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Autism/autism and depression

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Expert: - 3/13/2008


Question
hello, i am currently working with a 13 year old boy with autisma nd he seems very down and is talking about death and suicide and killing people. any ideas on how i can get him to talk about his feelings? or do you have any other ideas thay may help?

thanks.

Answer
Hi Eleni,

Depression is common among teenage autistics. They know they are different, they know the other kids don't like them and even pick on them. They see no hope.

Warn this child's parents that he is in danger and to seek medical help. Anti-depressant medication can be very helpful for these kids.

He is not likely to be able to benefit from talk therapy. He is likely to have difficulty forming a trusting relationship with the therapist. Autistics don't have good insight into their emotions. It's part of the disorder.

Best wishes,
Catherine

Autism

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Catherine Ridenour

Expertise

I can answer your questions about parenting your High Functioning Autisic or Asperger`s Syndrome child. In particular, questions about family life, discipline, siblings, finding resources, and working with (sometimes opposing) the educational system are welcome.

Experience

I am the parent of an Asperger's Syndrome child who is now 22 years old. She went undiagnosed for 14 years of her life, so I have done extensive reading and Internet research into the possible cause of her difficulties. Even a short 8 years ago, A.S. was practically unheard of by the public educational system.

We fumbled our way through her childhood and early adolescence without any effective outside support. In some ways, that may have been a blessing as we were focused on her abilities rather than a label for her disability. However, I can think of many times when knowing WHY would have been comforting.

Had we known very early on, some social skills interventions might have made her life in school easier. At this point, I like her for who she is so I do not regret how things have turned out. More importantly, she likes herself.

Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelor of Science in Education.

I have worked to educate myself about Autism in general and HFA/AS in particular.

NOTE:

Please note that I have no control over the "sponsored links" at the bottom of this page. I do not endorse these web sites or their products or opinions. Use your own best judgment in evaluating any claim made. As with all things, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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