Hello from a mother to recently diagnosed ASD 10 year old

Hi,  This is my first time in this community, and I was looking for something else when I saw this and felt I needed to reply.  Let me introduce myself, I have a daughter of 8 who doesn't have Autism and a son is 10 as was diagnosed with ASD (Autisum Spectrum Disorder) 4 years ago (when he was 6).  

When I first found out my son had ASD we where given a diagnosis and sent on our way... for quite a few years we didn't have any support or information.  Then last year when my son went into year 5 at school things started to change, his moods were more aggressive and he started to harm himself with biting and hitting his head on walls, and then just after his 10th Birthday he wrapped his birthday balloon around this neck and tried to strangle himself.  

I had tried going to doctors just before all this happened but their wasn't any help available, it was only after these incidents that the school decided to contact CAMHs (Community and Metal Health) to help.  I have attended a short but helpful course on Autism, which actually helped me put some things in place to help my son (not everything helps). 

Things are different with a child with ASD, and although it seems really tough at the moment it will gradually improve.  One of the other things you have to think about is that at their age is that they will also have hormones running wild through their system, which makes it even harder for them and you. They will find controlling their moods that much harder, and if you consider a child without ASD and their moods, you can imagine the pressure of a child with ASD.   

If you feel without support please don't, their are support networks out their.  You are not alone, and although my son was diagnosed 4 years ago I know what it is like when you first hear the news.  

I would recommend talking to your school, and see what they have in place for your child. And I can also recommend a Autism course if there is one in your area, ours was a free course which was very kindly held in my kids school, this showed us some of the things that could be leading up to our sons meltdowns (it was called the iceburg effect, if you wish to look it up).

I Hope this has helped in someway, and remember you are not alone.

Hi,  This is my first time in this community, and I was looking for something else when I saw this and felt I needed to reply.  Let me introduce myself, I have a daughter of 8 who doesn't have Autism and a son is 10 as was diagnosed with ASD (Autisum Spectrum Disorder) 4 years ago (when he was 6).  

When I first found out my son had ASD we where given a diagnosis and sent on our way... for quite a few years we didn't have any support or information.  Then last year when my son went into year 5 at school things started to change, his moods were more aggressive and he started to harm himself with biting and hitting his head on walls, and then just after his 10th Birthday he wrapped his birthday balloon around this neck and tried to strangle himself.  

I had tried going to doctors just before all this happened but their wasn't any help available, it was only after these incidents that the school decided to contact CAMHs (Community and Metal Health) to help.  I have attended a short but helpful course on Autism, which actually helped me put some things in place to help my son (not everything helps). 

Things are different with a child with ASD, and although it seems really tough at the moment it will gradually improve.  One of the other things you have to think about is that at their age is that they will also have hormones running wild through their system, which makes it even harder for them and you. They will find controlling their moods that much harder, and if you consider a child without ASD and their moods, you can imagine the pressure of a child with ASD.   

If you feel without support please don't, their are support networks out their.  You are not alone, and although my son was diagnosed 4 years ago I know what it is like when you first hear the news.  

I would recommend talking to your school, and see what they have in place for your child. And I can also recommend a Autism course if there is one in your area, ours was a free course which was very kindly held in my kids school, this showed us some of the things that could be leading up to our sons meltdowns (it was called the iceburg effect, if you wish to look it up).

I Hope this has helped in someway, and remember you are not alone.