Who here's special?

The Common Room Members, Inc.
#1

THIS THREAD IS IN NO WAY AN INSULT. Do not be offended, please.

Well, I have Asperger’s, and lately I’ve been noticing tons of people around here have Asperger’s. I’ve always wanted to talk to other Asperger’s patients. What are your compulsions? Do you have a point of focus, and if so, what is it? Mine is toy Story and The Incredibles. When I get excited, my hands shake eratically. I have a horrible temper, and I get offended/cry very easily. When I was 7, I broke my left arm, cut my head open on a door hinge, and, as an effect, got a spinal infection all in 2 months. My arm only hurt when the doctor made me do a thumbs-up. My head only hurt when I recieved stitches. My back didn’t hurt until I couldn’t breathe. In contrast, when my hair is pulled, my scalp is so tender that I may scream. I don’t like hugging or closeness all that well, and some of my relatives find that highly irregular. If you have a “disability”, let’s talk about them here.

#2

It’s really good that you can be so open and honest about your Asperger’s, IncredigirlVirginia. I have to say, I wouldn’t have been able to tell through your posts that you have Asperger’s or any kind of disability, so it just goes to show that people who do have it aren’t ‘weird’ or ‘strange’, and that they’re people with feelings just like everyone else.

#3

Honestly, I’m pretty weird, but I think it’s a good thing. “Normal” people don’t go anywhere, whereas weirdo’s like Walt Disney end up on top. I consider Asperger’s more of a “superpower” of sorts than a disability. We (people with the syndrome) excel at language, science, and sometimes art. I think my dad has it too, but he doesn’t believe in special needs. After I was diagnosed, I read about it, and just accepted it. I have no shame, because I love it. Here’s this, if anyone with or without a disability wants to read:

aspergers.com/aspclin.htm

#4

I have mild cerebral palsy. I had a seizure. I take medication to take care to control any seizures. I also am very narrow minded. i have been told that i have a big heart. I am loving amd caring, I don’t judge people because of my disability. I may have a learning disability.

#5

Aww :frowning: do seizures hurt?

#6

No, I blacked out and didn’t know that I had a seizure. I did feel lightheaded and dizzy before I had a seizure. I have fainted and blacked out previously

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#7

I tried reading up on Asperger’s about a year ago, but most of the articles I read just confused me. Some of them said it just plain didn’t exist, while others compared it to autism. Eventually I found this very informative video on youtube that was actually made by someone who has Asperger’s. He explained it very well, in a way I could actually understand, and it really opened my eyes. This is a great idea for a thread Virginia, and the perfect site for it too, as everyone here at Pixar Planet is respectful and courteous to each other.

As for myself, I’m not sure if this counts, but I have scoliosis; curvature of the spine. My friends call it scolioliolioliosis 8D I’m also hypoglycemic, but most of the people I tell don’t believe me.

#8

I don’t like being touched at all, especially on my back and shoulders. It kind of weirds people out when I shrink away from their touch. That probably stems from trust issues though.

I had a friend with Asperger’s once. He moved. :confused:

I’m not so sure I have a disability or anything. We don’t exactly have the money to go get me diagnosed, I don’t like self-diagnosing because I’m usually wrong, and my mom doesn’t think anything is wrong with me. I’m pretty sure I either have bipolar disorder or depression, though. Maybe more. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just desperate to not be just like all these “normal” people. To be frank the concept of normality frightens me.

Sorry if I came off as self-centered. I do that a lot.

#9

I have mild insomnia, if that counts.

I’m also an epileptic, though I haven’t had a seizure since I was 7.

#10

Well…I have ADD? Does that count here? Its a disorder…I faze out a lot, am extremely easily distracted, and don’t have a great short-term memory. It can get VERY annoying, especially since I’m a huge overachiever. But my meds actually help a lot.

Other than that, my friends and I are possibly very insane. We are also infected with dramatic Geekitis.

