Autistic son finding it hard to make friends — Scope | Disability forum
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Autistic son finding it hard to make friends

lorraine1234
lorraine1234 Community member Posts: 1 Listener
edited October 2016 in Autism and neurodiversity
Hello my name is lorraime I have a son of 22 with epilepsy and autism he's finding it hard to make friends he as no confidence and is  really feeling down

Comments

  • Jean_OT
    Jean_OT Community member Posts: 513 Pioneering

    Hi Lorraine 1234

    I'm sorry to hear that your son is struggling socially. I wonder if NAS have any services that might be able to support him and/or you:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines.aspx

    Also if you are concerned that his 'feeling low' is verging on depression it might be worth talking to his GP.

    Best Wishes

    Jean


    Jean Merrilees BSc MRCOT

    You can read more of my posts at: https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/ask-an-occupational-therapist

  • winterrose98
    winterrose98 Community member Posts: 9 Listener
    Where are you based,  in Glasgow we have an Autistic meetups  for adults. I found this online in the Meet Up website which caters for all walks of lives.This may happen in different areas try checking online for your area. They meet regular my nephew enjoyed it when he went before he got a college placement there are men and ladies there. Maybe a good place to start. Good luck I know how difficult it is.

    Susanne X
  • Yiman60
    Yiman60 Community member Posts: 95 Connected
    edited October 2016
    Hello my name is lorraime I have a son of 22 with epilepsy and autism he's finding it hard to make friends he as no confidence and is  really feeling down
    Can I suggest a referral to Autism Iniative. Your GP or Social Worker can do the referral. They have all sorts of groups and activities.

    https://quarriers.org.uk/

    Have you tried this group. 

    Have you had an assesment of your and your sons needs by a Carers rout in your area. You may be entitled to extra support and respite.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 740 Listener
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Yiman60
    Yiman60 Community member Posts: 95 Connected
    edited October 2016
    I have autism and epilepsy myself, I've only ever had one friend and luckily enough he and I are still in touch.
    Make sure your son doesn't think he's the one who has a difficulty making friends, it's the majority rule that's to be blamed. I went to a school for people with autism and everyone made friends and got along with no difficulty. I only see the difficulty occur when one person has autism and the other doesn't. People without autism find it just as difficult to understand people with autism, it works both ways.
    If someone without autism came to the same school as me the one who will find it difficult to make friends is the one without autism, majority again. This time the majority are the people with autism. Global wise there's only approximately 1% of people with autism which is why we're the ones viewed with the difficulty, the majority rule.
    Thank you for your kind words. The huge problem is my son has PDA , which I am trying desperately to get a diagnosis for. I also believe he has a rare syndrome but that's another story. We have tried anti depressants but those made him worse.
    At least we now have a real specialist on his case, an .Epilepotologist , the PDA cause severe Demand Avoidance . It's in the highest 2 % of anxiety cases. I have posted a link earlier about PDA.
    Had one Consultant tell the ambulance men not to intervene he was attention seeking. Was left in a seizure for 29 minutes. 
    Its part of a massive ongoing complaint.

    Autism Iniative are very good with organising groups, activities , socialising , no pressure whatsoever, the staff Imhave met are lovely. 


  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 740 Listener
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Yiman60
    Yiman60 Community member Posts: 95 Connected
    I'm sorry to hear that, I can't imagine how difficult things are. The consultant on the case should be able to give you some answers.
    I hope they manage to diagnose your son, fingers crossed.
    Thank you. I found out about the Specialist , she believed the story I told her. My son has JME , it looks like Star Jumps , no control over the Myoclonic jerks.
    It been a case of We know best , have 20 years experience at local hospital. Everyone should be given the opportunity to see a specialist like this. 
    The rare syndrome part might never be diagnosed but as long as we can keep the seizures under reasonable control and try our utmost to reduce the anxiety that's all we can wish for at present.
  • Piglets12
    Piglets12 Community member Posts: 17 Connected
    We use to invite kids over with there mums to play do activities your son likes like painting junk mocking etc or play racing games on you tv. Helped my kids. Back in the 70s  My mum did this and it helped a lot. And they came often

Brightness