Managing emotions can be especially difficult for adults with a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or autism. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, commonly called CBT, can be an effective means of coping with mental health issues, including difficult emotions such as depression, repetitive thoughts, or anxiety.

Many individuals with Asperger's, autism or an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) dread the idea of seeing a psychotherapist. The thought of analyzing past relationships, talking about early childhood experiences, and dwelling on emotions can seem dull, pointless or painful. They may imagine a therapy session as something like what Freud did, or Woody Allen on a couch and the therapist nodding and asking about dreams. Or, they picture a stereotyped TV therapist, asking "How did that make you feel?" over and over. With these images of therapy, it's not surprising that many individuals may choose to live with their emotional pain, rather than see a therapist.

But, there are other options!

Therapy can be much more practical and goal oriented than these images may lead you to believe, and that's just what many individuals with Asperger's or autism are interested in. And that's where CBT comes in.

CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts (or cognitions), our emotions, and our behaviors are intertwined. By becoming aware of our thoughts, examining them, and analyzing them, we can determine how these thoughts are triggering depressed or anxious feeling or behaviors. The ideas behind the thoughts can be tested for false logic or incorrect generalizations. Since many individuals with autism or Asperger's excel at logical thinking, examining their own thoughts for illogical patterns can seem very natural.

CBT does deal with emotion, but in a concrete way. Emotions are discussed and often explained in depth, so they can be better understood. Many CBT therapists have their clients rate and measure their emotions, as a means of being better aware of them. How the emotion is experienced in the body may be explored. The idea is that better understanding of emotions, how they feel, and what functions they serve, can allow people to manage them more easily. Again, this practical and precise approach can feel very natural to those on the autism spectrum.

Please don't confuse CBT with ABA. ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is often referred to as Behavior Therapy, but it's not Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. ABA is a specific therapy, often used with autistic children, to teach new behaviors. It is not psychotherapy, it doesn't deal with emotions or issues like depression, anxiety or repetitive thoughts. CBT may incorporate a behavioral theme, such as setting up a regular exercise program as part of the symptom management, but it's not about giving adults little rewards every time they follow the therapist's requests. There's also some confusion about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Cognitive Therapy. Strictly speaking, Cognitive Therapy is one type of therapy, that falls under the umbrella of more general types of CBT. In practice, most therapists use the words "Cognitive Therapy" and "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" interchangeably.

Ready to give CBT a try? Most therapists don't list themselves as CBT therapists, since they will use other techniques when appropriate. It's probably more important to find a therapist who is familiar with Asperger's and autism, and one who really enjoys working with individuals on the autism spectrum. Tell your potential therapist that you're interested in a more concrete, practical approach, define the goals you're looking for, and ask of they use CBT regularly.

You can be feeling better soon!

Patricia Robinson, MA, MFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Ramon and Danville, California. She counsels adults, children, and teens and is especially interested in psychotherapy and treatment of individuals and families with special needs, such as Asperger's Disorder, Autism, ADD, ADHD and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can treat issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and practical matters such as social skills and day to day functioning.

She has an MA in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University as well as Engineering degrees from MIT. Please visit her at http://patriciarobinsonmft.com, where you can find articles and information on local and national resources and support groups. Also, please check out her blogs, Coach for Aspergers and Social Skills for Kids at http://blog.patriciarobinsonmft.com

photo credit: kevinpoh

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2410487 

How can you manage constant anxiety and worry?  It's like a gnawing bug in the pit of your stomach.  Unchecked, anxiety and worry can take a toll on your stomach, your head (migraines), and your health.

Compartmentalize

You can compartmentalize your worry by assigning yourself a specific time of the day, or of the week, and designate it "Worry Time."  By doing this, you can remind yourself, when worry comes up, that you have given yourself a specific time to engage in worry.  This may sound counter-intuitive, but what you are doing is actually quite rational!

