My name is Hannah Quinton. I am 24 years old. I live in England. I have a dog. I'm married. I have blue eyes and I'm unsure of my natural hair colour. I like Disney films and summer evenings. My favourite food is pizza and I hate mashed potato. Oh, and I have Asperger's Syndrome. Most people associate Asperger's syndrome with characters like Sherlock Holmes or Sheldon Cooper. The reality is quite different though. To be honest, if someone was to meet me in passing they probably wouldn't notice anything remarkable about me, apart from my hair is currently turquoise.
Asperger's syndrome is something that is present from birth until death. There is no cure and to be honest, even if there was I don't think I would want to be cured. Asperger's syndrome is a part of the autism spectrum and although there are bad points (e.g. I find it difficult to cope with a change of plan or routine), there are also good points (e.g. I have an amazing attention for detail and notice small things that others are oblivious to).
We Most neurotypical (people without autism) also associate the condition with somebody who has no friends and has a difficulty socialising. I DO have friends. I may take longer to build up friendships than a neurotypical person and I may say things that some people feel are inappropriate (if you ask me how you look in an outfit I will be honest. I'm not trying to upset you, I would want someone to tell me the truth about how I look so I treat others accordingly) but I actually have a really good group of close friends.
I am trying to share my experiences and tell my story on as many social media platforms as possible. I hope that by doing this, other people struggling will be able to pluck up the courage and get themselves the help they need. It took me 23 years to get my diagnosis and I hate to think of another person struggling and feeling alone like I did before. I have learnt so much about myself since July 2016 when I got diagnosed and I whilst I would never use my diagnosis as an excuse for any of my behaviours or idiosyncrasies, it can offer an explaination so that other people can understand me a little better too. I have now started an instagram account specifically to share and discuss my experiences and your experiences with Asperger's Syndrome. Whether you are a fellow aspie or someone wanting to learn more about it, please feel free to check it out - my handle is @aspieaethetic
No matter how alone you feel, there is always someone else going through the exact same thing.
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