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Ursy 01-01-2010 06:53 AM

Neurodiversity
 
Sweet Violaine suggested I start up a thread much like the Hans Asperger's Bar and Grill on another site, so (finally), I am...

What I loved about the original thread is the absolute supportive atmosphere and the feeling of SAFETY and ACCEPTANCE, and I'd really like this theme to continue with this thread.

I hope that opening it up to all kinds of neurodiversity will only make it more wonderful and foster more acceptance and understanding between neurotypicals, and non-neurotypicals.

OK - to start, a little about me: I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (part of the autistic spectrum) when my daughter was little (and diagnosed with the same), about 7 years ago. It can be seen as a blessing and a a curse - depending on the day I've had; sometimes depending on which hour in which day you catch me. There's no escaping it, I do process things differently to most of the people on the planet. Sometimes it makes life easier. Sometimes it makes life hell.

It certainly does make life interesting, and I am still working things out... slowly but surely. As I mentioned in the last paragraph, sometimes I get down (yes, very, very down) about being wired differently to most of the rest of the world. Other times I feel like I have an edge over the average person. I guess that's what this thread is all about. The place to come when you're feeling overwhelmed and misunderstood, and equally, the place to come when you're feeling like being "differently wired" is a cause for celebration!

violaine 01-01-2010 08:49 AM

~ thank you ~
 
ursy, hallo :)

:beachkids:

your words resonate with me quite a lot. i often describe living with AS as a blessing and a curse. not much time to go into particulars at the moment, but i do think your paragraphs/glimpse into atypical wiring - called asperger's pretty much is right on for me too. the other thread was loved such much, and i would really like to thank you for creating a new space here for aspies/neurodiversity.

love to you, sweet friend!

belle
ox

amiyesiam 01-01-2010 01:02 PM

Hi all
I just wanted to share something I found.
This is a link to a site about highly sensitive people
when being diagnosed it is often confused with
ADD and Aspergers
maybe it will help someone who reads here and feels like Aspergers fits but doesnt (hope that makes sense!)

the highly sensitive person

hippieflowergirl 01-01-2010 02:33 PM

links between environment and neurodiversity
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by amiyesiam (Post 29201)
Hi all
I just wanted to share something I found.
This is a link to a site about highly sensitive people
when being diagnosed it is often confused with
ADD and Aspergers
maybe it will help someone who reads here and feels like Aspergers fits but doesnt (hope that makes sense!)

the highly sensitive person

thank you for sharing this link! i've heard of elaine aron but im not familiar work.

i've often wondered if the hypersensitive and folks who have asperger's are evidence of our evolution. i'm still hammering out my thoughts on the subject but there's a great deal to be said for the way our environment impacts us. that could sound negative to some but i think it's actually a good thing. i feel like i'm not being clear so i'm going to let it go for a now and try to pull together my idea in a more succinct way before going on with it. (thanx for the patience)

barrie jaeger wrote a book (maybe 5 or 6 years ago) called

making work for the highly sensitive person.

a neurologist recommended to me after i'd lost my job because i couldnt manage a classroom any longer. it meant a lot to me at a time when i felt like i was losing the one thing that meant more to me than anything else.

I'mOneToo 01-01-2010 04:29 PM

I had the privilege once to attend a workshop conducted by Elaine Aron. There were about 90 participants. Imagine 90 people who are sensitive to various things - light, heat, proximity to others, scents, distractions; so many things including the placement of the seats. It took quite a while just for everyone to get "comfortable" so the workshop could begin. I learned so much about my own sensitivity but even more, I learned that many others share these sensitivities. And that sensitive people are not without humor, nor basic human fallibility. (Meaning, it's a way of being but not an excuse, especially for my own personal behavior). I've lost the book 'The Highly Sensitive Person' but it describes many useful tools for dealing with everyday stresses caused by sensitivities. I'd give it 5 stars. Her website has a checklist where you can get an idea if you're an "HSP", try it and see if you find yourself there. http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm

Bit 01-01-2010 09:14 PM

How interesting! We took the self test together; Gryph scored 23 (14 is HSP) but I would have scored "everything" because there was not even one thing I could have said "no" to.

We'll have to go back and read the site more carefully.

I had never heard of this in these terms before; how I usually see it described is Indigo person or empath.

