Why it is Important to Know

It is undoubtedly scary to learn that you are suffering from something that is different from the rest of the world, but it certainly does aleviate a lot stress and answers a lot of questions.

During the entire course of my life I have always wondered why I have have been different. After our son was born my wife and I were both stressed out by the level of energy he had. We also felt like we weren't good parents since we are not able to control our son, understand him, and be like everyone else.

We felt like we failed as parents.

Personally, Asperger has answered why I always felt different from the normal society:

• inability to accurately detect body language and facial expressions
• the way of thinking about social norms
• inability to correctly remember telephone numbers
• chaotic sleeping patterns
• obsession towards certain things (for me it's about data organization such as papers/files, computers, smart phones, etc.)
• elevated sense of concentration and detail when doing work (up to the level that progress is so slow and personal projects never finishes)
• unconventional ways of solving problems
• physical clumsiness
• feeling of anxiety in unfamiliar social settings
• not a good conversation starter
• likes to change how real words sound

As for our son:

• repeating words from the television
• repetitively moving his body such as spinning or other acrobatic positions
• physical clumsiness
• never idle
• intense concentration when doing things such as building his LEGO blocks, watching YouTube, playing with his other toys
• restlessness and stressed out at social gathering like weddings or parties
• misinterpretation of what people say to him
• chaotic sleeping patterns

The lists above are far from complete. They are from the top of my head at this moment.

It does feel as if we are blaming it all on Asperger syndrome, but at least we have a reason now and don't feel so stressed like before.

However, Asperger syndrome certainly is not an excuse to behave in different way than the normal society. Adults will be able to think and improve where they need to.

We may not be geniuses but most people Asperger syndrome function normally and live normally. It's just how we feel inside that makes us different.

- Abah