Hi
My 10 year old son has just been given a working diaganosis for aspergers and severe depression. He has always been 'different'. He has some of the more obvious symptoms of asd, he does like large groups, struggles making friends and gets very obsessed with things (but only for short periods) His self esteem is very low, and is very depressed at the moment. He thinks he rubbish at everything, that he's ugly and takes believes teachers are persecuting him when they are simply making throw away comments, or asking him to stop something. He hates school and cries most nights. He is very demanding as he almost always bored and not matter what I try to do with him he never wants to do it, he has no interest in anything other than James Bond at the moment. He is very loving however. He is unable to sleep and can't get up. He can't play games unless it is 'his'way. If he looses he becomes very angry and extremely jealous of his peers. He writes terrible things about friends that have annoyed him (as simple as scoring a goal pas him). He gets jealous of absolutely anything and everything. He is also showing extreme attention seeking behaviour at school with peers ans teachers...telling everyone about his 'problem' and using it as an excuse for poor behaviour. He has taken knives into school for protection. He is fully aware of right and wrong but does struggle with empathy!!
This all sounds so negative but he is very loving and when interested or in a good mood can be 'high' as a kite!! He can be charming and is sensible and very good at building things. What I'm really asking isare all the things I've written about part of the aspergers...how does the attention seeking fit in and how does his occassional hyper activity fit in (this was quite severe when he was younger)? Why can't he sleep? Any advice or simple reassurance that these things do fit Aspergers would be greatfully received.
Thanks Tina
