Women and aspergers

It has often been reported that there is a higher male to female ratio of aspergers sufferers. Many sources suggest that girls with aspergers are missed at school as they are better able to compensate for the challenges autism brings. Other sources say that women and girls are often misdiagnosed because of the differences they experience in how aspergers effects their lives.

So I asked my other half how she feels her aspergers is affected by her being a woman. And her main point is the challenge she has for a certain few days a month. My other half has found ways to copy with social situations, to mask and hide her communication difficulties with humour. And, quite often when she tells someone about her autism we have both been given the 'I don't believe it' line or the 'don't you cover that well'. But there are a few days every month when it all goes to pot. And I can't say I haven't noticed it. Most women experience some sort of PMS. I know myself, I get irritable and angry closer to certain times of the month when my emotions get the better of me.  Now add aspergers to the mix, a difficulty to understand social situations and communicate with others, and simply you are asking for a problem.

No, I am not saying keep clear of all interaction for three days every month, but I am saying think about it. Men and women experience life, aspergers and the challenges that come with it in different ways.

Dealing with your partners depression

For a while now my other half has been struggling, I've seen her stumble through the problems she had with jobs, with communicating and with everything and I've faithfully stood by her side. And most recently I've held her tight while she has sobbed and sobbed telling me she is sad and can't find happiness.

Depression hits everyone at some time in their lives. I believe that at least once in our lives everyone hits that limit on the edge of depression where they either sink or swim. And from personal experience watching someone sink and knowing that what you do isn't helping is a pain unlike anything else.

When Aspergers met Arthur

All of the time I am looking at ways to help explain aspergers to other people. Different ways to explain anything from what a meltdown is like to why my other half doesn't like a hug or someone standing too close to her.

So when my other half sent this to me I felt like I had to share. This simply describes what it is like to have aspergers, to not understand others and to view the world differently in simple terms that everyone can understand.

Plus it's Arthur and the gang, a cartoon I spent hours glued to the tv watching as a child!

Braver than she thought

My moment with the ball

So like I mentioned before last weekend was my first England Deaf Rugby match, yes we won 22-12 to local team Penallta in Cardiff and it was a great day. But leading up to that day was a nightmare, even the night before we went I had my other half on the phone crying saying she just couldn't do it.

I wouldn't take no for an answer, I know this sounds mean and horrible but I knew once she was there, she knew our hotel rooms were near each other and she had calmed down she would really enjoy the weekend.