T D 01-01-2010 10:18 PM


I scored 18, but I wasn't able to answer a few of them as the answer or question wasn't just right (that should tell me something LOL). For instance am I highly sensitive to music or art - the answer being "some forms, yes". So how do ya answer something like that =:o

Anyway, very interesting thread for sure!!


Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit (Post 29408)
How interesting! We took the self test together; Gryph scored 23 (14 is HSP) but I would have scored "everything" because there was not even one thing I could have said "no" to.

We'll have to go back and read the site more carefully.

I had never heard of this in these terms before; how I usually see it described is Indigo person or empath.


Ursy 01-02-2010 07:03 AM

Thanks Ami for the link!

I scored 22. I wonder if the Highly sensitive person could be like a diagnosis similar to Asperger's only not quite as markedly socially challenged?

*shrug* - I don't know, just a thought...

suebee 01-02-2010 07:39 AM

I agree with you Urs. There seems to be some sort of continuum there. I scored 23. People who don't know me don't see me as sensitive because I've developed so many ways to cope with it. But anybody who's ever spent much time with me, or - heaven forbid - gone to a shopping mall with me :eek: .....well, there ain't much doubt. I think I spend so much more time home now because I can still have contact with people over the internet without pushing any of my buttons, and withdraw if I need to. Maybe hermits have just been misunderstood individuals all this time. Hmmmm? ;)

Ursy 01-02-2010 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersuebee (Post 29516)
I agree with you Urs. There seems to be some sort of continuum there. I scored 23. People who don't know me don't see me as sensitive because I've developed so many ways to cope with it. But anybody who's ever spent much time with me, or - heaven forbid - gone to a shopping mall with me :eek: .....well, there ain't much doubt. I think I spend so much more time home now because I can still have contact with people over the internet without pushing any of my buttons, and withdraw if I need to. Maybe hermits have just been misunderstood individuals all this time. Hmmmm? ;)

Yep, I'm one of those people who get told (when I mention being Asperger's) - "gee, well I'd never have picked it up if you hadn't mentioned it" - which is good in a way - I can fit in as I wish. But it's also bad because they can never understand how draining it actually is to to maintain a "socially acceptable persona" which is basically what I have to do, very consciously and deliberately, and damn - it's hard work when it doesn't come to you naturally!

amiyesiam 01-02-2010 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urs (Post 29515)
Thanks Ami for the link!

I scored 22. I wonder if the Highly sensitive person could be like a diagnosis similar to Asperger's only not quite as markedly socially challenged?

*shrug* - I don't know, just a thought...


this is long but I copied it from the web site. There are a lot of things that look the same from the out side between the two. It is what is driving them in the brain that is different.




taken from the web site The Highly Sensitive Person

August 2009: Comfort Zone ONLINE
Your Questions Answered:
How Does Sensitivity Differ from Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and the "Autistic Spectrum"

Many concerned parents have asked me if their seemingly highly sensitive child could really be autistic or have Asperger syndrome. Sometimes a teacher or doctor has suggested it. Others have been told that the entire trait of sensitivity is just a mild form of one of these disorders, the higher functioning end of the "autistic spectrum."

This article is not meant to supply you with the full details of autism or Asperger syndrome. To find those you can go to some very good websites (for example, autism-society.org or the National Institute of Mental Health website, nimh.nih.gov), where you will find all sorts of information, including the technical definitions of these disorders. These definitions come from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual provided by the American Psychiatry Association. DSM, as it is called, is far from perfect, but does help when trying to sort out a question of this kind.

The autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) are part of the "Pervasive Developmental Disorders." In all of these disorders, even if a person is said to be "high functioning," there is always severe, sustained, pervasive impairment in social functioning, plus highly restricted interests or repetitive activities. And sensitivity to sensory stimulation or sensitive sensory processing is never mentioned in the diagnostic criteria for ASDs. So to put it simply, according to the DSM, the normal temperament trait of high sensitivity, found in 15 to 20% of humans (and apparently all higher animals) would have nothing to do with being a high functioning person on an autistic spectrum.

Autism versus Asperger's Syndrome

Autism is on the low end of this so-called spectrum. It is considered more serious, in that others may barely be able to communicate with a child having this disorder. Those with Asperger syndrome do speak normally, so HSCs are more often confused with them than with the "classic" autistic child. But those with Asperger's still show a lack of understanding of what is going on emotionally in the other person even if they can hold a conversation. Adults with Asperger syndrome do fine in many types of jobs--indeed are unusually good at some--and will seem normal in impersonal social interactions, but again, they do not respond appropriately to emotional cues.

