Triste, describe yourself as you were as an aspie adolescent (age 12-14ish roughly). What obstacles were put before you, how did you handle them, did you ever get any help from anyone?
I was quiet, shy, insecure, especially about my appearance. The social aspects were mind-boggling. I didn't fit in anywhere. I did well in school despite falling in with the stoners and doing every drug put before me. I also practiced ballet at the time, which didn't really fit into the stoner stereotype. I was, and still am, a fish out of water in whatever situation. My mother, who is an aspie, never talked to me, was hostile, and unseeing of how troubled I was. I had no other family, nobody to turn to for help. Not that I knew at the time that I needed help, of course.
I believed that if I could just get away from my house, after high school, that I would be successful in life. So I had some hope.
I've had anhedonia ever since I can remember, which sucks, and I still haven't figured out how to deal with that. Is there an anhedonia bulletin board, I wonder?
So now I have teenagers of my own, and I wish it could be easier for them than it was for me. Even though they don't have AS, they've been subject to the difficulties brought on by me and my inability to deal with the world, as well as by their father, who is an alcoholic and smokes crack and hasn't had a job in the 10 years since I left him. Poor choice on my part - I was only 19 when I met him.
Speaking of help, I just today decided that we need help. So this morning I called the local support services office, requesting a case manager for me and the kids. I'm at home waiting by the phone to hear back from them. I have hope that they can help us out. We'll see, but I am going to try to advocate for us as best as I can, given my limited functioning at this point.
