Asperger's & Autism Forum

I have to get my license renewed in January and I was just wondering about those "Autism Cards" not liking the idea, knowing others in my area wouldn't probably either...

However, I got a wonderful surprise when I did some digging. Now in the state of Texas (others following and may already be doing also)... There is a clause (a code) in the restrictions. In Texas its T-LETS...

It not only allows for Autism, but any medical disorder that an officer or emergency personnel might need to be aware of. Its a very simple form I downloaded it yesterday and sent it to my doctor (who is very cool).

He sent it back in email and he didn't put Autism and explained why. Here it is seen as more like mental retardation. It just got off on the wrong foot and has a bad stigma that seems to go with it...

So he went with SPD in place of Autism (which is seeming to be a trend?) PTSD, OCD, Panic Disorder.

In the explanation he wrote Patient might seem non-verbal, shaky, or disoriented when in...

Is it common for people with aspies to have difficulties visualising people? I would welcome comments and replies from everyone, but please only vote in the poll if you consider yourself an aspie.

I assume that not being able to visualise people easily also causes recognition issues which would also make describing people seen in the past very difficult. I am able to recognise people I know well quite easily when I physically see them again, but I am poor at recognising people I don't know so well and it's very difficult for me to visualise people in my mind's eye. I may be able to visualise a quick flash of someone I know very well, but I can't bring the image back on demand and it's usually impossible for me to visualise lesser known people in my mind's eye at all. I can recognise my mother very easily when I physically see her, but even with someone I have known all my life I would still struggle to describe her to others and with lesser known people I usually wouldn't be-able...

Frankly, I find the following article from Fox News a bit bizarre. I can't wait to read what others think.

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Eccentric Jeremy Bentham's severed head to be displayed as scientists look for clues of autism
According to his final will, dated 30 May 1832, Bentham left to friends twenty-six mourning rings made by John Field in 1822. (Credit: UCL Culture)

Philosopher Jeremy Bentham's severed head will put on display for exhibit, with scientists also looking to see if the famed eccentric may have had autism.

Bentham, who died in 1832, was a leading philosopher during the late 18th and early 19th century, weighing in on issues such as social and economic reform. He established the "greatest happiness principle," which brought about the idea that the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people was the measure of right and wrong.

“The exhibition positions Bentham’s head within the context of his scholarship and his beliefs, with reference to prevailing ideas of the...

For some reason the idea that I might only recently occurred to me, so i did the usual and studied my behaviour, and my past.

I can now see that I go semi-verbal quite often. Shutdowns always cause it to an extent and so does exhaustion, and stress.

The only non-verbal episodes I remember were in play ground fights. They always started with a shouting match, that turned to insults and threats and then physical.

As soon as the threats started I stopped speaking, and literally could not have spoken.

Are any of you autistic males more comfortable in expressing more stereotypically girly? When I with the lads at college (All autistic or LD). We discuss things like Disney, Twilight and girly stuff in general and it's just normal. Where as most boys I speak to even if they like these things are really secretive about it.

My Mum thinks it's because its just a fact to them which I can see. I wonder if it's just because the lads at college feel safe there? Or is it like me and dolls? People have that much stuff to pick on them for that these things are the least of their problems.

Please define NT, how you see it.

The more I think about it, the more I am confused by the term. There are so many people i know who are NOT NT that I am beginning to wonder if NT is just the Unicorn.

I know "NT" means more than "normal." It is neuro functions....however, it seems only a few people are only in that phase and only for a little while and then pass out of it.

I am thinking first of all those who are NOT NT-(other than Spectrum People)

1. All patients with dementia, Alzheimers, and later life neurological illness. Since this will represent a huge number of all people (unless there is a cure), then most people will end as non NT.s
2. All those who minds are obscured with medications. Opioid epidemics, SSRIs , cancer meds, ADHD meds, alcohol, etc.....
3. Those with head injuries
4. Those with other brain diseases

These represent a huge number of people. So is NT just a phase? Is it like a transient state?

What makes one an NT?

1. Working does not make one an NT....

Many people always ask me how old I am. Even when first meeting me and think I'm younger than I am. I'm in my mid 30s and they can't believe that. I've always been very child like, shy and I'm nervous around my own age group because I fear what they'll say about me. Deep down I know I shouldn't worry so much but it still does bug me. Whenever I'm not around I've had friends make fun of me and talk behind my back so it takes awhile before I can trust people.

Love stuffed animals, toys, video games, Spiderman, anime, manga and hello kitty. These things I loved over the past few years and give me comfort. I've noticed this and was wondering if anyone relates?

I'm tired of others judging me but I know this is beyond my control.

I have not been posting in a while.

I have been in a relationship for the past 10 months. I am diagnosed with ASD and he thinks he has traits, but is not diagnosed. I tried to involve him from the beginning in my group treatment on autism, where we focused more on myself. But we also did not talk that detailed about it.

I informed that I in general find it harder to express myself and address things when there is some sort of conflict. It leads to me being silent for a time until i find the right words to express what I feel.

During the past weeks we had tensions arising. We came back from a week vacation together 2 weeks ago and more tensions arised also partly due to a water leackage in my apartment that I had to deal with. I spoke too much about it and he got upset and said he can't be around people when they are in an upsetting situation. As he is getting upset by it. I did not understand it at first, but he seems to get meltdowns and his way of dealing with conflicts is...

I cannot get this thought out of my head: the stereo-types of Asperger's and autism alike are associated with, in general, being literal thinkers, and being poor at understanding metaphors and similes. But metaphors and similes are my strong-suit, one of my greatest strengths. In my mind, almost everything has a metaphor. I can see the literal meanings, but I also see the possible metaphors that could go with them. Granted, I don't have very many Asperger's traits, but I also show traits that are contrary to NT. So, I'm really curious. Is there anyone on the spectrum out there who excels at metaphors and similes, and doesn't take many things literally? If there are, what kind of metaphors have you seen in your mind's eye?

Has anyone else experimented with substances before? I don't these days but I definitely used to.
1. I was definitely self medicating trying to tweak my brain to function properly being undiagnosed and unaware of what my problem was.
2. one obsession I definitely have had is substances. Their effects, potentials, interactions, pharmacological make up, how they interact with the brain and neurotransmitters, harm reduction etc.

Funny enough, I used to go to a lot of music festivals and help with the harm reduction and also enjoy myself (although, strictly with only a couple of closer friends, and never for long because I couldn't handle the sensory overload without also having my safe comfortable space). It's amazing how much easier it was to be in social situations for me on certain substances. I've always known that I was low in dopamine because of my experimentation and it's funny that now I am substance free but on a regular dosage of dexedrine (amphetamine/speed) from the...