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Help needed for 20 year high functioning autistic

AmandaA

hi there

my son is 20 years old.  he has always been problematic from a very early age and has has seen many doctors, pyschiatrists and god knows what else over the years.   They have always said he sits on the autistic spectrum range, some say he has symptoms of bipolar, others say he has aspergers.  we have never had a formal diagnosis. he was intelligent, creative and very sporty although hypermobile.   we always managed to push him through but by the age of 15 he had turned to drugs.  the doctors said he was self medicating.  since then we have had a horrendous 5 years.  very hooked on drugs to the worst extreme, aggressive, kicked out of home.  all sorts of problems.  living in hostels.  trouble with the police.  he now is in a support housing environment and trying very hard to get his life back together.  nobody really knows what help he needs and where to get it.  i know he has some kind of autism and i think probably high functioning/aspergers.   but on top of this he has taken huge amounts of drugs over the last few years.  is crippled with loneliness as he has no friends after being ostracised from everybody and everything due to his appalling behaviour.  it seems hard to move forward as he is depressed through loneliness, battered by drugs and unable to raise the confidence he needs.   but cant make friends without being more confident.  its a vicious circle.   does anybody know of any good organisations either near Staines/Ashford where he lives or in Maidenhead/Marlow areas near where i live.  Or indeed if anybody has any similar situations or children of a similar age that have been through the same and might be able to help him.   Any help or advice would be appreciated!.   Thanks Amanda

  • Hi Amanda, 

    I'm afraid there isn't a private message facility on this forum. As a new step in allowing people to connect online through the NAS the community is a bit more restrictive than most forums. So whilst people can chat through the forum, they can't private message or share contact details. 

    Sorry about that, frustrating as it is, it's the way we need to run things, at least for now, in order to provide this service.

  • Sorry im new to this forum no idea if there is a private message facility?

  • Hi All

    Thanks for your messages.   Any help and advice would be appreciated.   And Rudy would love to have a chat.   Please private message me.

    Thanks again

    Amanda

  • Hi Amanda 

    Thanks for posting.  You and your son have obviously had the most horrendous few years and I am really pleased that he is trying to turn things around.  I have posted a link below for the NAS helpline who may be able to help you with support groups etc in the areas you have mentioned.  

    http://www.autism.org.uk/Our-services/Advice-and-information-services/Autism-Helpline.aspx

    I hope that your son continues to go from strength to strength

    ColinCat

  • There is a book on Asperger Syndrome and Alcohol - Drinking to cope, by Matthew Tinsley and Sarah Hendrickx, jessica Kingsley Publications 2008.

    It seems that social limitations lead some people to alcohol in the hope of increasing socialisation. Also I guess social acceptance with the wrong crowd could arise and that could lead to drug addition seeking approval of a peer group as much as alcohol addiction.

    I have read severally that the high moral anxiety element in AS makes people less likely to get involved with criminal activity which has a higher association with drug taking because of the costs and need for cash.

    However there is a large element of AS in the prison population which belies that, though usually explained by being easily led.

  • Hi Amanda,

    My name is Rudy and I was recently diagnosed with Autism.

    Your story sounded a lot like my previous life where I battled hard with drugs but have started to come through that now.

    I live in the Woking area and am looking to start something for people around in that area as there isn't much help from the NAS near there.

    I guess this doesn't help you but if you ever want to talk to someone that's about your sons age also with Autism AND  a previous drug problem please let me know and I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it.

    Kind regards,

    Rudy

  • Also if anybody knows of any private doctors that specialise in autism and doing assessments?