“My name is Alex, and I have autism.
They say my mind is extraordinary, that’s why I stand out. I never said a word until I was 12.
I’m learning how to live in a world where I don’t belong, and I say that because people like me aren’t usually accepted. When I finally did talk, everything else looked fine from the outside. So my biggest problem now is that people forget I’m on the spectrum, so they say and do things I either don’t understand or get stuck on because I can’t figure out what they mean.
I still can’t always look at people when they’re talking to me, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am with eye contact. I still have meltdowns, and I still shut people out, but it doesn’t happen as often as it once did.
I learn in black and white, that’s all I know. I don’t know body language, and I can’t read facial expressions. I also have sensory processing disorder. Most materials that aren’t cotton feel like knives or fire on my skin. I don’t like to pet things, and I don’t like fur.
On a good day, most of the time you wouldn’t be able to tell I am autistic, unless you knew what to look for.
I know what I want, I just don’t always know how to say it. I don’t always use my words. There are days where I don’t talk at all, and those are the days where I shut people out.
I graduated high school this year, but I barely made it out alive. I have no confidence or self-esteem. High school never taught me how to love myself or how to fit in.
I’m obsessed with cars. If I know you, I know what you drive. It only takes seeing someone get out of their car one time to know what they drive, and I will remember it… forever. I know most people’s license plate numbers without even trying to. I have to be careful not to look because otherwise I would know every plate on the road.
I want people to know that just because someone may look completely fine, doesn’t mean they are.
So be kind, always.”
(https://themighty.com/2016/07/young-woman-explains-life-on-the-autism-spectrum/)
As I was trying to sift through material to find content for this area of the site, I was struck by how many beautiful pieces have been written by individuals- young and old- on the autism spectrum. Open letters penned from mothers of kids with autism giving encouragement to their like minded and torch bearing mothers near and far, while other mother’s begging co-belonging of the children they raise day in and out captured in a space not settled for them to retreat or be. The stats are staggering in the increase of diagnosis—
-About 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder. (CDC, 2014)
-Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 68 births. (CDC, 2014)
-More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. (Buescher et al., 2014)
-Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4 percent from 2000 (1 in 150) to 2010 (1 in 68). (CDC, 2014)
-Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. (CDC, 2008)
-Prevalence has increased by 6-15 percent each year from 2002 to 2010. (Based on biennial numbers from the CDC)
As we continue to have a greater base of knowledge regarding autism spectrum and gain greater understanding of highly sensitive people, the number will surely continue to increase. If you are reading this and have a child on the “spectrum”, you are aware that early intervention is one of the keys to learning in the management of the behavioral and emotional presentations kids on the spectrum face. You have also most likely sifted through the options of behavioral care for your kiddo and are already aware of applied behavioral analysis (ABA), floortime, and pivotal response therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy, social skill building, collaborative problem solving approach, and empathy training are the tools that I primarily use in my practice. Below, I took a little time to help you understand what CBT is and how it intersects with ASD for a positive treatment.
“Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used primarily to help individuals with AS regulate their emotions, develop impulse control, and improve their behavior as a result. In addition, some individuals with AS/HFA struggle with fears and anxiety, or may become depressed. Cognitive behavior therapy has been shown to be helpful for reducing anxious and depressed feelings and behavior by making changes in thoughts and perceptions of situations through a change in cognition. The key ingredient of CBT, which distinguishes it from regular behavior therapy, is working on this change in cognition or how thinking is processed. Therapists seek to reduce challenging behaviors, such as interruptions, obsessions, meltdowns or angry outbursts, while also teaching individuals how to become familiar with and manage certain feelings that may arise.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be individualized for each patient, and as a result, is very effective at improving very specific behaviors and challenges in each child or young adult. Stabilizing emotions and improving behavior allows those with AS to prepare for and respond more appropriately in specific situations.”
(https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/asperger-syndrome-and-high-functioning-autism-tool-kit/interventions-and-t)