When I happened to be on a week-long group backpacking trip with a man with Asperger's (he only told us about this at the end), it took some time to realize there was something different about him. I recall best that his normal ten-year-old son (they'd been sent out for a male bonding experience) was in agony from trying to carry a pack too heavy for him. His father told him it was because he had packed too much. This was surely the case, but Dad showed no sympathy or even annoyance. It was not about teaching his son a lesson--that would have involved some complex social-emotional negotiations. He was clueless about how to resolve this beyond next time seeing his son had a lighter pack.

Something clearly had to be done, so my husband carried the boy's pack on steep climbs. The father expressed no surprise or gratitude. He was a very nice man, a nurse by profession, and a good one when I was injured on the trip. He could talk readily about his problem, and the fact his marriage had ended because his wife could not stand his lack of emotional empathy. But there was no way that he could be confused with an HSP, except perhaps by his acute awareness that he was different, which made him very sad. He could experience his own emotions, but he could not read the signs of the emotional experiences of others.

Don't Assume "This Kid's Just Highly Sensitive"

But let's get back to children. An astounding 3.4 children out of a 1000 have an ASD. Even taking into account that there is more knowledge about ASDs and so more diagnoses of them, the increase goes beyond that. We do know these disorders are genetically based--researchers have found a number of different genes that can produce ASDs. For example, most but not all of the genes put boys more at risk than girls. Besides genes that are inherited, ASDs can also be caused by a gene mutation. (There is a suspicion that the increase in ASDs could be caused by one or more of the zillion chemicals we are all ingesting these days.) The variety of genetic pathways accounts for the wide range of behaviors seen with these disorders (strange fixations, astounding memories for details, etc.), but in all cases the brain is thrown off of its normal development because the growing child's brain is misusing the sensory information it is receiving and that it needs for normal development. Specifically, the child is unable to notice social cues because the brain's attention system is being focused elsewhere, entirely on to non-social stimulation.

An early diagnosis followed by the right treatment makes a huge difference in the outcome, so you do not want to make any mistakes here. With children, the social problems plus speech and attention-fixation abnormalities become obvious early on unless parents are in denial. What we do not want is parents telling themselves their child is "just highly sensitive" when he or she in fact has an ASD. I have two grand-nephews with an ASD, one a grandchild of my sister and one of my brother. When I first saw them as toddlers, in each case they were visiting as part of a longer trip, and I assumed they were HSCs who were overstimulated by travel. Clearly I am no expert myself at making the diagnosis, although I like to think that now I could do better, having seen them in action. But no one who loves a child or their parents would want to think about autism, even when the child in question will eat only exactly three kinds of food or is happy for twenty minutes merely watching a bicycle wheel spinning.

Do Not Assume a Disorder Either

Nor do we want the reverse, of course--sensitive children being mislabeled because they are observed to be socially withdrawn at school or in a strange social situation. Sensitive children are generally at ease at home, but if the home environment is stressful as well, a sensitive child could indeed have a "severe, sustained, pervasive impairment in social functioning," but still not have an ASD. (PTSD might be a more appropriate diagnosis, or a "reactive attachment disorder," another diagnosis found in DSM.)

A parent with even a suspicion that something is odd should get a professional evaluation involving several specialists (pediatrician, speech therapist, psychologist, etc.) who make observations at home and at school as well as in their office. But be sure at least one has experience separating a normal but extreme temperament from a disorder, which means he or she should be an expert in children generally, not just those with ASDs. And do mention whether the problem is worse when your child is tired or has been in an overstimulating environment, or if there is stress at home, or some major changes going on that might cause anxiety in an HSC, even if not in another child. Especially confess if you are having marital problems or fit some DSM diagnosis yourself, including substance abuse. HSCs are very affected by such things, so that, again, they could meet the criteria of severe, sustained, pervasive impairment in social functioning without having an ASD.

In some cases you know if it's sensitivity or an ASD because the signs were present from birth. In other cases, the onset of an ASD occurs suddenly, around 1 or 2. Sudden or not, ASDs usually become obvious to others when the child is around 18 months to 2 years. It is essential that treatment begin early if there is a real problem.

So start asking questions as soon as you begin to suspect that something could be wrong--if speech is delayed, for example, or your child is behaving very oddly. Don't be in denial or think this is just high sensitivity. Find out.

Why Has Sensitivity Been So Confused with ASDs?

