Aspergirls: Empowering Females With Asperger Syndrome Book

Foreword 9

Introduction 13

1 Imagination, Self-taught Reading and Savant Skills, and Unusual Interests 19

2 Why Smart Girls Sometimes Hate School 27

3 Sensory Overload 35

4 Stimming, and What We Do When We're Happy 45

5 On Blame and Internalizing Guilt 53

6 Gender Roles and Identity 61

7 Puberty and Mutism 67

8 Attraction, Dating, Sex, and Relationships 79

9 Friendships and Socializing 95

10 Higher Learning 107

11 Employment and Career 117

12 Marriage and Cohabitation 127

13 Having Children 137

14 Ritual and Routine, Logical and Literal Thinking, Bluntness, Empathy, and Being Misunderstood 147

15 Diagnosis, Misdiagnosis and Medication 159

16 Depression Meltdowns, PTSD, and More about Meds 167

17 Temper Meltdowns 181

18 Burning Bridges 191

19 Stomach Issues and Autism 199

20 Getting Older on the Spectrum 205

21 On Whether Asperger Syndrome is a Disability or a Gift, and Advice from Aspergirls to Aspergirls 211

Additional Tools for Parents

22 Give Your Aspergirl Some BALLS: Belief, Acceptance, Love, Like, and Support 219

23 Thoughts and Advice from Parents of Aspergirls 225

Appendix

List of Female Asperger Syndrome Traits 230

Summary of Some Main Female/Male Differences 233

References and Resources 235