Asperger's & Autism Forum

1. Shyness and anxiety
I am naturally shy and anxious. I can talk to women in general social situations but when it comes to approaching them for dates, the shyness magnifies exponentially and I become anxious about getting rejected and facing another failure in life. Whenever I go out, I feel awkward and uncertain of what to do socially.

2. Non-religious
I live in a area where people are generally Christian even if they don’t take the tenants of Christianity very seriously. I grew up as a Christian but de-converted when I became clinically depressed. Why don’t I go back to Christianity? Even when I was a Christian, that didn’t necessarily translate to positive social interaction.

3. Bad body shape
I am overweight to the point I am borderline obese. I have fat hanging off my chin, my chest, my stomach, my sides, and my butt. Oddly, my forearms are thin and my hands are very weak. I have exercised to try to trim off the fat but I apparently do everything wrong and I get...

Yesterday I was waiting for a bus and when it arrived and the driver asked where I was going I had trouble speaking, I panicked and it got worse until I was only making strange sounds. She was very nice and helped me but I would like advice on what I could put on a card that helps people understand I am having trouble speaking.

I have the equipment and software to make permanent CR80 plastic cards. They look like gift cards you may have seen or a gym membership card. They are colorful and very durable. If needed I can put a photo on them.

What words could I use to explain to someone I would show the card to that I am having trouble speaking?

I would also appreciate any ideas for design, including pictographics that could help.

See Thread name.

Okay so now I have found others who do this too. I need fresh tactics.

Every day and night, I rummage through old conversations I have had, either recently or even years ago. I think about how I should have worded it, reconsidered how they might have heard my statement and taken offense, what if they thought I was being sarcastic or manipulative (something I never am, but NTs are so they may not understand our direct honesty) how I overshared and am now embarrassed, or how I said (or did) something outright strange and weird (to them) and am now humiliated.

Each of these thoughts can pop into my head at any given time, unprovoked, and then I have a strong desire and urge to bang my forehead on the wall multiple times (interestingly, before diagnosis I always wondered where this desire came from). Worry not, I do not bang my head, I restrain myself. But the internal pain is there, you know?

This has benefited me in some way, because I have learned much...

My father works in a dead end job and so do I. He AND I could write for the Atlantic if we wanted. Do any of you feel like this?!? Just bc you autistic you are just..well...hopeless?? Just curious.....

You try to get into a conversation with someone. Then someone butts in and then that person focuses on that person and the conversation is over because they are talking to the person who butted in.

I just saw a post on Facebook about the upcoming “Autism Awareness Month” (In April).

It focused primarily on not supporting Autism Speaks (I found this nice summary of the problems with Autism Speaks and posted it in the comments).

But I got to thinking, “awareness” isn’t good enough. It basically means, “Be aware of this problem.” It still phrases autism as a problem.

What we need is acceptance. Accept autism, accept those with ASD, and work with them.

I wish I knew how to make social movements go forward. I want to see this happen.

I mean on the street where everything is loud. Example cars and buses zoom buy and they are loud. Horns and sirens are the worst. Here is an example.
Then when you are in a crowd of people talking at the same time does the noise level of them talking sound loud the same coming from all directions?

Or if it is quiet in the same room you can hear the buzzing of the lights or sound speakers. That's what I experience at Church on Sundays.

I use to think it was normal growing up my entire life with amplified sound until I found other ASD with the same issues. No wonder I use headphones listening to music outside.

Hey everyone. I have a question and a story to tell.

My question is: Do you self-medicate? If so what works the best for you?

My story: I've always felt anxious, different, and like I'm living on the edge. This led me to start self-medicating at an early age. I think the first two beers I drank were some Miller Ices at around the age of 10. It tasted like crap and at first I didn't understand why adults I knew drank it. Once the buzz hit me though, I understood. I felt great for about 45 minutes, then I barfed my guts saying "I'll never do this again.." Alcohol never did agree with me, however now I will have a night cap or two now and again.

Then when I was 12 years old, I scored some cannabis off one of my older friends. I remember making a pipe out of a coke can and smoking that bud. I enjoyed the smell and the flavor right away. (The friend had taught me how to inhale it properly and I did actually catch a buzz.) I then proceeded to have the most enjoyable lawn mowing...

I get a word or phrase stuck in my head for several days/weeks at a time. It's not uncommon for me to repeat it 50-100 times a day.

What's stuck in your head right now?

At the moment it's the term "Crusty jugglers" from the film Hot Fuzz. I love doing accents and silly voices, so I'm putting real emphasis on it when I say it in a West Country accent
Ed

I don't mean to keep adding more threads, but sometimes I just have more questions and stuff than others. And sometimes one thread will make me start thinking which leads to something else but different. So I apologize first.

But exaggerated responses. When my mom was still here, whenever she had to go for a medical test, she'd let all her kids know and most the time, at least us 3 girls were always there. My daughter in law's mom is the same way - any and every test all her kids are there, often best friends and other family members.

I'm quite opposite and I think I tend to underexaggerate. Most people I know who have had heart caths have had prayers requested, have family with them for the test and so on. Me - I was more like, "Yes, having a cath tomorrow, but no big deal." I went by myself - didn't even ask husband to go with me. Had surgery on my neck - no big deal, I'll be fine, no reason anyone should have to be there. Okay - that one I was glad my sister (even...