Sometimes--not always--children with an ASD show acute sensitivity to noise, touch, or other sense modalities. Others are impervious to what most people would find uncomfortable, even to serious pain. Sometimes sensitivity and ASDs are confused because the child with an ASD may have little or no ability to regulate emotions, and sensitive children, too, are more emotional than other children. But with ASDs, these behaviors are due to incorrectly processing perceptual stimulation all the time, not just when overstimulated.

For a good sense of ASD from the inside you might enjoy The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel by Mark Haddon, who works with autistic children. He writes the story from the viewpoint of an autistic boy. Among other things, this child is intensely, miserably sensitive--but in a far different way than HSPs describe themselves. Remember, HSPs process information more thoroughly and thus gain more meaning from their observations. Our states of overstimulation arise from too much to process at once. Those with an ASD are always processing the wrong things and always experiencing chaos unless they are able to shut themselves off from the world entirely.

In brief, you can best sort out sensitivity from ASDs by keeping in mind two differences. First, social perception--HSPs are generally more skilled at observing what's going on in a social situation, even when they are not joining in. Second, HSPs have intense imaginations and varied interests rather than narrow preoccupations.

The Unsocial Man--Sensitivity or Asperger Syndrome

Sometimes the bigger problem of distinguishing sensitivity from an ASD is seen with adult men. Even professionals often have trouble sorting out sensitivity from those with Asperger's because both can lead to social withdrawal or poor social skills. Again, as yet there is no way to make a certain diagnosis looking at brains or genes, so one has to look beneath these behaviors--being socially withdrawn and unskilled--to the underlying reason. Men with either issue may have, as boys, holed up in their rooms to work with computers, read, or watch TV. As teenagers they may not have dated due to fearing rejection for being a nerd or seeming less manly than the boys getting the most attention. Then they may have chosen careers such as engineering or accounting in which they could avoid the discomforts of socializing. But again, those with Asperger's lack social skills because they cannot perceive what is going on and never could very well. HSMs might do all of the above for several reasons. One is not fitting the masculine stereotypes in our culture. Another is having been more affected than others would have been by social traumas such as rejection or betrayal. Yet another reason is that they want to avoid over arousing emotional encounters with strangers or in groups merely because they have learned that in these situations they become too overstimulated to function well. So they focus instead on what they do best (for which they are often paid well, too).

Whatever the reason for social withdrawal, their families often want some explanation for all of this that they can understand in simple, scientific language. Why did he always retreat to his room as a boy? Why is he still not married? Everyone may be relieved to find a biological explanation, an ASD, especially since it absolves the parents of any blame. Alas, such a diagnosis also reduces the hope of changing, of developing stronger social connections with practice.

There are ways, again, to sort this out. Suspect an ASD if the problem was noticeable even in infancy, and as much at home as at school. Are the social problems now due to a real problem with recognizing social-emotional cues, such as a bland response when others would have empathy? On the other hand, suspect sensitivity if only other people are concerned, or if there is a reasonable explanation behind the behavior--the desire to reduce stimulation, a history of social traumas, or a wish to avoid working or living in environments that require boisterous or highly competitive behavior, which is most of our culture. Remember it also could be neither an ASD nor sensitivity if the man withdraws due to serious wounds from previous social rejections. In all of these cases except an ASD, the man might have rusty social skills, leading to more social anxiety, and then even less confidence in social situations and more and more withdrawal, all while fully aware of social cues. If anything, these men see too much. Research has found that shy people usually know very well what is happening and how to behave in a social situation--watching a video they can identify or suggest good social behavior--but they perform poorly in the actual situations due to low self-confidence.

On the other hand, some adults decide they are highly sensitive when they actually do have an ASD. They want to find a normal explanation for something that is not normal. Again, there is no blood test or other way of diagnosing ASDs, so if you are unsure, read all that you can about them and then try to decide for yourself (you being the person who probably knows you best). Pay particular attention to how others remember you in childhood. If still unsure, get a professional evaluation from someone who will consider all of the possibilities. If one person says you have Asperger's, get a second and a third opinion. You want the truth. Don't be afraid--there's help for adults with ASDs. But none of us can begin to change until we know from where we are starting.


christie 01-02-2010 10:22 AM

Thank you for starting this thread.

