Thursday, 05 March 2009

• Mindblindness

  
  People often ask me, "So, Kari, what's it like living with someone with Asperger's?" 

  Ok, so no one really asks me that. But, I read something yesterday that I found very interesting.  Funny how I am still learning about it.  I can only imagine what someone with this disorder goes through on a daily basis trying to make sense of the world around them.  I know things to be true of Keenan and then read more and learn that it has a name or that it's a common 'trait' of Aspies, not just Keenan. 

  When Keenan was first evaluated, it was like this HUGE light bulb went on and all the years leading up to diagnosis started making more sense to us.  So, when I read this, yet another light bulb went on for me.

  One big challenge for those with high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome, is mindblindness (sometimes called brain blindness).  Mindblindness refers to the inability of people with Asperger’s to understand and empathize with the needs, beliefs, and intentions that drive other people’s behavior, and their own. Without this ability, Aspies cannot make sense of the world.  The world is constantly confusing them, and they go through life making mistakes because nothing makes sense (mindblindness).  Aspies cannot connect their own needs, beliefs, and intentions to experiences and positive or negative consequences, at least not on their own.  Many Aspies are unaware that they even have this problem, even if they know they have Asperger’s!

  Huh..."mindblindness"...huh, it has a name.  We know this to be so very true of Keenan and that it was Asperger's, but did I know it had a name? nope.

  ---

  Other random stuff:

  • Misunderstandings can cause a lot of undue hurt & stress. 
  • We should guard our words carefully.  Proverbs 15:1.
  • I'm amazed how far skunk smell travels.
  • No one is too old to learn.
  • I can't imagine life without music in it. 
  •  I'm truly happy to be married to my best friend.
  • I was thinking of all sorts of 'random' things while driving to work this am, but can't think of them now.
  • My dog needs a haircut badly.
  • It is beautiful at 60 degrees--and it's only 11 am! 
  • Thinks it's just a ploy to fool us into thinking that Spring is here...
  • I am excited for Daylight Savings simply because it'll be darker in the mornings. 
  • That makes my husband chuckle at me.
  • I wish mornings started at 9 instead of 7.
  • I almost wore flip flops today.
  • Wishing I would have.
  • I'm grateful for family & friends. (you know who you are!)
  • I wish there was no such thing as high blood pressure.
  • I am not thrilled about the truck traffic between my home and the ethanol plant on the highway.
  • I am NOT looking forward to summer.

  I think that's it for now....

   

   

  • 11:19 AM
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