• Welcome to Autism Forums, a friendly forum to discuss Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, High Functioning Autism and related conditions.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Private Member only forums for more serious discussions that you may wish to not have guests or search engines access to.
    • Your very own blog. Write about anything you like on your own individual blog.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon! Please also check us out @ https://www.twitter.com/aspiescentral

Recent content by XAND

  1. XAND

    Aspergers Terminology Rant

    I agree. It's worth considering that language does tend to evolve that way and that is a fascinating study. It just doesn't make sense to me for "special" to be a bad word. Considering the catalyst is cynicism and hurtful intent. We should just take the term back, and make it wholesome again.
  2. XAND

    Aspergers Terminology Rant

    Am I the only person that actually likes the term "special interest"? Special 1 :distinguished by some unusual quality; especially :being in some way superior All due respect, I understand the reason for the negative connotation, so I certainly won't begrudge anyone that. But I am surprised...
  3. XAND

    How long do your special interests last?

    Dinosaurs: age 3-15 Star Wars: age 3-current (38 years) Astronomy: age 5-30 Optimus Prime: age 5-current Military aircraft: age 6-current Human spaceflight: age 6-current Drawing and illustration: age 12-current Personal computers/programming: age 12-20 Artificial Life/Artificial Intelligence...
  4. XAND

    Favorite Movie Scenes

    When I saw this for the first time, I wept when he said "All those voices... so much pain" I have a complicated relationship with empathy and the parallels here were profound.
  5. XAND

    Can't take being yelled at

    I shut down whenever there's yelling in proximity, trying to swallow panic, regardless of the recipient. If it's directed at me I become absolutely paralyzed. I'm 38.
  6. XAND

    Do you know how old you are?

    I forget sometimes, and often enough I've had to do the quick mental math. But as the year progresses I get better at remembering, because I am deliberate. I tell myself "I am 38" and eventually it sinks in. Fewer people ask as I get older, though. I have never met anyone that feels the way I...
  7. XAND

    What do you think about self-diagnosis versus doctor approved diagnosis?

    I remain self-diagnosed, but not for want of trying. My experience in seeking a formal diagnosis has been soul-crushing. I feel very strongly that the formality of professional corroboration would help me; I really need to have some validation. Other than a few helpful comments received here on...
  8. XAND

    Can you "turn off" your emotion?

    Also: We seem to take some criticism for not having any empathy, but my belief is that we just feel empathy differently, and in some cases more strongly, to the point of being overwhelmed. With my guard down during movies, I have the freedom to feel as deeply as I want. I don't know if there...
  9. XAND

    Can you "turn off" your emotion?

    I could say the same. Even a well-crafted movie trailer (or a book or song) can make my eyes well up with tears, but I may seem cold and methodical with interpersonal relationships at what I assume are inappropriate times: trying to clear up misunderstandings, or if someone is angry or hurt by...
  10. XAND

    TV Tropes

    I have always been notoriously poor at understanding plots, easily lost even in simple action movies, and completely undone by plot holes. To be honest, I am only recently overcoming a tendency to take the movie at face value, aware that plot holes are a real thing that happens, yet never quite...
  11. XAND

    Building courage to go to hardware store

    I find that hugely interesting having spent the better part of three decades panicked by checkout lane transactions and bank teller windows and appointment clerks and—the lowest circle of hell—the DMV. Upon encountering self checkouts, however, having assumed they would be ideal for me, I found...
  12. XAND

    Building courage to go to hardware store

    It definitely depends on the nature of the retail outlet. I worked retail for a long time and even with the NT ranks, grinding away at a thankless job at minimum wage for years does not really motivate one to engage with the customers any more than neccessary. Typically just a few managers were...
  13. XAND

    What Do You Think Of The Autism Severity Scale?

    I wish I had your doc. Giving up is hard. Thanks for your kindness, and your perspective. I happen to love Jabberwocky, by the way.
  14. XAND

    What Do You Think Of The Autism Severity Scale?

    Also, speaking of branches and brain structures. As a visual artist and one incredibly fixated with symbolism, I was blown away by this research. Something clicked inside me after reading that article, like what e.e. cummings once wrote: now the eyes of my eyes are opened Those images will...
  15. XAND

    What Do You Think Of The Autism Severity Scale?

    Repeated attempts at acquiring a diagnosis have been soul-crushing on my end (like Slithytoves said earlier in the thread, I consider it important) and that was prior to the DSM-5 publication. I easily meet the criteria for Level 1 severity, but clearly there is no hope for a diagnosis at this...
See more
Top Bottom