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January 17, 2006, 10:26 pm PST
The Other Side of AS
Quote From: chattykatMy son was labelled with 'Asperger's' when he was 14, he is now 16. He does not have fits of rage, on the contrary he is very docile and this sometimes posses a problem in school as he gets picked on a lot. Although he has had a difficult time all through his school years (socially) he has always been in a regular class and this summer he will graduate from high school.
He likes to think of himself as different, just like everyone else!! It is too bad that some of the kids and teachers in school are not respectful of those differences, but that is something that my son is learning to deal with, because our society is prejudiced against differences.
I will watch Dr. Phil's show, however, I disagree with the label 'extreme disorder', there are worse things that our kids can be afflicted with than Asperger's. Let us thank god that our kids are healthy and will find their way in life, although maybe with a little quirkyness. Albert Einstein did! Some AS kids are just a little quirky, others have serious problems. I see it as being extreme for many when you have the rages or sensory problem reactions and other things that SERIOUSLY interfere with functioning. If there's no violence, as w/ your son, it's easy to say he's simply different. But when you've lived with the scary unstable mood swings and unpredictable eruptions, and have to fear for your safety (as Alex's parents,) then i can't say it's NOT extreme. So you are blessed with AS not being extreme; others are not. I don't want to take away from validating those who have their lives seriously disrupted and dysfunctional from extreme AS problems. We have an AS son, 16. It is not extreme today; but most of his life it was. I can remember feeling like i was living in hell. And i can't help but say that is extreme. Many AS kids are NOT mentally or emotionally healthy. They struggle terribly inside to cope and figure and manage life stuff; they can't deal with or experience emotions well. That is not healthy.
And Albert Einstein was a little more than quirky. He had serious problems. That's hidden from the textbooks.
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