I've noticed that there are quite a few members of this forum who have disabilities. Thus I think there should be a thread where members can talk about their disabilities, mental or physical, without fear of ridicule. In this thread you can talk about the advantages and disadvantages about your condition, ask for advice from others if you feel inclined, or, whether or not you're disabled, even give advice to those who ask. Non-disabled members are also welcome to talk about any disabled people they work with. By doing all that, maybe we can get to know each other better.
First off, both me and ssetta have Asperger's Syndrome. It's a form of autism which affects social skills, which creates a burden on one's childhood. It's very hard for someone with Asperger's to adapt to an environment, even if they've been there for a long time. But with me, I've made a good name for myself around the college I attend. My high school years were 90% pure torture, so you can imagine what a relief it is to make a fresh new start. I talk as much as I can with other people, in or out of my classes. Sometimes I'm a bit TOO self-conscious, but then again, so are a lot of people. Having been tortured and teased throughout high school, I know by now what makes a good impression and what makes a bad one (this especially applies towards this forum - I know what kind of posts give others a bad impression of you). But the more people I get to know, the bigger my confidence becomes. Since high school I've been yearning for a close relationship with a woman, but I tried all the wrong things, and thus was lectured sternly on how to behave around females. After awhile, I just stopped trying and started acting like a total eunich around them (talking about anything but romance) ... and astonishingly, it got pretty good results. Right now I'm dating a wonderful woman named Ronna, whom I met in a class last quarter and we've been dating since November. My relationship with her is the closest I've ever come to having true love. I'm doing things with her (and her younger sister Mindy, who also likes me) that I used to dream of doing with girls in high school: having nice, meaningful conversations; going to movies; dining out; and just plain exchanging happiness in general. Mindy also informs me about any faux pas I might be curious about ... now that's the kind of help I wish I had in high school.
As advantaged as this makes me sound, I must confess that I still feel a little disadvantaged. For example, at times I can get competitive. Thanks to my high school years, I often don't feel very attractive ('cause I'm not blonde or blue-eyed), Thus, I tend to rely on others to cheer me up (mostly my mom or my dad, and sometimes even my sister), because when such thoughts fill my head, it becomes harder and harder to make myself feel happy. Then again, you might say it's because I dig my own social grave since I decide to be by myself more often than be with people, because frequently, I'm extremely at peace by myself. However, I do get lonely, and I yearn for the company of others, but I'm slowly taking steps to expand my social network. It's not as easy for me as it is for everyone else (or so I've led myself to believe). Still, as long as I keep my head filled with happy thoughts, like knowing that Ronna and Mindy both find me attractive, I feel complete. For me, depression is a feeling that comes and goes like life itself.
Just like
ssetta thinks it's not fair that Hilary Duff is given more attention than classic Sesame Street, I think it's not fair that more attention is paid to the field of acting than that of animation (the industry in which I plan to make a name for myself). Then again, they are two entirely different art forms, and each one is special in its own way. As long as I keep that in mind, then I'm all right.