Aspergers and you what does it all mean??? My experience with diagnosis and education!
Aspergers and me???
The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that Aspergers is a complex and very individual syndrome. What I mean by 'individual' is that not every 'Aspie' is the same, we are all unique as I found out.
When I first thought about the whole idea of me being Aspergers I didn't know what to think, to be 15 just out of school and heading into a day release Mental Health unit was a scary thing. With doctors and councillors and all sorts of children and teenagers with different mental health problems all in a very old, cold and dark Victorian building in Burnley Hospital East Lancashire was not on the top of my list of places to visit. I wanted to feel safe and that ultimately was at home, in my room with my laptop, DVD's and Mcfly posters and CD's! Not in a cold mental health ward!!!!
The thing with it was that i couldn't function in school, I in fact detested the notion of me even stepping foot in school. High Schools are big, noisy, overcrowded and full of Aspergers worst enemies THE TEENAGERS!!
Aspergers to the everyday bully are a complex relationship which is difficult in some ways to explain, I should know.. we have this ability that shouts out to other kids and makes us a target as we are ODDBALL, WIREDO or in my case LOSER EMO!!!
But I can tell you now all kids at that age are insecure, we all feel like the odd one out but in an Aspergers POV we are the only ones that stick out and don't get on with our peers.
If the other kids weren't hard enough to deal with there is the other obstacle in the human department to combat and that is the humble Teacher.
I was unlucky enough to have some god awful teachers and I will not name names but they were horrid. Some were amazing and I felt comfortable to actually talk to them but most of the time I kept my head down and did my work in the hope that I didn't become a target of theirs to which I did before I left in year 10 after 4 years of torment and aggro I needed out!!!!
The problem with leaving school is that there aren't many options in place for children or teens who have not got a diagnosis of Aspergers and with girls this is a major problem as girls don't really act up, unlike boys at a young age we bottle everything up and act 'normal'. So what my local education authority decided to do was send me to what they called:
Education Medical Service
This is an educational programme set up for children who can't go to school for medical reasons, usually this means people with broken bones, children with cancer and for girls who are in their last few months of pregnancy, not for someone with mental health issues. But with more and more kids are being diagnosed with mental health problems it was easy to see why they sent me there. I did a few months maybe a year there before I couldn't do it anymore and left. This is when they transferred me to the Mental Health Unit.
"The thing with mental health units is not to be afraid, even though you want to run the other way and hide... if it gets you a diagnosis... you gotta do it!!!"
The only problem is 'steering' doctors to the correct diagnosis for you, in this case my mum had to do that endless battle to convince doctors that I was Aspergers and not ADHD or Bipolar as they suggest numerous times and recommending me to take prescribed Anti- Psychotics Medication to treat a disorder that wasn't there!!
*Note*
When it comes to Aspergers and Bipolar I do see some similarities in my mood swings, this DOES NOT mean you have bipolar disorder... as Aspergers can experience super highs and really bad lows or 'crashes' as me and my mum call them.
After being referred for observation into looking into whether I had Aspergers or not I had to attend this unit for up to 6-7 months (they kicked me out when I was 16 as I was no longer a child) while they assessed me to see whether I was suitable for an ADOS test. This test only states that you are on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Scale not if you have Aspergers for that you have to go to a person who specialises in that field and there is only 1 near you and an expert in Aspergers behaviour and you have to pay to get the report stating your condition and giving a full diagnosis. Which is just a bloody brain ache for Parents and the child concerned in my case that was me!!!!
To cut this long story short, it is a massive ordeal to get the diagnosis let alone coping with Aspergers in school/educational setting.
I do have some coping tips:
1) Always have earphones with you!!!
For those loud screams and bangs or even to protect your ears from the loud bell wear your earphones in your ears as this tunes out most of the excessive noise and is more likely to relax you.
2) Go into Lessons Earlier and Avoid THE CORRIDOR CRUSH!
This only works on break times or dinners so for this you can get a pass to let you out of lesson earlier so that you can avoid the crowds and get to your next class on time without the hassle of squeezing through a tightly packed corridor full of kids and teachers pushing and shoving. The great advantage to that is that you avoid the crowds but also get time to wonder to your next class in peace rather than being stressed which is an added bonus!
3) Organisation
Make sure you know your timetable inside and out, this applies to all years of education... for Aspergers routine is important and planning your daily routine is the key to your ultimate wellbeing in this situation. Also ask a member of staff if you are confused to which room or building you should be in. If you are at High School ask for a map at the main office and highlight the best possible routes to get to your lesson with highlighter makers. Also makes sure you have all the correct books for that day the night before.
4) Escape Routes
This is one of my personal things I do anywhere! Look around you and pinpoint your nearest exit. This will help you if you need to get out in a hurry if feeling anxious or angry. Do this in a room and locate yourself either in the middle or back of the classroom depending on what order you sit in and always make sure you sit on the end for easy access to the row and to the door!
5) Keep your phone hidden and on SILENT!
In high school anyway this is an important tip , hide your phone where it is easy to reach and keep it on silent at all times. This is just in case you need to contact someone like a parent to come and get you from school. It is something that needs to be done , check your school policy on Phones in school before taking your phone in.
I can't think of anymore tips for now and it's getting late so I hope this has helped and the tips i have given will help.