Worry and anxiety are ways that your body and mind try to deal with real or imagined "threats."  The solution to the worry and anxiety are to actually spend some time problem-solving ways to cope with those threats when they come up.  Unfortunately, too many of us spend our time like hamsters running on the wheel of worry, and wondering why we cannot get off!  Problem-solving is the way to get off!  Spend time, during your worry time, to actually write down your worries.  Then write at least 10 solutions to your worry.

Accept

Acceptance is a term that has emerged out of mindfulness and meditation, common in Eastern traditions.  What happens to many of us is that we fight the constant worry and anxiety so much, that it creates even more anxiety and worry!  It's like running faster on the hamster wheel and getting more exhausted.  If the hamster would stop running, stand still, and breathe, s/he might actually get some rest!

I encourage you to google the term, "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy."  Check out any links or resources on the topic, because you'll be learning some key concepts to help you accept your worry and anxiety, without letting it run your life.

Seek Out Professional Help

It's ok to get help.  Okay, I'm biased, because I'm a professional counselor.  But I would not give you advice that I've not taken myself!  Many of us are afraid to go to counseling, because we think that we may be "crazy."  Unfortunately, this is related to some of the mental health stigma that remains in society today.

I see counseling as a coaching process.  Think of a professional counselor as you would as a physical therapist.  A good professional counselor should be familiar with cognitive therapy, anxiety, and should give you "homework" to work on, just as a physical therapist would give you exercises to do at home.  As you practice this homework under this coach, you will find yourself overcoming anxiety!

Read more: http://bit.ly/x2vaJY  (I'm the author :)


photo credit: spaceodissey

This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

I've gotten to know Dr. Erica Goodstone through some online collaboration in projects and blogs.  She is committed to helping couples find love and healing in their marriages.

Here is one of her articles to help you in your own marriage.
The tension and hostility are building. You either lash out at each other, sometimes saying some pretty mean and insulting words, or you clam up and create a wall of silence. Conflict between two people in a relationship, any close relationship, is not only inevitable but can be healthy and cleansing. Engaging in conflict, no matter how difficult, emotionally painful, or frustrating, can actually lead to resolution and better communication.

I once heard the statement, "If you want peace, prepare for war." Too many individuals in their most intimate relationships establish a pattern of not creating conflict, not rocking the boat, not upsetting their partner. So the person who does not express his or her true feelings tends to stuff the feelings. Just like a pot about to boil that begins to simmer and smoke and can actually shoot the lid off, that is what may happen emotionally.

Once you are engaged in conflict, it may be too late to figure out a better way. Your buttons have probably been pushed and you are in it all the way. Depending upon your style, you may yell and scream, curse and insult, intimidate and threaten, cry and sulk, or just give in sheepishly. In the middle of an emotional battle is NOT the time to first decide to fight fairly and follow proper rules of engagement.

If the conflicts have been building and being suppressed over a long period of time, it may require some professional help, an outside neutral presence, to help you break the destructive habit pattern. One, and eventually both of you, need to overcome some ways of communicating that continue to spark the conflict. You need to discover new ways of speaking and behaving that may enable a new conversation, greater acceptance and a renewed opportunity for empathy, affection and sharing love.

Here are some simple suggestions for couple conflict management, but these must be planned and practice in advance, not first used during a heated argument.

Speak with respect, a non-judgmental and neutral attitude; avoid put downs, blaming and insulting.

• Don't use exaggerated words such as "never," "always," "everyone else."
• Speak about your feelings, explain to your partner how "I" feel not how "you should" feel.
• Listen without interrupting and truly hear what your partner is saying.
• Ask questions with an attitude of curiosity, not blame, to truly gain a better understanding.
• Stay focused on the topic of the argument and do not bring up related, past and other details.
• Ask for a time out if the atmosphere becomes too heated, volatile or even dangerous.
• If you can muster up the feelings, remind your partner that you DO care and do love him or her.

If you find you just cannot get into a neutral state and rationally discuss some of the hot topics in your relationship, it may be time to seek help. There are so many qualified marriage counselors and couples therapists available. Their input and experience with other couples undergoing problems not unlike your own, can mean the difference between preserving and creating a wonderful relationship or giving up and splitting up.

