Getting help for young adult with dyspraxia and possible ME

[Jampot]

My friend's son who is 22 and just started work has dyslexia and dyspraxia. She thinks he also has ME. He has low self esteem and is desperately unhappy with virtually no social life due to low self esteem and exhaustion. As he has managed to get through University and now has started work any health professionals seem to think he is ok. They have suggested he join a gym but any exercise leaves him so exhausted he cannot function for a few days. In addition to this he also suffers from insomnia and is losing his hair. She is at her wits end and also he is so unhappy about his life. Does anyone have experience of how to deal with this for both of them?

My DD1 (aged 17) has severe ME and my DD2 has dyspraxia so I would like to think I am fairly clued up on both. I would say to your friend not to jump to conclusions about ME, it is usually far more than feeling exhausted after exercise. I have found that DD2 has little stamina, in particular after exercise. I assume that he has had blood tests done to rule out anaemia etc, if not this would be a good idea. It sounds as if he needs to build up the exercise very gradually, perhaps joining a gym is a bit ambitious at the moment, maybe a 10 minute walk each day, then gradually increase. Your friend maybe familiar with the Dyspraxia Foundation (you can find it online with google). They have local support groups although the majority (though not all) will be families with children/teens. There is an organisation that covers adults who I'm sure the Dyspraxia Foundation would be able to put you in contact with. Also the Dyscovery Centre has a useful website. If your friend does decide to pursue the ME path, the Association for Youth with ME (AYME) goes up to 25 yrs and is very helpful, also Foggy Friends (both searchable from google). Hope this helps and ask if you have any questions.

I would suggest you contact the dyspraxia foundation- google- for advice and support groups- and also the British Dyslexia Association- there may well be supprt groups for adults in his area - there is in mine.

You can also look up the ME support group in the UK.

Sorry not to have links, but they will be easy to find.

Hi Jampot

Why not pop over to the sn board on here. Were all a friendly bunch and I know lots have experience with Dyspraxia. My ds who is 4 has suspected dyspraxia and Aspergers, so all a bit new to me but quite a few have experience with it. Hth

thanks everyone.

Im not sure whether he has been diagnosed with ME to be honest. Its not just after exercise he's exhausted its constantly no energy. She often collects him from the station after work and he can barely speak when he gets in teh car, then collapses into bed when he gets in. He desperately wants to learn to drive but cannot manage it. She thinks he also has aspergers but as an adult, health professionals dont really see the point in diagnosing him as a diagnosis cannot help. Obviously she/he/they feel very unsupported.

I will pass on those associations to her, Im sure she will find it all helpful. Also I will post anything further under SN

Thanks again

Just a thought - if he has just started work could it be his dyslexia/dyspraxia that are causing him to feel so tired. I work with chn with dyslexia/dyspraxia (and have a dyslexic ds) and it's very common for them to be absolutely exhausted at the end of the school day.

i think he's been working for about 9 months. I will find out more when I see her later. Ive printed off some contact details etc to pass on

I suspect a lot of dyspraxic young people will be unable to learn to drive - I certainly wouldnt rate my DD2's chances (nor would I want her to). I think that on the message board on the dyscovery centre I once read that there is a place that will assess people as to whether they would be safe enough to drive. Another thought, could he be a bit depressed with how he is and this could be causing the fatigue. If he has recently started working full time he is having a lot to deal with, lots of new things to learn plus social situations to be in, especially if he may be aspergers, that will be tough.