Topic : 01/17 Extreme Disorders

Hello.  I am so happy for you and want to congratulate you on your successes!  I am a Mom of a 14-year old son who is highly-functioning with Asperger's.  It causes both blessings and curses.  Focusing on the blessings certainly makes the curses easier to handle, I think.  I believe many highly successful people--dominantly men--have performed to these extremes of success because of the Asperger's traits. For instance, my son is very attuned to seeing tiny details. If we lose a contact lens--we know who to call for help! He can find "Where's Waldo" or the "Eye-Spy" puzzles extremely rapidly and accurately. He has the ability to completely focus on a single pre-occupation and ignore EVERYTHING else.  He has very strong tactile feelings and strongly likes the way some things feel, while finding other (normal, everyday items)completely revolting.  I think it is extremely important that people dealing with Asperger's find their niche and capitalize on their unique talents.  I am happy you have found your way to success and hope it continues for you! 

I really could use some help from someone.  My fiance of two years and now the father out 9 month old daughter has all the symptoms of tourettes.  He has tics and verbal outbursts that usually are associated with foul language.  I know that he has the disease but he has never said anything to me about it , either has his family.  I am a registered nurse and so are several members of his family and I cannot believe no one will talk about this to me.  I have not said anything to him because I do not want to hurt his feelings.  He has very angry side to him and I am sure this comes from him deal with this by himself.  He is a college graduate from a top university and a successful business owner.  I know he struggles with this every day while working with his clients.  When he comes home he just really lets go, and mornings seem the worst for him.  I am now concerned for our daughter and continually watch for signs that she might have it.  He has also had trouble with alcohol in the past.  If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it..                                             klsrn04 

Amy and I worked together nine years ago. She taught me how to wait tables at a bar and grill in our hometown. She is one of the kindest, coolest people I have ever known. I haven't seen her in years and it was great to turn on Dr. Phil today and see her. To Craig and Amy:  you seem like such a loving couple and I know your future is bright. Stick together and you will go far, and you will definitely have beautiful kids! It looks like you found a winner, Amy, tourettes or not. Much love, Jessica

I have been reading these messages and going on every website i can find  dealing with asperger's . I have spent the better part of my afternoon dealing with Doug's inabilty to handle being in a social setting even with his own family. He came in from school and immediately began the non stop chatter about "skateboarding" which is his defined interest. His younger brother attempted to get him to talk about other things and was told shut up and aggravated. They sat at a table and were eating an afternoon snack and Doug had to be moving, talking , mocking his brother in words and gestures to the point that Jesse hit him. Which of course fired doug up. This is an everyday scenario. I dont want to yell. I have had him in therapy for the last 6 years and have had every diagnosis under the son along with every medication. The ones for ADHD just increased his rages. We had a hole in the wall of our new house, he believed he was able to fight his father, he shoves his brothers. There is often days of no sleep because he wakes up for some reason or other and he is up from that point on. School is spent with excuse after excuse to come home ,  including"messing himself" attempting for me to come get him and bring him home. WE have begun taking extra clothes for school for these instances. His teachers say he is highly intelligent yet cannot make him stay in class. We had a meeting last week and a check sheet was to be put in place that he would be required to get signed by each teacher with every reason he left class, went to nurse, called home, etc. Well they have not even made the chart and I am literally at my wits end. I just literally feel like sitting down and crying, which I have done on several occasions. As i sit here now he is tormenting our youngest Devin, who just hollered ow followed by doug saying "i didnt do anything to you". My children adore him and despise him at the same time. He has to have their undivided attention no matter if it good or bad, usually bad, he will poke pick mock tap and annoy till they are screaming. He is currently residing with my mother due to some family issues and behaviors that got him in trouble with the juvenile justice system. He  has yelled and screamed and hounded me over every little thing. He gets something on his mind and he will not let up till I am yelling and a fight erupts. I recently wrote a letter to Dr. Phil and at that point had no clue about this syndrome. Now I am scared and confused and just feel completely helpless. I literally am fighting back tears as I sit here. Trying to get help around here is like trying to get a monkey to change a tire. It ain't happening.  

As he gets older the rages get worse and I'm not sure how much more we can handle. 

Bonnie, you can go to Brainmattersinc.com and there is also a link on the website here.  Greg and Nancy have been WONDERFUL and Nancy is not only a Medical Professional who understands the Brain and the Mood Swings the Brain may cause, Nancy is a mom who understands parenting.   

The problem our society has is our medical system.  Many of us cannot afford the test and treatment needed.  Even with insurance we are limited unless we have $.  My husband and I gave up insurance when it was costing us $1500 a month for coverage and that did not include co-pays and limits on procedures. 

Without insurance we have to pick and choose what medications we could afford to pay for, for Alex and often times took a half dose so a 30 day supply would last 60 days. 

I know you want answers and I can't promise you that you will get answers to all your questions but you will get some answers and that will be a big step. 

I thought I detected some ADHD when they showed scenes from the home cameras. I think a lot of these syndroms are cross diagnosed. I can look back at my childhood and see a lot of AS and Tourettes symptoms also. Maybe if I were now in elementary or high school I would have had a diagnosis of AS or Tourettes.  

I feel like the keys on my keyboard are getting worn off in a pattern. I've typed this several times in this forum thread but I'd like Alex to see it directed to him in particular. 

Alex, I admire your courage to come and talk about this on TV. I just want you to understand that you are a good person with a lot of gifts to offer the world. You have had challenges but so far it looks like you are doing OK with them. At times it seems like the world is against you but keep on being the person you know you can be and you will overcome that also. 

Find your special skills and abilities and learn to capitalize on those. Don't depend on the schools to give you everything. They just can't at the moment. I know this because I found that out for myself. They can guide and direct you and it's a good idea to consider what they suggest but it's you who must step up and take charge. Learn to learn. Find what works for you and go with that. You may find that these challenges will eventually become something you can build upon and eventually what you considered a curse will become your greatest strength. 

Just remember that sometimes stubborness is a virtue. It gives you the will to go on no matter what you have experienced in the past.