Hi everyone,

I have just joined this group somewhat in desperation. I am 48, and was
finally diagnosed as suffering from Asperger syndrome last December. By
that time, my life had been destroyed because no one understood what was
wrong with me. My ex-husband left me for someone else in 1999, and,
since my divorce that year, I have been left alone, unable to cope, in a
place where I have no friends and no relatives within 100 miles. I am
not well enough to work, and struggle to do ordinary everyday tasks. My
only close relative is my mother. She is aged 80, and lives 200 miles
away. She comes to visit me when she can, because I cannot travel, but
it is very difficult for her, because she has to come alone, using
National Express coaches. My mother and I have been trying, and are
trying still, to get me moved to where she lives, so that she and I can
see one another, and I can also get some support from other relatives
which I have in the area. However, no luck so far, and I am just having
to try to survive from day to day. My mother is trying to keep going for
me, and I have to try and do the same for her.

So I thought I'd try this group as part of that effort...

I have tried to do positive things. Last year I graduated with a
first-class honours degree (humanities with classical studies) with the
Open University (UK). But I cannot continue even studying unless I can
move to a place where I have some human contact. The only "real" people
I see are shopkeepers. I live in a place which has limited public
transport, and am now too ill to even use that. So I am simply a
prisoner here. I tried to make friends at my local church (I am a
Catholic Christian), but that failed too, and I no longer feel able to
go there.

So, as usual, I live for my computer... This is bad, because there is no
one here to help me with it if it goes wrong. Last year I tried to
commit suicide when my last computer blew up (literally) on me. My
mother had to pay my ex-husband to get a new one set up. I don't think
he is around now, if the same thing happens. But I can't help it. My
computer is something I can relate to (or think I can...). I don't have
the same success with people.

Best wishes,
Angela