About this AuthorDr. Erica Goodstone, a Spiritual Relationship Expert, has helped thousands of men, women, couples, and groups to develop greater awareness of the issues in their relationships and their lives, to overcome and alleviate stressors and discords, and to revitalize their relationships and their own mind-body-spirit connection. Get your FREE RELATIONSHIP SUCCESS REPORT or a coaching session at http://www.DrEricaWellness.com. Receive a FREE PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT and bonus gifts at http://www.createhealingandlovenow.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Goodstone,_Ph.D.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6161527 

photo credit: Ed Yourdon

If you are a parent just finding out about your child's condition of attention deficit disorder, it's important to have an overview of the types of treatments for ADHD that will be backed up by research.

Here's an overview of some of the more effective treatments for ADHD based on current research.

Stimulant Medication

I don't have time to go into this subject in depth, because it's not the main topic of this article.  A board certified child psychiatrist is the MD most qualified doctor you can work with, since s/he is specially trained to work with psychiatric conditions for children. 

Do realize that medication helps curb some of the symptoms of impulsivity, distractibility, and difficulty focusing and paying attention.  However, medications will not teach social skills or good choices.

Behavioral Parent Training

Let me qualify this by telling you that you are not a bad parent!  You probably didn't ever plan on dealing with this condition when you signed up for parenthood, yet here you are!

The good news is that you can learn some specific strategies for helping your child learn the skills to succeed academically, socially, and in general.

With a therapist or through special classes, you can learn how to construct and administer positive consequences (for positive behaviors you are hoping to reinforce) and negative consequences (for behaviors you are hoping to curb).

Classroom Intervention Training

This type of training includes collaboration between a professional skilled in understanding Attention Deficit disorder, the parents, and the teacher.  Fortunately, once an official diagnosis has been documented, most schools can implement a 504 Plan, which seeks to assist the child with learning and organization strategies.

In addition, the school psychologist and/or school social worker should have a good grasp of ADD and appropriate interventions.  In addition, if you and your child are working with a good therapist, that therapist can coordinate care with the school team to help them understand what some appropriate interventions may be.

The Daily Report Card

This daily report card will target the most frequently occurring and troublesome behaviors.  Rather than focusing on "Don't Do" certain behaviors, it should be focused on a positive behavior.  For example,  "Participate Effectively In Class."  Then, there will be specific intstructions: a) I will look at the teacher when spoken to b) I will listen before speaking c)  I will listen without talking to others.  This daily report card can be reviewed with the parent before school, and then again with the teacher after school.  The child can then rate him/herself on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best compliance, and the teacher can also rate the child's progress. 

Rewards can be given for a certain number of points at the end of the week, both at school and at home.  As the behavioral goal is reached for one behavior, a second behavior can then be added.

Intensive Behavioral Peer Intervention

Intensive Behavioral Peer Intervention is great in theory, but difficult to implement.  This is social skill building that takes place in a summer recreation type program.  For example, the University of Buffalo in New York has a summer program that contains a summer camp type setting for kids where they have structured and systematic teaching of social skills, academic skills, how to cooperate in teams, and how to problem solve.  Since kids are placed with other ADD kids, friendships are built and self confidence is forged as they learn new skills.

The challenge, again, is that there don't seem to be too many of these programs available.

Office based social skills groups that meet once a week don't seem to be quite as helpful, because kids with adhd tend to have difficulty retrieving the learning that occurs in between sessions.

The Next Best Thing

The next best thing/alternative to intensive social skills training is for us, as parents, to be working with kids in "real time" to discuss what helps and what does not help in social situations.  Team up with your school social worker, if your child is involved in groups.  Soak up all you can about social skills and problem solving.  Become your child's coach and teacher. 

There is a method called the social autopsy that can help you work with your child to better understand what works and what does not work in certain situations.  Have your child think about different situations s/he will encounter the next day.  Then discuss how it went at the end of the day.  Talk about what worked and what did not work.  In this way, social thinking will hopefully become a way of life for your child.

