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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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 Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:08 am Post subject: When is it too late to start treatments??? |
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If you check my profile over there <----, you'll discover that I'm 42. I am an aspie, but have only known for a few years.
In another discussion a thought came into my mind. We all know that early diagnosis and treatments can help auties and aspies function higher than without diagnosis and treatments. Of course, it's harder with Auties, because it's onset is pretty obvious in a lot of cases, and so many aspies my age and older still have no idea that they are aspie, or are just learning they are, etc. so my question is...
How late is too late or is there even a too late to "start" treatments and therapies that are known to help? |
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Zsazsa
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 730
Location: Upstate New York, USA
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:51 pm Post subject: adults with AS |
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It is never too late to start treatment...if you can find a professional that knows how to treat adults with Asperger's Syndrome.
I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome later in life as an adult, too, after years of misdiagnoses and mistreatment by the
mental health care system in the USA...and there is virtually nothing to assist us adults living with AS as everything is directed
towards the needs of children.
There is a very good book, "Solutions for Adults With Asperger's Syndrome: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Drawbacks
To Achieve Success" by Juanita Lovett, Ph.D that may be helpful to you.
Good luck! |
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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: adults with AS |
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| Zsazsa wrote: | It is never too late to start treatment...if you can find a professional that knows how to treat adults with Asperger's Syndrome.
I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome later in life as an adult, too, after years of misdiagnoses and mistreatment by the
mental health care system in the USA...and there is virtually nothing to assist us adults living with AS as everything is directed
towards the needs of children.
There is a very good book, "Solutions for Adults With Asperger's Syndrome: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Drawbacks
To Achieve Success" by Juanita Lovett, Ph.D that may be helpful to you.
Good luck! |
I think I shall look for this book.
I realized sometime over the past day or so, that my biggest reason for not getting a DX is the subconscious fear that they'll actually want to put me on drugs and I'll discover that I'm way more screwed up than I ever thought. hehe f*cked up, huh? |
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spudnik
Better Stronger Faster
Joined: Feb 20, 2008
Posts: 3960
Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Is there a drug treatment of aspergers? I wouldn't want to take any medication for it.
I have had cognitive therapy which worked great for me, it might be might be helpful for other aspies. |
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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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| spudnik wrote: | Is there a drug treatment of aspergers? I wouldn't want to take any medication for it.
I have had cognitive therapy which worked great for me, it might be might be helpful for other aspies. |
I don't know if there is or not, but if they wanted to put me on SSRIs, it wouldn't be on.
I haven't had any kind of therapy, just real life telling me to behave a certain way. |
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DeaconBlues
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide - call me...
Joined: Apr 22, 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Earth, mostly
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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No, there is no drug treatment for Asperger's. It's not a matter of neurochemistry - it's a matter of neuroanatomy, and there are no drugs that will change that in a beneficial way. (There are some that seem to damage existing neural structures, but I assume you don't want to lower your cognitive abilities while keeping your sensory problems.)
Cognitive therapy can help you learn coping strategies to deal with the NT world, if you haven't already figured most of them out on your own.
I had another thought, but my daughter is insisting on playing catch right now, and driving every thought out of my head. (Still working on communication - she's Kanner's.)
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If it can't be expressed in figures, it is not science; it is opinion. - Robert A. Heinlein |
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DW_a_mom
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Posts: 1530
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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I would think that many adult Aspies have kind of figured out how to adapt by now. Comparing my son to my father, I think that for a smart, high functioning Aspie the biggest benefit to knowing early on is happiness - that may sound strange, but my father spent his life battling the world and being frustrated, even though he obtained a decent amount of success, and was very respected as a person of honor. He carried a lot of anger and resentment because of things that had happened through out his life, and to hear talk of his childhood, you realize that it existed since early on. My son, however, has a lot of confidence and real happiness. He is reaching his potential and thriving, not already feeling denied and boxed.
So .... and I may be totally "off" with this, but I think the most important thing to do for yourself, at this point in your life, isn't so much learning to cope with effects of the Aspergers, but learning to recognize and reconcile the negative effects that "being different" has had on your life up to now. And locating parts of yourself that you may have turned off out of frustration, as a defensive mechanism. Figuring out how your experiences have caused you to see and sort the world in the way you have, and deciding if those are really valid, or were born from the need to be self-protective. Stuff like that. The sorts of things an understanding counselor can help with.
And I need to go back to my deadline, lol!
Good luck 
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Sora
what a stupid lamb
Joined: Sep 16, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 3278
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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It's too late when you're aspie/autie and don't have any problems you can't manage yourself.
When you have problems you need help to solve - then it's never too late I think. To reduce stress levels, anxiety, nagging confusion about NTs, yourself... or if you really need help with everyday things or your job and want to finally figure a better strategy to cope with your trouble.
