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ClearGreenCrystal — Who am I? Asperger Insight
Published: 2007-10-22 03:01:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 2083; Favourites: 37; Downloads: 3
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Description Who am I?

Well, isn’t that a question and a half? I can say what I am, that’s easy. I am human, I am female, I am fifteen years, one hundred and ninety three days old (as of March 30th 2006) and I’m a little over five foot two inches tall. But who I am is still a mystery. I have no idea who I am, and the more questions I ask, the more the answers seem to elude me, I just seem to be faced with more and more questions. In all reality it’s a vicious spiral, dragging me down deeper into the midst of an identity… well… it’s not an identity crisis, more of an identity search. I’d love to know who I am, but the fact is I don’t and I may never know. I have to ask why it matters? Why do humans constantly strive for acceptance, to be wanted and to fit in with everybody else, whilst at the same time strive for their individuality? How can it be possible to be both?

I am half Irish, and half English, born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Those are facts. I’m good with facts, you can’t argue with them, you can’t change them. I don’t like change, it bothers me. Lots of things bother me. The school bell for example, it rings one minute out from the BBC clock, that probably shouldn’t bother me, but it does anyway. I have to have a special routine, I watch TV at a certain time, I brush my hair at a certain time, and I live my life according to this schedule of certain times. When my routine is disrupted, that bothers me. People! They bother me a lot. I don’t understand them and I don’t expect them to understand me – how can they? I don’t even understand this ‘me’.

There’s that girl again – ‘me’. Even though I keep mentioning her, I don’t really know who ‘me’ is. I know that she’s not anything particularly special – kind of bright in the intelligent sense rather than the social sense, she’s not very pretty, and is often misunderstood; dismissed as difficult, or awkward. I suppose I am difficult, I suppose I am awkward, but why bother telling me it, if I already know? The other day when I cried in frustration and refused to talk to anyone, someone called me a ‘brick wall’ that really hit a nerve. As I’ve said before and will most likely say again, I don’t understand people. Well emotions confuse me even more. I think they’re completely unnecessary, they’re nothing but a waste of time.

I’m like a computer; I take information in and I process it. Emotions do not compute. It’s like; recycle bin, control alt delete, system failure! So… I turn on the anti virus and block it all out. I am a brick wall, but don’t call me one; I’ll only end up crying. I cry a lot, for a girl who doesn’t understand emotion. I tend to cry out of frustration, when things don’t go my way, confusion, when I know what’s right and everyone tells me it’s wrong, sheer irritation when things aren’t it order, or sleep deprivation when I’ve been up all night, rather than cry for feeling sad.

I don’t sleep. At maximum a few hours rest each night, the minimal needed to keep myself alive. That’s another thing I don’t get, another meaningless waste of time created by this species that claims I am a part of it. Why do people only live part of their lives and spend the rest of it sleeping? If we’ve been given it, why waste approximately one third of it with our eyes shut? While you sleep away at 3am, I’m awake, living my life. You might think it’s lonely, but at least I’m living and I like being alone. Not only do I not understand people; I don’t like them either. I don’t get along with them, and never seem to adhere to their so-called ‘logic’. So being alone suits me, and it always has done. As soon as I was old enough to crawl, I’d try to crawl away, as soon as I learned to walk I’d try to run. I never let anyone too close to me; I know I’ll only end up getting hurt. The few people in this world who will accept difference and will tolerate ‘eccentricity’ as is often used in reference to me, will end up hurting me one way or another. They will all leave, move on, or die, so why bother?

People tell me that the ability to think and feel real thoughts and real emotions is what separates us from the animals, shows what people know. Nobody ever seems to agree with my way of thinking but does that mean it’s not real, and we’ve already established it’s system error with me for emotion – but does that mean I’m not human? I’m questioning facts now, which isn’t good. Facts are facts. I have two eyes, ten fingers, and two feet – yes, I’m most definitely human. Even if I don’t understand them.

I sometimes worry about getting through this thing we call life, when I am whatever it is I am (which is what I always will be) and people are people (which unfortunately, they also will always be). How am I supposed to function in humanity, in a society full of stereotypical up and down life forms, that seem to exist solely to frustrate, confuse or irritate me on some level?

