| From the time she was young, I always felt | | | | themselves at physical risk. She was living in |
| something was wrong. From outside appearances, | | | | another state and had to face the realities of |
| she appeared perfectly normal. Only after | | | | Asberger Syndrome all alone. I truly worried as |
| spending some time with her, would you see the | | | | my daughter clearly put herself in some |
| symptoms. You would notice her inability to | | | | dangerous situations. |
| socialize with the other children, her clumsy gait | | | | In time, she returned home and finally accepted |
| when she walked and her lack of eye contact. | | | | her diagnosis of Asberger's. We then refined her |
| She was the consummate "loner" with no close | | | | Asberger treatment to address the new |
| friends. She displayed sensitivities to light, sounds | | | | symptoms as they evolved. She suffered through |
| and physical touch. There was the odd symptom | | | | periods of deep depressions, insomnia, and |
| of her wearing her socks inside out so she would | | | | symptoms of OCD. In school and at work, she |
| not feel the seam against her skin. In contrast, | | | | has had to adapt her learning methods as she is |
| she was very bright and making A's in school so | | | | not able to multi-task as we need to in the real |
| everyone dismissed the idea that there was a | | | | world. Her therapy was adjusted to teach her |
| serious problem. Even her doctor downplayed my | | | | how to manage her anger and volatile temper, |
| concerns. I truly regret that she was not | | | | With medications, she has become less anxious |
| diagnosed sooner as this kept her from the | | | | and we have moderated her mood swings. We |
| Asberger treatment she needed so desperately. | | | | have also expanded her treatment regimen to |
| Once diagnosed, we began the standard Asberger | | | | include herbal medications, special diets and |
| treatments using therapies for cognitive behavior, | | | | glutathione supplements. Asberger treatment is |
| social skills and speech. For years, my daughter | | | | just a ongoing and revolving process in her life. |
| failed to emotionally accept the fact that she had | | | | Today, I see her growing and thriving as a young |
| Asberger Syndrome. Her attitude was that she | | | | woman with Asberger's. I see a new sense of |
| was "fine". She has a natural stubbornness yet it | | | | self confidence emerging every day. Asberger |
| was a defense mechanism to prove that she was | | | | treatment did in fact save my child. I am a proud |
| normal. She knew she was different yet wanted | | | | parent of an intelligent, beautiful young woman |
| to fit in with the rest of the world. She began to | | | | who just happens to be an Aspie. She has taught |
| resist the Asberger treatments as a way of | | | | me how to be a better parent. I've had to learn |
| denying she had Asberger Syndrome. This was a | | | | how to understand Asberger Syndrome and how |
| serious issue as her acceptance of the treatment | | | | an Aspie thinks. I've had to learn a new way to |
| was her only way to learn the coping skills she | | | | relate to my daughter. I've had to try to see the |
| needed to function in life. We then discovered she | | | | world through her eyes. This process has |
| also had ADD, which is quite common for those | | | | completely changed our relationship. She has |
| with Asberger Syndrome. Her negative opinion | | | | learned how to show me affection and I have |
| towards taking any medications only complicated | | | | learned how to help her with her limitations. We |
| the situation. In the end, the ADD went untreated. | | | | both have worked to make our Asberger family |
| We then hit the "teenage" years and she became | | | | succeed. |
| openly rebellious. At 18, she defiantly told me that | | | | If there is a chance your child has Asberger |
| she was an adult and openly opposed all Asberger | | | | Syndrome, please talk to your child's doctor |
| treatment. | | | | immediately. Early intervention and Asberger |
| The following years were very troublesome. | | | | treatment are extremely important. You are your |
| Those with Asberger Syndrome can sometimes | | | | child's advocate, so the intervention must begin |
| expose themselves to undue risk as they lack the | | | | with your actions. Be assertive if you need to be; |
| ability to naturally assess the intentions and | | | | your child is counting on you. |
| agenda of others. They can unknowingly put | | | | |