Being Aspie & What It Means

A very close friend of mine :) recently shared what being Aspie meant for her...
(this is Part 1...)

Asperger's is one of those 'things' that lots of people don't understand. Lately I've been coming to terms with exactly what it means for me to be Aspie.

I like to think that I'm a person of reasonable intelligence. My IQ score suggests that I am, and my work performance and academic qualifications back this up too. But I'm a thinker. I often need processing time to think things through. I don't multi-task well - give me a job to do that requires complete focus, and it will be done to complete perfection, but don't ask me to think about 6 things at once - my brain doesn't like to do this, and I don't function at my best under these circumstances. And you know, focus is a valuable skill to have!

I have a couple of really wonderful friends. People who I can spend hours with, talking and enjoying their company. If you met me in the street and said hello, I'd smile back at you and say hello politely, and I might even make a remark about the weather or some other common 'small talk' comment. I've 'taught myself' to be very good at basic introductions, and I can sustain chit chat with people I know, but please don't ever leave me in a room with someone 'new' beyond the point of 'hello'. Just as importantly, never take me to a party and expect me to make 'large group chit chat' and mingle with the other party goers - if you somehow managed to get me in the room, I'd spend the whole time with my head spinning - I'd rather be at home... or doing anything else...

Funnily enough, I'm a teacher by profession. How does this work??... being in a room full of students, or with a group of young children? It's simple really - the classroom or learning environment is structured. Each lesson has a beginning and an end. Each activity has a purpose, and a certain 'checklist' of things that have to be done. And of course, when I 'teach' or work with students in a learning environment, I am doing 'my thing' - I am working with my topic of interest. In fact - give me my topic of interest, and any large group environment, and I'll cope so well that you'll wonder why I don't manage the other social gatherings. It's all about things being 'safe' for me, and knowing what to say and what to do at each moment. And even though socialising doesn't come easily to me, being this way doesn't make me any less of a person, it just means that I'm happy doing things in my own space.

I have certain little ritualistic behaviours, and yes, I have 'obsessions' - or as I like to call them, hobbies and interests :) Most of the time, people will be oblivious to my rituals and obsessions. I'm good at keeping them behind closed doors, although anyone who knows me really well will know not to make my bed for me, or not to hang out my washing in a certain way. My interests may become obsessive - but it just means that I become an 'expert' and that can be a good thing too.

Having my 'schedule' or timetable is very important to me. I like to know exactly what is happening when, and I don't take surprise changes very well. Most of the time now I can cope with sudden or unexpected change, but you won't always get the best out of me, and I may be a little scattered until I come to terms with the change. But on the upside of this - I'm very organised! And very good AT organising! Ask me to plan a trip or an event, and I will have the timing and plans organised to the very last detail. Calendars, maps and timetables are my strong point, and I'm great at keeping time!

My sensory processing a whole other story... but that's for another day...