Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Exhaustion: It's an Asperger Thing

Running errands requires some social interaction. I often do this type of 'socializing' all on one day because I know I'll feel exhausted whether I do one errand or several. It's not the same fatigue one feels after lifting heavy boxes or cleaning out the attic. It's hard to describe.

I have felt this way all my life, and I know that it's built into my perceptions and reactions because no "method' I have tried has changed how I feel, such as practice speaking with people, including people I know or like, or talking it over with a therapist, or learning relaxation techniques.  

When I'm speaking with someone I feel extremely awkward. I have no language or speech disability; what I'm saying sounds fine, but it feels wrong. I look at the other person and have no idea whether or not my awkwardness is apparent to them. It probably doesn't matter. I would feel uncomfortable even if the person came right out and said, "You sound perfectly normal to me," or "Wow, you are one odd human being."

What causes this type of simple verbal exchange to use up so much energy? The explanation that feels correct is that it requires me to focus my mind in a way that is not normal for me.  This takes great effort, as if I'm a fish that has been lifted out of the water and is gulping for air. When I return home to my comfort zone, or escape to the countryside, I'm a happy fish that has been released into it's proper lake or river.


"Look Henry, you caught an Asperger. Better throw it back!"

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Good News! New blog on Wordpress http://aspergerhuman.wordpress.com

A new blog on Wordpress / http://aspergerhuman.wordpress.com

Asperger: The HypoSocial Human

in contrast to Neurotypical: The HyperSocial Human

The new blog asks, How did we get to the present state of human development, in which a new, hypersocial human (Homo sapiens sapiens or Modern Human -  a domesticated version of Homo sapiens), which has existed a mere few thousand years, has eliminated older humans? 
 
Sneek peek: I explore the
Social humans gave up a lot of brain power
in exchange for the false security of 
supernatural beliefs. 
 possibility that Asperger individuals retain legacy brain functions that were common for 95% of human history, prior to the Agricultural Revolution, an event that challenged and changed humans in ways far different than those that shaped early humans. Permanent settlements, a dramatic increase in population density, and dependence on labor intensive agriculture, transformed an ancient vision of seamless reality into the steep pyramid of social inequality that rules the peoples of earth today. 

Whatever happened to our wild ancestors?