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What is the hardest to cope with with your ASD child's behaviour?

66 replies

Cookingwine · 11/04/2016 11:59

Just curious really, having an ASD child, (undiagnosed until she was 10) I find it extremely hard but cannot really pinpoint what is so hard. It is frustrating trying to explain to family and friends that every little thing is difficult, like getting dressed, washed, going anywhere, everything is a battle, that can result in her losing the plot and me shouting to get her to JUST DO IT. And that she can be so anxious and stressed with NORMAL things, that she cannot keep friends as she is demanding exclusivity and gets too intense.

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PhilPhilConnors · 11/04/2016 12:06

We've got better at dealing with the day to day stuff, but it's still hard.
The thing that I find harder than anything is others not believing us, so there's no opportunity really to vent in RL, or they don't understand, and judge ds's behaviour as naughty, and us as crap parents.
And people saying "Just playing Devil's advocate......" and having to hold back from saying "No, just fuck off!".

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Ineedmorepatience · 11/04/2016 13:23

Demand avoidance is the hardest thing for me!

Dd3 is a well behaved child but she avoids any demands placed on her! I am very creative and can usually get her to do what she needs to do but sometimes it is exhausting and I feel like yelling "Just bloody do it!" I dont because I know there is no point, she isnt being a pain she just cant do stuff that she percieves to be out of her control!

I grew a think skin about what other people think a long time ago!

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zzzzz · 11/04/2016 14:13

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Cookingwine · 11/04/2016 14:22

The hardest is to decide if she genuinely can't help it or if she is a pain. When she is motivated I know she can overcome sensory issues or other perceived annoyances. She was invited to a birthday party on Saturday, did really well once there, but we are paying the price ever since.

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PolterGoose · 11/04/2016 14:34

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Cookingwine · 11/04/2016 15:21

Polter I take your point, and intellectually I think I get it, but in the spur of the moment, I tend to forgot or refuse to remember it, because not going out, or being late, because of trivial things REALLY get me fuming. The frustration is unbelievable. What is the alternative, to allow her to stay in her bedroom in her night dress all the time? I realise that some on this forum have given up and opted for home education etc.

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onlyonesock · 11/04/2016 15:43

Home education is NOT giving up. By any stretch of the imagination.

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PolterGoose · 11/04/2016 15:46

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knittingwithnettles · 11/04/2016 15:50

yes, everything takes much much longer, and you have to allow a much longer "recovery" for normal activities. I find it helps to just lower my expectations for executive functioning considerably, and practice practice practice a few core things, like putting your clothes on, finding bus pass, plate in dw. And forget a lot of the normal things a child that age might do or help with.

When I wrote ds2's EHCP I was amazed by all the things he could DO...but then again, you would expect most child of 14 to be managing those things years ago. We are thrilled he can do them, that's the difference. Find his way home from I mile away. YAAAY! Wash his hair. YAAY!

Ds is home educated btw. It is infuriating some days because you see close up how incapable he is, but then good on other levels because it really doesn't matter when he is less organised, and he has become much more masterful in many ways (partly due to lack of anxiety or time stress)

Yes, I agree it is boiled frog territory though isn't...years of having to hassle someone to do stuff

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onlyonesock · 11/04/2016 15:50

Home ed does give more flexibility but we are still in a routine because my DC are happier that way. We still have the anxiety and the difficulty leaving the house etc but some time ago I stopped battling, stopped shouting...it made a world of difference to everyone.

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knittingwithnettles · 11/04/2016 15:56

I understand what you mean Wine by giving up. You meant giving up the struggle to make them do things that made them anxious, rather than giving up on your child.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/04/2016 15:59

When we can't understand what she wants answer she cries and yells for hours.

When she destroys and eats my stuff.

When she poos on the floor.

When she throws food on floor all the time.

When she wrestles me to get food from cupboards.

She is a handful.

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PolterGoose · 11/04/2016 16:00

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Ineedmorepatience · 11/04/2016 16:15

WOW! @ cooking I wish you could have walked a mile in my shoes this time last yr before you judged me for "giving up" Shock Hmm Confused

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PhilPhilConnors · 11/04/2016 16:15

Hooray Polter! Well done your boy Thanks

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PhilPhilConnors · 11/04/2016 16:16

We forced ds3 to learn, due to pressure from school. It triggered a massive anxiety reaction which lasted weeks. I'm still not sure if it was worth it.

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PolterGoose · 11/04/2016 16:21

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/04/2016 16:24

I see your DD is quite different to mine.

But I agree with others that thinking she can help her behaviour if she just tries harder is the wrong approach.

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zzzzz · 11/04/2016 16:24

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/04/2016 16:28

Thanks zzz..nice to be here :)

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/04/2016 16:29

Am massively impressed by people who manage to home educate FWIW. It's not the giving up option, far from it.

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soapboxqueen · 11/04/2016 16:32

Honestly, and this is going to sound bizarre, but when he hits me on the small of my back. It really hurts and it makes me really cross. I can deal with the pda, the toileting, painting with poo, the outbursts, meltdowns, violence, name calling etc etc etc but hitting may there really grinds my gears.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/04/2016 16:34

It's funny how some things just seem worse.

Room caked in poo I can handle. My makeup and jewellery chewed up. .gets to me.

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PhilPhilConnors · 11/04/2016 16:36

I struggle with the suicidal stuff, find it very frightening.

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Cookingwine · 11/04/2016 16:36

I certainly don't judge, I admire actually those who have embraced this whole ASD thing, I am sorry if I have offended anyone. I am not ready maybe, I am still dealing with the grief of it, and the impact it has on our family life and on our 2 other DCs. I meant giving up fighting, not giving up on the child by the way. At the week end and during holidays I do not insist she dresses anymore, I tolerate her greasy hair, but at some point life must go on? Or she will end up a recluse in her bedroom with her books and her minecraft videos? I find this scary.

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