I'm a proud Momma... I can't imagine my son, aka Bratboy, to be anything but an Aspie.


http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n...rent=aspie.jpg

Rockinonahigh 01-02-2010 02:12 PM

I scored 22..is that bgood or bad?
Rockin

atomiczombie 01-02-2010 02:48 PM

I scored 17. Can't stand loud noises or bright lights. I get overwhelmed easily. Too much stimuli makes my brain burn. I get headaches and feel like shutting out the world. I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. Depression too. I guess that makes me "sensitive". I just call it my brain being wired differently than others.

weatherboi 01-02-2010 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh (Post 29636)
I scored 22..is that bgood or bad?
Rockin

I don't think any result is either good or bad.

Rockinonahigh 01-02-2010 09:52 PM

I always knew I was wired a bit diffrently and have been checked by a doc when I was a grade school kid,he didnt find anything but the mild hyperactivity I deal with.I just do what feels comfy for me to deal with and try not to overwhelmed by the rest of life,it make me a bit of a hermit at times.Im a chef by trade..in dealing with the public taked a big dose of geting hold of my ass and just doing the work as best as I can,I can decompress when its over.
Rockin

Darth Denkay 01-03-2010 01:06 PM

Possible change in DSM classifications
 
I recently read an article that indicated there is some thought that autism, asperger's syndrome, PDD, and one other (can't think of it right now) may all be collapsed into a single diagnosis of autism. I think I've got the article bookmarked at work. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Right now diagnoses are based on visible symptoms so we differentiate between diagnoses that might physiologically be the same but express themselves differently in individuals based on other neurological factors. I think (when we have a better grasp on neurological causes) we will likely find a lot of similarities between diagnoses than are necessarily apparent now.

On the other hand, there are some differences in how different diagnoses are treated - are these differences significant enough for separate diagnoses to be useful?

FInally, should diagnoses be based on symptoms. Basically three different ways that mental illness could be categorized (physiological basis, treatment, expression). I also don't know what impact changing diagnoses will have on individuals with those diagnoses. What will it be like to be told that now you don't have asperger's, you have autism.

As much as we want to believe that the DSM provides an objective classification system that simply isn't true. Another diagnosis that is also being debated is GID - should it be a diagnosis at all - if so do criteria need to be changed.

I guess this is a bit (a large bit) of a derail. Let me know if anyone is interested in the article.

violaine 01-03-2010 05:27 PM

:sheep::anothersnowman:

hallo :)

i just finished a bunch of work for the committee i belong to [part of the humane society]. the last several days have been kind of trying in the sense of dealing with a totally inconceivable situation involving an animal [will spare details!] - coupled with the mind blowing fact that it was all utterly unnecessary, as i'd already offered intervention.

space was in order as i was trying to decompress - and so i mentioned to a friend what i was doing. a few hours later he contacted me - saying straightaway- "i know you asked for space, and you said you could not be upset by anything, but ......"

what followed from him was indeed terribly anxiety inducing. i could have avoided the call, but not the issue he delivered so, brink of meltdown happened although the actual MD was a few days later.

essentials for me to get back on track are [always] the main three: space, sleep, and schedule. maintaining the latter two help with more of a cush coping skills-wise, and of course, routine = a predictable route with less interference of stressful scenarios. not always realistic, however.

i know what you mean, urs- people often comment that i must only have "a little bit of autism", or that i seem "so normal", et c. i find the words insulting because they are based on assumptions of what is acceptable behaviour in their mind. very telling on their part, and not usually going to get a smile from me- which really doesn't go over famously with the individual ;) another topic all together- whenever i have some rest !

hope you are all having a great new year!

belle
ox








Ursy 01-04-2010 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violaine (Post 29942)

i know what you mean, urs- people often comment that i must only have "a little bit of autism", or that i seem "so normal", et c. i find the words insulting because they are based on assumptions of what is acceptable behaviour in their mind. very telling on their part, and not usually going to get a smile from me- which really doesn't go over famously with the individual ;) another topic all together- whenever i have some rest !


Lovely Belle! xx

It doesn't exactly encourage one to strive to appear "normal" in order to fit in, does it? Though I can, and do... it makes me so tired, I wonder if it's worth maintaining. I mean really, the bottom line is that we do it so that the average person isn't made to feel uncomfortable, right? Not that I resally want to make anyone feel uncomfortable but - why is it always me that has to end up paying for it?

Lynn 01-04-2010 09:59 AM

Wow. I came in here to read and learn. I have always felt that my daughter might be somewhere on the spectrum. She's now 22, pursuing a promising creative writing career, and doing well. I always thought she was a bit eccentric--there was a book I read, "The Out of Sync Child," that fit her perfectly. That book talks about neurological differences in children.

