Topic : 01/17 Extreme Disorders

If you live in Orange County California and are and Asperger's adult or parent who has a child with Asperger's you can come to our face to face support group meetings. 

  

We have meetings every month.  Please email OCUPTASK@hotmail.com for more information. 

  

  

If you live in Orange County California and are and Asperger's adult or parent who has a child with Asperger's you can come to our face to face support group meetings. 

  

We have meetings every month.  Please email OCUPTASK@hotmail.com for more information. 

  

  

I think Alex and his family did a wonderful thing to share their very personal story to help educate 

the world about these types of illnesses and to take the stigma off of labels and mental illness, 

to show that it is biological illness in the brain and people should not judge people with these 

challenges because it is really like any other illness such as diabetes. I have a 12 yr. old with Obssesive Compulsive Disorder and a son with Tourretes and a 25 yr. old with bipolar. 

I have to say I have come to realize that all of my children have another side of them and their illness 

does not define who they are. My daughter with ocd has been in therapy for almost 2 yrs. and taking 

Luvox.  She is VERY creative and musical and artistic. I think there is a silver lining in any situation. 

My heart goes out to both guests on the show and I think getting to get professional help by getting 

their brain scanned is a blessing. Mabe one day science will be able to figure out how to heal the 

brain. There is a chiropractor who appeared in the movie "What the bleep do we know" 

his name is Dr. Joe Dispanza and he speaks about how the brain is not hard wired and talks about 

alot of cool and interesting methods about healing by rewiring the brain. I am not any kind of expert 

but a mother who is challenged. My daughter has told me she doesn't feel normal and I know she 

experienced tormenting thoughts. I  always tell her angels are watching over her every night. 

My oldest daughter also fought addiction to meth and I had to put her in recovery. One day at a time 

one baby step at a time... I live that way too. I go to a support group like alanon, it's called 

"Celebrate Recovery", I learned I was an enabler and codependent not only to my oldest daughter 

but to my daughter dealing with ocd.  Best wishes to everyone facing difficult life challenges and 

may peace, love and joy keep you to see the light at the end of the tunnel. God Bless! 

Sorry if this has been covered somewhere, I'm still not sure on how to read and follow threads on this board. 

  

I've just always wondered about TS when it comes to the swearing tics that are "rude" (for want of a better word, I'm aware the people themselves aren't rude and certainly don't mean to be and are not able to avoid it). Why does it involve swears and rude gestures at all? Why does the brain hand you that one word to use? Or is it that it could be any random words, it's just the only ones we hear about are the vulgar ones? I remember my friend's daughters friend went through a spell of tics that she had to spell every word after she said it (confusing...you better believe it but bless my friend's little girl, sat through it all) 

My son was born in 1975; 19 years before Asperger's

Syndrome was recognized as a specific mental health disorder by the American Psychological Association.  As early as age 2 I knew my second born had a problem and although I relentlessly sought help from professionals, my concerns were dismissed until his 15th year.  Ryan was a textbook case for Asperger's.  There was no internet back then and Dr. Phil was not in California with his own show.  In the 70s we had Phil Donohue who attempted to address the issue of children with “behavior problems.”  It was the “Feingold Diet” back then, which was touted as the answer to those mothers who could not control their children, in addition to the use of Ritalin of course.  To prescribe Ritalin or not to prescribe Ritalin, that was the question… Excuse me Dr. Feingold, my son doesn’t have “Hyperactivity.” 

    

 

 

          At long last it would appear that the media has begun to shed some light on this emotionally painful disorder, to educate and assist those affected, as well as inform the public at large.  Yes, Dr. Phil’s show merely skimmed the surface of this very complex neurological disorder. What could one expect in a half hour sound bite minus commercials? Nonetheless, the discussion has begun.  

   

 

          Every member of our family has been affected by this disorder that plagued our son.     In 1994, the year the APA recognized Aspergers as a mental disorder my handsome son ended his life. He was 19.

   

 

          Today there are intervention programs and therapy for your preschool child to help him on the road to a normal life. Early intervention is key.  If you suspect something is not right, let nothing stand in your way to finding help for your child. Don’t be intimidated by a professional who may present herself as an expert. No one is an expert on your child.  Don’t stop until you find someone who will listen.  There is far more available today then there was 30 years ago.   To Dr. Phil I say Bravo!  I’ve been waiting many, many years to see something, anything on this subject that wasn’t in a text book.

  

 

  

  

  

As the parent of a 11 year old with Aspergers, I was eager for this show for both myself and my son.  I was somewhat disappointed with the portrayal of the disorder however...and it really didn't relate to my child at all.  Except for the one quick mention by the reporter who said that extreme violence is rare in Aspergers, the rest of the program seemed to imply that it was a large part of the disorder.  Perhaps this is something to come for me when my child becomes a teen, but so far in his life he has been the opposite of physical violence.  He gets very frustrated and will yell (alot) and melts down into tears quite easily, but he has never been physical.  I really wanted my son to have a chance to see someone who goes through what he does but I'm actually glad he didn't see it.  He takes things so literally that I know he would have had an emotional reaction and believed that that was his certain future.  I'm afraid that instead of raising awareness for these special children that perhaps this program may have just raised misunderstandings and fears about them.  There are so many positive attributes that children with AS possess and many very different types of troubles that a little understanding (especially in school) would go a long way in assisting them through life.  I had hoped that this show would do that.  I don't feel that it did.   We have always had a very upbeat attitude about our sons AS (even when he's driving us crazy!) and he's always been encouraged to accept his limitations but also try his best to work within them.  I wish more people understood that he's not just rude, resistant and over-emotional.  Perhaps Dr. Phil could entertain the idea of a more well-rounded portrayal of the disorder in the future.

