roses4lace

I never had help from an Asperger's specialist, nor did my son, until 2 1/2 years ago. It never affected our ability to learn complicated things. I was valedictorian of my class. My son took advanced placement courses, loves calculus, physics, computers, and chemistry. We had to figure things out for ourselves. Many, many things we never figured out. A neurotypical person can not help us, because we don't think the same, and can't do it "their way". Teachers cannot help us. Most parents cannot help us. I would have loved to have had a specialist when my son was young, so he didn't have to go through so much frustration. I needed a specialist when I was young, and my life wouldn't have been so difficult and puzzling. Each of us consistently had 4-5 meltdowns a week, pretty much all our lives. Our "normal psychologists" provided no help in this area. When we found out we had Asperger's, we began going to psychologists who specialize in Aspergers, and it has brought wonderful changes to our lives.

I understand my "weirdness" better. I have learned better coping behaviors. I know how I'm different. I have learned what triggers my meltdowns. I have learned what I need to minimize my anxiety. I have learned how to ask for what I need. I have learned I need every other day totally without social interaction. I have learned I need minimal sensory inputs (lights, sounds, movement, color, smells, disorder.) I have learned I can attend meetings where everyone sits and listens to a speaker, but have to drastically limit or omit attendance at meetings where everyone stands around and mingles and chit chats. My counselor is helping me understand my world, my limits, my strengths, and how to structure my life to minimize the meltdowns. I'm now 52 years old. I went through life without knowing these things. These are the advantages of seeing a specialist. Please. Give your daughter the gift of a specialist.