Asperger's Syndrome Documentary

This short documentary about Asperger's Syndrome shown on TV in 2005 is about me, I have mild Asperger's Syndrome. I was diagnosed in 2002.

I knew I was different from the age of about 6 years old, hypotheses included - the reincarnation of King David or Pliny the Elder, a left behind Space Alien and finally mild autism (after seeing a TV documentary). Other pupils were loud and ran around randomly, while I preferred a mature intellectual life. I became interested in astronomy/science ~3 years old, so I'm told, it was my interests that made me stand out in school.

Later on in primary school, I became fascinated by mineralogy too. I found it difficult not to talk about my hobbies, one time I stopped taking for a week or two after the summer holidays, because I knew if I talked ... the bullies would again realise I was different and the bullying would start again. I was bullied badly, sometimes beaten up, for years. Bullying mostly stopped in secondary school as I found a group to hang around with.

In 1987, at 14, I went to an astronomy lecture, but due to the excitement of it all I had a panic attack and I had to leave (a panic attack over astronomy?). This began over a decade of anxiety & panic attacks and increased reclusiveness, which I completely overcame in 1998. Perhaps due to my bad experience with Astronomy, I turned to Mineral collecting.

One of isolating aspects of Asperger's is, we tend to talk at people not with people. However, in 1998, I did a 6 week geological mapping project with a friend, and I every hour or so we would sit and chat. After 4 weeks our conversations became two way. While I noticed this improvement, it also led to my growing sense oddness. This processes I am told, is called gaining insight, some young adults with Asperger's try to transition from the basic social skills of childhood to the more sophisticated social skills of adult life, but fail.

My diagnosis in 2002 was a great relief, I felt better about myself and understood myself more, I didn't feel the need to be normal so badly (that ever that is). I set up a social group in 2002, made many good friends and found a girlfriend though the group. I find people with Asperger's (I have met aver 100) are all extremely kind and interesting people. My social skills have improved allot. I graduated with a PhD in geology in 2008.

Please visit my photo website: http://bbrhuft.photium.com

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[GradyLorenzo]

@tjcommander looks aren't related to it all... not to mention the fact that how can they be blamed for what they have?

people like you should be put to death. you're what's wrong with the world.

[tjcommander]

Aspergers people should be put to death. It is worse than retarded and a drain on the economy. Not to mention ugly ppl

[anti4kids2000]

@TheDocoz123 Did you tell them you have Aspergers Syndrome?

[kfoxyyy]

@Music1uv3r279 so does mine but i love him to death :)

[D3R3K1997]

Aspergers is not really a disease that needs to be cured it's like down syndrome we just need helped along

[SSJkiller]

I'm working on a Ph. D in biochemistry in order to work on autism/asperger's treatment. I won't go into the details, but it might just be possible to "cure" you all, while allowing you to keep your inner personality/what makes you human. It's amazing stuff...

[111111hakar]

who needs social skills im not sure why but a lot of people including me prefere to be allone and heres something if anyone knows why that is can you reply and ill give you a video of my party trick of being able to spout any thing about the globe without needing on

[ZOMGsnails]

In an ever-changing and unpredictable world, I look to God as my constant, unchanging truth. This documentary is very eye-opening and I kind-of feel like it has deepened my knowledge of the disorder and I'm pleased that you have found people like yourself to associate with if it makes you feel comfortable. :)

[GiantPetRat]

I have Asperger's as well, and my younger sister too. Although those on the spectrum often exhibit symptoms of other disorders such as OCD, ADHD, or bipolar disorder, the main thing I believe all of us "Aspies" have in common is that social disconnect. Things that come naturally to neurotypes- eye contact, social cues, the instinct to play with kids their own age- simply do not to us. It's the difference between a math prodigy and an average Joe: it can be learned, but will never come naturally.

[RayL1983]

In modern society most people find it difficult to communicate with others well.