My name is Tom and I have been living with Autism - Asperger's Syndrome, to be precise - my entire life, but it wasn't diagnosed until I had left the eighth grade. The reason for this is that my father, who died about five years ago, wasn't an accepting man and refused to believe that anyone with his genes could be 'abnormal.'
Even when I found out that I had Aspergers, it was of little consequence to me and I didn't realize how much it was affecting my life until recently. In Middle School, I was always the subject of rude comments and had less than five friends during my entire time there. It wasn't until my senior year in high school that I began to change and be more social.
Anyone else out there who may have Asperger's syndrome, I understand how hard it can be to make friends, especially if you are around unaccepting people. But I also understand that it can be managed and I have tried a great deal to manage some of the anti-social aspects of my condition.
Is it hard? Of course. But are the results worth it? Definately. If you or a family member has Asperger's syndrome and finds it difficult to manage, I understand how you feel. I still have many troubles that I have to manage because of this condition, but I have improved on many of the anti-social aspects I once had. So to anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation, don't give up! It's easy to get discourged but just have faith in yourself and it will turn out all right in the end.
Manchester, CT