Posted by:
Rebeckah
(
)
Date: January 19, 2011 03:44PM
I'll do my best and if I miss something just ask again.
First of all, I diagnosed myself. My technical diagnosis is Schizoid personality disorder. (Full disclosure. :) )
Yes, I also believe everyone has SOMETHING. Since these issues are neurological it's pretty much a guarantee that everyone's brain will have *a* glitch. But I also think they offer up great possibilities for looking at the world and problem solving because you tend to look at things just a little differently.
For a good rundown of the signs of autism/asperger's try this site. Like most neurological issues it tends to be a "one or more in each catagory" thing. :)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism/what-are-the-autism-spectrum-disorders.shtmlYes, some of the traits were passed down. My daughter is ADHD (diagnosed in infancy but never required medication) and my son shows signs of mild Asperger's but he's happily married and functions pretty well. My daughter's boy is also ADHD (required medication to focus in school and needs extra help learning about self control and how to handle emotions but doing well) and my son's oldest boy has classic autism. (I also have an adult cousin with classic autism and there's more ADD/ADHD issues in my extended family.) The genetic component is very real.
Many individuals with Asperger's are capable of being quite calm. I'm one of them and children -- especially traumatized children -- absolutely love me. (Animals too -- it's just adults I don't cope with. lol)
My experiences were primarily in wondering what the heck was wrong with me as I grew up. I was always pissing people off but never understood why. I still am frequently confused when I am offensive. I also became socially anxious and suffered years of serious depression.
On the other hand, I'm a great mom and grandma. I'm on social security because I simply can't function in a normal work environment. But I live with my son and daughter in law and am the primary caregiver for their three boys. It allows them to work and go to school without worrying about their special needs. (His middle boy is slightly developmentally delayed.) AND I'm available to help out my daughter when her children need watching and my niece when my sister needs a hand. So I'm able to not feel like a parasite on society. :)
Anyway, feel free to ask specific questions, just be aware that when you've met one person with autism you've met one person with autism. (It's a syndrome and there are tons of variations.)