Why'd you think there's a too late? My family says this often, related to other health questions or totally different questions. I never get that. It's not like anyone loses worth by getting older. People ain't cars. Though some cars do gain worth with time passing. |
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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| DW_a_mom wrote: | I would think that many adult Aspies have kind of figured out how to adapt by now. Comparing my son to my father, I think that for a smart, high functioning Aspie the biggest benefit to knowing early on is happiness - that may sound strange, but my father spent his life battling the world and being frustrated, even though he obtained a decent amount of success, and was very respected as a person of honor. He carried a lot of anger and resentment because of things that had happened through out his life, and to hear talk of his childhood, you realize that it existed since early on. My son, however, has a lot of confidence and real happiness. He is reaching his potential and thriving, not already feeling denied and boxed.
So .... and I may be totally "off" with this, but I think the most important thing to do for yourself, at this point in your life, isn't so much learning to cope with effects of the Aspergers, but learning to recognize and reconcile the negative effects that "being different" has had on your life up to now. And locating parts of yourself that you may have turned off out of frustration, as a defensive mechanism. Figuring out how your experiences have caused you to see and sort the world in the way you have, and deciding if those are really valid, or were born from the need to be self-protective. Stuff like that. The sorts of things an understanding counselor can help with.
And I need to go back to my deadline, lol!
Good luck |
One of the things that posting in here seems to have done lately is stir up some of the memories of what I had to deal with and add that to the situation that went on this week that sent me into the spiral, well... it's been a rough week.
I am 100% certain that I am aspie, but without a Dx, I'm wondering if maybe I am actually missing out on something that might keep me from having to deal with these black spirals. Maybe there are programs I'm not aware of, maybe there is something I should be doing that I don't know about?
About 7 years ago, I met a man who smashed through my walls and was a part of me before I even knew who he was. I liken our relationship to an Elizabeth Barrett Browning love poem. He's brought me abject happiness and since we've been together, I've very rarely spun down. So, you've got a bead for certain on the happiness factor, DW.
I've gotten stronger as a person by learning skills enough to be self-confident and that has carried a long way toward my building my self-esteem. Every success I have had, no matter how tarnished it might have been by someone else's comments, has been a building block for me. And, not realizing that there was a method to my madness, everything I've attempted to learn about, I have a bad habit of becoming an expert in, so that helps. But I think to date, the biggest "pill" for me, has been letting myself become a partner with this man. And, that happiness has been invaluable and I think has kept me from spiralling out of control.
I'd read poems and songs by other people about the love they feel for others and I just never really believed it could be like that. Like they were all exaggerating... until I met this man I'm with. So, here I am living what I think every aspie wishes for, the ability to feel this intense emotional connection with someone who is the value of their very breath. And I know I'm blessed. -- And I'm noticing today, that although I've almost spiralled out on three separate occasions over the last several months, that relationship has been instrumental in keeping me from losing myself into it.
So yeah... all that is to say that happiness must have a huge factor in it... Of course, from a scientific standpoint, it's dopamines coming into play. |
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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Sora wrote: | It's too late when you're aspie/autie and don't have any problems you can't manage yourself.
When you have problems you need help to solve - then it's never too late I think. To reduce stress levels, anxiety, nagging confusion about NTs, yourself... or if you really need help with everyday things or your job and want to finally figure a better strategy to cope with your trouble.
Why'd you think there's a too late? My family says this often, related to other health questions or totally different questions. I never get that. It's not like anyone loses worth by getting older. People ain't cars. Though some cars do gain worth with time passing. |
I don't think it's too late or think it's not too late, one way or the other. I asked because I don't know, but everything I've heard and read highlights "early diagnosis and intervention"... I'm 42, not autistic in the LFA sort of way, obviously, but advanced enough to know that I have mastered a lot of the aspie traits like my anti-socialness, or eye-contact, that sort of thing. But it doesn't take away from the fact that sometimes I have symptoms, like the depressions, specifically, and I wouldn't mind knowing how to prevent them from happening or even how to continue functioning normally (well, normal for me) when they are happening.
So... maybe I should get Dx'd. I almost called the McGill medical center yesterday, but panicked and hung up the phone. |
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DW_a_mom
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Posts: 1530
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Pepperfire wrote: |
So... maybe I should get Dx'd. I almost called the McGill medical center yesterday, but panicked and hung up the phone. |
I think diagnosis is such an intensely personal process, it is no surprise it is scary. Perhaps you can let your logical abilities take over? List down everything that you might be able to gain, EVERYTHING. Then list all your fears and potential negatives. In a cool moment, one with no fear, do the math: will the gains justify the costs?
I don't have an answer for you. I know how it intense it was going through the process with my son, and I cannot begin to imagine entering it at your phase of life. But if knowing will help you find the keys to the dark spirals you hope to never see again, well, it will be worth it. We're not talking magic pills here, but keys come in many forms. Do you want the key badly enough to cross the divide? And do you feel strongly that this is where the key is hidden?
I am thrilled your husband has been such a rock for you. Relationships are amazing things.
