I could be on the borderline. I do know that I am not really good at socializing and I am shy. And don’t have a warm charisma.

Hey Dave, You seem like a cool dude with a good sense of humor in person!

Diagnosed with it in 2005. I'm low on the spectrum but it's still noticable.

Most bad symptom to me is the anxiety. Routines are rigid and if routine is distrupted some way the anxiety kick's in. If i know that in the near future happens something the way that i didn't planned myself, it cause anxiety to be worse until the situation is over. Good thing is that i have medications (Venlafaxine, Diazepam, Quetiapine). These helps me a lot. But routines still persist. Anxiety too, but it is much milded to experience. Other symptoms include fatigue. If i make some day very much hard work, i must rest least two days after. Not funny.

My anxiety is terrible and prevents me from doing the stuff I love most. It's a huge struggle for me and it adds even more that I had a tough childhood and I also suffer from PTSD.

Hey Dave, You seem like a cool dude with a good sense of humor in person!

Hey Henry, I’m just shy but I’ll open up when I feel comfortable. Always happy to visit you.

I don't have any clinical diagnosis, but I suspect that something is going on with my brain too. By reading some lists of the traits that are typical of autistic persons, I found that I share a good number of them (usually well above 50%), albeit I recognize that those lists can be pretty generic so that could actually mean nothing.

Anyway, I have pretty peculiar interests and some of them since I was a little kid (my interest in lighting started when I was 3/4 years old). I often struggle with nerves, anxiety, concentration, social events with a lot of people that I don't know and other things that are pretty much natural for "the average joe". But I'm in the process of learning to deal with these things. I had my good share of struggles when I was a child too, and being bullied for being fat didn't help me at all.

But if I have something, it's a mild form as besides causing me some psychological discomfort in certain situations, it does not impair my normal life in a major way. And after having lost about 27 Kg in the last three years, I gained a good number of self-esteem points (before it was very, very low) and that helps with my confidence, which is on the rise now.

I was diagnosed with Aspergers and ADD as a young child. I remember taking adderall from kindergaten age through 6th grade. I grew out of my ADD in my teenage years, however I still have some Aspergers tendencies now as an adult.

Even as a young child I would look at light fixtures and ceiling fans. I was fixated on anything emitting light all throughout most of my childhood. I used to think there was something wrong with me because I had such a unique and specific interest.

However, as I got older I found out there is lots of science and job opportunities with lighting design and lighting tech. I believe I have a God-given talent that allows me to see light differently than most other people. I no longer feel self-conscious about it and am currently working to get a carrer in the lighitng field.

I sometimes struggle socially and emotionally with Aspergers. I feel like I can be socially anxious and misinterpret others' actions. It makes me want to hurry up and find something I love to do with my life, something that brings me joy and gratification.

I resonate with what you said, @nicksfans . Though I'm not diagnosed in any way, I'm definitely... different. I guess you could say ADD / ADHD + a little bit of Aspergers? My biggest issue as a young kid was calling out (in class, so everyone hated me, even though I had the right answer), social situations (I had no friends till about 4th grade), and humor / sarcasm. I still suck at reading the room and am terrible at deciphering and compartmentalizing sarcasm and serious situations. My parents always thought that I'd grow out of my lighting interest, but instead it has grown stronger over the last couple of years...


I vaguely remember being a little kid and going to BJ's and BEGGING for those Alpan solar light 8-packs! I remember for my 5th birthday (2013) my parents got me two 8-packs for the yard. I was the happiest kid around for weeks after that. I also remember a neighbor giving me their battery-operated candle lights (which I still have to this day), an American flag solar light (which died a couple of years back), plus a couple of solar stake yard lights. I was what, four???

That sounds like me in some ways. Even as a child I remember what a big deal it was to get some sort of special lighting product or light bulb. While other boys in my class were getting footballs and baseball gloves, I always was asking for flashlights, a new ceiling fan for my room, glittery disco balls, colored party light bulbs, etc. My favorite memory is putting a crystal chandelier light bulb in my bedroom lamp and admiring the “diamonds” shining on the ceiling 

As an adult, I’ve learned that Aspergers has it both its difficulties and its advantages. I feel socially awkward, especially in my workplace and it seems like I can be a target for harassment and criticism. I have a hard time talking to some coworkers and managers, who all make me nervous. I have to try and work on my natural instinct to avoid eye contact when talking to others. Sometimes it makes me feel isolated and anxious, like I’m just hyper sensitive to workplace conflict and communication. This first “real-world” job is making me more aware of my social differences associated with Aspergers.

On a happier note, I feel like Aspergers gives me an incredibly keen eye for tiny details and an innate ability to sense differences in mood and atmosphere. I can tell easily between a soft white incandescent vs an identical soft white LED. My skill with lighting helps me to create an entire change in atmosphere with simple lighting manipulation. As I’ve enjoyed my lighting hobby for quite some time, I have extensive knowledge of many of the big-3 (GE, Sylvania, and Philips) lighting manufacturers and where each company has/had manufacturing plants and what product came from each one.

I’m hoping to find a career that I can put this unique skill set to use. It’s so great to know I’m not alone with Aspergers and there are people out there like me who understand the struggles that come with it. I’m accepting it as part of who I am as I get more comfortable with finding myself in my adult years.

@Camden, you are in a similar boat as I have in my experience.  I have learned to mellow out and deal with my associate and my manager(s).

Yes, I have attentive with details what I work with (I'm a PC Technician by trade) when that needs attention here.