Ponies With Aspergers Syndrome Thread

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,465]

Perhaps there is a thread somewhere about this, or maybe not.

 

Anypony else have Aspergers like me?

When were you diagnosed?

Know the severity?

Do you have any stims?

 

Discuss!

 

I was diagnosed rather young, can't remember when exactly. I recently visited three mental professionals for my SSI thing and they all said that my case was severe. I have a ton of random stims. I mean, RANDOM. One of them for example, it articulate speaking. For some reason, it makes me feel really good when I hear speaking in very articulated tones. Strange huh?

 

The Aspergers is a huge drawback of my life, but I am accepting it more and more every day. My socials skills are disastrous and I have tons of anxiety, as well as certain twitches. I also tend to rock back and forth almost constantly when sitting. I also rarely make eye contact with people, even my own family. I also have a huge problem with stress and anger, I tend to get frustrated very easily, which often can lead to me bashing my face in with really bad meltdowns. Another problem, if you can get me to talk, say about one of my many obsessions, I won't know when to shut up, or tell when someone wants me to stop.

 

You know what else? I also tend to make long threads, like this one. Shutting up now.

[Shiki 5,855]

This thread is going to be a popular thread. There's so many people who have Asperger's on this site, apparently.

 

I know I was diagnosed at a pretty young age, but I don't know anything about it. I don't want to know anything about it, because I don't even believe I have it. I really don't know how socially awkward I am, because I don't even want to talk to people to begin with. At least, for the most part. This site (and the internet in general) is an exception. Almost every day at school, I go without physically speaking a single word, and I don't really care. :/

 

Asperger's is nothing to me, if I really do have it. I don't think about it. I don't even know what to type here, nor WHY I am typing at all. Fack, I give up. D:

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,465]

With me, I actually did not know I was diagnosed until a few years ago. Once I found out that I was, I looked it up and checked the common problems that those diagnosed can face. I matched all of them, and it was a huge realization. My social life has always been terrible and I have always had these particular problems that I mentioned, I just never knew why. Finding out was awesome, because I was always cut myself down about my many problems and this explained things.

 

Again, shutting up....

[Pan the Fabulous Ferret 2,642]

Well, while I do not have Asperger's syndrome myself, I know many close friends in real life who do. I myself have Tourette Sydrome, DISCUSSION?

[Pix3M 607]

Hopefully, that explains some of the weird stuff around that makes me feel embarrassed.

 

Places like these attracting oddballs everywhere.

[Jadefire 2,797]

"High-functioning Autism", here, which is pretty much the same thing. I was diagnosed ten years ago, when my fourth-grade teacher informed my parents of my strange and slightly disturbing behavior, and my parents took me to see a psychiatrist.

 

I've been told by people before that I don't "act autistic", or they otherwise couldn't tell I was autistic until I brought it up, but that's largely because they don't know my private life. Being autistic is a massive pain, socially: since I can't read body language at all, regular conversation is uncomfortable and requires conscious effort on my part. Since basic socializing is slightly unpleasant (and I have terrible people skills that may-or-may-not be relevant to having autism to begin with), as a result it's made me rather introverted and withdrawn.

 

On a less depressing note, I'm able to manage my stims and other quirks fairly well: I'm less terrified of change and over-all anxious like other aspies I know, and I can control my emotions and need to stim almost completely. :3

[Princess_Molestia 1,460]

to me the older you get the less you think about it, and obviously you don't like to talk about it

I am just seen as weird, but a part of that is who I am and not the mental disability

the world won't slow down or change for me, its their world not mine

so I had to learn how to live in their world...I largely forget what it was really like before

its still shameful to me

Edited September 15, 2012 by Photo_Finish

[Lord Pretty Pie 64]

I have given it quite a bit of thought, and it does seem that there are a number of people in the brony community with Aspergers. It is a form of High-functioning Autism, and I'm on the higher end of even that spectrum, but that does not mean I am without my quirks. I talk in a manor most find unusual, and tend to latch on to new interests... Rather tightly. It just so happens that Ponies is that new interest right now.

