Am I just stupid or is there something else wrong with me?

Question

I enjoy reading, but I suck very much at it. I am 17 years old and I am literate. I suffer from the disorders Asperger's Syndrome Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder, if any of that matters. I simply struggle so much to read novels (i.e. memoirs, fiction, mystery, etc.), but less so with reference books (i.e. atlases, encyclopedias, etc.). Of all the novels I have ever read, I've clearly understood about 5 of them, out of about 30. They are A Thousand Splendid Suns, Inside the Kingdom, The Russian Concubine, Mayada, and Angeline. What is wrong with me? Why am I the only person who struggles with novels? Am I just stupid or is there something wrong with me?

Answer 1

your not the only one who struggles with novels. i personally prefer shorter more to the point reading myself. i went to college and i don't think i'm dumb if it makes you feel any better

Answer 2

Sometimes I have to read a novel 2 or 3 times before I really comprehend what I'm taking in. That's the norm for most people I know.

Just don't beat yourself up over it by worrying or obsessing about it, I have OCD too, and I tend to always harp on one thing that is bothering me, until I make myself GO NUTS! lol.

Relax, all people learn things differently, at least you're actually reading, as opposed to 90% of the people I know, who only read the t.v. guide! lol!

Answer 3

they cant force you to do anything you dont want to! remember you can overcome peer pressure with the help of family and friends and suicide is not the answer!

it never is, good luck

Answer 4

Unless you have to read them for school don't bother, reading is supposed to be fun. Read something that you enjoy. Non fiction books are just as interesting and more useful.

Don't feel that you have to read the whole book either, skip over the boring bits and just read the parts you like.

Answer 5

Maybe you should try to read other genres and not get yourself (trying to) entangled with 'Novels'.

Autobiographies, or Biographies even!  Or maybe something about local history....!  

To understand 'things' is to see the way that people behave, the ways they create effects on others and on their world, and to perceive and to understand the outwardly spreading ripple effects of this all.

You DON'T HAVE TO read novels, and in fact, to continue trying and to feel frustrated by not understanding them, could have a detrimental effect on your habits.  So, try something different, some Issac Asimov (SF), John LeCarre (thriller - type, I guess!) ....or as I said , try something Biographical ...just for the sake of change, if nothing else.

But, don't stop reading.

Sash.

Answer 6

Considering the other disorders you described that may have an effect on how well you read and interpret novels. Does NOT mean your stupid but perhaps just takes a little longer for the material to make sense. If it's something that you wish to work on you could get a tutor and kinda sit with them one and one so they can help you understand the major concepts in fiction/novel reading.  

Answer 7

I know a few people with Asperger's Syndrome. From what I understand, (and please, correct me if I misunderstand, all I know is what I've heard) it is an autism spectrum disorder. People with Asperger's tend to be extremely intelligent, (often rating up there in the genius level), antisocial, disliking authority, and liking everything in order. My first question would be, who diagnosed you with the OCD and Social Anxiety? Traits of those could easily be attributed TO Aspergers, not as separate disorders.

Secondly, I would have to say the people I know with Aspergers DO tend to stick to 'factual" books, or studies. Although, when they do examine the world of fiction, they tend to do it to the extreme, treating it as if it IS real, and analyzing it. It's actually kind of cool. (One friend read a book on zombies for fun.... and now has an entire plan as to how to defend their home from Zombies in case of an attack... it will never happen as they are not real, but it was a fun activity for him...) Understand where I'm coming from?

It could be that because of your higher intelligence, some part of your mind just does not tolerate fiction. Have you tried reading novels based on reality, historical novels, etc? You might be able to tolerate them better, if there is some basis of reality within them, and then work out from there. James A. Michener is a great author for such novels. I've read several of them, and I found the factual stuff within really added a lot to the story.

Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.  

Answer 8

listen, you have no idea of how clever you are.

and under how much pressure you (most probably) are.

try and forget about the alleged disorders for a while. see them as fancy names.

you seem torn between what you like doing and what (you think) is expected from you. try focusing on what comes easy to you, focus on what you like. it's your life.

you will grow strong doing this, give it a try for 2 weeks. if it doesn't work you can still try something different...