• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 65 subscribers
  • Views 1744 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Aspergers son and depression

Ginger

so, we've been trying to get my son diagnosed since he was 9 and he's now 14. We've been signed off by cahms once written off as stress despite school report from senco strobgly suggesting aspergers and depression/self harm) , saw a private developmental specialist pead who told us we were best staying under cahms and wrote to them saying urgent referral needed as probable aspergers and severe depression. 

After 2 years back with cahms they once again refused to refer him for diagnosis, I complained and pointed to all their letters from schools, doctors etc and they finally let me see a phycologist who apologised and said he needs diagnosis as there is clear sign of ASD.

problem is, I'm in the system, who knows how long for- and my son is still severely depressed. Texted me yesterday Saying whats the point of living, nothing makes me happy, cant bear the thought of getting through another day. GPs have been saying he's clinically depressed fo yearsbut say only cahms can help. I'm doing my best with counselling etc- but he needs help. Any ideas where I can go, or how I can access help? He shouldn't feel like this at his age and shouldn't be losing years of his life to this depression. 

Thanks

  • Oh my gosh, that is awful. No way you could do a self/parent referral?

  • I would, but docs won't prescribe anything or refer, it all has to go through cahms and it's taken 4 years to get them to agree that he needs a diagnosis. We could have a years wait for the testing then who knows how long to see the  peadiatrician. no one will give him any help. the depression is on his medical record, but the just won't do anything. It seems so unfair that he's left to suffer

  • Maybe your daughter can talk the son into getting on meds? My son refuses to take meds. So, until he's ready to live a productive life, it is what it is.

    I believe you are absolutely right about depression not being taken seriously with Aspies! I've seen over and over again how people are misdiagnosed because the health care provider focused only on the depression. I'm one of them.

  • I'm so sorry things are hard for your son at the moment. the link between asd and depression is not taken seriously enough. I think keeping him busy and trying to establish a schedule is a good idea  (although not always easy when they're older). Is he on any meds? My daughter also has aspergers and is at college. Citalopram has helped her a lot. She sleeping better as her repetitive anxiety behaviours have calmed, and is less anxious overall, good luck.

  • I'm so sorry things are hard for your son at the moment. the link between asd and depression is not taken seriously enough. I think keeping him busy and trying to establish a schedule is a good idea  (although not always easy when they're older). Is he on any meds? My daughter also has aspergers and is at college. Citalopram has helped her a lot. She sleeping better as her repetitive anxiety behaviours have calmed, and is less anxious overall, good luck.

  • We are in a similar predictament with our son. He's 16 and is going downhill with depression fast. He dropped out of college this semester because it was 'too stressful.' He won't get out and do anything. I told him he must come home on the weekends now so we can keep him more active on the farm. He doesn't want to get applications to get a job so he can keep a schedule, he says it too frightening for him to ask for an application. I'm hoping Center for independent living will help. I feel so helpless. I did talk to him and told him how I overcome that frightened feeling when it comes to talking to people I don't know, but I'm not sure he's capable of pushing himself that hard yet. He hasn't started getting as deep into the depression as your son, but he does say nothing he does is enjoyable. He sits in his room and chats on the internet when he is awake. I'm not even sure he has any sort of sleeping schedule since he dropped out.