Sophie x
The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that Aspergers is a complex and very individual syndrome. What I mean by 'individual' is that not every 'Aspie' is the same, we are all unique as I found out.
When I first thought about the whole idea of me being Aspergers I didn't know what to think, to be 15 just out of school and heading into a day release Mental Health unit was a scary thing. With doctors and councillors and all sorts of children and teenagers with different mental health problems all in a very old, cold and dark Victorian building in Burnley Hospital East Lancashire was not on the top of my list of places to visit. I wanted to feel safe and that ultimately was at home, in my room with my laptop, DVD's and Mcfly posters and CD's! Not in a cold mental health ward!!!!
The thing with it was that i couldn't function in school, I in fact detested the notion of me even stepping foot in school. High Schools are big, noisy, overcrowded and full of Aspergers worst enemies THE TEENAGERS!!
Aspergers to the everyday bully are a complex relationship which is difficult in some ways to explain, I should know.. we have this ability that shouts out to other kids and makes us a target as we are ODDBALL, WIREDO or in my case LOSER EMO!!!
But I can tell you now all kids at that age are insecure, we all feel like the odd one out but in an Aspergers POV we are the only ones that stick out and don't get on with our peers.
If the other kids weren't hard enough to deal with there is the other obstacle in the human department to combat and that is the humble Teacher.
I was unlucky enough to have some god awful teachers and I will not name names but they were horrid. Some were amazing and I felt comfortable to actually talk to them but most of the time I kept my head down and did my work in the hope that I didn't become a target of theirs to which I did before I left in year 10 after 4 years of torment and aggro I needed out!!!!
The problem with leaving school is that there aren't many options in place for children or teens who have not got a diagnosis of Aspergers and with girls this is a major problem as girls don't really act up, unlike boys at a young age we bottle everything up and act 'normal'. So what my local education authority decided to do was send me to what they called:
Education Medical Service
This is an educational programme set up for children who can't go to school for medical reasons, usually this means people with broken bones, children with cancer and for girls who are in their last few months of pregnancy, not for someone with mental health issues. But with more and more kids are being diagnosed with mental health problems it was easy to see why they sent me there. I did a few months maybe a year there before I couldn't do it anymore and left. This is when they transferred me to the Mental Health Unit.
"The thing with mental health units is not to be afraid, even though you want to run the other way and hide... if it gets you a diagnosis... you gotta do it!!!"
The only problem is 'steering' doctors to the correct diagnosis for you, in this case my mum had to do that endless battle to convince doctors that I was Aspergers and not ADHD or Bipolar as they suggest numerous times and recommending me to take prescribed Anti- Psychotics Medication to treat a disorder that wasn't there!!
*Note*
When it comes to Aspergers and Bipolar I do see some similarities in my mood swings, this DOES NOT mean you have bipolar disorder... as Aspergers can experience super highs and really bad lows or 'crashes' as me and my mum call them.
After being referred for observation into looking into whether I had Aspergers or not I had to attend this unit for up to 6-7 months (they kicked me out when I was 16 as I was no longer a child) while they assessed me to see whether I was suitable for an ADOS test. This test only states that you are on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Scale not if you have Aspergers for that you have to go to a person who specialises in that field and there is only 1 near you and an expert in Aspergers behaviour and you have to pay to get the report stating your condition and giving a full diagnosis. Which is just a bloody brain ache for Parents and the child concerned in my case that was me!!!!
To cut this long story short, it is a massive ordeal to get the diagnosis let alone coping with Aspergers in school/educational setting.
I do have some coping tips:
1) Always have earphones with you!!!
For those loud screams and bangs or even to protect your ears from the loud bell wear your earphones in your ears as this tunes out most of the excessive noise and is more likely to relax you.
2) Go into Lessons Earlier and Avoid THE CORRIDOR CRUSH!
This only works on break times or dinners so for this you can get a pass to let you out of lesson earlier so that you can avoid the crowds and get to your next class on time without the hassle of squeezing through a tightly packed corridor full of kids and teachers pushing and shoving. The great advantage to that is that you avoid the crowds but also get time to wonder to your next class in peace rather than being stressed which is an added bonus!
3) Organisation
Make sure you know your timetable inside and out, this applies to all years of education... for Aspergers routine is important and planning your daily routine is the key to your ultimate wellbeing in this situation. Also ask a member of staff if you are confused to which room or building you should be in. If you are at High School ask for a map at the main office and highlight the best possible routes to get to your lesson with highlighter makers. Also makes sure you have all the correct books for that day the night before.
4) Escape Routes
This is one of my personal things I do anywhere! Look around you and pinpoint your nearest exit. This will help you if you need to get out in a hurry if feeling anxious or angry. Do this in a room and locate yourself either in the middle or back of the classroom depending on what order you sit in and always make sure you sit on the end for easy access to the row and to the door!
5) Keep your phone hidden and on SILENT!
In high school anyway this is an important tip , hide your phone where it is easy to reach and keep it on silent at all times. This is just in case you need to contact someone like a parent to come and get you from school. It is something that needs to be done , check your school policy on Phones in school before taking your phone in.
I can't think of anymore tips for now and it's getting late so I hope this has helped and the tips i have given will help.
Sophie x
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