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Anyone else got a ASD child AND partner/hubby/OH?.....

3 replies

bitbap18 · 20/03/2015 21:28

I have a just turned 7 year old and a hubby both recently diagnosed with ASD. I've known for a long time they both have it, and have fought to get them both assessed etc.

We only have the one child, so I'm kind of the odd one out now, and feeling a lot of pressure on me being the only NT in the household.

They have similar traits, triggers etc, but also conflicting ones. I work very close to full time, and a long way from home so 3 mornings a week he has to get her up, ready for school, dropped off etc. the other 2 I work at home, but it's like a war zone between them. Hubby doesn't cope well with mornings anyway because of some meds he's on.

Because we are at the beginning of the support process, now we have the diagnoses for the both, I don't have a huge amount of support etc, and any time for myself, except when I'm at work (doing a job I hate!).

Is anyone in a similar boat? If so, how do you cope?! I feel I am going slowly insane and broke down in a meeting with DDs psychologist today, because I just have so much on my shoulders and her whole life has been one battle so far. Her telling to relax a little and enjoy my child for who she is tipped me over an edge I've been balancing on for a long time.

OP posts:
2boysnamedR · 20/03/2015 22:32

Not in the same shoes but it's dawning on me that ds1 might have asperges and me.

I'm told to relax and not worry - four possible sn kids? I think if I want to have a brake down I'm entitled too. It's long overdue now.

You feel however you have to feel. I'm going with it. Living with false hope I'm afraid doesn't sit well with me. I cope better head on with reality

senvet · 20/03/2015 23:22

Dear bitbap, you have every reason to be looking for support on these pages, and I'm sure you will find it.

I have three relatives who all have ASD/ASC and the big comfort, now that the youngest are young adults, is that they have each other for the small parts of their lives that the rest of us don't exactly 'get'. It isn't like their interests are similar, but they are never going to be alone with no-one else who understands. So in a decade's time that may apply to your dd and dh.

But getting back to you, and now, it is important that you look after yourself, and that you don't feel bad about taking time to adjust and to grieve. It will get better. I found counselling and anti depressants handy, and a bunch of other stuff I put on a thread I'll post in a minute.

Your description of dd and dh setting each other off sounds very like my dd and dh, who can shout at each other for much of every morning before school. They are somehow too similar - neither are organised, both have a view about how best to be organised, and both explode. But they still love each other, very much.

In most households it is the person with ASD/ASC who is the odd one out, but for you it is the other way round. But as things settle down, families move towards a happy life accepting everyone as they are. It takes time, but after an initial period of unease, I have now got totally used to the way all the wider family does things.

I really believe that I have as much in common with each of my ASD/C relatives as I have with my nt relatives. From the big stuff like 'We all care about each other', and 'we all feel passionate about something', and on down right through to the little things like 'we all like chocolate cake'.

And actually now I think about it we all have as much that separates us: my nt sister is a workaholic and a perfectionist (not been accused of that) my nt and wonderful mil is incredibly arty and can't send an email, my ASD relatives communicate slightly differently from the mainstream, and I happen to use a wheelchair. And it is so odd to find myself writing this because none of us ever really think about what separates us - my instinct is: "so what".

You are in an uncomfortable patch of change, of moving your expectations to adapt to a new normality, a different one from the one you imagined, but it will happen, really, and you will get there.

It might be that the new normality still involves dh and dd still shouting at each other every morning, but you will all be totally used to it still love each other, and that is what really matters.

I hope this helps, and if it doesn't than you can quickly put it out of your mind.

blankgaze · 22/03/2015 13:59

Hi Bitbap, I'm the only NT although dp will not go for assessment and refuses to think he's on the spectrum..

Don't sweat the small stuff is a good mantra to live by, let anything blow over unless it absolutely needs your intervention.

For the mornings he has to get her ready, can you find out what is causing the most friction?
Here, it would be him getting irritated that she was dawdling but she would have no idea of time and any hassle would cause her anxiety to rocket and a meltdown would ensue, causing him to be late therefore more irritated.

You can get countdown timers to keep a child on task and use a series of cartoon pictures for the tasks and the order they need to be done. Sometimes setting a rigid structure helps.

Can she communicate the problems to you? My dd couldn't so I'd have to go on observation and trial and error. Can he be brought on-board with a new workable system that should lessen the anxiety for both of them?

Mindfulness, yoga, pilates and relaxation techniques help me. So does having a sense of humour and knowing that what seems to be a huge deal today will pass because all things do Smile

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