You may struggle to read social cues and facial expressions, have trouble understanding when someone is using sarcasm or how to take turns talking.
As a young adult, you may have done very well in school – at least in the classes that interested you; but you were disillusioned to find that good performance did not translate into advancement in the workplace, as people who worked less and chatted more were promoted ahead of you.
You may feel lonely but find relationships a maze. If you belong to a faith community, you may still have a sense of being on the outside as others joyfully celebrate together.
These experiences are all common to persons with Asperger’s syndrome, now considered part of autism spectrum disorder. Persons with this condition have consistent difficulties with social communication and interactions, such as:
They have behavior patterns that are considered atypical and may include:
Therapy can help first of all by letting you know that you are not alone in your challenges and strengths. There is an ever-growing community who live and identify with this difference. Second, therapy can help heal any negative experiences from not having this difference recognized and supported. Also, working in therapy can encourage you that – just like any other skill – social interactions can be improved with practice. We can set target goals, such as remembering to ask for a conversational partner’s opinion, and work toward them.
Andrea has offered psycho-educational groups on Adult Asperger’s in the Houston area, focusing on navigating challenging areas such as higher education, career, relationship, and spirituality.
Contact her here, to make an appointment for a consultation.
As a young adult, you may have done very well in school – at least in the classes that interested you; but you were disillusioned to find that good performance did not translate into advancement in the workplace, as people who worked less and chatted more were promoted ahead of you.
You may feel lonely but find relationships a maze. If you belong to a faith community, you may still have a sense of being on the outside as others joyfully celebrate together.
These experiences are all common to persons with Asperger’s syndrome, now considered part of autism spectrum disorder. Persons with this condition have consistent difficulties with social communication and interactions, such as:
- Starting up a conversation,
- Taking turns talking, or
- Understanding non-verbal cues.
They have behavior patterns that are considered atypical and may include:
- Following rigid routines,
- Maintaining interests or collections that others find unusual,
- and tolerating or being bothered by intense or faint sensations.
Therapy can help first of all by letting you know that you are not alone in your challenges and strengths. There is an ever-growing community who live and identify with this difference. Second, therapy can help heal any negative experiences from not having this difference recognized and supported. Also, working in therapy can encourage you that – just like any other skill – social interactions can be improved with practice. We can set target goals, such as remembering to ask for a conversational partner’s opinion, and work toward them.
Andrea has offered psycho-educational groups on Adult Asperger’s in the Houston area, focusing on navigating challenging areas such as higher education, career, relationship, and spirituality.
Contact her here, to make an appointment for a consultation.