My son is also 7 years old.  I am not a therapist but I think parents with kids with neurological disorders and emotional problems are more the experts than the experts sometimes. :)  If you aren't feeling like you are being taken seriously by a therapist--find a new one.  I had the psychiatrist that I didn't like. She refused to listen to the specialists and behavior therapists who monthly went to his psychiatric appointments with me.  After feeling as though she was ignoring other professionals, I found another psychiatrist.   

  

People don't have to fit EVERY characterist of a disorder to have the disorder.  Asperbergers is also a VERY broad rage disorder.  If you are scared, as I once was, of you childs rages you need to get in home therapy.  I have found it to be a key part of dealing with him and learning new ways to help him.  My son has ADHD which masked his Aspbergers until he was put on the appropriate medication for his ADHD.  There is hope.  Take to the school guidance counselor about organizations that offer TSS service.  Those organizations typically have behavior therapy and child therapists/psychologists.  But you would be so surprised by the TSS (which to my son is his special adult friend who helps him be like the other kids) can help.  They helped my son learn to interact and be more mature.  I had to learn to expect that he would never relate on the same level as other kids.  He has gone 6 mos without any in home aid.  But we are about to add a new baby to the mix and 1st grade has been hard to adjust to for him.  THe other kids are maturing and he just isn't keeping up.  The good news is that he doesn't RAGE like he used to.  Yes he overreacts to EVERYTHING but he isn't as distructive (not even on the same level) he will always be hyper sensitive.   

  

The key to helping my son was the in-home therapy and no you don't need the psychiatrist to refer you.  Trust me I have been where you are, just not this late stage in the game and the bigger they get the more fear you have.  I would love to help in any way I can. :)  Keep your head up. 

I just finished watching the show on aspergers syndrome and sat and cried my eyes out because I could relate so much.  The only difference is that our son is 25 years old and some days I feel like throwing in the towel.  He has always been a very angry person and has his bouts just like Alex.  All of his angry bouts are usually at home and he keeps things under control when he is in public. He always lashes out at me by slugging me.  He never lashes out at his father because he knows that he could really hurt him. He used to also be so truthful but now he lies about everything.  He is at that age where the sex thing has made us nervous wrecks.  I can't tell you how many times he has invited people to our house who he just met off chat lines.  He would give away the house if we weren't here.  Anything to have qa friend. We have taken the phone away, the computer away.  It is so frustrating. My husband and I feel like we can't go anywhere without someone constantly watching him.  He is very functional in many ways.  He can drive and he has an AA degree.  He loves sports and does stats for a local football team.  I am just at my wits end.  He has never been on medication but I would sure like to look into it.  This Dr. on the show sounds promising.

I was very pleased with the way both disorders were displayed on the show today.  Before this show, I have always seen Tourettes displayed as the most severe cases with cussing and barking.  No one, from my perception, has ever tried to help someone with Tourettes, but instead, I saw them as a reason to have a show.  This time I felt like information was being given as opposed to a display of entertainment.  I commend Dr. Phil for what he has been doing on his shows and for the information that he is getting across in every situation, but I am certainly partial to this one.   

  

I started showing signs of Tourettes Syndrome when I was a child and was diagnosed at 17 years old.  I now work as a Support Specialist for the Government in the Aerospace field.  I have a son - 10 years old - who was diagnosed with Asbugers and Tourettes 2 years ago.   

  

My son started having tics at about the age of 4 and now that I look back, I recall signs of Asburgers when he was 3 years old.  My son has been on 2 types of medication (Strattera and Risperdal) for 2 years and has shown a marked improvement.  Before the medication, he had HUGE temper tantrums, to where I had to restrain him to keep him from hitting or throwing things at me.   

  

My son is now in the GATE Program (Gifted and Talented Education).  He has tested in the high school/college level for math and science and tested in the high school level for reading/spelling.  He is still having trouble with anger at times, however nowhere near as bad as it was.  I am so extremely proud of my son.  He went from not comprehending anything at 3 years old (he was a year behind) to the intelligent, gifted miracle that he is today. 

as someone who has worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorders for 22 1/2 years, i will say that this individual may be the exception, in terms of his level of (catastrophic, possibly) violence.  while his family characterized his behavior as unpredictable, we know in the field that this is not the case.  behavior may appear erratic to his family because they do not necessarily have the most complete understanding of it.  however, this is not a disorder like schizophrenia, for example, that waxes and wanes.  indeed, dr. phil's neurological approach makes  sense.  supports must be put in place aorund this young man for success to occur.  he will not obtain the impulse control and insight into the impact of his behavior that is now being required of him by his parents.  they could benefit from support to understand this...  it is obvious that they love him.  however, they appear to be viewing him through neurotypical lenses (as it is stated by individuals with autism and aspergers).  they may expect that saying something more loudly , more coercively, and clearly will then have results.  they even escalate their edicts to aggressive levels themselves, providing poor modeling for him...    they appear to believe he will some day "understand" the impact of his actions and then generalize that understanding to every situation in life.  this is not likey to occur, given the pervasive nature of his disability.  to his parents i would say please continue to seek help in understanding the constant support he will need to succeed.  to him, i would say to connect with other successful HFA / asperger's individuals and learn from them what it takes to understand this world and stay safe...  all my best wishes...