Large events avoidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want him to do this because he cannot completely avoid large events. Sure, birthdays and weddings can be avoided, but what about work-related events? Not every employer would be accommodating to someone who doesn't want to be in a crowded space.

He sounds like a candidate for exposure therapy. In exposure therapy, you start small and expand later so the person builds up a tolerance to the thing they have been avoiding. The FCPS graduation venue is large and loud. What is he asking to do during the ceremony? Is this the only large event during graduation season? Could he go to half of it? What is he telling you?

Can you tell me more about the exposure therapy? Weird thing is he goes to concerts, baseball games, all loud events. But school-related stuff like seeing a school play or going to an assembly is a no. He is asking not to do the ceremony at all. He is OK buying the gown, he will get a bunch of cords, but he doesn't want to go to the actual ceremony.

Since it’s just related to school events, could it be more like social anxiety? Like he doesn’t want to be around other kids his age and/or who he knows? That would require a different approach.

Also, exposure therapy can be good to treat anxiety, but it doesn’t really help if the driver of the behavior is more autism.

[Anonymous]

OP, isn't graduation about celebrating your KID? You are making it about YOU and what YOU think would be fun and good.

Your kid is almost an adult. If he can go to concerts and have fun, maybe leave this alone and let him decide how he wants to celebrate his graduation.