Really though, my problem? I don't think that it should be considered autism. I view the world differently, but to me that is all the world is, different. No one is the same as anyone else, and we as humans feel the need to label those who differ by a greater amount. But why? Am I really that far off from others? We all think, and feel, so what if I think from another perspective?

A lot of you seem to be under the impression that this is a hindrance, like something is weighing you down, but I... I see it as the opposite. This 'ailment' is like a balloon, lifting me above others who have a veil over their eyes. I can see the world in a way NO one else does, so how does that make me lesser? Hindrance? No, this is a gift, one that lets me see what others do not, so I can go on to do what no one else would think to do.

Don't think that just because you are labeled means you are inferior. Maybe I have no social skills to speak of. Maybe I can't tell when someone is silently hinting at something through body language that I just can't pick up. What I can do, is whatever the buck I want, because what we have is determination. Some may say that how we latch on to topics is irrational. They might think that the way we research it is pointless, irrelevant. But others... Other's call children with aspergers 'little professes' because they KNOW what they are talking about, because it's something they like to talk about. With our level of determination, there is NOTHING we cannot accomplish, and I think that others should come to see that.

This is not 'autism', this is audacity.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 478]

Yup, I've got it as well.

 

Back in the day (that is, 1994 or so) when the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders was still in its infancy, I got the label of "high-functioning autism" for various reasons, the least of which that I never really spoke until I was four. For some reason the physicians believed I would never be capable of abstract reasoning, but if I can get through calculus and at least tread water in the storm known as quantum mechanics I think it's fair to say I've proven them wrong. I don't think my case is that severe, and sometimes I even wonder if I was misdiagnosed. I still have difficulties with faces however, just two years ago in a writing class when we were investigating the ways that the mass media can mislead the public, we studied a picture of a person's face where the mouth was "censored", and I was apparently the only one who couldn't tell the black bar was concealing a smile!

 

As the case with a lot of aspies I get frustrated easily, and the occasional outburst feels a bit difficult to control, and I tend to find other people confusing, especially those of my own age. Other than that I'm not exactly sure how my Asperger's manifests itself, especially since I often want to deny I have it. To me, it's just me-- it does no real harm, right?

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,465]

I have given it quite a bit of thought, and it does seem that there are a number of people in the brony community with Aspergers. It is a form of High-functioning Autism, and I'm on the higher end of even that spectrum, but that does not mean I am without my quirks. I talk in a manor most find unusual, and tend to latch on to new interests... Rather tightly. It just so happens that Ponies is that new interest right now.

Really though, my problem? I don't think that it should be considered autism. I view the world differently, but to me that is all the world is, different. No one is the same as anyone else, and we as humans feel the need to label those who differ by a greater amount. But why? Am I really that far off from others? We all think, and feel, so what if I think from another perspective?

A lot of you seem to be under the impression that this is a hindrance, like something is weighing you down, but I... I see it as the opposite. This 'ailment' is like a balloon, lifting me above others who have a veil over their eyes. I can see the world in a way NO one else does, so how does that make me lesser? Hindrance? No, this is a gift, one that lets me see what others do not, so I can go on to do what no one else would think to do.

Don't think that just because you are labeled means you are inferior. Maybe I have no social skills to speak of. Maybe I can't tell when someone is silently hinting at something through body language that I just can't pick up. What I can do, is whatever the buck I want, because what we have is determination. Some may say that how we latch on to topics is irrational. They might think that the way we research it is pointless, irrelevant. But others... Other's call children with aspergers 'little professes' because they KNOW what they are talking about, because it's something they like to talk about. With our level of determination, there is NOTHING we cannot accomplish, and I think that others should come to see that.

This is not 'autism', this is audacity.

 

I personally do not see myself as inferior, just different in a very unique way. I do have many, many problems though, and knowing that there is a medical diagnosis of such is neato for me and in my case I consider it a hinderance and a gift. Yes, I have the anxiety, anger problems, and horrid social skills, but I also have a unique personality and I am just zany, though I am nowhere near as determined as you seem to be, so I am unsure where you are getting that we are all like that...

