Adult Aspbergers

Hi, I just wanted to say hello; I have a 30 year old son who has just been diagnosed with Aspbergers Syndrome. My son is high functioning and struggles with stress and anxiety, particularly in new situations or with his view of what is happening in his life.

I have known for all of the thirty years that my son was different and have tried to support him in any way that I can. I have struggled with everyones perception of how my son presents himself and even family have turned away as they believe that he can control his behaviours. Im sure that many of you understand my feelings of isolation and despair as I have tried to cope with the situation alone.

I would love to hear from anyone in a similar situation or from anyone who has any advice for me.

Parents
  • Hi Aspie Mum - welcome.  My son's in his 20's + has classic autism.  He was diagnosed a few months before his 3rd birthday + was able to go to a school for autistic children.  I think everyone with autism has stress + anxiety, as do the people who love them and/or care for them.  Autism can be difficult to understand + some people who we'd expect to be supportive can prove to be otherwise.  This is hurtful.  There have been times when I've felt isolated.  Sometimes when a behaviour is difficult, especially when we don't know what's causing it, we can withdraw to avoid that behaviour re-occurring.  Sometimes we can be worn out.  I try to explain autism to others by getting them to relate to how they'd feel.  My son has some issues with certain sounds which really upset him.  So I wd explain to people by asking them to remember a sound they really hated + then asking them to imagine that sound magnified xxx times + then to imagine they couldn't get away from it + on top of that no-one appeared to understand how bad it was for them + behaved insensitively to them.  "How wd you feel??"  You can do the same with skin sensitivities such as clothing that to us may be uncomfortable but to an autistic person wd be painful.

    How are things for you + your son now?  How are you both doing?

    Loads of advice via the posts + home page.  Everyone understands on here.

Reply
  • Hi Aspie Mum - welcome.  My son's in his 20's + has classic autism.  He was diagnosed a few months before his 3rd birthday + was able to go to a school for autistic children.  I think everyone with autism has stress + anxiety, as do the people who love them and/or care for them.  Autism can be difficult to understand + some people who we'd expect to be supportive can prove to be otherwise.  This is hurtful.  There have been times when I've felt isolated.  Sometimes when a behaviour is difficult, especially when we don't know what's causing it, we can withdraw to avoid that behaviour re-occurring.  Sometimes we can be worn out.  I try to explain autism to others by getting them to relate to how they'd feel.  My son has some issues with certain sounds which really upset him.  So I wd explain to people by asking them to remember a sound they really hated + then asking them to imagine that sound magnified xxx times + then to imagine they couldn't get away from it + on top of that no-one appeared to understand how bad it was for them + behaved insensitively to them.  "How wd you feel??"  You can do the same with skin sensitivities such as clothing that to us may be uncomfortable but to an autistic person wd be painful.

    How are things for you + your son now?  How are you both doing?

    Loads of advice via the posts + home page.  Everyone understands on here.

Children
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