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Adult mental health team for phobias

Mindless haze

Hi I'm new to this so i am hoping there're will be someone who can help!

My son who has Asperger's syndrome is having input from adult mental health regarding his phobias ( stairs and agoraphobia) but they have no idea when it come to ASDs.  I try to explain how they should ask questions etc but it doesn't help. They all start with the same question 'how does it make you feel?' Argggghhhh!!!!

Is there anyway I can get him the help he needs to overcome these phobias with people who have knowledge of ADSs? 

  • I can totally understand what you are saying. My son is now 23 and he hasn't had any real support since he turned 18. Not that there was that much then. 

    I do try and say do not ask him about feelings, or asking him to put hiself in someone else's situation or ask how their problems effect others. Doesn't work though as they have standard questions to ask 

  • Thank you for the replies. Yes we know why he has a phobia of stairs. He has had seizures and fallen down more than once. His big seizures are controlled now but it is very difficult for him. OT has seen him but with a lack of ASD knowledge I don't think she will be much help. I think he needs to see a psychologist rather than an OT as she has already mentioned that she might pass him over to a support worker. I know they are not qualified to give CBT. 

    Not sure where to turn

  • How does it make you feel is such a stupid question for someone with Asperger's.  We need specific questions, and asking that is such an open one.  It is too vague.  They would need to ask e.g.:

    • Does it give you any physical problem?
    • Does it make you worried/scared/nervous?
    • Does it give you stress due to sensory issues?

    ...or whatever.  If you don't ask the right questions you won't get the right answer.

    Has anyone asked him what exactly it is about the stairs he is scared of, because without them knowing what it is they will have difficulty treating such a phobia.

    My 8yo has an issue with stairs and even more so with escalators.  She doesn't like "lots of things" so because stairs have lots of treads she finds them scary.  Also, because she has vestibular problems and fear of heights it's compounded.  It's a difficult one.

    If your son has vestibular problems he may need some OT therapy to help make him feel more confident on the stairs.

  • I cannot really advice you in any way, but I can sympathise with your situation. I am an adult with Aspergers, and I also have mental health problems, in my case, OCD and chronic health anxiety plus  phobias.

    I have had on off support from the CMHT for the last 7 years, but despite having a diagnosis of Aspergers on the NHS, they do not cater to my Asperger needs. I am only offered 6 sessions per time, not enough to deal with complex issues, and I am often asked about my feelings and told to rate them - impossible!

    There is also no support for sensory difficulties with noise. I am not as affected in this area as some people on the spectrum, but I do have my own, very real, anxieties around noise disturbance. The only advice is to get ear plugs, but nothing is done about ensuring that autistic people live in autism friendly areas. But I guess that is down to larger governmental issues.....