Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'm currently almost a year into a waiting list for a consultation appointment for my son who CAMHS suspect has High Functioning Autism.
I actually don't even know where to start... when my son was a toddler, I had my suspicions. He didn't temper tantrum like "other" toddlers. He used to just scowl and ball his fists up with rage, shaking and stare you down. He also didn't like his brother touching his stuff, he wouldn't eat broken biscuits, wanted his clothes changed if a tiny bit of juice was spilled on them, broke into a rage if he coloured over the lines of a drawing and would rip it up and start again. I spoke to the doctor, the nursery, the health visitor but they all told me he was fine - I guess because he was extremely intelligent and way ahead of his peers in relation to learning, speech etc. I guess they just didn't see the "normal" indicators for ASD.
My son grew up, eventually made friends (he had no interest in friendships until he was around 7 years old), starting going out, becoming sociable and he had a wicked dry sense of humour - he laughed, he smiled, he danced, he joked.
Fast forward to Christmas of 2020 and both myself and the school started to notice changes - he was skipping classes, he became withdrawn, he stopped communicating with friends and hanging around with them as often. Now we're in 2022 and it's like I'm living with a robot. I haven't seen my son smile or laugh in 2 years, I haven't been able to give him a hug as he flinches at the slightest touch. He doesn't express any joy, happiness, sadness - it's just zero emotion and my heart is breaking.
He's incredibly intelligent, so much so the school have allowed him to start college early and he attends two afternoons a week - he want's to be an electrical engineer.
I do not know how to help him. I'm worried that he's sad, stressed, depressed and I'm doing nothing to support him. His dad is in denial, thinks it's just teenage hormones and lockdown stress but I know different - I can feel it. This is way too extreme. It's putting pressure on my relationship with my partner as he gets frustrated with what he interprets as a lack of respect from my son towards me and other family members.
Has anyone else gone through this? Is anyone going through it? I have no idea where to turn, how to help him I'm completely lost and my heart is breaking for my son.
