Asperger misdiagnosed as mental health disorder

The story of a young man with Asperger syndrome who struggled for 10 years in mental health services for being misdiagnosed with a mental health disorder. As told by his mother Janette.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Asperger
• PDD-NOS
• ASD
• Autism
• Side effects
• drugs
• medication
• anti-psychotic
• SSRI
• Tics
• Tourette
• Skymaker69
• Lorene Amet

[solangemalanga]

My heart breaks to hear this story, and to see how prevalent this type of situation is in the world. I first became aware of Aspergers Syndrome when the film "Mozart and the Whale" came out, and I have recommended it to many people since. I have a roommate with Aspergers who has received counseling and is fully functional in mainstream society.  I also suspect my brother's fiancee is an Aspie without knowing it or without diagnosis and as a result she is constantly criticized. How can I help?

[Skymaker69]

@solangemalanga. It is not easy to advice others to seek a diagnosis for themselves and their child, unless they open up and talk about there difficulties and seek your advice. Perhaps your brother would be in a better place to do this, depending on the relationship. I suggest reading on the Internet more before suggesting it, keeping in mind that a diagnosis is helpful to resolve problems and not for a label only purpose.

[hoki13]

My son, 30 years old, has just been diagnosed with Aspergers. I had never heard of it before and am shocked as he has seen countless physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and has been on anti-depressants since age 14 and now anti-psychotics. We knew there was something different going on since he was very young. Shocked about late diagnosis. Right now he needs the anti-psychotics to avoid episodes of ranting in his apartment. We are being told he needs to go on more medication. Scary.

[Skymaker69]

@hoki13 Many thanks for sharing your story that seems very similar to Janette and Danny's story. Be strong and seek all the information you need- drugs are rarely the answer.

[Mindanoiha]

I am so sorry to hear about this Janette. Thank you for telling this story and for describing so very well about your son's sad situation. Thank you for sharing, it will no doubt help many others. My heartfelt blessings.

[Skymaker69]

@Mindanoiha Many thanks on behalf of Janette and I!

[MsSeonaid]

@Diamonddavej - apologies that I didn't see your comment before! Yes this is exactly what has been happening to my son - time and time again - doctors are expected to 'treat what they see.' I just don't know what can be done to educate professionals in this anomaly.

Thank you for your comment!

[Diamonddavej]

One of the common problems in Aspergers are "paradoxical responses" to medication, they can have the opposite effect & cause people with AS to experience mania.

When a GP/Psychiatrist sees a person get more anxious/manic, they will increase the dose, making matters worse. I've see two people with AS end up with Manic/Bi-polar like symptoms after GPs -increased- their dose ... after they complained they were getting more anxious/manic due to their medication. The GP didn't believe them.

[MsSeonaid]

@Mindanoiha - and thank you! I do hope it will help alert others to the pitfalls in medicating people with an autism spectrum disorder. It can be a veritable minefield. x