Reply to HFA/ autism 17 year old

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "HFA/ autism 17 year old"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][/quote][/quote]
Yes he is doing exactly those types of things with his psychologist. During school he takes ADHD Meds. He might have some anxiety. However, he would never want Meds for it. I can barely get him to take his ADHD Meds.
He is the type of kid who always waits for others to initiate get togethers. In fact, tonight he is meeting up with a friend from work. But I can guarantee it's the friend who initiated it.
He doesn't always make good decisions. 
I did discuss depression with the psychologist when he was cutting and he didn't not think he had it. Although anything is possible.
I'm pretty sure he doesn't have bipolar. My sister has that and I'm  pretty familiar with it.[/quote]

No one always makes good decisions. What did the psychologist say what it was when he was cutting?  If not depression then what?  Was it a sensory thing?  OCD?

Also, many kids with ADHD or ASD or anxiety already feel very self-conscious.  They don't want to feel any more different than they already do.  However, taking medication is ultimately his choice.  If he's able to track his mood, then he may see the necessity of taking medication whether it's for ADHD and/or anxiety.  He needs to be the one reminding himself to take it.  I would start transitioning to this now, especially if he has hopes to live away from home in the near future.
[/quote]

The psychologist didn't dwell on cutting for too long because it didn't last long. 15% of teens try cutting. [b]He said at the time that ds has low self esteem and anger issues.[/b]
He does plan to take the ADHD Meds at college because they help him ( but he hates taking them).[/quote]

I have a bit of a problem with your psychologist's attitude.  By the same logic, you could say that X% of teens attempt suicide and the ones really committed keep trying.  Even if he no longer does this, it may not have changed why he did this--self esteem and anger issues.  Yes, teens have self esteem and anger issues.  It's not easy being a teen.  So he tried cutting as a way to deal with it.  That doesn't take away why he has these issues or eliminate what he might try next to self medicate--drugs, alcohol?

It doesn't surprise me that your kid would have the attitude that ADHD is one thing but autism or anxiety is completely different as though it's a moral failing or makes him less of a person.  Many people have this perception and there's a lot of prejudice everywhere toward people on the spectrum or with mental illness.  (If your sister is bipolar, I wouldn't discount the possibility of their be a hereditary predisposition for a mood disorder.)

You can't control another person.  Telling him it's okay to have autism or anxiety if that is in fact what he has isn't going to change his attitude toward it over night.  Getting a diagnosis and properly medicated can be life changing for people.  I think you need to be asking some questions of him--is he happy?  Does he continually feel like a square peg in a round hole and not know why?  Does he want to do an assessment to maybe find out why?  [/quote]
That's why the psychologist didn't dwell on the cutting but more the underlying issues that caused it.
You can't medicate for autism. He is medicated for ADHD. He had no other diagnosis to medicate for.
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics