and get out there, that even if I was careful about being reserved in my manner and appearance, some kids whispered that I was a slut.
I journaled scrupulously about my social trials and errors.
Over the years, I made many friendly acquaintances and became seemingly "self-actualized," but in the end can only count on one hand the number of ppl I can truly call best friends.
I have told my parents multiple times that I felt so different from normal people in social interaction, but they only scoffed and told me I was crazy for believing this. But I wasn't convinced. So in the wee hours of the morning yesterday, I snuck downstairs and started researching. I was blown away when I saw that my personality echoed Asperger's and NLD to a T.
I think I differ from most Aspies in that I have strengths in emotionally-driven subjects like literature, philosophy, and foreign languages, over the maths and sciences.
I live in an extremly rigid household, so my Asperger's is likely ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED.
I wish my parents would have believed me instead of going along with the traditional Asian belief that anything can be overcome through grit and stamina.
It simply can't.
I haven't told them, and don't plan to. On my own, I have handled my life up til now even without knowing I have Asperger's. I simply thought I was socially stupid, and idiot savant. So I self-improved. After 4 miserable years at the height of awkwardness I think I can get along better now, as normally as I can possibly. Asperger's doesn't have a cure, but self-efforts do work. I have never undergone a single session of psychotherapy, and don't plan to. I DON'T NEED IT. I have been my own psycologist.
More Than Just 'Quirky'
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Of course, getting that guidance depends on getting the right diagnosis early on. And it turned out that Liane's daughter wasn't the only one to fail the Sally-Anne test that afternoon. Liane herself had not been able to distinguish between what she knew and what Sally knew. Doctors diagnosed her right alongside her daughter. Liane says that diagnosis changed everything for her. "It was like a light bulb went off," she says. "I was able to seek out the right kind of treatment, and after a lifetime of mimicking others, finally find my own identity." And early diagnosis has helped her daughter (now a healthy teenager) avoid many of the pitfalls that Liane herself fell prey to. "Her experience has been totally different from mine," she says. "She's had special education and behavioral therapy from the time she was a young girl, and if I introduced you to my three daughters today, you wouldn't be able to tell which one has Asperger's."
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