Any positive stories of autistic teens learning to cope better?

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Ds is 17 and has recently been diagnosed as autistic but has had an EHCP since he was about 8.
His life feels like it’s been on a downward trajectory since then.
He used to have friends and hobbies and do well at school. Over the years things have gradually fallen away. He’s spent the last few days in bed, pretty depressed, which is fairly typical. He is doing A levels but isn’t enjoying it and doesn’t go to school much or do any homework. He’s a bright kid but just managed to scrape enough GCSEs to be allowed to do A levels. He has a few friends (used to have more) but won’t see them outside school so we are worried that if he leaves school he will never talk to anyone. He won’t engage with any help such as autistic mentoring or counselling.
Does anyone have any positive stories of teenagers with autism who have turned things round or is the trajectory inevitably going to continue? I feel like we have tried so hard to help him and worked so hard to be optimistic but do we just need to give up and resign ourselves to him never doing his A levels or working?

Hi- sorry to resurrect this old thread, but we are going through something siimilar with DS1 who is 16 and I would love to hear updates from people who posted here. These threads can be great for gaining support but only ever a snapshot and would be great to see some longer term updates about how kids do over time? Sending love and strength to all who are going through it. This is hard

I can only hope there is someone back with a good positive story!

My DD is now 16, still not recovered post autistic burnout aged 11, about the first half term of Y6.

She isn't managing more than a few years ago. She still isn't going out, isn't in any education. Still assessed as not ready for therapy yet having school trauma preventing access to any form of education.

But, she does say she wants to get better and is back on an SSRI so.... maybe in a year or so things might have improved a little?! She is sleeping in her own bed due to the sertraline, so that's a good (and huge!) step forwards

He made it to university!

I couldn’t tell you what’s going to happen next as we are giving him space. He’s nearly 20 now and needs to work this out on his own.

Love and solidarity to everyone else with similar struggles.

Oh my goodness!! This is amazing news.

Living with other students, or with family?
Either way, a story of hope.

He’s in halls on campus.

I don’t know if he talks to other students or not but I am entirely unbothered, as far as I am concerned his one job is to do enough work to not get kicked out. Aside from that he can do university in his own way and at his own pace.
I hope he will find the relative independence of uni easier to cope with than school.

It’s great news that your Dd says she wants to get better because ultimately it has to come from her.
The sleeping in her own bed sounds like a huge step forward. It’s important to take the things that you know are wins. They all have to do things at their own pace and as long as they are moving forward there is hope.