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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| DW_a_mom wrote: | | Pepperfire wrote: |
So... maybe I should get Dx'd. I almost called the McGill medical center yesterday, but panicked and hung up the phone. |
I think diagnosis is such an intensely personal process, it is no surprise it is scary. Perhaps you can let your logical abilities take over? List down everything that you might be able to gain, EVERYTHING. Then list all your fears and potential negatives. In a cool moment, one with no fear, do the math: will the gains justify the costs?
I don't have an answer for you. I know how it intense it was going through the process with my son, and I cannot begin to imagine entering it at your phase of life. But if knowing will help you find the keys to the dark spirals you hope to never see again, well, it will be worth it. We're not talking magic pills here, but keys come in many forms. Do you want the key badly enough to cross the divide? And do you feel strongly that this is where the key is hidden?
I am thrilled your husband has been such a rock for you. Relationships are amazing things. |
I don't yet have an answer for me either. Last week, I was sure of myself though. |
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DW_a_mom
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Posts: 1530
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Pepperfire wrote: |
I don't yet have an answer for me either. Last week, I was sure of myself though. |
(((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))
Maybe it's a good thing for my son that it is my job to make these decisions for him, although I certainly try to figure out what he wants and needs. At least this way, when it turns out to be the wrong decision, he gets to blame it on me.
Hey, if you need a scapegoat to help you through this, for that "fall back" position, I'll volunteer.
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Pepperfire
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Age: 43
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| DW_a_mom wrote: | | Pepperfire wrote: |
I don't yet have an answer for me either. Last week, I was sure of myself though. |
(((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))
Maybe it's a good thing for my son that it is my job to make these decisions for him, although I certainly try to figure out what he wants and needs. At least this way, when it turns out to be the wrong decision, he gets to blame it on me.
Hey, if you need a scapegoat to help you through this, for that "fall back" position, I'll volunteer. |
Thanks. I'll certainly keep you posted as to how it goes. It's been a special week and I'm glad it's looking better than it did last, although I have a black knight to face before Monday that I'm not looking forward to.
I'll probably call McGill this week. I have some friends over there, maybe I'll go in that way. |
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LeKiwi
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 27, 2007
Posts: 2651
Location: The murky waters of my mind...
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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Pepperfire, I think I'm kinda going through something similar at the moment. I'm 21, and finally sort of coming to terms with my AS. But the more I come to terms with it, the more memories come back and the more anachronisms I thought I'd buried seem to pop up - or maybe I just recognise them as what they are, I don't know - and the more obvious it seems to become. Maybe through acceptance I'm just not suppressing things through denial so much; it's hard to tell. But I do wonder if there's anything really that could help. Maybe even just talking about it with people (in real life, not just on here, though this does help) would give me some kind of validation that this IS who I am, and at last I can be proud of it and not so scared and ashamed, and that it isn't necessarily a bad thing or anything, and I can deal with it... etc.
Does that make sense?
I really think just talking, or explaining my experiences so as to possibly help other 4 or 14 year olds going through this, may help.
As background, I was diagnosed unofficially at 14 - my parents work with autistics/AS all day, and it was them who first recognised it in me, when they first got into the field. Suddenly all my frustrations and 'weird' behaviours made sense, and they were going to seminar after seminar finally figuring out their strange little daughter at last. They conferred with our doctor, who agreed with them, and eventually told me some time later. I guess I went into a kind of denial at that point, and it's only been in the last year that I've started to accept it as a part of me without shame.
Love is a funny thing - like you, I met a couple of years ago a man who has made me realise that all the love poems and stories and whatnot can be real and true and you can have that deep, incredible, spritual kind of connection with someone. And when I told him and he didn't flip, he just smiled and gave me a hug and talked about it, and wanted to know more - "I don't think you're a fruitcake or Rain Man, but I want to learn more about it so I can understand you better and help you, because clearly it's something that affects you deeply and if I can help you deal with it better than I should know how" were his words. Him being the first person to know beyond my family, and to just accept it so happily and openly, has also made me accept it in myself too and perhaps seek that validation about it. But then I have to remember not all 'normals' are as accepting or as kind and open as he is, and that I can't really go shouting it from the rooftops and telling everyone I meet, because we all know about prejudice and the misunderstandings that come from 'suffering' a 'disorder' (which I neither do nor have, in my opinion).
And that's sort of why now I'm thinking about perhaps finding out about treatment, or talking to someone about it, or getting help. I don't know if an official 'paper' diagnosis would be required for that and to access those sorts of support programmes, and if so that's just something I may have to explore as part of this process, but yeah..
Don't quite know what the point of this post is, other than to say I may be half your age but I think I'm going through something quite similar at the moment and know where you're coming from, and it's one of the reasons I love these boards so much... that ability to talk to people who understand where you're coming from and have those shared experiences with this thing.
Do let us know how you get on and keep us updated; it's never an easy process but it's always an interesting one I suppose! Good luck. 
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