[JazzGirl]

Hi. I, too, am an AT. I am an Aspie who has epilepsy and also Tourette Syndrome. Argh, this is hard to do. My epilepsy is mostly under control. My Tourette's is not. I have a very high IQ. No, I don't scream, yell, swear. I do have vocal and physical tics though. I make unusual sounds I cannot replicate purposely. I look as if I am dancing seated in a chair sometimes and it is totally beyond my control. I try desperately to control all of my tics but when I do they are made far worse than if I had not done so.

I have found, I still have little recognition of facial expressions and do not always recognize, correctly, the emotions of others, either facially and sometimes vocally unless it is a very basic emotional reaction. I am, however, empathic and do have compassion. As I get older, I find I am much more able to "appear normal" without trying so hard. I have come to the place in my life where I really don't give a rat's a** whether others find me NT or not.

I do hear from others, I am open, refreshingly honest, without guise or guile, an innocent, childlike, the glass is half full girl and I would wonder, many years ago, WHY people said those things. I asked. The answers were varied but most were " because you are so wonderfully different. I love your perspectives and the fact that you cannot play mind games. Or Wow, you are able to look at yourself from your own perspective, the perspective of the other person involved and also as if you were a third individual who was simply looking on.

I do not understand vague references. If a word has more than one meaning, I become confused in conversation (so I ask or tell people this.), If a question can have more than one answer I get the RCA dog look. Geez, Not easily confused am I? My teenaged son taught me sarcasm, but only the self deprecating type. I still find 99% of sarcasm, dry humor, any kind of subtley goes right over my head. My facial expressions or even tone of voice do not match at times to my inner emotions. I cannot lie. I spit out the truth even if it means I am in trouble or perceive I could be in trouble IF I perceive it , lol.
* I would suck as a criminal * lol.

I, like others, perseverate on things that hold my interest, but in a much less intense manner than when younger. I now recognize conversational cues much more often and quickly. Again, thanks to my teenaged son. My poor son. But he tells me NO Mom, your son with an advantage cuz I got you as a Mom. I'm rambling. I'll be back later. Time to hide out. I'm feeling overly exposed but needed to be honest.

I read this thread and wanted to introduce myself.
Jazzie