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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[DwyaneWadeCounty]

I read that AS persons are mesmerized by color, lights and patterns. Is that true?

[Diamonddavej]

@DwyaneWadeCounty Yes, the visual cortex in Autism and Aspergers is on average more developed (there's more grey matter), as are other areas of the brain e.g. auditory and associative perceptual areas.

Hyde et al., 2010. Neuroanatomical differences in brain areas implicated in perceptual and other core features of autism revealed by cortical thickness analysis and voxel-based morphometry. Human Brain Mapping 31(4), 556-566.

[Mkoberland]

I'm in Environmental Studies, and when I'm discussing it with others in the field, in academic situations, I am happy and right at home. The same with some other science/intellectual topics. But in regular social situations where people talk about entertainment TV/sports/mainstream, I feel completely alone.

[comakitten1]

its easy to say, I'm proud of who I am and things like that. to have an attitude that says "this is me and if you don't like it, it's because something is wrong with you" but the fact is, I want to belong, I want to be like others, i want to speak with others and understand. I'm proud but I want to not be lonely, I'd like to be able to connect. honestly, it hurts to be this way and i grow tired. The excessive knowledge i have on the subjects i love, is not worth the crippling loneliness. IMO

[Skyrex93]

i have aspergers i can say that it can be controlled. you just need to work on your ticks and use it to your advantage. now i have a great social life and im working on a career in journalism

[Diamonddavej]

@mumenschantz Jocks, Popular, Majority, Network, Society, Masters, Politician, Police, Authority, Controlling, subservience. v's mineralogy, astronomy, computers, buses, trains, the weather, The Titanic, snakes, tractors and mechanic diggers.

Do you see the dichotomy???

You're into the social world, but I'm into the Asocial physical world. We're opposite ends of a spectrum! I find this fascinating.

[Diamonddavej]

@mumenschantz Do you notice we are opposites?

You are predominantly interested in the social world of political Machiavellian groups, social control and social hierarchy, BUT I and other people like me are relatively oblivious of the social world ... we are more occupied with Asocial interests such as e.g.

... mineralogy, astronomy, computers, buses, trains, the weather, The Titanic, snakes, tractors and mechanic diggers, to name a few.

[Diamonddavej]

@mumenschantz Autism and Aspergers are opposites of psychosis, so we are not preoccupied with the social world nor the nefarious machinations of conspiratorial social groups that preoccupies you. Whereas you can lecture on social conspiracies, I could do the same about non-social world of mineralogy.

I find the dichotomy fascinating.

Crespi, B. & Badcock, C. 2008. Psychosis and Autism as Diametrical Disorders of the Social Brain. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 31(03), 241-261.

[annika2500]

ive got this syndrome and its really hard to talk to people .... i always feel that they hate me :(

[nerdymom2]

@danerocks99 burgers are dead animal skin. i should know, im a vegetarian aspie :D

[mumenschantz]

@MHASLiyra You're letting the Jocks and Popular kids win. Never put yourself down. They're all wrong. The majority is wrong. Unique people have to network together to make a living. Creative professions do not require bending to society. I have a better way to solve money problems. Dethrone all masters. Your boyfriend should be subservient to no master, politician, police, authority, controlling relative or girlfriend. We are all individuals. Rise above subservience and groveling.

[MHASLiyra]

@mumenschantz So without diagnosis my boyfriend would not be able to support himself. He can not communicate with people and can not hold a job with people at all. I agree Asperger's Sydnrome traits or just a mild version don't need to be diagnosed, but if it interferes with your life it does. It's not just quirks that are labeled, it is a condition that interferes with the way that you live. Jocks and Popular kids don't need help living their everyday life.