Comments on: Back to the ABC’s http://www.esteeklar.com/2010/02/23/back-to-the-abcs/ The Joy of Autism is about our journey with autism and our opinions about how society views it. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:23:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Is Autism a Genetic Flaw? http://www.esteeklar.com/2010/02/23/back-to-the-abcs/comment-page-1/#comment-8353 Is Autism a Genetic Flaw? Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:45:39 +0000 http://www.esteeklar.com/?p=3087#comment-8353 Thanks for keeping us informed on the latest of your child's transitional handling to your new home. I think that perhaps after the first four weeks after moving, Adam should be adjusting to his new environment better. Thanks for keeping us informed on the latest of your child’s transitional handling to your new home. I think that perhaps after the first four weeks after moving, Adam should be adjusting to his new environment better.

]]> By: kyra http://www.esteeklar.com/2010/02/23/back-to-the-abcs/comment-page-1/#comment-8349 kyra Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:34:02 +0000 http://www.esteeklar.com/?p=3087#comment-8349 i hear you, estee. we may not be in a new house but who knows what's underneath the times when fluffy is much less grounded, feeling more dysregulated, uprooted. his disorganization triggers my own and then i wish for someone bigger, stronger, wiser and kind in my life to help me with my own anxiety! i hear you, estee. we may not be in a new house but who knows what’s underneath the times when fluffy is much less grounded, feeling more dysregulated, uprooted. his disorganization triggers my own and then i wish for someone bigger, stronger, wiser and kind in my life to help me with my own anxiety!

]]> By: DJ http://www.esteeklar.com/2010/02/23/back-to-the-abcs/comment-page-1/#comment-8345 DJ Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:57:41 +0000 http://www.esteeklar.com/?p=3087#comment-8345 I remember when my parents moved into a new house when I was 4. I spent a lot of time running around the house and listening to my voice echo off the walls. I thought it was pretty cool, which is why I kept doing it. :^) I then went into every nook and cranny so I could "know my surroundings" (a good thing for any stressed out person to do). I wanted to know what made all the strange noises I'd hear at night and after a few months, I was very comfortable in the new house... it was "mine". Years later, when I was on my own, I would see similar behaviour in my cats every time we moved. They needed to know their environment just like I did. One thing to remember is that autistic people can also be very sensitive to the feelings of those around them (even if they don't show it). Anxiety or distress felt by other people in the home will be felt by the autistic person and that too will add to his own distress. This is not to say it's your fault (far from it!), but you are right to remember the A,B,C's when it comes to what you are projecting. People forget that autistic people do have feelings and can often sense the feelings of others which is overwhelming. (Not a lack of empathy... but too much empathy which is very hard to deal with at times of stress or high emotion... even happy emotions can be too much!) With regard to the sleep thing, I read an interesting recent study that shows that, in autistic people (asperger's in the study), cortisol (the "get up and go" hormone) does not rise in the morning like it does for most people... and it does not always go down at night like it is supposed to for most people either. The other culprit is circadian rhythm, which can be corrected with a SAD light or melatonin (it works on the same principle as treating jet lag - ask your doctor about correcting circadian rhythm or ask for a referral to a sleep specialist) If you're a coffee drinker, this analogy might help understand it the sleep issues most people on the autism spectrum have (including myself): It's like drinking way too much coffee during the day and then not being able to get to sleep at night. Then, when you wake up in the morning, it's like not being able to have your cup of coffee to help you wake up, so you're all sluggish and not functioning very well for a few hours. For those on the autism spectrum, it's like having or not having coffee at all the wrong times of the day! Cortisol is our body's internal "coffee". It's also our stress hormone, which is produced by the adrenal glands. One book that has really helped me deal with my spasms, inability to relax, anxiety, sleep problems, etc. is called "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome" by Dr. James Wilson. He gives some good advice about changing some things in life to help treat adrenal fatigue. Adrenal glands are designed to only have to dole out the cortisol and such on occasion, or a few times a day... not all day long. When the adrenal glands are going non-stop like mine do (and perhaps Adam too), they get tired. A good website to check out is: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm Some symptoms of adrenal fatigue: * excessive fatigue and exhaustion * non-refreshing sleep (you get sufficient hours of sleep, but wake fatigued) * overwhelmed by or unable to cope with stressors * feeling rundown or overwhelmed * craving salty and sweet foods (It's interesting that Dawn Prince Hughes mentions a craving for salt... I have the same issue) * you feel most energetic in the evening * a feeling of not being restored after a full night's sleep or having sleep disturbances * low stamina, slow to recover from exercise * slow to recover from injury, illness or stress * difficulty concentrating, brain fog * poor digestion * low immune function * food or environmental allergies * consistent low blood pressure * extreme sensitivity to cold I would almost bet that this could be a problem for many on the autism spectrum who have anxiety, sensory issues, digestive trouble, etc. Anyway, that's all I have to say. Your son is so very lucky to have a mum who cares and tries her best to understand and be helpful. Kudos to you!! :^) I remember when my parents moved into a new house when I was 4. I spent a lot of time running around the house and listening to my voice echo off the walls. I thought it was pretty cool, which is why I kept doing it. :^) I then went into every nook and cranny so I could “know my surroundings” (a good thing for any stressed out person to do). I wanted to know what made all the strange noises I’d hear at night and after a few months, I was very comfortable in the new house… it was “mine”. Years later, when I was on my own, I would see similar behaviour in my cats every time we moved. They needed to know their environment just like I did.

