Breaking in the New Boss

My new manager finally arrived on Monday and I’m not a happy panda. I’m not always great at reading people, but my first impressions are usually spot on. My first impression of the new guy? Fake, creepy and desperate to climb the corporate ladder. It only gets worse from there.


When he came in to learn what exactly I do here, I decided to give him the basic “here’s what’s weird about me” speech so he’d know that I’m not your typical social-joiner, ass-kissing corporate drone. I explained my RA and how it means I have to go to the doctor a lot. I told him about my standing Thursday afternoon therapy appointment. Then I hit him with the Asperger’s bomb.

Most people fall into four categories. Either they have no idea what Asperger’s is so they just change the subject, they have no idea what it is and politely ask for a definition, they have an idea of what it is, but it makes them uncomfortable so they change the subject or they get it and are totally cool about it. New guy gets his own brand new category. I’ll call it “Knows enough about Asperger’s to know what buttons NOT to push and pushes them immediately because he thinks he’s funny, thereby making me super uncomfortable.”

This genius literally said, “Oh, so I guess I shouldn’t get too close then?” and made a move like he was going to lunge at me. Naturally, I backed away (I don’t like strangers in my personal space…hell, I barely like having people I know in my personal space) so he did it AGAIN. I was floored. I know, in retrospect, that I should have told him that was unacceptable and qualified as harassment. At the same time, who wants to accuse their brand new boss of harassment on his first day?  I spent the next hour trying to get work done while rocking in my chair.

I’ve had bosses I didn’t like before. This is a whole new level of ick, though. Guh. I have a therapy appointment tomorrow. Hopefully she can give me some guidance. This is a first for me.

Stimming

Yes, I stim. I can do it very subtly when I am around others, because I know it can freak people out. When I am alone, it’s a different story. I rock, I flick, I tap. I’m actually rocking as I type this. To neurotypical people, this is “weird”. I don’t particularly give a damn.

The world is an overwhelming place for an Aspie and stimming provides some relief. I rock myself to sleep at night because it helps my brain to straighten out some of the jumbled thoughts in my head. It feels good, even if it is “weird”.

I can’t just sit and watch TV. Either I’m tapping or flicking or I’m using a computer game to help me stay in the moment. It gives me a chance to spend some time with my roommates, while still doing what I need to quiet my brain.

So if you see me on an imaginary rocking horse, don’t be weirded out. Just be glad you have a friend who literally rocks.