What is especially interesting is that I took that sensitivity test. I scored a 24. There were only one or two I could really say don't apply to me, but that's only because I have learned to overcome some social difficulties to become better in certain situations.

I need to learn more, but first I have to stop procrastinating and get to work!

Thanks for posting this thread!

Jess 01-04-2010 10:55 AM

Hmm.. I scored a 26.. the only thing that didn't apply was the movie question. I tend to like mystery and suspense and often they have a good deal of violence.

I'm not really getting the whole crux of the HSP issue. I will continue reading more about it. I think that yes, sometimes I am hindered in social settings because of feeling "overwhelmed".

How does this play out for other folks who may be HSP? Can it be debilitating? Genuinely interested. Thank you.

amiyesiam 01-04-2010 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jess (Post 30135)
Hmm.. I scored a 26.. the only thing that didn't apply was the movie question. I tend to like mystery and suspense and often they have a good deal of violence.

I'm not really getting the whole crux of the HSP issue. I will continue reading more about it. I think that yes, sometimes I am hindered in social settings because of feeling "overwhelmed".

How does this play out for other folks who may be HSP? Can it be debilitating? Genuinely interested. Thank you.


HSP can outwardly look like Aspergers, especially in children. The S, sensitive doesn't necessarily mean that a person is sensitive like caring/nice sensitive. It is more about being very sensitive to stimulus that is coming in from the outside world through all 5 senses and how you process it.

HSP can be intoverts or extroverts

Jess 01-04-2010 11:46 AM

Thanks. I'll keep reading :)

violaine 01-04-2010 01:13 PM

[QUOTE=urs;30094]Lovely Belle! xx

It doesn't exactly encourage one to strive to appear "normal" in order to fit in, does it? Though I can, and do... it makes me so tired, I wonder if it's worth maintaining. I mean really, the bottom line is that we do it so that the average person isn't made to feel uncomfortable, right? Not that I resally want to make anyone feel uncomfortable but - why is it always me that has to end up paying for it?

major fatigue- agreed ! plus, i don't feel as if i "have" something "wrong" - i just am... differently wired... :bigladybug:

interesting take on " are you neurotypical"? = scroll 3/4 way down page:

http://www.corante.com/brainwaves/ar...urotypical.php

taken from -

http://www.neurodiversity.com/main.html

violaine 01-06-2010 11:55 AM

Asperger Syndrome - A Love Story
 
page 69, Effort & Attention-

keith: "i like the physical contact, not in a definable sense. i just enjoy it. also, what touching offers is the chance to be close without needing to articulate it. surely not everything has to be spoken about and analysed to death. just a held hand or a spoon in the night says a lot..."



http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843105404

Bit 01-14-2010 03:48 PM

Gryph and I ordered The Highly Sensitive Person and Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person (two different authors). I found them at Borders online--received an unexpected gift certificate at just the right time--and they just arrived.

These self tests are beginning to scare me; I just scored 30 out of 31 on the one in the beginning of Making Work Work... then I noticed it's one of those where you rate each question either zero, 5 or 10 points. Going that way, I scored 300 out of 310. :blink: The only question I didn't answer "high" for was the one about other people calling me "intense" but hey... if by every other measure I'm so high on the scale, why aren't people calling me intense? *wry look*

So I'm thinking that a HSP could be someone with Aspergers as well, but if the two coincide, it must make things so very difficult!

Ursy and Belle talked about the effort of fitting in, of not making the people around them uncomfortable. This is something that I struggle with also. Sometimes I wonder just how I made it this far; but then the next logical question, "and what would happen if I stopped trying so hard anyway?" reminds me that I learned the hard way that I have to fit in or people get pretty angry with me, and then they go away. Ooops. Not what I want at all.... but yes, sometimes I do wonder why all the effort has to be mine, and why other people can't make allowances for me sometimes.

One of the things I adore about Gryph is that he has never ever once chastised me for being "too sensitive" nor ever once said those hated words, "grow a thicker skin." Too much information comes in, yes, and it does sometimes cause emotional overloads or a need to hide from everyone and everything--but he cherishes me for the sensitivity anyway. We each try to give the other the space we need to cope with the world.

Anyhow, thank you Ami for telling us about the book. I think it'll help a lot, and I'm glad to understand why we all have so much in common.