I am an alien, a stranger here, one who does not for the most part, feel welcome in your world. You and I might sit under the same vast sky, breathe the same polluted air, and we might happen to be situated on the same planet, but it’s a completely different world to me. My world makes sense, facts are facts and nonsense is nonsense, whereas in your world people seem to have trouble with those two, there never seems to be a clear line separating them, but instead a space in the middle, an emptiness to which they can seep through and combine. Why can’t black be black, white be white and we ignore the shades of grey? Does there always have to be something more complex? Why?

I said at the beginning of this essay something along the lines of everytime I ask a question, I seem to end up with dozens more and I never seem to locate any of my answers, which irritates me. This essay has left me with so many more unanswerable questions, and I still haven’t answered the eponymous one.

Who am I?
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Comments: 29

WillM3luvTrains [2019-05-20 10:55:55 +0000 UTC]

I think I can understand much of this. For one, I don't like having my life disrupted, I didn't like having my routine disrupted either. I called myself an alien but for a different reason, I think I was just exaggerating!, although more recently I felt like an alien because of my autism, because of my being different, and probably being in my own world, where I almost always am, and hate being taken out of or told to get out of!

I also had a misguided sense of emotion. I too cried out of frustration, inconvenience, not having/getting my way, I even cried just for having homework!

I don't blame you for not liking humans, I've been there. Doesn't mean I hate them, although I guess I did, a few years ago I went through a period where I hated everybody, including my own mother. I've gotten over it but I'm still not much of a people person, I claim to be asocial, what people mistake as "anti-social." I do like to keep to myself. I mean I used to crave company, now I crave solitude, as much of it as I possibly can. Yes I'm lonely but I'm not physically lonely, I am, or feel, lonely in other areas of my life (do you feel that way too? Lonely but not physically?) Plus, not all, but some humans are or can be total jerks! some seem like jerks or we think they are but when we get to know and understand them better, they turn out not to be! Admittedly I can be a jerk myself! And if you don't like me, that's perfectly fine, you don't have to!

Although I knew what I was, my gender, my ace, my age, where I as from, who my parents were, till I found out one of my fathers turned out to be my stepfather! well, I did kind of suspect that, and where I lived, well, I knew more of that when I got older. I also know and remember what I saw even when I was 2 years old! But I didn't know I was autistic, well, nobody knew until I as 7, but my parents didn't tell me. And I realized I couldn't do things like other people could and had trouble with lots of things, but I didn't know what was wrong with me. I knew something was wrong with me but I didn't know what? I even came up with things like "I Know Nothing," "I'm stupid," "I'm below average," "I have a short attention span," "I have short-term memory." But I did realize I was autistic when or by the time I was 19, which at that age I later was diagnosed with Asperger's. I mean I heard I was autistic, but I couldn't remember it until one day!

Although I did laugh at some funny things, I didn't laugh at many jokes, at least until I was 14 or 15. And I laughed at things that weren't funny, which got me in trouble, and even made me think it was wrong to laugh, now I know that's not true, it's okay to laugh but not at everything. Plus I didn't understand crying about some things like certain movies or shows, or crying happy tears, that just wasn't me, yet. Kind of like I said, I cried over the smallest of all things, things that bothered me even though they didn't bother others. And even after being made to feel bad, parts of me still haven't changed.

I better not make this a long reply, but I am sorry you feel this way and I do understand some of this. I hope you can understand some of what I'm saying too.

Oh, and I too had trouble expressing myself. Much of what I said didn't make sense, even questions I tried to ask, and I froze up a lot!  I even felt like nobody was going to know what I was talking about. I felt like I was useless, and felt like I was doomed, and like others were or would be too! It felt hopeless! Thankfully, the only person I knew who knew what was wrong with me as God. I felt only he knew what was wrong with me. well, he knows it the best, better than anyone else does! Okay, I call God by his name "Jehovah." (Psalm 83:18, I'm Jehovah's Witness but I'm not here to talk about religion, I'm here to tell you that I understand and get some of what you said.)

I would also like to add this to my favorites.

I will go now. Thanks for taking the time to read this and have fun (it's my way of saying "Good luck" but I don't believe in luck but just showing I care!)

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SHOrTwiRED [2010-07-27 20:41:24 +0000 UTC]

Humans... blegh...



...gives me an idea...

