Living with Anxiety Disorder and Aspergers

[SkepticalMoron]

I'm seeing a therapist, btw.

[festive1]

Do you like, trust, and respect your therapist? It took me awhile to fine someone I wanted to work with. If you don't feel you can be totally open and honest with your therapist, you need a new one. There's nothing wrong in saying one therapist isn't working for you and switching, that took me a bit to figure out. It's not about how they feel, it's about how you feel.

[SkepticalMoron]

We get along pretty well. She's very intellectual, but unfortunately, a Christian.

[KichigaiNeko]

I am sorry to hear that Hitch96. Trouble is that, YOU are the only person that can effect any change to calm your anxiety. My son is in the same position (diagnosed at age 4 and now 22years old)

IF it is any consolation I think you will find the majority of the total population are Asperger's or on the Autistic Spectrum (self included) It really is no biggie. Coping mechanisms are the key and this you have already embarked upon it seems

Good luck mate, and no ...there is no deity to help you, you have to help yourself by finding those who can assist.

[Polaris]

To overcome Aspergers, just observe closely how others react to certain behaviors of yours and then try not to express the traits that most upset people. Many with worse cases of AS even have to do this to understand even the most basic of social queues, but that starts getting into autism proper I believe.

[jonb]

In a lot of ways my dyslexia, is a working opposite of Aspergers, which has lead me to the notion that all people are on the spectrum, but that the spectrum is very wide and includes us all. I also have the notion that it makes sense for people to be this way. I think we are primarily a pack animal, and the thing about packs is that they are far more efficient if the individuals in the pack have differing characteristics. For instance a dog will change its personality depending where it comes in the pecking order of the pack.
I know my Dyslexia, although is a disability in some directions, gives me great advantages in others. I do not think that is just a one off anomaly. We live in cultures that set up models of the perfect human, and we all fall short, but I think that model is entirely wrong. I have also seen that people that have been diagnosed as being on the spectrum, have abilities that I have not. It is probably going to be a long time, even if I were proved right tomorrow for society to recognise that some of the things which are diagnosed now as disabilities, are traits which should be desired to be included in an organisation.

However in the here an now, anything that diverges from the 'Normal' model of how we are supposed to be is made a disadvantage by the culture and its judgement system. That of itself is going to infuriate an individual. Added to that we have a culture that tends to see in black and white, so anger is seen as a bad thing that should be removed. Once again I don't altogether agree with that train of thought. I am an old man now, ancient to a teenager anyway, but to an extent I have learnt not to dismiss my anger but to use it, to channel it in the directions I want it to go. Not always, but a lot of the time.

That's all very easy to say, but much harder to put into practice, and I have to admit yesterday I failed on a massive scale, but to leave you with a thought.

Terminology can be used to think about things in a different way, Most performers are wedded to their stage fright, as it concentrates the mind prior to a performance, that attack of anxiety can be deployed as a useful tool.

[Kousbroek]

The big problem i think is hitch that it is almost impossible to give you advice that is of some real value.
A therapist can't solve your problems, if one can help you deal with some issues to some extent i think you should be happy the rest is up to you.
My 1st encounter with a therapist was after a period of drugs and alcohol abuse due to the fact that i couldn't accept i was bi-sexual with a few strange twists so to speak. ( it scared the crap out of me)
The result of that was that i was off drugs and booze but now was dependent on pills to get me through the day and i still didn't accept myself the way i was.
I was living with a gay friend at the time and he kinda introduced me into the amsterdam gay community and helped me to give up prescription drugs and start using weed. ( i never advice that to anyone but it worked for me )
I still consider him my savior and i visit his grave every week ( HIV victim )
After a few yrs of living alone and being quite happy with the way things were i met my current wife.
She was the partner of a xdresser i was sexually involved with at the time and we started talking.
There was this incredible understanding between us and she turned out to be my soulmate.
She was quite unhappy with her partner because he was verbally abusive so after a short while she moved in with me.
Six months later we were married and two months after that i got my 1st epileptic seizure.
They ran some blood tests and found out that also had CLL ( chronic lymphocytic leukemia )
So within 3 moths of marriage a was diagnosed with 2 incurable diseases.
I was so angry, i felt betrayed by my body and the whole shit my wife had to go through
Time for depression number 2 ...
Luckily this time around i had a loving and caring wife to support me and she made me realize that our time together is even more precious than it already was.
I totally forgot what i really wanted to say to you other than we all have ups and downs but please try to accept who/what you are ( usually gets easier when you get older) otherwise you will go down the road of self destruction.
Don't over complicate life, just isn't worth it

[John V]

On a couple other atheist boards I've seen people post a link to an Asperger's quiz and a high number of atheist posters tended toward the Asperger's side. A lot found it relieving actually.

[festive1]

On a couple other atheist boards I've seen people post a link to an Asperger's quiz and a high number of atheist posters tended toward the Asperger's side. A lot found it relieving actually.

I don't find it surprising in the least that atheists (aka: skeptics) score higher in anti-sociability. I know for me, I'm skeptical of anyone who appears to have it "together." Something is normally lurking just below the surface... that's my experience anyway. What is it that is usually said about mass murderers, psychopaths, and serial killers? They seemed like "nice," "normal," "quiet" people. Not that atheists are murderers or psychopaths, but I think they realize that looks can be deceiving, which doesn't always invite a lot of sociability. *shrugs*

[KichigaiNeko]

Asperger's and atheists have a natural scepticism. They don't tolerate and can see through bullshit.?

This is what I tell my son anyway