Empathy and AS

Professionals are impressed that I amable to write effectively about emotions and body language in my creative works. One individual said (and I strongly agree) that it is proof that no individual fits a label entirely.

The truth is though, those things did not come naturally but rather through using my strengths to compensate. That is a theory that one of my favourite psychology professors and I share.

I have an excellent memory, and once I read a fact, I do not forget it. For instance, I read that people cross their arms when frustrated. I was told that people make eye contact when talking to each other. It took me several years to learn eye contact and I am still working on perfecting the subtleties of body language. It is only about five years ago, I learned to read facial expressions other than smiles (except in exaggerated cartoon drawings.) It is often easier to express these things in written word than it is to actually do or interpret them in real life. For instance, Rawling can write about magic in Harry Potter even though she has never actually experienced magic.

I am doubtful of the idea that individuals with AS do not have the ability to empathize. I think it is often the fact that they are unable to interpret another's emotions naturally (e.g. reading body language or tone of voice). In my experience, most people I know who have AS are very empathetic once they are made aware of what the person is feeling. When I lost my cat Clide, it was my close friend with AS who was the most sympathetic out of all my friends. He took me out for a drive for the day, and patiently listened as I shared my feelings. You would not say a deaf-blind person has no empathy because they cannot read facial expressions or interpret tone of voice.

Sometimes, I believe individuals with AS are unable to empathize because they have never experienced something. For instance, as I teenager, I had difficulty understanding why my brother got emotional about girlfriend conflicts because I had never personally experienced this and had nothing to base it on.

Of course, every individual with AS expresses the syndrome differently.

Managing AS and it's Co-morbid conditions

Living successfully with AS requires a delicate balance of lifestyle. Common strategies include stress reduction and relaxation techniques, reduced workload or courseload, exercise (especially ones that address sensory symptoms such as jumping on a trampoline), dietary modifications or supplements (e.g. flax seed oil), and medication.

Managing Asperger Syndrome is often made even more complicated due to the majority of individuals with Asperger syndrome having co-morbid conditions. For instance I have anxiety and Non-Verbal Learning disability.

I have used all of these strategies and I realize that sometimes it takes a great deal of trial and error to find the correct balance. For instance, my current balance of medication greatly improves my quality of life but took years to figure out. Even now, it needs occasional adjustments. If anyone has any questions about medicinal strategies that have worked for me, please feel free to email me. However, remember what may work for one individual may not be the best thing for another. I am not a medical expert so I cannot suggest what will work for you or your child.

Some of the best non-medicinal strategies for me have been the addition of flaxseed oil, swinging, jumping on my trampoline, spending time with my animals, opportunities to interact with peers in small groups in non-threatening situations, and reducing external stressors as necessary.

The Creative Aspie

Literature often cites individuals with Asperger syndrome as lacking imagination. Some children with AS never engage in imaginative play. However, I have also heard of case histories of individuals with AS who are talented artists or writers.

As a child, I had a vivid imagination and would develop complex games, but I had difficulty playing them with other children and having age-appropriate friendships. Much of my childhood play was parallel play. When it came to imagining what other people were feeling in a certain situation, I often could not emphathize until told explicity what they were feeling and why. This is still somewhat true today.

As for creativity, I have shown strenghts in creative writing from an early age. In first grade, I won a class award for my story about a frog. In grade 7, I won first place in our town in a Rememberance Day poetry contest, and I have recieved several positive comments from editors on my fiction submissions even though I haven't recieved a contract yet.

I have been working on developing my skills in writing middle grade fiction (fiction for ages 9-12) since I was in grade 5. My writing has grown a lot over the years and I hope someday to be published.

What are your opinions/experiences with creativity and Autism Spectrum disorders and/or NLD?

Interesting Time Article

I picked up Time magazine yesterday and they had an interesting article about the Fragile X mutation and it's link to autism. The article also discusses possible future treatments. I learned in neuropsychology last year they are discovering a lot of different genes responsible for ASDs. In the course, they listed several different gene mutations. Every case is different

I am happy with this research for two reaosns. First of all, someday if I'm planning my family, I may be able to determine my risk of concieving a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Second of all, this research offers hope for individuals living with autism spectrum disorders to be able to lead more normal lives. I don't believe eliminating the sensory, learning, or meltdown symptoms will destroy somebody's individuality.

Disgusting

Yesterday, I found a link to this article on another blog. It was one of the most disgusting things I ever saw. Basically, a teacher allowed a bunch of 5-year-olds to vote on whether a student with Asperger syndrome could remain in the class.

Surprisingly, it seems no charges are being laid against the school or teacher. If this was a black student and a teacher pulled a stunt like that, it would be considered racism. This is an adult teaching children hate and it should be recognized for what it is. I think that it is child abuse, not just to the child with a disability, but to the entire class.

Oh Baby

It is often more difficult for individuals with disabilities, including Asperger Syndrome to have and sucessfully parent children. I'm not saying it is impossible. Many have succeeded and done a great job. I'm just saying it comes with extra challenges.

All my life, I have wanted to have children. I always dreamed of a little girl I could dress up in pretty outfits and play dolls with, or a little boy to catch frogs and snakes with. Now I do not know if that will be possible for several reasons.

First of all, I do not understand the complex social interactions of dating and am in no way ready for a relationship. Second of all, my condition is believed to be genetic and I have risk of having a child on the autism spectrum with an unknown degree of severity.

I have thought of adopting as a single parent in my 30s, once I manage to obtain financial security (which my parents and doctor do believe will be possible in a knowledge-based position such as a professor/researcher and some more years of maturity on my part). It is said that individuals with AS mature socially and emotionally at a rate of 2/3 to 3/4 their age. In my case, I'm continuing to make progress and gain new skills in my 20s. I know that is not the case for all individuals. If things continue the way they are going, I will likely be ready to be independent in my 30s rather than my 20s like most people.

I am fairly certain that I will be employed at least part time in a field that capitalizes on my strenghts someday, but after having Eva, I'm not sure that I'd be able to handle the more complex responsiblities and social interactions of a human baby or child. I would not voluntairly take on such a responsiblity unless I was sure I could handle it.

Maybe those things will come with maturity, or maybe I'll always be a "pet parent."

For now, Eva fills up my days and gives me someone to love who needs me. Since I've had her, my "need" to have children someday has decreased. Even though I love working with children, Eva may be the only child I want full time. I know as long as I have my animals, I will never be alone in life.

If you are an indivdual or caregiver of someone with a developmental disability or just someone from the interested general public, feel free to respond to this post with your input.