flyingmoccassin

I know this thread was a while ago, but wanted to add... I'm sick too of ASD being treated as a mental health problem, and/or a learning disability as it seems to exclusively be by health & social services. It leads to patronising, stigmatising treatment, but worst of all incorrect treatment in my opinion. This whole tendency to push strong psychiatric drugs on us at the drop of a hat, which take ages to 'work', if at all, with all the risks (and so-called 'paradoxical' side effects e.g. increased risk of suicide, anxiety etc. in some people) seems ridiculous, especially when a simple, naturally occuring, cheaper hormone like melatonin in small doses could have an immediate beneficial effect on the one thing most of us would like help with - getting to and staying asleep. I happen to believe that a whole lot of the perceived 'mental health problems' associated with ASD come from the expectation to be normal in a way we can never, and may not even want to be. We are being pushed into being medicated on strong risky drugs for the convenience of wider society, and the profit of drug companies who seem to have a lot of GPs round their little finger. Why should we go along with this just so GPs feel better thinking they are helping us back to being 'normal'? I believe a lot of the depression, anger, anxiety etc. would be better solved by more support, understanding and acceptance of our different needs, in education, work, society generally. Not by trying vainly to drug us into being normal. It is victim-blaming and abuse, damaging to us and not really solving anything for the most part (I'm prepared to accept that maybe some psychiatric medications do work for some people), I'm just concerned it has become the catch-all response to any justified distress felt by AS people trying to cope in society without reasonable acceptance and support. Sleep is a very personal thing, it's one of those few things you can't fake even if you try, yet we all need it to function. I happen to believe that a wide variety of sleep patterns amongst humans is an evolutionary advantage - if everyone went to bed and got up at the same time, then in the past the whole tribe would have been vulnerable during their sleep, wheras if you have a few night owls you have a warning system if any problem or threat occurs. I think it's normal for some people to sleep differently and it's really just up to you how you feel about it, don't try to go to bed at 11pm and get up and 7am just cos you think that's what everyone else does so you're terrible if you don't. Experiment, and work your sleep round what you truly want to do/acheive and don't feel bad about it. If melatonin gives people a tool to do that then that's self-empowering, a million miles away from having psych drugs pushed on you. The key is working out what you want to do, not what others think you're supposed to do.