 

I have heard that the professional people in the medical field are wanting to drop the term Aspergers and just put it strictly on the autism scale, which it kinda feels like it is already.

[Lord Pretty Pie 64]

I personally do not see myself as inferior, just different in a very unique way. I do have many, many problems though, and knowing that there is a medical diagnosis of such is neato for me and in my case I consider it a hinderance and a gift. Yes, I have the anxiety, anger problems, and horrid social skills, but I also have a unique personality and I am just zany, though I am nowhere near as determined as you seem to be, so I am unsure where you are getting that we are all like that...

 

I have heard that the professional people in the medical field are wanting to drop the term Aspergers and just put it strictly on the autism scale, which it kinda feels like it is already.

 

What I mean by determination is that one of the defining factors of Aspergers is, and I quote(From Wikipedia, but that still counts, right?) " restricted and repetitive interests and behavior".

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,465]

 

What I mean by determination is that one of the defining factors of Aspergers is, and I quote(From Wikipedia, but that still counts, right?) " restricted and repetitive interests and behavior".

 

Dah Okay. Total misinterpretation on my part. Then again I am tired and just thought "Ugh.......Simple definitions only........." I do that numerous times on a daily basis. By that definition, I have that A TON. Weird how quickly things can flip like that.

[AegisReflector 886]

While I don't have the autism diagnosis myself, I happen to know a family member who has such a case and let me tell you, he's perfectly fine. He functions normally, is a popular classmate, and is very great at Basketball.

 

Basically, autism is really hard to diagnosis or even to detect. When we are babies, we tend to all different in our own ways. Doctors tend to just sometime bullshit some excuse just to get it out of the way. There is no brain scan for any sorts of autism, so really, it's a general gray area. Many of you who have been diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome probably don't even it as far as the modern medical community is concerned, but it never hurts to have a second opinion.

 

I just find it cool that all of you guys have something in common and that in society's eyes might be a "let-down" or a "mental disorder", but looking at all of your posts, you folks are pretty intelligent people who simply like MLP. And that should be the end of it. Let those people stop all the hate for something they don't understand.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,465]

I have given it quite a bit of thought, and it does seem that there are a number of people in the brony community with Aspergers. It is a form of High-functioning Autism, and I'm on the higher end of even that spectrum, but that does not mean I am without my quirks. I talk in a manor most find unusual, and tend to latch on to new interests... Rather tightly. It just so happens that Ponies is that new interest right now.

Really though, my problem? I don't think that it should be considered autism. I view the world differently, but to me that is all the world is, different. No one is the same as anyone else, and we as humans feel the need to label those who differ by a greater amount. But why? Am I really that far off from others? We all think, and feel, so what if I think from another perspective?

A lot of you seem to be under the impression that this is a hindrance, like something is weighing you down, but I... I see it as the opposite. This 'ailment' is like a balloon, lifting me above others who have a veil over their eyes. I can see the world in a way NO one else does, so how does that make me lesser? Hindrance? No, this is a gift, one that lets me see what others do not, so I can go on to do what no one else would think to do.

Don't think that just because you are labeled means you are inferior. Maybe I have no social skills to speak of. Maybe I can't tell when someone is silently hinting at something through body language that I just can't pick up. What I can do, is whatever the buck I want, because what we have is determination. Some may say that how we latch on to topics is irrational. They might think that the way we research it is pointless, irrelevant. But others... Other's call children with aspergers 'little professes' because they KNOW what they are talking about, because it's something they like to talk about. With our level of determination, there is NOTHING we cannot accomplish, and I think that others should come to see that.

This is not 'autism', this is audacity.

 

I have to respond to this again, because this was actually an awesome response. I do disagree with it not being considered autism, due to more severe cases like me and others, but this was a great post and once I read it again, it put me in a good mood.

 

By the way, if anyone else has read my posts and noticed a really negative vibe to them, I apologize for that. I get depressed easily but talking really helps.

