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Aspergers and depression

Rocketgirl

Hi,

my son who is 24 has Aspergers. He has very low self esteem and often suffers from bouts of depression (he thinks he is worthless, that there is no point in pursuing his dreams as he will fail, that everyone is better than him, that his life is pointless....) The latest bout of depression is lasting for over a month, culminating today when he was saying all those things again and that he doesn't see a point in living any more as he is such a failure (this is a young man who is about to do a postgrad course in history, who has a great hobby in plants and is very good at it). I keep suggesting that he sees a GP to see if medication would help or counselling (or both). He refuses it point blank and says that nobody can help him. 

I don't know what to do and how to help him. I keep talking to him and trying to make him see all those great prospects and opportunities he has going forward but nothing works... We are going round in circles. 

Has anyone had similar experience or have any advice / suggestions how I can handle the situation and help my son. 

Many thanks

Parents

  • Thank you for your response, that's helpful. 

    You are right, he has emotional blindness as he was bullied and had a few traumatic events that he keeps referring to. It's his reaction to those events during his depression that worry me. He keeps saying that he deserves everything bad that is happening to him/has happened, that he is not worthy etc. He is convinced that he's spent all 'our' money and he can't see how he can start contributing as he is going to uni. He is desperate to come up with good business idea that will fit in with what he loves doing but is impatient and things that will now never happen. We don't put any pressure on him and keep saying that it will come and that he should focus on his studies and do what he can.

    He has so much going on for him but he just can't see it. He is just about to go to China for a couple of months doing a wild flower tour and visiting people he knows (he did some voluntary work there before); he is applying to do a PG course this Autumn. Yesterday was the first time he mentioned that his life is pointless and that he wishes that he is dead. I'm just so so worried. 

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  • Thank you for your response, that's helpful. 

    You are right, he has emotional blindness as he was bullied and had a few traumatic events that he keeps referring to. It's his reaction to those events during his depression that worry me. He keeps saying that he deserves everything bad that is happening to him/has happened, that he is not worthy etc. He is convinced that he's spent all 'our' money and he can't see how he can start contributing as he is going to uni. He is desperate to come up with good business idea that will fit in with what he loves doing but is impatient and things that will now never happen. We don't put any pressure on him and keep saying that it will come and that he should focus on his studies and do what he can.

    He has so much going on for him but he just can't see it. He is just about to go to China for a couple of months doing a wild flower tour and visiting people he knows (he did some voluntary work there before); he is applying to do a PG course this Autumn. Yesterday was the first time he mentioned that his life is pointless and that he wishes that he is dead. I'm just so so worried. 

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