I sometimes have a desire to do things that I know I should not do. I have overcome these impulses because I do not like to live that way.

Since you say your spells come and go this could be how your body reacts to stress. Have your tried some stress management…taking up art or yoga? I do yoga and I started running and I have seen a great reduction in stimming and obsessive thoughts.

When I feel good about things and am in control of my life it is easier to manage the little things that used to set me off.

~Sarah

My cognitive function varies greatly.There are days like today,when I know I am losing it.I am heading for another string of bad days,when I have no idea what is going on.This is one of the big differences between autism,and Asperger’s.

By this time tomorrow I may be headbanging again,or simply staring into space,with no idea who or where I am.In other words,I revert to the way I was when I was a little kid.

These spells are not permanent,they do clear up. The fact that they come and go,is an indication I have improved since I was a child.

I do not want to be a ward of the state or give up my financial and personal freedom either. That is never going to happen.

Please consider really applying yourself to being able to live on your own and getting a Pell grant to go get some education like paralegal, electronics, or computer science. Our kind do well in these fields and the pay and benefits are good.

I was considered retarded as a child and I have a hearing processing disorder. I was unable to finish college. However, my life is more than a label of what my disabilities are.

Only you can decide what your limitations are going to be and what you can and cannot live with. Since you have the ability to voice these concerns you might have to ability to choose another path than the professionals have laid out for you.

I like working and making money. When I was a child no one thought I would be successful but they were wrong.

Good Luck,
~Sarah

I am just recovering from carditis,which I learned yesterday,was due to a flareup of shingles,my third.I get at lest two such serious illnesses a year,and lots of “lesser” stuff in between.

I spent most of yesterday at the hospital,and two hours of this,was in talking to the team that diagnosed me with autism.They are very concerned that I am not able to care for myself sufficiently to live on my own.They are very pushy about getting me into a state sponsored group home,because of the severity of my cognitive,and developmental disabilities.I was also told the waiting list was five years or more,so I needed to get on it RIGHT NOW !

Is there any way to avoid this ?The only relatives I have are my 79 year old mother,and my schizophrenic sister,whose disease is worse than mine.I dread the thought of having to give up my independence,having to account to another person for every penny I spend,having my internet usage monitored,and having to get rid of most of my cats and dogs,my bonsai,and my large,valuable record collection,which I continue to add to.

If anybody has any suggestions,I would love to hear them.

My other daughter has already told me that she wants to move out when her sister goes to University, so we’ve started talks with the Ministry about that as well. Of course she’s welcome to stay with us as long as she wants, but in her mind, people move out when they grow up. It’s going to be interesting, to say the least!

I’m also wonder where the mindsets of our government (state and federal) will be years for now.

Will health insurance issues be a thing of the past or a recurring theme in the future?

Will there be an increase in the number of behavioral specialists or will the lack of them still be an issue?

So many concerns…

To only have a crystal ball.