[Inactive Account 104]

I was diagnosed as a high-functioning autism by a psychiatrist who has many years of experience. I'm really confused about myself right now. I went to vocational rehab, which is a place that helps people get jobs. To qualify, you need to take a mental test; which I did. I got the results back and apparently I no longer have Asperger's Syndrome and now I am anti-social (which is something I laugh at, I am very social) and I have anxiety issues. I admit my perspective has changed quite a bit on life and my lifestyle has changed drastically. My schedule was normally the usual get up, play some video games, watch some TV, eat stuff, recreational time, sleep, repeat. Now it's get up, research animation, eat stuff, research more, maybe go for a walk, practice drawing, research even more, maybe have a midnight snack, practice, research, sleep, repeat. I rarely ever watch TV or play video games anymore. The people I use to hang out with have either moved or are too busy. I really miss being social and being able to talk to people on a regular basis. I'm glad about this and sad about it at the same time. One, I get really lonely and I use the worlds I create as a way to escape this feeling. Two, it makes me appreciate just talking to someone, online, offline, any type of social activity. Three, I've been getting a lot of stuff done.

 

What's everypony's opinion about what I have just typed?

[ChuniaC 52]

While I do not have Aspergers, I suffer Perfectionism. I easily get stressed and when I build in games or draw I have a very hard time not doing so completely symmetric. And another thing. I don't really know if it's a mental condition but I tend to talk to myself out loud even if people are near me. I think in English even when it's not my native language. I am extremely impatient and tend to talk alot. I easily get distracted by completely non-important irrelevant things. Be it a leaf falling from a tree or an unusual pattern on a wall. I cannot do any two of these things at the same time. Listening,reading,speaking and writing. Also I think "too much". For example when normal people see a bridge, I would uncontrollably start thinking things like: "What would happen if that bridge turned yellow..." or "what if I was that bridge..."

Edited October 7, 2012 by ChuniaC

[Skoogles 45]

I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when I was... oh lord, five years old I think? I know I was in year one. My educational life up to that point had kind of sucked. I had essentially been categorised as a 'naughty boy', and nobody really tried to help me on account of that.

 

Then my grandma watched a documentary on kids with Autism and Aspergers, and instantly made the connection with me. I was diagnosed shortly after and aptly removed from mainstream education. From there I had no education until I was eight. I did well but was removed from the school I was in when I was in year six because I refused to go into the hall and sign along with the hymns and crap. Oh those religious schools.

 

Then I went into another school as a year seven student, got kicked out of that one in year eight because I broke a teacher's hand trying to get out of a class room.

 

And then I went to the school I'm in now, finished off the rest of year eight, went through years nine ten and eleven, and I am now a member of the sixth form and will be attending college next year.

 

Obviously enough the syndrome has affected my life in many ways both socially and educationally, though these days it hardly affects me. I've grown up with it and as I've matured I've learned how to cope with it. Most people nowadays who have a conversation with me question why I'm in a 'special school', to which the answer is always 'because its the best educational institute I've ever been to, and the only one prepared to help me should I need it.'

 

Okay, I'm rambling. Essentially the point of this WALL OF TEXT is that no matter how bad things are for you there'll always be people out there ready to put in the time and effort to help you, and even if you think you've hit rock bottom, there's always a way back up.

[Guest]

While I haven't got asperges myself, my brother had it diagnosed at a young age. He's not a brony even though I have told him that I am and I kinda hope he will check out the show. He is very very asocial and he also has some of the habits that you speak of Killman, even the rocking back and forth thing.

I don't know how he takes it, if he accepts it or not because he rarely speaks about personal stuff. He is a nice guy but he just doesn't want to be social with people, well unless it's through the computer on which he spends his time constantly.

