How many people with autism have developed a phobia specifically related to one of their sensory processing abnormalities?
[Please forgive my long response. Personality is my special interest.] My first thought is, asking this is like asking if a bear does his business in the woods. Yes. Having strong personal reactions to things is an inherent part of having an autism. I certainly do. My second thought is, using a medical model word…
What suggestions would you give to someone recently diagnosed with Asperger’s?
James, the first thing I’d keep in mind is, do not go through this alone. Of all the things I could suggest, this is the most important of all. I sense that you are a brave soul working hard to better himself. To succeed, you’ll need to be reminded often that you are, and will…
Socially, Asperger’s functions like a barrier between me and humanity. Is it also like this for you?
To begin with, I salute the questioner. This question is brilliant in how it goes right to the heart of the matter. In doing so, it captures the innocent wisdom of a young child asking a profound question, something we Aspies aren’t supposed to be able to do. This starkly contrasts with the attitude underlying…
If I have Asperger’s, does that mean that I am autistic?
To answer your question, I’ll need to offer a non-medical definition for the word, “autistic.” Before I do, start with this. Nelson, please do not trouble yourself with medical labels. Most DSMs (e.g. diagnostic manuals 1 thru 5), in their prefaces, admit to and apologize for the inadequate way they assign these labels. So while…
Could Getting An Autism Diagnosis Harm Me?
Sarah, you ask what is surely one of the more difficult questions to answer honestly about Autism; can getting this diagnosis harm you? My first response may be hard to hear. In many ways, it can. Our world sees this diagnosis as indicating something is broken in the person. This is not true in my…
Do people in creative fields have lower chances of getting dementia compared to the general population?
Rohit, I love your question, in large part because the general consensus leads to me feeling hopeful. For me, being creative (especially in music, arts, and science) has felt like the air I breathe for most of my life. Most experts have found correlations between engaging in creative, brain challenging activities and a lowered risk…