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MOJAL [2010-07-11 21:05:12 +0000 UTC]

This was very well written, but I'd like to point out that not all Aspies are loners who avoid others. I love being around my loved ones, I'm just awkward. I also have depression, but I'm working to fight it and get off my meds. Hope you find your group someday soon!

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to MOJAL [2010-07-13 20:04:42 +0000 UTC]

Oh goodness I know that, I'm adapting to life as socially as I can and agree with your use of the word 'awkward'. I've sort of learned to accept that people will never understand, but I'm much less cynical. I wrote this a few tears ago. I only came off the antidepressants a few months ago. Glad you liked it.

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MOJAL In reply to ClearGreenCrystal [2010-07-13 23:47:53 +0000 UTC]

I'm still trying to get off mine. Good for you!

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Revaluate [2010-07-11 18:51:39 +0000 UTC]

Nice story. I don't dislike humans but i learnt how to adapt to 'act' like them.

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to Revaluate [2010-07-13 20:05:01 +0000 UTC]

Acting's a very useful skill in this world

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Revaluate In reply to ClearGreenCrystal [2010-07-13 20:13:09 +0000 UTC]

It is.

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to Revaluate [2010-07-13 20:16:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for liking the essay. I'm a little older now, a little wiser. Still just as difficult but much less cynical

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Revaluate In reply to ClearGreenCrystal [2010-07-14 11:39:39 +0000 UTC]

Yeah but you will adapt more probably.

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WolfsbaneRevolution [2010-07-11 18:02:27 +0000 UTC]

I have asperger's too and I really loved ur essay

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to WolfsbaneRevolution [2010-07-13 20:05:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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WolfsbaneRevolution In reply to ClearGreenCrystal [2010-07-14 01:09:40 +0000 UTC]

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WolfsbaneRevolution [2010-07-11 18:02:25 +0000 UTC]

I have asperger's too and I really loved ur essay

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Chisaku [2010-07-11 15:31:12 +0000 UTC]

This essay affected me deeply. These are just the thoughts I've had for a long time and still have. Well done! I could really 'find' myself in the words.

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to Chisaku [2010-07-13 20:07:04 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you can relate

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3zirconium3 [2010-07-11 13:37:08 +0000 UTC]

I like reading about another autist's experiences, and this is so well-written!! The thing that really interested me though, was the bit about sleep - do you really need only about 3 hours of sleep a night? If so, I'm jealous; I need about 8 hours or more, or I am a mess!!

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to 3zirconium3 [2010-07-13 20:06:43 +0000 UTC]

Clinically I believe the function-rate for sleep is about 4 hours. I go through severe bouts of insomnia during which I sleep much less than that but being a teenager occasionally I do stay in bed 8 or more hours... I prefer not to though.

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CelineDGD [2010-07-11 13:17:42 +0000 UTC]

Ohmigosh this is so emotional! i love it! really awesomely written!

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to CelineDGD [2010-07-13 20:07:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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CelineDGD In reply to ClearGreenCrystal [2010-07-14 21:27:30 +0000 UTC]

you're welcome!

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mutt-rivers [2010-05-06 20:57:42 +0000 UTC]

Have you ever wanted to leave? You know, not be here, anymore, in this world you don't understand, thinking that at the very least, that way, there would be some welcoming darkness, that even if you didn't exist anymore, neither would the confusion?

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to mutt-rivers [2010-05-07 10:48:23 +0000 UTC]

Yes, but I consider that to be more depression than Autism

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DoctorVorlon [2009-06-04 16:13:13 +0000 UTC]

It's wonderful to meet a fellow Aspie. Even more wonderful to meet one who shares my opinion that solitude is a valid lifestyle choice.

Remember: you're never alone so long as you have yourself.

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to DoctorVorlon [2009-06-07 18:45:58 +0000 UTC]

Solitude IS a lifestyle choice, though not always the best one

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Galaxygirllove [2009-04-01 00:28:25 +0000 UTC]

Wow...
This is really well-written!

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to Galaxygirllove [2009-04-02 18:54:02 +0000 UTC]

*curtseys* thank you

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grrlcake [2007-10-29 11:07:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow, you put that across really well.

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ClearGreenCrystal In reply to grrlcake [2007-10-30 04:30:15 +0000 UTC]

Thanks... it's actually being used as a medical reference

Ps: I love your sig. Bunny should dominate the world.

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