Published on 12, July, 2020
My 18yr old son was diagnosed with high functioning autism when he was 11yrs old. He is now asking us to find him a cure for his autism and gets cross when he tells his friends how he feels and finds them unable to understand why he hates being autistic. Today he asked us to get him a second opinion as he is refusing to acknowledge that he is autistic now. He is currently having counselling for a separate issue that he has been on a waiting list for for a while and he has been calmer since starting counselling. His meltdowns have also lessened but this denial seems to have replaced that. I am just wondering if anyone has been through a similar issue, either themselves or with a child? If so any advice with how to handle this?
Thanks
I would show him examples of successful autistic people so he knows that being autistic doesn't mean he has to fit into one stereotype.
There are a lot of negative connotations with being autistic, but there are plenty of artists, TV presenters, musicians, scientists, athletes, comedians you name it who are on the autistic spectrum and they are people that the general public admire. Guy Martin has Asperger's and people think he's quite cool. It's said that Andy Warhol probably had Asperger's. There is a good Youtube Channel 'Aspergers from the Inside' and the presenter is very eloquent so you wouldn't know he had Asperger's.
Guy Martin: https://www.driving.co.uk/news/features/guy-martin-racing-formula-ones-jenson-button-aspergers-theres-life-bikes/
Hi Bassface,
Thanks for the input. We do show him positive examples of celebrities or well known people in their fields who are autistic. He wants to be an actor so we mainly use examples of autistic actors/presenters/singers, like daryl hannah, chris packham, Anne heggarty and gary newman so he can see the success that can also be achieved. We were unaware that Guy Martin has aspergers, he will be a brilliant addition to show our son.
We will definately check out the YouTube channel too. Thanks.