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Look Beyond Yourself to See Your Child

Reader Stories: Autism and Depression: How Do You Cope?

From Theo

Created December 21, 2010

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What Was It That Caused Your Depression

My depression was caused by nearly a decade of being sexually, physically, & emotionally tortured and abused by my stepbrother. When I finally got out of that I went into a situaction that I thought would be safe, & then strange things were be accused. That I used the computer without permission!! That I would steal pain medication & give it to kids at school! My dad (God rest him) lost his job he & my stepmom decided to move to the east coast. I was not wanting to go.I moved in w/ my aunt & uncle and for the next 2 yrs spent them feeling nothing I ever did would be good enough. I moved out the DAY after graduation.

How Did You Get Past Depression to Help Your Child

Everything had been blamed on the Asperger's. No one even thought about the impact the PTSD was having. Getting out on my own (granted it was in an somewhat assisted living situation) it was changed everything! Being my own gruadian, I became my own boss. My rules. And I did well! I am great with what little money I had and am good with office stuff. I live now in a near by city in my own apartment with two kittens. Before that happened, I took off to meet my now ex in England. I hold a job with the Department of Mental Health and am looking to branch further. What helpled get past the drepression was being such a major advocate for those like me. It has changed my life. I now have a job because of it. I am dealing with politics which I found I had an unxepected talent for. I am in the captial alot and in Columbia working with Providers and Legislators to get help for those with AS who are in a large part invisable and ignored by the service community. My advice is to become an advocate. Fight for those on the specturm. It is rewarding and gives you a sense of Purpose. And a sense of Purpose is the most powerfullly motivating thing I can think of. Many times it has been the only thing that kept me alive and kept me going on.

Advice

  • I think all to often that parents in thier depression forget about what thier child is going through. That is a mistake! All I hear about is how bad the parents got it while there child sits there and listens. Remember OUR struggles!!! REMEMBER what we go through each and every day just to get by. AND HELP US. Don't look at us as something to fix, something broken. LOOK AT US. SEE YOUR CHILD. Then start from there.

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