Positives and negatives of Asperger's

I am intrigued to know what people think. I bet we will disagree, but this is fine Smile If we all thought the same, discussion forums would be boring!

Anyway, the negatives for me are:

Inability to form meaningful friendships and relationships, despite having many acquaintances and potential social contacts

Inability to deal with choice, planning for the future, working out what is important in life and what I need to do to get there; a lack of direction

Inability to deal with unforeseen events and changes to my usual routine;  I require a lot of warning and mental preparation

Extreme anxiety and negative thinking, obsessions and fixations (the most disabling aspect of my condition)

Can't switch off my thoughts, or deal with too much stimuli, like noise, particularly when I am already stressed

All or nothing approach to things: I am either very interested in something or very bored and directionless

Social situations are tiring and unnatural; they always feel like I am acting a part, and they feel so fake and alienating. I always feel like I am hiding a dirty secret, and this causes social anxiety

Feeling alone in the world; problems with communicating my innermost thoughts

Endless procrastination; too much thinking and not enough doing

The positives, to me, are not to be found in the condition but in my own personality:

Endlessly curious and interested in things, so long as my anxiety is not taking over my thoughts

Motivated and keen to overcome my difficulties

A positive outlook; a belief that things can improve - where there is a will there is a way!

Conscientious

Will stick up for what I believe in

Parents
  • Positives for me are:

    An ability to concentrate on one thing at a time for quite long periods.

    Insatiable curiosity regarding the world, science, the arts, anything else that interests me.

    I feel happy being alone and other people are not a requirement for happiness/mental well-being.

    Not being obsessed with small-talk, popular culture and other unnecessary things in life.

    Being happy with simple things in life, not wanting the next fad or invention just because it's popular.

    A logical, unemotional mind.

    Negatives:

    Anxiety over change, biggy for me.

    Obsessional behaviour, especially regarding health.

    Disinterest in others. 

    Having to force myself to be sociable for the good of others. I do sometimes wish I was more sociable, but, when I force myself to be I think I come across as false.

    Sensory issues with sound, extremely good hearing.

    Obsessing over small details that don't matter to other people. Sometimes it can be a pain wanting to get things exactly right, instead of "about right". I can obsess over filling a kettle correctly, getting water just hot enough, that kind of thing.

Reply
  • Positives for me are:

    An ability to concentrate on one thing at a time for quite long periods.

    Insatiable curiosity regarding the world, science, the arts, anything else that interests me.

    I feel happy being alone and other people are not a requirement for happiness/mental well-being.

    Not being obsessed with small-talk, popular culture and other unnecessary things in life.

    Being happy with simple things in life, not wanting the next fad or invention just because it's popular.

    A logical, unemotional mind.

    Negatives:

    Anxiety over change, biggy for me.

    Obsessional behaviour, especially regarding health.

    Disinterest in others. 

    Having to force myself to be sociable for the good of others. I do sometimes wish I was more sociable, but, when I force myself to be I think I come across as false.

    Sensory issues with sound, extremely good hearing.

    Obsessing over small details that don't matter to other people. Sometimes it can be a pain wanting to get things exactly right, instead of "about right". I can obsess over filling a kettle correctly, getting water just hot enough, that kind of thing.

Children
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