Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, this is my first post on any ASD forum so I'm a bit nervous. I was diagnosed with aspergers in November 2015 at the age of 46, it's taken me this long to pluck up the courage to introduce myself and admit my diagnosis. If you met me you would probably not think there was anything strikingly different about me. Good job it's not possible to see in to my head and see how strange I really am. I'm femail and I do manage to hold down a responsible job, ( sometimes I feel by the skin of my teeth). The thing I struggle with the most is not being able to communicate in a non professional manner, what I mean is just chat, I'm fine professionally but come lunch time and I'm lost. I can't disclose at work because I'm pretty sure no one would understand. It would be nice to be able to communicate with others in the same boat. Any advice would be much appreciated.
like you I'm newly diagnosed and I'm 63! This is my first time on any ASD forums but welcome and as I say, better late than never. I also held down jobs but also couldn't do small talk and never understood why either. Thankfully I wasn't working when my diagnosis was made as it's today! It's my Aspie birthday lol! I hope you get the help at work if that's what you want and wish you well on your aspie journey. I'm just so relieved to finally have a diagnosi.
Thank you Ferret, I like your description 'adaptive camoflage', that sums me up perfectly. I often think of the kids program I used to watch, Mr Ben, not sure if you'vs ever heard of him but every episode he went into a shop and came out as somebody different that's how I've always felt. I have so many different personas I don't know which is the real me.
welcome dotty, a pleasure to meet you.
i am autistic.
you will find many 'like minds' here; and on other forums such as aspievillage or asd-forum - feel free to explore and look around.
it is difficult often when we don't have a framework to be able to do what we autistics do and put on a suitable mask to interact, that we find ourselves almost without a voice or identity; we are very much inside our heads, and our mechanisms for engaging and navigating the world we have built up over long periods of time by trial and error; the latter particularly the case if we have been undiagnosed and come to this later in life. we have adaptive camoflage.
feel free to 'engage' here or elsewhere in whichever or whatever way or manner makes you the most comfortable.
i'm sure others will chime in, but for now on behalf of all autistics, welcome.
Sorry just noticed this has posted 3 times!