As many of you may or may not know, I have Mild, High-Functioning Autism, formerly Asperger's syndrome. Growing up with it was very hard. I never had very many friends growing up. I do have acquaintances, but I don't exactly have friends.
When I was nine years old, I was diagnosed with what was then called Asperger's syndrome. The two specialists in the facility argued about the diagnosis for the longest time. It turns out that Asperger's syndrome was the correct diagnosis. My teachers have noted repetitive motions, especially during math sessions. I never noticed that I was doing them, and I still don't notice it. I would sometimes stutter when I'd get stuck on a word, fearing that I would mess up and look stupid, thus embarrassing myself. Now, I stutter when I'm nervous. I did have trouble with eye contact growing up, but I do much better with it now.
Sadly, not everyone understood my condition. Other kids would bully me. I usually wasn't bullied physically, but I was often verbally bullied. I did have a temper streak, because I found it frustrating that people didn't understand me. Sometimes my so-called friends would say things that upset me. Maybe they were trying to help, but I didn't understand what they said. I don't know. I don't recall exactly what they said. It wasn't unusual for me to have friends who were a lot older than I was. I guess I'm too mature for most people my age.
While I am doing a lot better living with my condition, there are things I still have trouble with. Math is still my weakest subject. There are still a few social things that I cannot do. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, though. I don't typically use figurative language. I say what I mean. I think it makes things much easier. Think about it. Wouldn't it be great if everyone said what they meant?
When I was nine years old, I was diagnosed with what was then called Asperger's syndrome. The two specialists in the facility argued about the diagnosis for the longest time. It turns out that Asperger's syndrome was the correct diagnosis. My teachers have noted repetitive motions, especially during math sessions. I never noticed that I was doing them, and I still don't notice it. I would sometimes stutter when I'd get stuck on a word, fearing that I would mess up and look stupid, thus embarrassing myself. Now, I stutter when I'm nervous. I did have trouble with eye contact growing up, but I do much better with it now.
Sadly, not everyone understood my condition. Other kids would bully me. I usually wasn't bullied physically, but I was often verbally bullied. I did have a temper streak, because I found it frustrating that people didn't understand me. Sometimes my so-called friends would say things that upset me. Maybe they were trying to help, but I didn't understand what they said. I don't know. I don't recall exactly what they said. It wasn't unusual for me to have friends who were a lot older than I was. I guess I'm too mature for most people my age.
While I am doing a lot better living with my condition, there are things I still have trouble with. Math is still my weakest subject. There are still a few social things that I cannot do. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, though. I don't typically use figurative language. I say what I mean. I think it makes things much easier. Think about it. Wouldn't it be great if everyone said what they meant?