so i just found out i am mildly autistic at age 20?!

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It's up to you to decide what comes next. If you have other conditions like anxiety or depression, you should consider therapy. If you'd like to work on your social skills, there are social skills books and groups out there, some geared especially toward people on the spectrum. You might want to talk to other people with Asperger's - there are online forums like http://www.wrongplanet.net, or there might be a support group in your area. If you need accomodations at work or school, you can probably get those with your diagnosis. Maybe you don't really need or want anything right now - just reflect on what getting diagnosed means for you and your life. You may be able to put some past events in perspective now that you have a better understanding of how your brain works. There isn't really a right or a wrong thing to do after being diagnosed. It just depends on what you're working on and where you are in life. Best of luck!

I have Asperger's

Hey, a fellow Aspie!! Welcome to our community! :)

Having Aspergers isn't anything to stress about. You already know who you are, but I would do a little research if I were you so that you can put a name to some of the things you experience (things like a love of a certain thing or activity that you go to to recharge, or being uncomfortable in certain materials of clothing).

Just remember that nothing has changed. The best thing you can do is educate yourself. Do your best to be aware of some of the more Asperger-y things you do everyday so that you can focus on keeping those things to a minimum. But also know that Aspies share a very unique point of view, so be proud of having skills that all those neuro-typical people could only dream about!

I also have Aspergers Syndrome.

So, you look at the last 20 years, through which you've always had this disease, and you realize that you're the same person.

Just because you have a new label doesn't mean that you've changed; that's a common mistake. When someone tells you he's gay, does that change him? No. You just look at who he's been the last few years and realize he's been gay through all that time, you just never knew.

Aspergers is different from OCD, but how you've acted and how you act hasn't changed (:


Disclaimer: I'm not comparing homosexuality to a mental disease, that was just a personal experience of mine that I could relate to. I don't mean to offend anyone!

Autism is over diagnosed nowadays.
If you have some personality issues that someone wants to blame on something they use autism.
It is often used as a smokescreen for covering for simple growing up/social immaturities.
Doctors love to prescribe meds and patients often love the attention and desire to have some illness to draw more attention to themselves.
Some discussions, with someone sans agenda, as to how to overcome social awkwardness is better and, I suppose you could still keep the autistic label if you like it.
Stay away from meds. You can fix yourself without them.
Many people are expected to have all the answers . You are supposed to be living up to somene else's desires and plans, not yours.
Find your mentor and start working things out.

Just accept who you are. Try to resist the the medications they may try to push on you. Learn that this is who you are. Aspergers can be a great gift for some people.