Question:
I have a son, Matthew. His previous school history has been so
traumatic that whenever he has a problem, no matter how quickly we
move to solve it, the memories come flooding back. I believe he needs
treatment for post traumatic stress disorder and want to know if
others have any experience in dealing with his stress?
Answer:
I am reluctant to even address it this way. You do an excellent job and I
think I may be thinking of things you have already covered.
The first thing I saw was a reference to going back to school. Are you
doing and saying things that call up comparing tomorrow with past bad
situations. Can going to school tomorrow be the start of a new experience.
I know that it is hard to do when every thing looks the same.
For instance I can not get myself to go back to work on a project in order
to finish the screwed up mess I left. Tomorrow I will work on a new
solution in a new way. Same project just a different focus. It is hard to
do when it is with in the same walls. If you know what the class work is in
advance, can you talk to Matthew about the interesting new thing he will
experience at school tomorrow.
Don't know if this will help, but when Nick (8 AC) has a break, and gets
upset over returning, we frame the event as "you'll get to see Nathan
[whoever] on Monday", or "you'll be painting us a new picture on Monday".
by focusing on a specific event we've seem to be able to overcome quite of
bit of his reservation.
traumatic that whenever he has a problem, no matter how quickly we move to
solve it, the memories come flooding back. I believe he needs treatment for
post traumatic stress disorder and want to know if others, especially with
AS have any experience in this area that they are able to share.<<
I share some of Matthew's problems with this, the ressurgence of past
associations.
On the basis of my own (non productive) experiences with therapy for this I
have come to some tentative conclusions, although I'm not sure how helpfull
they will be.
I believe that NTs respond to problems in a number of ways which are much
less accessible or available to the average AS. I also believe that many of
the techniques which "human" therapists are trained in are based on using
these existing NT traits. - If you felt that this might be in anyway
helpfull I could go into it in more detail - Just ask.
My main suggestion is that it would be more usefull to try and develop
approaches based on the specific traits & abilities which are stronger in
Aspies, rather than expecting us to respond like rather "slow" NTs, as has
been my own experience of therapists and their suggested solutions.
The treatment of choice is cognitive behaviour therapy; I will even go
so far as to suggest that other kinds of psychotherapy will do more harm
than good in such cases. Tony Attwood will tell you that such treatment
is frequently beneficial for aspies, such as your son.
I arrived at the GP, because when Jake's social worker came,I was on a
downer, and not my "jovial self" as she put it. She suggested meds that
would "stimulate my clarity of thought* (she said something like that). I
have had a few "rages" of late (I told her), where things have got all out
of proprtion, and I have perseverated the point. I just wasn't "seeing
clearly" and she stated that I needed something along the lines of Ritalin
(not that specific drug, but something that would just make me "count to
10") Well I didn't get the meds, but I got this appointment, and if
anything, with the stress, I'm now *more* prone to rage.(non violent, but
loud verbal)
Although not convinced that I *am* on the spectrum, a dx to this effect
would answer a lot of questions about things such as my apparent tolerance
of pain and cold when I was a child, my propensity to become a victim
through (perhaps) naivety, and my intense perseverations with my hobbies and
social issues. I also interrupt all the time when others are in conversation
with me (misread signals?) and can hardly *ever* remember their point of
view, (other stuff also). The behaviours, that I have always attributed to
abuse, may well indicate something else, although I have to admit that
"neurosis" or PTSD is more likely. I don't think that DD is in the running
as I am not narcissitic enough.
I think that it goes without saying, that a better understanding of ones
self, can do nothing but, lead to improved quality of life.
I have to admit, that it got me to view myself
differently. I think that I have moved on a bit in a few short weeks since
then (my heads above the water more often - I think), and I have to
acknowledge your "insight".
