I'm 28. I'm female. I'm married. I have Asperger's. I didn't write that in order of importance but if I did, My autism would still be last. I was somewhat recently diagnosed, at age 22, due to the fact that my much younger brother was having some of the same behavioral problems that I did. He, being far more physically aggressive, was taken to counseling. My mother made the comment that, "He acts just like my youngest daughter did..." two weeks later and a few talks with a psychiatrist, I walked out with a bright and shiny diagnosis that explained nearly everything.
Up until then everyone just thought I was adorably socially awkward. To be honest, most of my friends still do. To be 100% honest, most of my friends haven't the slightest notion that I have any form of autism. I don't tell people. It's not something they need to know.
I told my husband a bit before we were married. He thought it explained everything... then he started reading up on Asperger's and realized that I may have autism but sometimes I'm just a douchebag.
I'm 28. I don't like making eye contact. I have a vast number of hand gestures that my spouse finds darling (*No* hands, *Happy* hands, *Angry* hands, *Jazz* hands, *No Wanna* hands) and can be used to very quickly ascertain my emotional state. I'm self-centric but not self-centered. My ears almost always hurt because they're the first thing to be overstimulated and my husband is just now starting to realize, after six months of marriage, that "I just can't be touched right now." isn't me expressing anger but me telling him I'm overwhelmed and need to be alone.
We're making it work. We're reading a lot of books. We're having long conversations where he has to remind me to make eye contact but he's no longer frustrated when I don't.
I love being the quirky socially awkward girl that knows more about Science Fiction than actual life. I love my husband. There's a strong chance he loves me more but, hey, we're not upset about.
Your kids will be fine, trust me, I was once them and I got through childhood mostly unscathed.
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Comments (3)
Thank you for sharing this.
You are a very admirable person. Good for you!
xo
This is really good post, thanks for posting:)