#11

I don’t like being touched either. I especially hate it when people touch my hair, which they seem to do a lot. But if you think you may have depression or bi-polar disorder, you should definitely talk to someone about that. Both are very serious and can have many negative repercussions, but they are treatable. And don’t worry, you don’t come off as self-centered. This is, after all, a thread where you’re expected to talk about yourself :stuck_out_tongue:

#12

Me too, though I don’t mind hugs or ‘arms on shoulders’. It’s just that I’ve been bullied and betrayed by friends before in high school, so I am more reserved and selective when it comes to friends. I usually don’t initiate affectionate gestures, but I do reciprocate them if I like the person enough.

Uh… I used to have asthma and eczema as a kid, does that count? 8D I still may have a mild version of the former, as I always get winded when I run in cold weather.

I also used to have mild OCD (like washing hands or ‘checking spots’) during my teenage years (probably as a stress-self-control-measure during aforementioned bullying incidents), but I don’t do that anymore. I still am pretty much a perfectionist though, so I put off doing things I want to or should until the last minute. xD

I used to be frightened of ‘special people’, I remember I went to this neighbourhood school (they’re the ‘non-elite’ high-schools in Singapore) where there was this effeminate kid who didn’t appear very bright, and I actually tried to sit as far away from him as possible, even though I was seated next to him! Even the teacher noticed! Then I realized he was actually a nice chap, and I gradually warmed up to him, and he actually became of one of my buddies! Which just goes to show folks, never judge a book by its cover.

#13

My grandmother (My Meema), the sweetest, cheeriest, most purely good person in the history of the world had depression. She first had it about 15 years ago, before I was born, and ended up being committed for a few weeks after 2 “incidents” (the grandkids were told she had a “blood pressure problem,” and weren’t told the truth until they graduated highschool, except for me). Then, six weeks before she died on May 5 this year, it came back, and it was one of the most horrible things in my life, to say the least. Its just…seeing this woman, who never got angry, was always excited over the tiniest of things, never thought of anyone negatively, and put everyone else’s needs before her own be in such a blank, emotionless state was very distressing, to say the least. She wouldn’t respond to most anything anyone said, and the only emotional reaction she ever gave was crying. I couldn’t even enjoy my Easter at all this year, because that was when she was sickest. She was well again for one day during a visit with my uncle. We thought she was getting better, but she ended up passing away. Its really hard for me to talk (or type) about it without crying (And yes, I am right now).

Bottom line, there is no such thing as “not the type of person to get depression,” and if you suspect you might have it, get help immediately. I may sound like a PSA right now, but speaking from a very painful personal experience, depression truly does hurt everyone who loves and cares about you. And it IS treatable. My mother thought she was going to loose Meema 15 years ago, but after she got treated, was able to live till age 72. She died from a different disease (though it may have triggered her depression).

Rest in heaven, Meema. I love you and miss you.

#14

I read all the posts here, and it’s comforting that many people here have hope over what others may consider a defeat to them. It’s comforting that many people here on the boards are accepting of themselves and others. Especially since I know what it’s like to overcome obsticles like that.

As long as I can remember I had been afraid of death and being in pain. If I heard of an illness, I would start believing that I had symptoms. It got to a point where I started getting anxiety attacks. And bad ones.

In my freshman year, the attacks got to bad that it led to me pulling out my hair, scratchign myself, and considering suicide. And I would have scream fits. My parents took me to the hospital. I had to start taking medication and seeing a psyciatrist.

I was diagnosed with OCD and an Axiety disorder. I started taking meds.

After that my life went forward. I was better in school, I travled to Europe, I started Future Farmers of America. It’s been around 3-4 years since I have gotten better, and I’m off meds. I still get small anxiety attacks and stressed easy, but not that it interferes with my life.

It’s a big deal that I’m telling ya’ll because I am emberressed of what I was like back then. But everyone here was brave enough to say something about themselves, so I figured I could too!

#15

Evil: I’ve tried, but one of the people I told just thought I had anger management issues and the other one really shouldn’t have been talking to anyone that had any anger issues ever because though she was a “professional,” she seemed to just be trying to provoke me. This was an adult! I don’t know why she did what she did, I really don’t.