[Iris 8]

Yes, I have Aspergers. Infact, I was actually thought of as having Classic autism when I was younger, but then I made a load of progress in a very short space of time. Life has always been a confusing blur to me, and everything has always kinda felt disconnected and dream like. Communicating with others is difficult because I can never tell whether they're joking or they're serious about something. However, the sensory sensitivity and attention problems are the worst with me. I have no memory and no attention span. You could say something to me and I'll have forgotten it 5 minutes later, and I usually wear sunglasses because light is too bright. I get some positive things though, like random things make me extremely euphoric and happy, and I require less sleep than others due to my intense hyperactivity.

[Homura Akemi 974]

I do not have Aspergers, but I have tourettes syndrome, which really sucks. Luckily, it's mild and not life-threaning like some conditions are. I don't remember being diagnosed, but I probably did before age 5.

Edited October 7, 2012 by Dίsмαjo

[KakeiTheWolf 652]

I have High-functioning Autism. Close enough, really.

 

I was diagnosed at the age of eight, officially. People had their suspicions since my birth. I suck with socialization, but at least I'm not a moron like pretty much everyone in my country.

[Iris 8]

How do you guys de-stress?

 

I have many ways of destressing, like.. Umm...

 

1. Listening to music always chills me out. Mostly ambient, and happy sounding stuff.

2. Watching ponies. Yep.

3. My brushable Pinkie Pie always seems to help. Just holding her makes me feel better, especially if I'm stressed out.

4. Lying down in bed with my head between my pillows to create what is basically like a hug machine/blots out sensory input

5. Drawing relieves stress. I draw lots of stuff though, not just ponies.

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

I think most diagnoses of Asperger's Syndrome and ADD are bogus. I was never tested but I'm sure I would have been diagnosed with Asperger's because of my inability to socialize or enjoy anybody's company when I was in school. It wasn't because I had a social problem, it was because I tried and found that I was the only non-redneck there. We had nothing in common. And I might have been diagnosed with ADHD because I have to pace around the room or at least keep myself busy to think. That's really what most of these "disorders" come down to: an uncommon method of learning and differences in priority. A kid doesn't respond well to the one-size-fits-all policy of their school or society at large, so rather than trying a different approach they either attempt to crowbar him into the mold or label him as defective. I've witnessed this and experienced it myself. One of my engineering teachers in college realized this, so he devised several approaches to the same material and nobody ever left his class confused or uncertain of what they just learned. I've worked for a public school and seen many kids get foisted on "specialists" or medicated because they functioned better as individuals than in a team, or because they couldn't sit still enough as they worked. Even worse, they teach the "normal" kids that such people are abnormal and kids will typically begin to harass those who are different. More recently I was in the employ of a university with a similar problem. It was a different sort of university, more like a big trade school that prided itself on personal attention to students and accelerated programs, but like everywhere else they had one way of doing things; you conformed or you failed.

 

The following video succinctly describes how I feel about all of this. The actual talk begins at 00:42, and the most relevant bit is from 11:15-18:26. He also has a pleasant voice and a great sense of humor.

 

 

 

Now I'm not saying that there aren't disorders or abnormalities present in some people. People who become enraged at the drop of a hat, or find themselves on the verge of a heart attack whenever they have to communicate with another human might need some sort of therapy. My contention is that most of the time people are diagnosed as having nonexistent problems or as being worse off than they actually are. @Lord Pretty Pie is a good example.

[Titan Rising 2,156]

Is aspergers something of a social anxiety disorder? I went with my brother to a comic book place and I met someone there that wouldn't stop talking to me about star wars and my brother told me he had aspergers but I wasn't really sure what it meant. He was a good kid, I tried to listen but he was talking so fast it was hard keeping up and understanding everything

 

Anyway I hope you never let it limit you and I think you'll get better with social skills and things like that over time

[Artemisia 166]

My older brother, one of my best friends, has Aspergers Syndrome. He got diagnosed probably around 5 or 6, and he struggles with social situations and cues, but he is very high functioning. He is one of the smartest and most talented people I know. He is a great writer and the things he builds with his legos are super cool. And while we disagree sometimes, everyday i get to understand him more. He is working hard to get over any social issues he has and I am sooo proud of my older brother.