Andrew, Jr. 01-14-2010 04:24 PM

I'm a Aspi, and I feel like a misfit.

violaine 01-14-2010 07:37 PM

do any of you get to spend time around other aspies? i know it's really a good time to me- just letting go of things-

hugs to you, andrew (f)

christie 01-14-2010 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violaine (Post 33870)
do any of you get to spend time around other aspies? i know it's really a good time to me- just letting go of things-

hugs to you, andrew (f)

My son attends a special needs HS in Nashville. I can say that its been really important for his social development to be around "peers" as opposed to being in mainstream where he felt so very out of place.

I also think that its been good for him to see that different truly is ok. That even differently abled doesnt have the same definition for everyone.

We are so very fortunate that he is such a great young man. I remember what I was like at 16 - and trust me, if the worst thing he has going is that he doesn't like to take a shower, well, I will take stanky over the other things anyday! LOL

Ursy 01-15-2010 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violaine (Post 33870)
do any of you get to spend time around other aspies? i know it's really a good time to me- just letting go of things-

I don't, but my daughter Bek has found her twin - who is also an aspie, and loves - ok, is obsessed with - pretty much all the same things that Bek is - Kingdom Hearts, anime, drawing, etc... and even likes the same kinds of foods.

In fact, they are so similar that it's really, really spooky (like, really really really). For example, Bek chose Luna for her facebook name because she didn't want to use her real name. In fact, she would probably like it if this was her real name. Bek's twin changed her name to Luna some time ago (long before meeting Bek).

Anyway, it's been really nice for her to have a friendship like that. Bek's twin "gets" her in a way that nobody else ever has. They are incredibly lucky to have found each other.

Ursy 01-15-2010 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christie0918 (Post 33917)
We are so very fortunate that he is such a great young man. I remember what I was like at 16 - and trust me, if the worst thing he has going is that he doesn't like to take a shower, well, I will take stanky over the other things anyday! LOL

Lol - I could say the same thing about my girl (she turns 15 on Monday).

She is truly a beautiful little soul, but also one hell of a grot!

She is getting better at taking showers, even if she doesn't care for them. It's getting her to wash her hair that's the problem. Once she gets in there, her mind wanders, she goes on autopilot, and before you know it she's finished her shower and has forgotten to wash her hair AGAIN!

It doesn't seem to bother her that it's like a dirty mop on her head... now that would just drive me crazy...

christie 01-15-2010 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urs (Post 34057)
Lol - I could say the same thing about my girl (she turns 15 on Monday).

She is truly a beautiful little soul, but also one hell of a grot!

She is getting better at taking showers, even if she doesn't care for them. It's getting her to wash her hair that's the problem. Once she gets in there, her mind wanders, she goes on autopilot, and before you know it she's finished her shower and has forgotten to wash her hair AGAIN!

It doesn't seem to bother her that it's like a dirty mop on her head... now that would just drive me crazy...

Its just getting Bratboy IN the shower... once he's in there, its FOREVER before he comes out.

I am really glad that he has learned moderation with the "Axe" body spray.

When he was about 8, his stepfather gave him part of a Halston z14 cologne gift set. Stepdad drove him to school every morning and I will never forget seeing Mel (stepdad) arriving back home, all four windows down and his head stuck out the window much like a dog riding in the car. It was February and much too cold to have windows down.

Mel came into the house, eyes red and watery. I asked if he was ok. He looked at me and said, "We HAVE to teach that boy some moderation... I feel like I have been maced!" :pointing::pointing:

The moderation lessons took a while, but at least he wasn't stanky!

violaine 01-15-2010 04:21 PM

good info -
 
http://www.creative-minds.info/index_files/Social.htm

”There is a double standard in communication between those that hold the most common views and those who do not:

“When I do not understand other people that is perceived as being my fault.
“When other people do not understand me, that is somehow my fault as well.”

- Ilah, adult probable Aspie from USA

Andrew, Jr. 01-15-2010 08:02 PM

Violaine, I can relate to that quote by Ilah. Thank you for posting that.

Bit 01-17-2010 12:11 AM

That's a GREAT Bratboy story, Christie! Made me laugh pretty hard.

That quote you posted pretty much sums up how I feel, too, belle.

Soooo, I'm almost halfway through The Highly Sensitive Person. I hit a hard place, the part about going to school. I'm surprised that I got this far through the book without it pushing any buttons for me, since everything applies to me... guess that means I managed to forget most of my early childhood, which is probably a blessing.

