Anonymous wrote:I am the PP. Lots of kids have had amazing life-changing experiences at outdoor therapy programs. Our son went, and we also were out there with him camping for a few days. The abusive ones have basically all been shut down as far as I know. A lot of the public and even a lot of therapists have no personal experience with them, and just rely on what they hear from the small but very vocal set of dissatisfied former participants. It can give kids amazing self confidence to get out of their spiraling -- and to me it is 1000 times better than a psych hold at an often terrible hospital or lock down RTC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry, OP. I know how hellish this can be. It would be good to know if those responding have an ASD kid. As we know, it’s completely different with these kids than regular depression/anxiety. For example, WTF is the wilderness camp suggestion for any kid, let alone an autistic child?

I have experience with two autistic teen family members. One sounds similar to yours. They dropped out of regular schooling their freshman year. They have suffered autistic burnout like you describe (refusal of school, medicine and therapy). If you took away electronics they would lay in bed and stare at the wall. They would elope if you took them to therapy.

Really, the only thing that worked was time. I’m am sorry to say that. They slowly pulled themselves out of their burnout it after a few months. They did online school and some community college in person. It was not linear - they would do well for 6 months or a year and then burnout again.

However, 4 years later and they have a bunch of really good colleges acceptances. They are in a band and work a part time job. They are doing awesome. Know that this outcome is most likely for your child.

I don’t recommend doing nothing however. I recommend you reach out and speak with the experts here. https://aane.org/services-programs/one-to-one-services/

Services & Programs
Meeting You Where You Are
Whether you are an Autistic adult or teen, a parent or family member, or a professional who works with the autism community, AANE has services, programs, and training to support, inform, and build community.

Good luck to you.

I used to not believe in autistic burnout but apparently catatonia (which in a mild form could look like burnout) is more common in autism: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/catatonia-autism

I think consulting with a psychiatrist well versed in autism would be a good step.

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry, OP. I know how hellish this can be. It would be good to know if those responding have an ASD kid. As we know, it’s completely different with these kids than regular depression/anxiety. For example, WTF is the wilderness camp suggestion for any kid, let alone an autistic child?

I have experience with two autistic teen family members. One sounds similar to yours. They dropped out of regular schooling their freshman year. They have suffered autistic burnout like you describe (refusal of school, medicine and therapy). If you took away electronics they would lay in bed and stare at the wall. They would elope if you took them to therapy.

Really, the only thing that worked was time. I’m am sorry to say that. They slowly pulled themselves out of their burnout it after a few months. They did online school and some community college in person. It was not linear - they would do well for 6 months or a year and then burnout again.

However, 4 years later and they have a bunch of really good colleges acceptances. They are in a band and work a part time job. They are doing awesome. Know that this outcome is most likely for your child.

I don’t recommend doing nothing however. I recommend you reach out and speak with the experts here. https://aane.org/services-programs/one-to-one-services/

Services & Programs
Meeting You Where You Are
Whether you are an Autistic adult or teen, a parent or family member, or a professional who works with the autism community, AANE has services, programs, and training to support, inform, and build community.

Good luck to you.

Anonymous wrote:DC was hospitalized about 6 months ago for a suicide attempt. Did well with the hospitalization and antidepressant helped tremendously. History of depression, anxiety, and is on the spectrum. DC is an adolescent.

DC now refuses to take the medication and has deteriorated - very irritable, easily gets angry, spends most of the time in her bedroom, refuses to eat with us but will eat leftovers or fix something for herself. I took the cell phone away for 3 days and that did not make a difference, was just as irritable. DC has not socialized with friends for month. Currently approved for homebound instruction but is barely doing any work. Initially, DC would do about 3 hours of school/day, now barely anything, logs on for about an hour. Refuses to see a therapist. We had a telemedicine appointment with the psychiatrist but refused to participate. Psychiatrist says if DC has suicidal ideation to take her to the ER. For now, psychiatrist doesn't think there's much that can be done because DC is not willing to cooperate with anything. DC not currently having suicidal ideation, does not appear to be a threat to herself or anyone. However, she needs psychiatric care and most importantly to get back on the antidepressant which was helping. I can't get DC to go through an intake for intensive outpatient or partial day hospitalization, I can't DC to take the antidepressant, I can't get DC to therapy. DC is too dysregulated at the moment to benefit from therapy.

Could the crisis mobilization unit help with this situation? Would they be able to get her to the ER for an evaluation? On the website, it says if the patient is unwilling to go for an evaluation, they can do that involuntarily. I'm at a loss on what to do. The situation is putting a strain on the whole family and I'm worried seeing DC deteriorating.

Anonymous wrote:I'm just wondering if the medicine has side effects and that's why she is refusing to take it?

Anonymous wrote:So I don’t see on here https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/publications/youth-family
The precise program we had, but you should definitely call the intake number. We actually had a therapist who came to the house and worked with the whole family. It was obviously just one in many steps, but it was helpful.

Noodling around I found this https://familypriority.com/services/mental-health-services/
I cannot vouch for them, but it looks like a private version of the program we had.