I lived almost 30 years before I was diagnosed with this "thing." I achieved well in academics, thought I was more or less "normal" (other than some "quirks"), and that was that.
Husband adored me both before and after the diagnosis. He never thought of me as "disabled."
My diagnosis "sheet" says I'm logical, analytic, with good "cognitive skills." I'm at the 90th percentile for all verbal comprehension WAIS-IV subscores, including 99th for vocabulary. I have no deficits with metaphorical or symbolic thought; actually, I have great strength in those. I graduated cum laude with a degree in English. _War and Peace_ is not difficult for me to understand. I even started college a year early.
I can also take care of my own personal hygiene needs, am well-groomed per that same diagnosis sheet, can do most independent living skills (though I was/am "slow" to develop and take care of a few), can give consent (quite happily so with hot and loving husband
), and so forth.
But I'm a social cripple!
Direct support clients with 54 IQs can socially manipulate me, and I get clueless. 6th graders can send me over the edge. I cannot command a classroom. I cannot make friends. I have executive functions and shortcomings at multi-tasking that hinder my work skills at multiple levels. I can handle taking tests and getting good grades easily, but socially, sometimes I seem like I'm a preteen.
This is such an awkward spot to be in, especially as a female! XX chromosome sorts are expected to have these great multi-tasking and social skills. I don't! I can reason philosophically and write giant treatises on neuroscience or theology, but I can barely carry on with another human being I don't know well. I'm also slow and methodical with practical tasks.
So weird of a place to be! It seems there is this big gulf between cognitive vs social disability, but few analyze how this can look, practically.
I am SO out of place with this stuff.
Aspiedom is strange. Would be easier if I were merely "autistic," or merely "neurotypical" -- one way or the other.
But to have all these "cognitive" skills, and few "social" skills, makes things stranger and more complicated.
Who else is in a similar boat, sailing along uncertainly in the river of life?
Husband adored me both before and after the diagnosis. He never thought of me as "disabled."
My diagnosis "sheet" says I'm logical, analytic, with good "cognitive skills." I'm at the 90th percentile for all verbal comprehension WAIS-IV subscores, including 99th for vocabulary. I have no deficits with metaphorical or symbolic thought; actually, I have great strength in those. I graduated cum laude with a degree in English. _War and Peace_ is not difficult for me to understand. I even started college a year early.
I can also take care of my own personal hygiene needs, am well-groomed per that same diagnosis sheet, can do most independent living skills (though I was/am "slow" to develop and take care of a few), can give consent (quite happily so with hot and loving husband

But I'm a social cripple!
Direct support clients with 54 IQs can socially manipulate me, and I get clueless. 6th graders can send me over the edge. I cannot command a classroom. I cannot make friends. I have executive functions and shortcomings at multi-tasking that hinder my work skills at multiple levels. I can handle taking tests and getting good grades easily, but socially, sometimes I seem like I'm a preteen.
This is such an awkward spot to be in, especially as a female! XX chromosome sorts are expected to have these great multi-tasking and social skills. I don't! I can reason philosophically and write giant treatises on neuroscience or theology, but I can barely carry on with another human being I don't know well. I'm also slow and methodical with practical tasks.
So weird of a place to be! It seems there is this big gulf between cognitive vs social disability, but few analyze how this can look, practically.
I am SO out of place with this stuff.
Aspiedom is strange. Would be easier if I were merely "autistic," or merely "neurotypical" -- one way or the other.
But to have all these "cognitive" skills, and few "social" skills, makes things stranger and more complicated.
Who else is in a similar boat, sailing along uncertainly in the river of life?