Understanding and living with Autism

Today I realized I probably have the condition known as Autism. I saw a documentary about a woman who somehow can sense through her Autism how a cow feels. As she described her particular phobias, I realized I have had the exact same behaviors all the way back to childhood. Except, I talk to rocks and birds instead of cows. I somehow feel relieved to finally know what it is that besets me. This has made me feel alienated from life in several ways. This is a discussion about what it is that Autism is to ourselves and others. I hope to learn about this condition through the input here. I have lived with it for so long and never knew what it was that was causing me to experience life in my own sometimes unorthodox ways. Thanks in advance for any contributions to this discussion. I somehow feel like I can wear this autism as a badge but actually it has made my life difficult in the area of getting along with people. It also comes along with a feeling like you are always trying to figure out everything all at once.