Parting Thoughts

Value your child for who s/he is.  There are many gifted and talented people with ADD/ADHD who think outside the box, are great inventors, and great entrepeneurs.  Help your child identify her/his strengths.
Spend quality time with your child.  Help her/him understand that you love her/him unconditionally.
Become a student.  Learn as much as you can about ADD/ADHD.  Go to classes held at your local mental health agency or school.  But don't become consumed by your learning.  Relax.
Let your child teach you.  Each child is different.  Have patience and learn to really listen to your child's point of view.

This article is a reprint of an article I wrote last year (I'm the author)

This is a guest post from Marina Salsbury.  She writes for Online College Classes.

Before I post her article, though, I want to point out that employee assistance programs can be a very helpful asset to both employees and employers.

If you are an employee, you can call your Employee Assistance Program anonymously and ask any questions you may have about confidentiality.  This is of the utmost importance, since you don't want to have your private information informally or formally 'held against' you by your employer.

Employee assistance professionals are licensed psychotherapists who will help you problem-solve any number of personal, financial, relational, and even employer related difficulties you may be having.

And now, on to the article:

Employee Assistance Programs: A Win for the Business and Employee

Employee Assistance Programs, otherwise known as EAPs, are a part of an employee’s benefits package that can help both an employee and their employer. EAPs are designed to help employees deal with a variety of personal problems that could impact their work performance. According to a blog article found on MBA Online, many companies are rethinking traditional methods of managing their employees to increase productivity and overall satisfaction among employees. As a result of having an Employee Assistance Program in place, many businesses report higher levels of productivity and workplace happiness among their employees, truly a win for both the business and employees.

EAPs can offer a variety of services, but most of them concentrate on providing problem assessment, short-term counseling and counseling referral services. Services are typically offered to both employees and members of their immediate household, since problems within an employee’s house can impact their work performance even if the problems do not affect the employee personally. Usually, EAPs assist employees and their families with personal issues such as substance and drug abuse, emotional distress, major life events (i.e. birth, death, marriage, etc.), health care crisis, legal problems, financial counseling, and workplace relationship issues. Further information on the types of services typically offered can be found at the Washington State Human Resources.

The services of an EAP are typically offered at no cost to an employee or their family, since they are typically a part of the total compensation package received by the employee. At many companies, EAPs are offered through third-party providers that are hired by the employer. In many cases there are non-profit organizations that provide services.

In addition to a variety of counseling services, some EAPs offer services such as law professionals, financial advisors, travel agents, and babysitting services. By providing these services to their employees, a company gains a workforce that is more productive and focused on the workplace.

Furthermore, a few studies comparing companies that offer EAPs to those that do not have shown that offering EAPs can result in a variety of benefits for the companies. These benefits included lower medical costs, reduced employee turnover and absenteeism, and higher levels of productivity. In addition, there are many benefits to employees, resulting in better mental and physical health for employees and their families. It should be noted that EAPs are among the cheapest benefits for companies to offer to their employees. Considering the benefits, EAPs are among one of the best human resources investments a company can make.

Employee Assistance Plans are able to offer a variety of benefits to both employees and the companies they work for. For relatively little money, a company can provide a support network to its employees that can ensure its workforce remains productive even during stressful times. Carefully research the options available to your company for setting up your own Employee Assistance Program.

photo credit: mikebaird

Welcome to what is almost 2012!  I'm reprinting an article I posted on my other blog, Personal Success Factors, a while ago.  The principles for personal growth and personal motivation are timeless: I hope you'll apply them today and going forward.

The absurd man is he who never changes.
AUGUSTE BARTHELEMY (1796-1867)
French poet and satirist

There is a story, I cannot remember where I heard it, about an experiment that was done with grasshoppers (I think). They are put into an upside-down glass, jumping and jumping against the glass walls. Finally, exhausted, they give up. The glass is removed, and the grasshoppers, broken, stop jumping. They truly believe that they are imprisoned.

In the same way, we build, or allow glass walls to be built around us. Those walls are our vocabulary, our self-talk, , and the opinions of others that we have come to believe as fact. 

"But I can't."

"Things never go my way."

"Some people have all the luck."

