Willow Marsden - People's Perception of Asperger's Syndrome

[sketchyou]

thanks for sharing your story and putting this video up . much appreciation from another aspie.

I can relate very well to the 'disable' part you talk about - as with many other aspies i'm very sure.

cheers,

sketch

[Semtex4sho]

But the stereotypical thing ppl think about asperger is something that involves the term "retarded".

[Semtex4sho]

im a aspie and im 16-17 i dont rlly know how people think about aspies i dont really care to be honest

[Buddhismattraction]

Everyone is more or less weird. I dont think people who look good and talk good could be retarded. Sure they might have issues. But all people do. I dont believe this girl is retarded at all.

[WillowMarsden]

@Buddhismattraction Because I'm not retarded. I have Asperger's Syndrome. Retarded is pretty much always offensive to say. Asperger's just involves a lot of social communication problems. It doesn't mean I can't talk about things in front of a camera.

[justinjustinyau]

my mum said i was being stupid : /

[justinjustinyau]

you shouldn't have to qualify your own feelings just because of other people.

its true you are really intelligent

[WillowMarsden]

@julesburke1 Hmm, I simply don't have a social life! I don't mind as such, but there are times when it would be nice to have a friend - for example, to go Christmas shopping with.

[WillowMarsden]

@jasonnewlandchats Thank you. Yes, out there in the big wide world, I can sort of get by, by as you say, acting. But I only feel comfortable at home where I can just be myself, and it doesn't matter if I panic because there is no judgement at home.

[mustang19898]

I have experienced this as well. I also have Asperger's. Some people understand it, whether they've been around it before or not. I am thankful for those people. However, I have been around people who don't understand. There are people, like you said, who have been around another person and think I can't possibly have it b/c I'm not like the other person. I'm glad for this video. More people should see it.

[kevinisginger]

quite frankly, I've really been trying to learn that most peoples perception of Aspergers Syndrome is just plain ignorance! I don't think people have the right to judge until they walk a day in someone elses shoes and having aspergers, i for one know that life can be the most overwhelming thing ever and some people may never understand that.. and frankly, I'm happy they don't have to understand that. i don't want anyone to have to understand any of my everday problems..

[OshitOshitOshit]

don't think you have aspergers. Just get used and deal with people thinking you're weird, even treating you like crap because of it, without giving an explanation why you're different. You will never grow if you stick into an excuse

[WillowMarsden]

@OshitOshitOshit *sigh*

[OshitOshitOshit]

@WillowMarsden *sigh* back at you

[WillowMarsden]

@OshitOshitOshit I don't 'stick into an excuse'. I have an official diagnosis - which helped me to better understand myself. I got through some difficult times and decided I wanted to help people in similar situations, which is why I do these videos; not to have people like you tell me that I'm something I'm not. You cannot 'un-diagnose me' from a 4 minute video.

[OshitOshitOshit]

@WillowMarsden I've been diagnosed too, i used to like thinking i have aspergers to make myself feel better, you probably have aspergers too, but that wasn't my point. My point is this: who gives a shit? No one really should. I believe it won't help you. Personally. Because in the end it didn't help me, but of course i could be wrong.

Do whatever in your power to grow into people treating you with whatever way they do, even be violent if you need to.

[OshitOshitOshit]

@OshitOshitOshit that, btw, does not go for autistic people. Just people with aspergers. And again it's just my opinion and what i believe in

[WhiteboyUltima]

I fully agree with this video about how annoying it is to have people say that about AS. I have AS (diagnosed at 16, now 27) and I do find that with new situations like new jobs, I will -eventually- have to tell someone I have AS. Yet, I HATE telling them this, because I feel like I'm making some excuse or being difficult for my employer, when the reality is, I'm not, and they need to learn about AS to understand. Which is hard to do, because there is so much to know about AS!

[WhiteboyUltima]

@WhiteboyUltima What's more, people in my work often seem to plain forget I have AS, or they just plain don't care. Because I am very often the butt-end of jokes, the target for humour... that sort of thing. They take advantage and all I can do is awkwardly laugh with them, because if I were to say "Hey don't do that, I'm Asperger's remember!" then that creates tension at work that I don't need. I just wish they'd be more considerate and knowledgeable about AS - that seems to be the answer.

[WillowMarsden]

@WhiteboyUltima I understand, but I do feel it's best to be open about it, and then at least if they want to care, they will and you'll be better for it. It must be difficult though, I find it hard to explain it at the best of times. You've done really well to get a job and maintain it =)

[WhiteboyUltima]

@WillowMarsden My workmates do know I have AS :P

It is quite hard to explain though, I end up telling people to Google it but I also warn them that a lot of stuff you find online about it is just rubbish.

By the way I've done more than secure a job, I'm halfway through studying to be a Primary School teacher, where I can use my experience to help children with AS :)

[WillowMarsden]

@WhiteboyUltima That's brilliant =)

[WillowMarsden]

Thank you everyone for your comments, I wanted to do this video but I didn't want to offend anyone, but it sounds like you've all taken it the right way! =)

[Genin99]

a user named VHammondOfficial has Aspergers and she has a passion for makeup

[AspieEyes]

I've just made a channel to make my own blog as I've recently been diagnosed but I am nervous about going on camera,and the fact that I am quite mono-tone and sometimes robotic in speech I could send ppl to sleep lol got a camera just waiting for my new tripod.

[FatherToaSon]

By doing this video, You have helped to less the number of people who have annoying thouhgts about aspergers syndrome.Thank you Willow!

[onecellbaby110]

Thank you for doing this video....I deal with that too. It is nice to know that I am not alone.

[Genin99]

girls with Aspergers are better social chameleons then guys with Aspergers, because guys tend to have more volatile emotions

I once had a special education teacher that wanted me to take her life skills lesson after she heard that I'm Autistic. Since she could grasp the fact that Aspergers is a mild form of autism, I can function properly and I hate being treated like I'm stupid I had to get my mum to file a complaint with the headmaster.

[girlstorm09]

People do that with even regular autism once the mother of this profoundly autistic guy who was like 19 but was like an overgrown 2 yr old....claimed Amanda baggs wasnt autistic all bc she was nothing like her son! and that she did drugs that made her like that. If you dont know who Amanda Baggs is look her up she does have a youtube page too i think.

[jeffrielly]

can't agree more....everybody is different!......plain and simple

[SofiHowie]

I agree with you too. Aspergers manifests itself differently in each person. Don't worry what other people think though. Some people have questioned things with me, when at times I am more or less distressed at a particular situation than a previous time. They seemed to think I must act the exact same in all situations! It is annoying.

[lexxintegra]

I completely agree that we're not able to assess one another simply by viewing the shows here on youtube.

So much of our daily living is not seen or expressed in the shows we upload and share~

-Cheers, my friend :o)