Problems as a parent of an Asperger's Syndrome young adult

[charisstoma]

TMI for most everyone.

My 21 year old son just had a melt down. It was very difficult through his crying to understand what the problem was.
He feels isolated, extremely. Called his father and he is going to find out for me if his medical will cover a psychologist. He thinks not.
I will call his pediatrician tomorrow for advice and hopefully a referral.

Is there any input to guide me to as the best course to take? Found one local listing for an Asperger's Support Group in Ft. Worth. TCC (Tarrant County Community College), his school, doesn't seem to have any mental health programs available.

Son seems better now but I know the problem hasn't gone away.
I want to have my own melt down but small print on the birth certificate says I don't get to while I'm coping with his.

Comments

[grimmsical.livejournal.com]

TMI? Not really. But good Gods, it seems like you need some moral support right now. I'm probably not the best for it considering I don't have kids and pretty much cannot understand as much as I'd like, but still... Just, don't lose hope, I guess - I can't offer any real words of wisdom.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Am going to see what I can find out tomorrow.
Thank you. *hugs*

[urbanrebel.livejournal.com]

"Melt down?" More details would help. Send me a private message if you want. I don't know if I have any answers/advice, but I want to help if possible.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. Got advice and guidance from of all places my workplace Guidance Counsellor and the Doctor's office. I don't think I'll need your help but I really appreciate it. Like my son, I was feeling alone in what was happening and there are people like you that make me realise it's not that way.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Does he participate in any online support groups for people with Aspergers, just as a stop gap measure until he can get some real life contact going? (I was just thinking that at the very least finding him some online communities to start reading and talking in is something you and he can do RIGHT NOW, while you find the other things).

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

A difficulty to compose in writing is one of the ways his Asperger's is expressed. I suggested this to him, even so, because anything at this point would be good. He was resistant to it at the time. We have tried him dictating to me on other written projects, so a joint project might be good.

Thank you. Will suggest a joint on-line project.

[thetowerxvi.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear it. Dont think I have any helpful words of advice. He's been doing some new things on his own lately, perhaps this is a bit of him learning to adjust to kind of stepping out of the nest so to speak? I hope you are able to find something to help him out. let me know if you need to talk or rant. *hugs*

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

*kiss* Thanks.
I thought of the growing he's been doing and then this happening. Maybe he's re-adjusting.
Will need to follow through on options. *hugs*

[chris-king-2005.livejournal.com]

Start with the 'local' support group - and check out what sort of national support organization there may be.

Um... *ponders* Check the front of the phone book. Is there a hotline for mental health issues or mental health support?

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

PHONE BOOK?! I hadn't thought of that!

You doing okay yourself? *hugs*

Thanks.

[chris-king-2005.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm hanging in there. One of TOH's aneurysms is now the size of a golf ball, but he may have to wait a couple of months to have his surgery. We'll know more in a week or so, when we hear from the hospital.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

I'm a little shaky right now myself but know that if you need to talk, I'm here. I think it helps helping someone else. *hugs*

[youraugustine.livejournal.com]

What are his interests? If he has something he's particularly interested in - anything from computers to martial arts - it might be worthwhile seeking it out in some kind of group-context, particularly if you can find a group that allows you to explain what's going on with him.

An example I know of personally being there's a young man with Aspergers involved in my youngest sister's theatre group - he works on the sets. They're a good group, so they look out for him and include him. Something like that might help.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

This may be a double post to you, the other seems to have been eaten. Sorry.

This is good advice. I'd thought also of volunteering, he and I together. Helping others to help ourselves.

[cassiopeia13.livejournal.com]

Pretty much ALL medical covers psychology (they have to), you just have to find the one that will take it. Call the insurance company they can direct you to a list of people who will be in your network. Also, as long as meds aren't involved you can go to a hospital's psych department and they usually have what's called payment displacement, which is based off your ability to pay based off if your insurance covers it or not.

And you do get to have a small meltdown, you're allowed. Just after he's in bed have yourself a good cry. *hugz*

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Thank you. The support is as good as the information. *hugs*

[cassiopeia13.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I used to work for an insurance company so I have a good grasp of how they work. And I go to UCONN's hopsital for psychology for ADD and don't have to pay since I have private insurance.

I know..well I don't know, but having a learning disability I can understand how asburgers could be really hard on someone. It's so different from anything else and you can't really SEE it, so I get how difficult it could be. Plus, you being his mom and not really being able to do anything has to be incredibly hard. You should find a support group for yourself too. (Try Meetup.com) So you can get help for you, which is just as important as getting help for him. Trust me, THIS I know. My parents take care of TWO grandparents and it's INCREDIBLY stressfull. Having someone to turn too has been my mom's godsend.