Are you waiting to one day win the lottery?

Do you sit and daydream about that promotion without doing any work while at work?

Are you waiting for someone powerful to come into your life and give you a lucky break?

It's time to get off your butt!

Wake Up!! It's Your Choice!!

Success Factor: Value Yourself Highly

As J.B. Glossinger from Morning Coach would say, "You are the miracle of birth." You are one of the most amazing of God's creations. If someone told you, "I will give you a million dollars for your eyes", would you take it? Probably not! If your eyesight is priceless, then how much more precious are you as a human being, with a unique soul, spirit, mind, and body?

Success Factor: Take Responsibility For Your Own Destiny

Repeat these two mantras over and over, until they sink in and become part of your regular subconscious:

"If it's to be, it's up to me"

"I am responsible. I am responsible. I am responsible."

As Richard Gilly Nixon states in his book, The Lazy Man's Way to Riches, "Stop expecting others to rescue you from your current distress. Get rid of the dependency syndrome. Use your God given abilities and resolve. Exercise your freedom of choice, and embark on your own journey to success by working intelligently, meticulously, and persistently to achieve your success."

Success Factor: Stop Doing What Does Not Work For You

I am going to tell you what has not worked for me:

Wishing things could be better

Wishing I had other breaks, opportunities, resources that others seemed to be born with

Thinking always and only about myself

Engaging in a protracted pity party

Sitting in front of the tv for more than two hours a night

Sleeping in and barely making it to work

Eating junk food and wondering why my belly kept expanding.

Have you seen improvements in your job, in your salary? Are you still putting off going back to school? Are you still wishing you could squeeze into those jeans? Are you still dreaming about a goal you set for yourself a year ago?

You only have one life to live. 

Create your legacy NOW!

Success Factor: Take A Productive Action Step Today, And Every Day After That

.According to best selling author Tony Robbins, the key success factor that separates winners from losers is the decision to take massive action. But even better, instead of taking one big massive action, take just one small step toward bettering just one aspect of your life, and then take another step the next day, and so on, for the next 30 days. All it takes is moving ahead with 1% improvement every day to start effecting some major change in your life.

I can’t wait to hear from you about the changes that you are starting to make in your life after reading this article!

 photo credit: Peter Huys

"There is no such thing as insanity. There are only varying levels of irresponsibility." - Thomas Szaz, Psychoanalyst

There is a secret grounded in the great minds and in the wisdom traditions from around the world.

I learned it in my 20's, when I was floundering in disappointment, discouragement, and depression.

The secret is grounded in a couple of laws.

First, the Law of Cause and Effect.

We reap what we sow. If we choose negative attitudes, complaining, bitterness, resentment, we will sow negativity, unhappiness and depression.

If we choose laziness, lack of self-control, and blame, we will reap debt, health problems, and ruined relationships.

Second, is the Law of Correspondence.




Most of what we in our outer world is a reflection of our inner world.

Now don't take this to the extreme. There are many things that are beyond our control For example, people living in oppressive regimes, or in poverty, or in starvation are not always in control of those things.

I'm talking to those of us, myself included, who have many things going well in our lives.

Yet, we sometimes feel like victims. Our parents, our government, our boss, our jobs are all at fault. And we've gotten the raw end of the deal.

Is it any surprise, then, that our outer word reflects our 'raw deal'?

"Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility." - Albert Einstein

Personal Development Strategies: How To Take Responsibility For Your Actions

1. Absorb the Truth. Take some time to sit with the facts. A huge percentage of the results in your life come from your own personal thoughts, decisions and habits! The sooner you accept the fact that YOU are responsible for your current life, the better off you will be.
2. 
   Start Small. Pick just one specific area in your life that you want to see better results in. Is it a relationship? Is it your finances? Is it your home?
3. 
   Write Down How You Have Contributed To The Problem. What kind of thoughts are you thinking that set you up for failure? What kinds of negative attitudes are you choosing that hold you back or get in the way? What specific behaviors are you choosing that are getting you in trouble?
4. 
   Write Down What You Have Gained From Your Thinking, Attitudes, and Actions (For example, when I have gotten into debt: I was able to spend money on what made me feel good in the moment, I was able to ignore the hard work of facing my finances and taking corrective action, I did not have to feel embarrassed by admitting my problems to someone)
5. 
   Write Down What You Want Instead of the Problem What Solution would you like in place of the problem? Use your imagination Write down an ideal solution that represents the opposite of your current problem. For example, "I have all my debts paid off, and I am contributing fully to my retirement funds. I feel happy and relaxed about my net worth, and I am giving generously to worthy causes and experiencing joy in being able to spend my money wisely."
6. 
   Choose New Thoughts, Attitudes, and Behaviors. Go back to Suggestion #3. For every thought, attitude, and action, write a new set of thoughts, attitudes, and actions. These are the thoughts, attitudes, and actions you will be choosing on a daily basis in order to get you closer to the Solution you just wrote down. Choose just one positive thought, attitude, and action, and put that into practice over the next 30 days.
7. 
   Get Accountable! Choose a close friend, or go to an online community, to find people who will hold you accountable to become the person you need to become in order to produce better results in your life. I personally have my own informal coaches I talk to almost daily. They're not afraid to ask me tough questions, because they care about me and the quality of my life.
8. 
   Get Grateful! I encourage you to make a list of the benefits and blessings you are receiving each day as you choose constructive patterns of thinking, attitudes, and behaviors. As you do this, you will put yourself in a place to create positive results in your life.

"A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make." - Denis Waitley

I'm so excited you came across the same Secret I discovered years ago. Writing this article has reminded me to look in the mirror, admit my shortcomings, put my own personal development plan into place in a couple specific areas, and be grateful for the blessings I receive as I choose new attitudes, thoughts, and actions. How about you? I hope you will act now to create a better life for yourself!


This article is an Ezine article I recently published.  You can read all of my articles here.

How can you handle paralyzing performance anxiety at work?

Clammy hands, sweating, panic, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating. These are all symptoms of anxiety that can cripple you if you don't get a handle on that anxiety.

Schedule a Worry Session Each Day or Once a Week

This may sound crazy, but it will free you from having to worry throughout the day, every day. Over time, your body is going to say, "Give me a break!"

During your worry session, write down specifically what you are worrying about. What you'll be doing is capturing all that free floating stuff and reducing it to capsule sized opportunities in disguise.

After capturing your worries, you can then write down 5-10 solutions for each worry. Then, choose one of those solutions and put it down as a task for your next day.

You see that by turning the worry into a problem solving session you are harnessing that "worry energy" into positive solutions!

Design A Peaceful Environment

Look for a screen saver or computer background that contains a peaceful nature scene or a saying that will help remind you that all is well. You can also bring in photos that will anchor you to relaxing images or memories. You may want to invest in a small lamp to give your soft light, or in an inexpensive water fountain for your desk.

Fear to Gratitude

Often, we are focused on the worst case scenarios. In this exercise, write down your fears on the left hand side of the page. On the right hand side of the page, write a countering statement. Picture yourself as a compassionate friend and coach. What would that person say to you? Write it down!

Then, take the right hand column of helpful statements, and record those into a recorder. Or, if you have a smart phone, you can record it right on your phone. Listen to those statements over and over, on the way to work, before you go to bed, and when you get up. You'll be training your brain to respond to positive cues, instead of the worry laden scary thoughts.

1% Improvement

At the beginning of each day, ask yourself, How can I improve 1% in my key result areas today? Or, just think about 1% improvement. By doing this, you will be training your subconscious mind to automatically find ways to improve.

Reach Out

If the anxiety is overwhelming and extremely paralyzing, don't wait for it to get worse. Most companies have an Employee Assistance Program. Call it! Their services are free, and they are there to help you! Or, if you don't want to go through them, call the number for mental health on the back of your insurance card. You may think you are too proud, or too strong, or that you will be admitting you're crazy if you reach out for help. But it's that kind of thinking that will keep you stuck! If you have a bad back, is it crazy to go for physical therapy? No!