It's real hard not to be mad at my mom right now, which is very uncomfortable since we're pretty close. *sigh* But hey, maybe having another way to understand what happened to me will help me to finally come to peace with it all. I mean seriously, how many times do I have to DO this work, anyway? I think this is the fifth or sixth time dealing with it all; there's always something more to deal with, sheesh. It's time to let it go for good and get on with my life.



violaine 01-18-2010 03:41 PM



there was a mystery for a long time as to something happening with departures, not all of them, but still, i was not quite able to put my finger on what it was. an awkwardness of some sort was there beyond abruptly leaving [no 20 minute lingering goodbyes for me- i'd rather just take off without saying a word sometimes], but a friend explained a recent interaction observed between me and someone saying our goodbyes. during the drive home, i mentioned that i sensed the person with whom i was talking wanted to hug me, but what happened? apparently, he tried to hug me several times- and i pulled completely away from the hugs and stepped back.

:farmtree:

urs, i am so happy for your daughter- :wateringgarden:








violaine 01-27-2010 11:47 AM

do any of you have an awareness of overloaded in the act or does the realisation come only afterwards ?

:farmtree:

i am asking because i know specific things that can get me to the point of overload or a potential MeltDown - but if i'm going through the motions of transitons/sensory issues, et c- i'm not sure i recognise the overload is happening until i'm on the other side of it.

how i might present to someone experiencing me in overload = short, frustrated, different tone, not quite as communicative or able to find the words, et c.

thank you!

:guitar:

Bit 01-27-2010 12:17 PM

{{{{{{{{{{{{belle}}}}}}}}}}}}

Both happen to me, love; I am slowly coming to understand when I am overloaded while it's still happening. The worst for me is when I am at a really big store with a LOT of noise, like a Home Depot with the forklifts backing up and beeping, those extra loud announcements they make, and the echoes of everything (including customer noise) off the hard surfaces; also in a Walmart, with lots of people making noise, kids crying or screaming... sometimes that happens to me in the regular grocery store, too, if kids are screaming and the muzak is playing and announcements are being made... *shudders*

I've noticed that fluorescent lights and concrete floors are also a bad combo for me.

BUT if I'm not in one of those places, I don't usually recognize that I'm overloaded until afterwards... and then I finds myself thinking, "well, duh! no wonder" and feeling kind of sheepish about not recognizing it while it was happening.

I stopped reading the hsp book, btw... she was talking a lot about social cues and responding appropriately and it's really valuable--I found myself wondering if it might be as valuable to someone who has Asperger's as to people who are highly sensitive because of the emphasis she puts on setting appropriate social boundaries and on responding appropriately; it's really gentle and full of information--but life itself suddenly got overwhelming to me and I put the book down. I have to finish it soon.

Andrew, Jr. 01-27-2010 12:50 PM

I have partial complex seizures. One of the things that set me off are lights. For example, going thru a long tunnel, fluoresence & strobe lights. That is why when going out to a nightclub are sometimes uncomfi for me. No amount of medicine can stop seizures or their intensity. I hate them with a passion.

Another thing I really try to avoid is large crowds and noises if possible. For example, I can handle going out every now and then, but not every weekend. I would have a total meltdown afterwards. I always feel on edge. Plus with civility that has gone down the tubes these days, I really feel defensive at times (Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Sam's Club, and such). It is like I have to explain myself repeatedly to the same people. I am not sure of what words to use or what to say. I have tried and tried.

I no longer work because of my disorders. It has been a welcome relief. Now, I am focusing my attention on my furkids. They love unconditionally. I just wish people would do that.

Andrew, Jr. 01-27-2010 01:55 PM

I forgot to mention my Aspi symptoms. I hope this helps too.

I have a routine that I stick with. If that is changed or altered without my knowing, I get upset.

I go thru stages of collecting things. For example, I am still in my religious stage where I collect religious icons. When my older sister died, I received so many. It was overload. Rosie had to help me with this. It was just wayyy too much.

Then there is my obsession with the weather. I even have a chart for hurricanes. I focus in on just 1 thing of the weather. That is it. Anything else is boring to me.

The one thing I cannot stand is when someone refers to me as retard or asks me if I am schizophrenic. I am at a loss of what to say. I have ocd, and depression from being constantly frustrated. I am just not good with words. They tangle me up.


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