'Mild' Asperger syndrome

I think the degree of severity (or mildness) perceived by oneself, or others, will always depend on various factors, such as how it affects the type of activities you typically do, how much you've learned to cope with - or even mask - it, interaction with any co-morbidities and possibly your age. 

In my case, I'm far more socially confident in my mid-fifties than I was as a young man.  I still generally choose to avoid socialising, but I can literally go for a week in total isolation then meet someone new for several hours without any apparent difficulty.  That's largely because I no longer really care what anyone thinks or says about me.  Yet I find travelling and visiting busy places far more stressful than I did 30 years ago; a day out in London, which was once a pleasure, is now a nightmare for me.

There seems to be no consensus on labelling.  My written diagnosis, late last year, specifically states I have Asperger's Syndrome.  Yet on the post-diagnostic course, run by the same unit, "autism" seemed to be preferred by the facilitators.  One of them admitted even he was confused by the terminology.

I think the degree of severity (or mildness) perceived by oneself, or others, will always depend on various factors, such as how it affects the type of activities you typically do, how much you've learned to cope with - or even mask - it, interaction with any co-morbidities and possibly your age. 

In my case, I'm far more socially confident in my mid-fifties than I was as a young man.  I still generally choose to avoid socialising, but I can literally go for a week in total isolation then meet someone new for several hours without any apparent difficulty.  That's largely because I no longer really care what anyone thinks or says about me.  Yet I find travelling and visiting busy places far more stressful than I did 30 years ago; a day out in London, which was once a pleasure, is now a nightmare for me.

There seems to be no consensus on labelling.  My written diagnosis, late last year, specifically states I have Asperger's Syndrome.  Yet on the post-diagnostic course, run by the same unit, "autism" seemed to be preferred by the facilitators.  One of them admitted even he was confused by the terminology.