TDIT: Well, I’m afraid of pain and I’ve always been paranoid, so that’s probably why I don’t like hugs or any touching really. Despite having been bullied and betrayed a lot as well, the trust issues don’t come from other people as much as my dad but that’s a long, angsty story for another time. Well, it’s not that angsty, it’s not an adult thing at all, I just don’t feel like I have to complain about not having a perfect household like I always do. No offense to anyone who doesn’t have a perfect household or anything…

#16

We’re pretty sure my brother has Apspergers, and I’ll say it from experience and not in a way to hurt anyone (cuz that’s totally not my intention)… it is probably the hardest thing in the world I’ve ever had to deal with.

I guess for a long time we just thought he was sorta “different” because he overreacted to everything, was obsessed with video games and Legos and never let up on it, hated perfectly normal foods, repeated something he’s said already, didn’t get jokes, etc. the list goes on. It wasn’t until recently that my piano teacher mentioned to my mom, “Why don’t you do some research on Aspergers syndrome… I think that might be what his problem is.” So she did some research, and sure enough all the symptoms lined up.

He thinks I hate him, and I know the only reason he thinks that is because I get very annoyed with him. It doesn’t help that I’m not a very patient person, and I’m not gonna lie, most of the time he totally gets on my nerves. Can I ask you guys with Aspergers something?.. if someone makes you mad or annoys you, do you tend to hold a grudge against them? It sounds like a mean question, but maybe hearing it from you guys would help me get into my brother’s head. C8

I understand that this is the way he is and we have no control over it, but sometimes I really want to tear my hair out, and for the past several months I’m not even sure how to act anymore. I want to be nicer to him and try to understand him, but you have absolutely no idea how hard it is. :frowning: Maybe if I had known that was his problem several years ago, things would be better now… I don’t know.

As for me, I don’t believe I have any kind of mental disorder… but I have this strange phobia-type-thing of losing teeth. I’m not really sure why, but it really stresses me out, especially at night. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve worn my plastic retainer in my mouth every single night for the past three months, when usually I’d go whole weeks without wearing it. It probably stems from the fact that I’ve had dreams of my teeth falling out and getting all misaligned in my mouth since getting my braces off, and that fear’s only increased. I mean, sometimes I’ll be eating or something, and if I bite down a certain way that feels weird, it totally freaks me out. So, I’m not really sure what’s up with that, but it’s totally minor compared to what most of you have already talked about! :laughing:

little chef

#17

LCE09: that sounds very familiar!!!

Mental illness runs in my family. My mom’s mom was molested, and(no offense) went crazy. My aunt has Depression, and I believe my dad has Asperger’s as well. Personally I love having Asperger’s, but I’m just weird like that…

Evil-Genius-27, My dad didn’t believe it existed at all, and many people don’t. Now he does, and I think he has it, too :laughing: the irony…

I don’t get many jokes, either, and yes, I will not forgive you if you insult or berate me. Many people here are on my “list”, so yeah…

#18

I have speech problems, which means I can’t always speak clearly. I may saw some words wrong and I also talk fast alot. I did have some Spec Ed classes but I liked them and made alot of friends in those classes and Reguler Ed classes,

#19

I probably need a special ED math class, but my papers say I’m not stupid enough. :confused: It’s nice that I’m not stupid I guess…just really weird. I’mreally tired of people saying their kids have Asperger’s, when the doctor says they don’t. Not cool. Kristyn, the girl living with us, lied and said she has ADHD and Scytzophrenia. I’m tired of this. She is legally Retarded, but she wants attention and keeps pretending to have MORE disablities. If anyone’s wondering, my Asperger’s causes me to be emotionally unstable, which is why I made those immature, stupid posts that made all the older members hate me. Sorry. And I get really efensive about my PoF’s , Pixar and The Incredibles. I’ve been finding myself hating/disliking anyone who says they don’t like The Incredibles(school is HELL) or that it’s their least favorite, or anything like that. I’m very hard to like. :frowning:

#20

Most of my Spec Ed classes were to easy, I got all As and Bs.