In the same way, a good licensed counselor will help coach you through your anxiety, and you will come out stronger than you went in.

So, in conclusion, don't be afraid to reach out. Schedule worry time for yourself. Think 1% improvement. Change your fear into gratitude. Along the way, remember to take the time to sleep, eat, and exercise in a way that will build your physical reserves. Cut down on the caffeine and sugar. Feed your body with good, nutritional food. Feed your spirit and emotions with good friends, with counseling, and with prayer and meditation. I hope this will help you as you boost your performance to make it the best ever!

photo credit: nate steiner

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6019708 (I'm the author)

As parents and as individuals, we want to fit in with everyone else.  We want to feel loved, respected, and to belong.

Life happens, however, and not everyone fits into the mold.  But then, think about it.  Would you like a million of "you" walking around the planet?  The world 'autism' may conjure up all sorts of associations.  In older times, it unfortunately had the associations of mental institutions and disability.

I want to do something a little different with this article.  Rather than talk about what is wrong with children on the autism spectrum, I want to talk about how they are unique.  This uniqueness and particular hardwiring they are born with is what makes them who they are.  As a parent, it's your job to become a lifelong student of your child and of his abilities, and of her challenges.

Generally speaking, autism manifests itself first in early childhood, from as early as six months to three years of age.  Some children may appear like every other child, then suddenly lose all their speech (this is called regressive autism).  Other children have unique patterns that distinguishes autism in them in what has been known as a triad of symptoms.

Social Interaction

Children with autism communicate differently than neurotypical children.  They have their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences, but they may have difficulty communicating them in a neurotypical manner. Children with autism typically have difficulty maintaining eye contact, a hard time understanding emotions, and struggle to understand other people's facial expressions and social cues.  

As a child gets older it's important that we, as parents, be understanding, compassionate, and respectful of these differences.  We need to accommodate our expectations of our children at times, but they will also need to compromise at times in order to learn the "customs" of NT (neurotypical) culture.

Communication

This is where the rainbow spectrum of autism manifests itself. On one end of the spectrum are individuals who have no speech, but who are very much alive and attentive to what is going on around them.  On the other end of the spectrum are children who can speak and appear to 'fit in' to a group of peers.  They can actually be very gifted with vocabulary and memorizing facts.  However, all individuals on the spectrum share the difficulty of understanding figurative speech, and non-verbal nuances of communication. Without the help of speech therapy and group skills, it's like you and I, as Americans speaking only English, being dropped off in Japan and told to "fit in".  We would need a language helper and a consultant who could help us understand the language, customs, and culture of Japan.

Repetitive Behaviors and Restrictive Interests

Stereotypical movement is a fancy term for hand flapping, rocking, or making certain noises.

Compulsive behavior manifests itself, for example, in a child lying on the ground and watching a wheel turn around and around, or rewinding a videotape of Thomas the Tank Engine over and over to watch the same scene, or lining objects up in a certain manner.

Restricted Behavior may include preoccupation with a narrow range of interests, such as Pokemon cards, or baseball statistics, or any other subject.

Ritualistic Patterns, from my observation, seem to come about from a preference of keeping seems stable and predictable, perhaps dressing the same way every day, or driving a certain route to school every day.

In some children, there autism can manifest in the form of self injury.   Some forms of self injury can include skin picking, eye poking, head banging or head biting. Not every child with autism will experience this, but it can occur in up to 30% of children with autism.

Other Ways that Autism Can Manifest

Autism can also manifest itself in unusual talents and abilities, such as an extraordinary grasp of music, or art, or the ability to memorize huge amounts of information.  A child with autism may be able to focus and pay attention more than other children.

Sensory issues are common for nearly everyone on the autism spectrum. These issues can manifest in difficulty with eye hand coordination, or fine motor coordination, walking on one's toes, or even walking into things.  Individuals with autism may be very sensitive to wearing certain textures, to certain noises, or even certain tastes or smells.

I may have missed some characteristics in this brief article.  Please comment and let me know what positive characteristics of the autism spectrum I have missed, or what challenges I may not have listed here.



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