Proud to be an Aspie?

[Datura]

To answer the original question: I do not have a diagnosis, but presuming I am on the spectrum I don't think I would say it is something I am proud of. It's not like having a condition is some kind of achievement. Furthermore, my aspergic traits have been more of a hinderance to me than a boon. Perhaps I can rectify this by thinking more positively (which is very hard for me) and capitalizing on my obsessions and perfectionism.

 

[EricD]

Being an Aspie is better than dealing with FAS and crappy vision. My Aspie obsessiveness has been a benefit for me.

 

[SingaSong]

I have a number of illnesses as well as being as just being diagnosed with ASD (obviously not an illness). for whatever reason (probably aspie) I find it impossible to socialise at all and and am isolated and lonely. I do not have any special gifts or talents associated with being an aspie.

As I live in an NT world and with the other issues I have id much rather be NT, though maybe the level of my problems is the interaction between the illnesses, personal situation and being an autie/aspie.

 

[Jonathan Lees]

I have a number of illnesses as well as being as just being diagnosed with ASD (obviously not an illness). I don't like being an aspie. I find it impossible to socialise at all and and am isolated and lonely. I live in an NT world and would much rather be an NT. I do not have any special gifts or talents associated with being an aspie.

im sorry to hear this if you need support or someone to talk to feel free to message me. hope all goes well.

 

[EricD]

Sorry to hear that, friend, find something you love, let your Aspie side take over, & before long you'll be an expert in that subject.

 

[EricD]

AspiesCentral is here for you, friend!

 

[Harpagornis_X]

Indeed AspieCentral is here for anyone who needs it.

To answer the question EricD ... Of course I am proud to be an Aspie. I wouldnt be myself with it. As others say "There are positives and negatives to it" but without my Aspergers Syndrome, my life would be far much more different. Would I ever want to change from being an Aspie to being a Neurotypical??? No. Im an Aspie in a Neurotypical world and thats just how I like it.

 

[eonbus]

i dont see aspergers as an advantage.

 

[Libecht]

I'm proud to say that I'm proud of it XD
I think it's other people's lost not to have it ~

 

[Bellatrix]

Per his profile, "she" is a "he..."

Yes, in retrospect I probably should have selected a different star, because I certainly am not a female warrior, which is what the word means, LOL. I've used the name for other things, like passwords and such (it isn't a password now), and did so long before I knew what it actually meant.

Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[Myway]

Yes. I am. It makes me who I am. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Cuppa' Tea]

(I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but I wanted to answer this question) My autism is integral to who I am. For good and for bad. And I like who I am. So I guess I would say I am proud of it.

 

[Hurting89]

I have so many things to be ashamed of so Asperger's is closer to the bottom of the list for me. It's not a great condition to have and yes it is embarrassing to admit to someone because of the stereotypes and stigma surrounding it but it's not the worst of the worst in my cluster of problems and flaws.

While most of my "obsessions" were detrimental to a degree or stupid there were a few that helped my life. I did manage to put my PCOS in remission with my "ketosis" obsession - I don't think I would have had the desire to do that if it wasn't for the obsessive part of my Asperger's motivating me to do it.

 

[Cinnamon115]

I'm proud to be an Aspie. It makes it easier for me to understand others with special needs, which will be great for when I become a teacher. It also makes me who I am. I wouldn't want to be any different.

 

[ancusmitis]

I'd like to be out, loud, and proud, but people can be real dicks sometimes and I live in dick city in a state packed full of dicks. There's more than a few things I like to keep to myself.

 

[As sweet as-pie]

I am definitely proud of my (self-diagnosed as of yet) asperger's. It may hinder me greatly but it makes me who I am, makes everything make so much more sense and is essentially everything I am as a person. I don't see it as an illness or condition, rather a neurotype and way of thinking. I would hate to be neurotypical, personally. Seems so boring

 

[AveApollo]

I also recently found out I'm am aspie, although awaiting final diagnosis officially having tested firmly positive on all the written questionnaires and tests. It is become an obsession with me too because it's very interesting. I feel proud and upset and keep fluctuating. But please don't wish to be NT, like I wished all my life until now. Your fellow Aspies do exist out there, and you'll be less likely to be judged by them. I went to my first real life Aspie meet up in my town and it was great. We all seem weird to others but at ease amongst 'our own' (and the conversation is not boring and we all seem to have a good sense of humour). You don't need to have a particular gift or talent in an area to be special. Just your natural honesty is surely a great trait. Plus, maybe you haven't discovered your particular gift yet. Or maybe it's that you are very knowledgeable in a special interest, which is why the university of Cambridge is actively recruiting Aspie researchers and academics etc.

 

[Cali Cat]

Is anyone proud to be an Aspie! Sound off if you are!

As to the original question noted above, I am neither proud nor ashamed to be an Aspie, just as I am neither proud nor ashamed to be white or female or heterosexual. Those are just things that "are." I didn't "do" anything to be proud or ashamed of.

No offense intended, but the idea of someone being "proud" of something they had no influence over is a bit arrogant in my opinion.

 

[Crossbreed]

...which is why the university of Cambridge is actively recruiting Aspie researchers and academics etc.

This statement reminded me of an old commercial...

 

[As sweet as-pie]

As to the original question noted above, I am neither proud nor ashamed to be an Aspie, just as I am neither proud nor ashamed to be white or female or heterosexual. Those are just things that "are." I didn't "do" anything to be proud or ashamed of.

No offense intended, but the idea of someone being "proud" of something they had no influence over is a bit arrogant in my opinion.

I understand where you're coming from but I think that the idea of autistic pride is very similar to LGBT+ pride. Heterosexual and Neurotypical people do not need to celebrate who they are openly because they are not discriminated against in daily life and society is tailored to them. I feel as if Autistic pride is a good way of accepting who we are as people, because we are different to the "societal norm" (neurotypical people). That is why it is good for Autistic people to be proud of who we are, the same as LGBT+ people, even if we cannot help it or have had no influence over it, it is always good to accept yourself when much of society does not. We still have very far to go in terms of acceptance, but there is definitely reason to be proud of being yourself, neurotypical or otherwise.