Is it just me or does Asperger's squared equal disaster at times?

[agent_cooper]

I have been working with a guy (who I am pretty sure has Asperger's or at least something similar) for over a year now. Although he is not technically my boss, he is in that sort of role (assigns tasks to me, reviews my work, etc).

I am on the verge of a mental breakdown at this point. Sometimes, it's great to interact with a fellow aspie in purely social context, but it's been horrible working with this guy. His communication problems combined with mine...and then I look like I have productivity problems.

He has a reputation of being extremely difficult to work with. My supervisor, the one who assigned me to the aspie guy, keeps wanting to try to work things out. I have complained before, and pointed out that I'm not the only one that thinks this guy is tough to work for, but each time my supervisor tries to get me to keep trying.

I really can't take it anymore. I'd prefer to get fired than to have to work with him any longer. Suicide pops into my head every Sunday night before I have to go back on Monday morning. My psychologist wrote a letter today for me to give to my supervisor, requesting that my job situation be changed right away to avoid a long-term absence from work.

I just don't understand why I have to be the one to work with this guy.

Anyone else have trouble with working with another aspie?

 

[Ste11aeres]

I think it's very much of an individual thing, having to do with the two individual Aspies in question.
Although you acknowledge that by including the words "at times" in your title.
My best friend is an Aspie. He is awesome. And a family I grew very close to before they moved away were an Aspie family. But, I have had difficulty with some other individuals who I think may have been Aspies. So it depends on the individual person, and on the history of the relationship.

 

[Judge]

I think it's very much of an individual thing, having to do with the two individual Aspies in question.
Although you acknowledge that by including the words "at times" in your title.
My best friend is an Aspie. He is awesome. And a family I grew very close to before they moved away were an Aspie family. But, I have had difficulty with some other individuals who I think may have been Aspies. So it depends on the individual person, and on the history of the relationship.

I'd agree. Besides, perhaps it's an academic question given that a Neurotypical's personality quirks can potentially be as toxic as any of us with A/S.

 

[Explosition_Rooster]

I've yet to work with someone who is an aspie, so my opinion is limited, but it does sound like it might just be nothing more than different personalities clashing together.

 

[Sparticus]

I've worked with difficult people. Not sure if any of them were Aspie. Try to find something about this person to admire.
Or have an attitude of wanting to help them. Sometimes a needy boss/client can be won over with special attention to them.

Invite this person to lunch if you can. Or find out about their favorite hobby & let them talk about it + ask questions.
Exercise or a hobby might help. But having reread your words I understand where you are at. Right now is a crisis time but it will pass. Think to yourself "in five years from now how important will this be to me?"

The letter you got hopefully should change things. Last resort is to get fired for a good reason so you can still collect unemployment.

Good luck.

I have been working with a guy (who I am pretty sure has Asperger's or at least something similar) for over a year now. Although he is not technically my boss, he is in that sort of role (assigns tasks to me, reviews my work, etc).

I am on the verge of a mental breakdown at this point. Sometimes, it's great to interact with a fellow aspie in purely social context, but it's been horrible working with this guy. His communication problems combined with mine...and then I look like I have productivity problems.

He has a reputation of being extremely difficult to work with. My supervisor, the one who assigned me to the aspie guy, keeps wanting to try to work things out. I have complained before, and pointed out that I'm not the only one that thinks this guy is tough to work for, but each time my supervisor tries to get me to keep trying.

I really can't take it anymore. I'd prefer to get fired than to have to work with him any longer. Suicide pops into my head every Sunday night before I have to go back on Monday morning. My psychologist wrote a letter today for me to give to my supervisor, requesting that my job situation be changed right away to avoid a long-term absence from work.

I just don't understand why I have to be the one to work with this guy.

Anyone else have trouble with working with another aspie?

 

[Judge]

I'm only now beginning to mentally backtrack in my life to examine who I may have made contact with who might be an Aspie. Certainly two cousins I have...on both sides of the family. But former co-workers? Hmmm...that seems more difficult to even guess at. I'll be pondering it for some time though...

This has become a personal quest for me in learning why and who I am.

 

[asnlifecoach]

I'd like to point out that how difficult it is to work with this aspie may also be similar to how NTs feel when working with you. (perhaps why your supervisor wants you to try to work it out with this guy?)

One of my aspie clients recently had an aspie roommate at college. This roommate was identical to my client in aspie traits, but according to my client this kid was so much more severe than him and impossible to deal with...the way many NTs felt when living with/dealing with my client.

I'm not saying that you should put up with it or anything, I'm just pointing out that I hope you remember and learn how difficult it can be to work with someone who won't budge. It's a feeling many NT parents, siblings, and partners feel. Whatever you decide to do is fine, but I am still glad you experienced this feeling.