Asperger's & Autism Forum

I received a couple of nice compliments recently, entirely unexpected. When I got my hair cut radically shorter of course a few people noticed and complimented me on it but you sort of expect that, and they will say it even if they don't really like the style, so I don't think it means much. But a couple of compliments that seemed less shallow came at me in the past month and I will accept them!

My therapist, who I have seen about 10 times, said she was impressed by my resourcefulness. I'll take it!

My chore helper, who has worked with me for about a month, said I was a good communicator. I'll take that one, too!

What compliments have you had lately - and how would you rate them? Sincere, insincere, insightful, empty, back-handed (an insult in compliment's clothing), etc.

Calgary hosts an annual science geekery event called Beakerhead for five or six years now... It's a whole bunch of events over several days, culminating in a large event on Saturday evening

At the beginning it was a free event, and I never missed a year of it, just lots of fun to photograph, I know a lot of their funding is through gov't and corporate sponsorship...

It was always very spontaneous, come and go as you please, wander in and out, etc... Last year they fenced the event off and charged $5, I know $5 isn't much but I just refused to go, on the principle of them charging money for the event

This year? I was prepared to pay $5 for it, looked on their website, they had jacked up the price to $27 Immediately I decided I simply would not pay the ticket price, from free to $27 in three years was just too much for me

Yes, I can afford $27, I just simply refuse to pay... Looking at a post tonight asking people if they were going (to take photos), I said as much,...

So l think l am seeing someone who maybe on the spectrum. Truly at first l had no idea about this person or myself even being on the spectrum. So l have done some very stupid things but it's due to stress of my living environment. At times this person says they need their space and l get that. But it hurts like a knife that they won't call and say hi periodically. I have always been respectful except two times where l was experiencing highly stressful events and just hoped for a hug that's it. Is it wrong for me to ask for an occasional call or is it common for people on the spectrum to completely drop off due to stress from our friendship? l also have pushed him away several times because l have had to battle huge amounts of issues and it's been ongoing for 5 years. He says he needs his space. l really don't invite myself over. Is it okay to talk about this? Currently l am now seeing a therapist to deal with PTSD and l can sometimes trigger with respect to my ex. I really care...

I wonder if it's easier for "our kind" to be taken advantage of by abusive people than others? I am often not a very good judge of character because "compellingly interesting puzzle-human" is usually what makes a person stand out to me, and people who are clinically narcissistic and sociopathic are often very interesting to those who don't see the red flags. There have been several people in my life that friends and family have known were not good for me, but I couldn't see that - I was too driven by fixation on human-puzzle and empathy would salve all wounds acquired even though it was to my detriment. I am better about those red flags now and just assume that most anyone I am attracted to whatsoever is probably not a very healthy person. Anyone else have experiences with this?

The most hurtful name I remember being called was "Mr. Scientific". I was being mocked for giving information, being pedantic and exact. It felt natural being this way but the other kids startling reaction gave me on of my first feelings that who I was, was a problem for other people. They would think I was weird. It hurt my feelings and scared me seeing this reaction.

Until I heard myself called that I never thought there was anything unnatural about me, I felt fine. But after, I never forgot that who I was wrong for everyone else. The loneliness started.

Were you called names?

I went to the psychiatrist today because for a while I've been thinking that I may have autism. Although they didn't tell me "you have autism" or anything, after talking to them and saying out loud what I wanted to say, I'm now sure that I do have autism.

I'm happy I'm sure now because I've never related to anything so much, and it's really reassuring to just put together all those aspects of different sizes into a group and have a name to call it. I know I don't really have to label everything, but it just feels really comforting now.

The next step is to do a neuropsychological test so I can get an official diagnosis. I'm kinda nervous about it, though. Wondering what if something goes wrong and they tell me "well, you don't have autism after all" even though I'm so sure about it. Have you ever thought something like that too?

I have decided to write a detailed essay on ASD to possibly present and inform my therapy group with, but I need ideas, and points to touch on in this essay. If any of you could tell me something that neurotypicals NEED to know, or to inform them on. I would deeply appreciate some resources I could use, or stuff from personal experience you feel is important. <3

This might be trying to make friends, being accepted at work, relationships, etc. Rumination can also be obsession.

Re: my photography

It looks to be another season of camera club futility, low scores again, even social media generally seems to ignore me, my latest in a photography Facebook group, three or four likes, all the people doing landscape, nature, etc... get more than enough attention compared to what I get... Perhaps because because it's "prettier" than urban photography which isn't often very pretty...

I know I've ranted before, that few people seem to buy into my photographic/creative vision, which means I don't get much attention from anyone...

I want to pursue my vision even as an amateur, non-professional photographer, just not feeling much love in the process, like a fish swimming upstream (maybe a bad analogy ), just frustrated once again...

I guess I could just quite competing, but I'm on the executive as treasurer, so I'm not quitting the club anytime soon, being loyal... I do know some people who have simply stopped competing while staying involved in the...

So, i’m currently in a Southern Europe with my family. My cousin is getting married, my parents were invited to the wedding I was not.

Obviously my family will be out all day and probably into the early hours of the next day. If I could just explain my issue:

I have got a lot of anxiety over this day. I don’t have a car or any transport, my parents are taking the car for the day.

I do not speak the language here. I am staying in an apartment that is in a secure area but there is no security personal stationed here.

The area that i’m in is a sort of town but there’s not a substantial amount of things to do here. You need a car to get about or to get to other towns.

I’m quite anxious about staying here on my own, primarily due to a lack of things to do but also weariness over my safety, particularly with the language barrier and lack of familiarity with the area.

I’m not quite sure what I should do here, other than walk about a bit or sit inside all day. I was thinking of...