Chris Packham: Asperger's and Me 9pm BBC 2 12/10/2017

This programme has been a revelation for me.

I will add that this is my first post on this forum so hello all.

As soon as he started describing the thought processes at the start the penny dropped. It had never occurred to me that most people thought differently as it was exactly how I think even down to the WW2 tanks (we are of the same generation). The way things cascade and don't stop,

As the programme went on it was just more of the same as to how it feels and how you cop (rehearsing conversions and filtering everything you say mercilessly) and it also explains a huge amount about relationships. My ex wife used to accuse me of being on the spectrum when we were having the inevitable arguments and it turns out she was right, I have always been terrible at reading people (a good friend of mine was in love with me for years and I never noticed) but thought this was par for the course,

I am 53 so this has been a bit of a shock and a clarification at the same time. I am a computer programmer by trade and the way my brain works might have helped as I can see code patterns and application designs in my head and have never understood how my colleagues have to sit around and agonise over this for hours.

My current partner knew all along so i was the last to find out

Anyway, i am so glad that Chis made the show and that I watched it

This programme has been a revelation for me.

I will add that this is my first post on this forum so hello all.

As soon as he started describing the thought processes at the start the penny dropped. It had never occurred to me that most people thought differently as it was exactly how I think even down to the WW2 tanks (we are of the same generation). The way things cascade and don't stop,

As the programme went on it was just more of the same as to how it feels and how you cop (rehearsing conversions and filtering everything you say mercilessly) and it also explains a huge amount about relationships. My ex wife used to accuse me of being on the spectrum when we were having the inevitable arguments and it turns out she was right, I have always been terrible at reading people (a good friend of mine was in love with me for years and I never noticed) but thought this was par for the course,

I am 53 so this has been a bit of a shock and a clarification at the same time. I am a computer programmer by trade and the way my brain works might have helped as I can see code patterns and application designs in my head and have never understood how my colleagues have to sit around and agonise over this for hours.

My current partner knew all along so i was the last to find out

Anyway, i am so glad that Chis made the show and that I watched it

I first started identifying my autistic traits a few monthsago after reading Laura James' book. Like you, my partner wasn't a bit surprised at the idea. I have relatives who work with people with autism and I certainly wonder if they have had 'suspicions' about me... I don't feel inclined to discuss it with them and it's a bit embarrassing to think of being the last to know!

Snap - me too! I bet there are a lot of us programmers out there who would be different from most folks, especially in our thought processes, but because we're all a bit different, nobody really notices! I'm with you on the patterns thing. It definitely helps