Featured Dating help?

I am neurodivergent in another way.
Born with ADD (definitely not just a type of ADHD, no matter what current experts say) and am "intellectually gifted".
So like people on the spectrum I see things differently, and can have trouble understanding what normal (neurotypical) people mean.
I also perceive more than neurtypicals and am very sensitive, which means I have always had to take regular breaks from the demands of the outside world (which I can't live up to anyway).
ADD comes with hyperfocus, which is nice. The rest is not so nice.

Cherry on the cake of these genetic gifts is my acquired brain damage, which, combined with post-viral fatigue, messes with just about everything.

Most neurotypical people confuse me with their endless interruptions, and I end up not knowing what either I or the other one is talking about. After about 15 minutes I am exhausted.

Since my last brain damage I also can't organize visits anymore, which was always a bit of a challenge anyway.
Things like what kind of food and drink should I get for visitors, how much of anything, where do I store it, how do I serve it, etc. I end up forgetting it all when people arrive, especially if they confuse me with their interruptions.
I remember one visit where we sat in near dark for about an hour because I didn't think to switch on the lights.

My brother and his family are fun to be with, because they all know what it is like, but don't fuss about anything either. My brother has ADD and one of my nieces has pretty severe ADHD.
Unfortunately they all live abroad, so I don't see them very often.

My brain can't handle any sensory overload. It starts to tune out, which translates itself to diverse things like walking difficulties or inability to speak.

I now have a 'buddy' through a program for people with disabilities. That took them about 20 years, because no one ever knew in which box to place "my case", because I am neither autistic nor a psychiatric patient.
But the penny finally dropped, and they agreed that I need help anyway. I am still waiting for help with administrative things though, so that's a mess.

My buddy also has ADD, and he keeps an eye on my energy and coping levels. We have the same quirky sense of humour, so we have a lot of fun.
So after years of having to stay at home, I now go out occasionally.
He has been over for coffee a couple of times, but he reminds me of what I should do, or makes the coffee himself.
It is nice to just relax with someone without feeling insufficient and nervous all the time.

Wow, that was a long post, sorry about that.

 

It has been argued that this piece is not by Duchamp. The alternative story is that he was given it to display in an exhibition and that's how his name became attached. The actual originator was a truly exotic specimen named Elsa Baroness von Freytag-Loringhoven. She was married to a German aristo and living at the summit of society in New York when WWI started. Her husband returned to Germany to fight in the war and promptly died. The family closed ranks and she went from being a wealthy Baroness to a pauper in Greenwich Village. She also went a bit mad.

Lots of articles about her online.

I think the story related to Duchamp is entirely plausible.

 

Oh wow AJ, sounds like you have a lot on your plate!
So sorry for you.
My autism gives me ADD-like symptoms, so I can relate to some things you are saying.
I could have known you are also not a 'normie'.
Almost all of my friends/people I know closely are on 'a' spectrum.
They are also some of the most friendly, interesting people to be around.
Its so nice to have like minded people around. It feels like a tribe: you are not alone.
The jewelry people on this forum sometimes also feel like a tribe

 

Yes, there is certainly an overlap. Also with giftedness, btw. In all three cases the brain is simply 'wired' differently, so you perceive and experience things differently.

Seeing things differently also offers different perspectives, often very diverse, so never a dull moment.

Same.
There are quite a few people here on the spectrum, as well as other 'neurodivergents', so you are in good company. Funny brain, I call it.

 

......
It is nice to just relax with someone without feeling insufficient and nervous all the time.

Funny that.... ... because here , you're never insufficient or nervous ... only awesome and informative !!!!

 

I did not state who it was by, to be clear. I'm aware of the unknown origin of the work. There are different theories. Like Duchamp, being on the board of the new Society that was presenting the show, and wanting to test their position of accepting all works, had the piece dropped off by a female friend in addition to using the fake name. Or that when he wrote to his sister about it being by a female friend, he may have meant his female alter ego Rrose Sélavy.

 

One of our advantages is not being able to find Normal without a GPS.(LOL) We see the stuff the neurotypicals miss and make connections they never even thought about. And don't worry about details others think are vital - we have to be told about 'em!

There actually is a town named Normal in the USA, but I've (obviously) never been there. People who know Autism can tell I have it, that's how I found out in fact, but I'm fairly good at figuring out how to be mistaken for normal, partly due to being a "translator" for those who aren't as good at it. (lots of engineering geeks of all sorts, rail nuts etc are on the Spectrum.)

Huge crowds of humans are either fun, if i'm not expected to interact, or a problem.

 

Indeed,a very big spectrum,from exceptionally high functioning to catatonic I'd guess (spoken as a non-Psychiatrist).

 

There are days....

 

Hm the reverse of these statements, could also be true from the "opposite" perspective? (Perspectives of course, not really being monolith thank goodness.)

Humans being of a variety is key to our shared success, and certainly more interesting I think.

 

Sure can. That's why we need everyone. Five brains are better than one!

 

See, that's why I stick around.