What am I supposed to do?

[Anoah]

What the hell are you supposed to do if you have 3 children and the oldest has been diagnosed with Aspergers, the middle is showing signs of it that are undeniable and the third child is too young to tell?

Is there anyone out there that has more than one child with autism? I don't want sympathy I just want someone to tell me if the "punched in the gut" feeling ever goes away. I feel like crap right now and need to come up with some kind of mental health plan of action to stop myself from freaking out totally. I feel really numb and can't eat or sleep. I need to snap out of it quickly. Has anyone been there?

Ahh it always feels better to vent.

Anoah - no experience myself but onlyjoking has 3 children all with ASD I think, and Mrs F (who doesn't post here very much any more but apparently can be found in 'crafts') has 3 boys with aspergers/autism too I think. There are others too. Hopefully one of them will be along to share their experiences.

Hi Anoah, ive 2 sons on the spectrum. Ds1 has adhd, mld and is on the autism diagnosis waiting list, we think he has aspergers. Ds2 has asd and gdd and is non verbal his autism is low functioning. Its just sinking in to me and i get upset sometimes as a lot has happened over the past 18 months, diagnosis` and waiting lists, statements etc. My eldest has a statement hes got his own classroom assistant. My younger son is going through the process at the minute. I still feel like ive been punched in the stomach but its not as sore anymore! I hope youre feeling a bit better and it takes time for all of us to come to terms with things.

Bump for you.

Hi Anoah, yes totally understand/sympathise with you although i feel different perhaps because i myself have Asperger Syndrome, ifeel sad for my DS who is 9 and is dx because he really struggles and ive been there and i feel sad for my dd who has CP/development delay and both us and the paed think she,s ASD (waiting for the asessment)

I couldnt stop crying the other week, i posted on here about it, i couldnt sleep or eat and was a wreck.

Im a bit better now although i still have my "days" where i am weepy, its a really emotional time, take time for yourself and go easy (if you can with 3 kids) the thing that ive found has helped over the last 18months is to take things slowly, i used to get wound up over the housework etc but i dont bother now and i find im more relaxed etc.

Sending you hugs

Jen
xx

Hi there i have two children on the spectrum i have a boy 15 with SPD and a daughter aged 13 with severe autism ,severe learning difficulties ,severe behavioural problems ,she is non verbal and also has epilepsy ,it does fade away but wont go altogether sometimes when say a dr is talking about my kids it feels like the diagnosis all over again or you read about it in black and white it seems to hit me all over again but it will get easier take care
Dee

Bump

Hi, i have three kids, twin girls aged 12 and a DS aged nine, they all have autism, the girls were DX at 4yrs 4months, DS was DX at 2 1/2 so three DX in a year, it was a very difficult year, DS is doing ok in mainstream he is doing very well with reading & writing and he does brilliantly with friends he has a great sense of humour which i am sure helps him to make friends, he had two playdates last week and two this week! my girls have a lot more difficulties they have lots of difficulities with learning and go to a special school which is fab, they have lots of mates there and with lots of input they go for tea with their mates, they go to a youth club and have a girls night meet up on a friday, i feel more positive these days even thou puberty is fast approaching, it is hard work and there always seems to be battles to fight for all three of them, but you know they are happy delightful kids who ask for nothing and give lots. they don't have a bad bone in there bodies and they are beautiful too

Anoah, my son is 3 and has a diagnosis of ASD and m-sld. I've really struggled to get my head round it all and think coming to terms with the difficulties and differences is an ongoing process - with the pain creeping back up on you unexpectedly when you're seemingly 'all good' again. Unfortunately I think it's a time thing and in my experience it's best to just wade on through the low times trying to remember that you WILL feel better again.

I have totally 'broke down' a couple of times, but am proof that you can get through it and feel yourself again once you're out the other side.

It's good you have this talk board for support as this is a lovely group who will know exactly how you're feeling and help as and when needed. Breaking down feelings of isolation are a good way to start to feel better and I don't think you should hold back on telling people that you're struggling - get as much help as you can. ALSO try to eat....going without food absolutely feeds feelings of depression and this is one variable that you can control!

Sending heartfelt well wishes to you, Springgreens

p.s. even though I spoke about the 'kick in the stomach' returning from time to time, I am totally confident that the pain you're feeling now will not last forever.xx