One thing to remember is that autistic people can also be very sensitive to the feelings of those around them (even if they don’t show it). Anxiety or distress felt by other people in the home will be felt by the autistic person and that too will add to his own distress. This is not to say it’s your fault (far from it!), but you are right to remember the A,B,C’s when it comes to what you are projecting. People forget that autistic people do have feelings and can often sense the feelings of others which is overwhelming. (Not a lack of empathy… but too much empathy which is very hard to deal with at times of stress or high emotion… even happy emotions can be too much!)

With regard to the sleep thing, I read an interesting recent study that shows that, in autistic people (asperger’s in the study), cortisol (the “get up and go” hormone) does not rise in the morning like it does for most people… and it does not always go down at night like it is supposed to for most people either. The other culprit is circadian rhythm, which can be corrected with a SAD light or melatonin (it works on the same principle as treating jet lag – ask your doctor about correcting circadian rhythm or ask for a referral to a sleep specialist)

If you’re a coffee drinker, this analogy might help understand it the sleep issues most people on the autism spectrum have (including myself): It’s like drinking way too much coffee during the day and then not being able to get to sleep at night. Then, when you wake up in the morning, it’s like not being able to have your cup of coffee to help you wake up, so you’re all sluggish and not functioning very well for a few hours. For those on the autism spectrum, it’s like having or not having coffee at all the wrong times of the day!

Cortisol is our body’s internal “coffee”. It’s also our stress hormone, which is produced by the adrenal glands. One book that has really helped me deal with my spasms, inability to relax, anxiety, sleep problems, etc. is called “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome” by Dr. James Wilson. He gives some good advice about changing some things in life to help treat adrenal fatigue. Adrenal glands are designed to only have to dole out the cortisol and such on occasion, or a few times a day… not all day long. When the adrenal glands are going non-stop like mine do (and perhaps Adam too), they get tired.

A good website to check out is: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm

Some symptoms of adrenal fatigue:
* excessive fatigue and exhaustion
* non-refreshing sleep (you get sufficient hours of sleep, but wake fatigued)
* overwhelmed by or unable to cope with stressors
* feeling rundown or overwhelmed
* craving salty and sweet foods (It’s interesting that Dawn Prince Hughes mentions a craving for salt… I have the same issue)
* you feel most energetic in the evening
* a feeling of not being restored after a full night’s sleep or having sleep disturbances
* low stamina, slow to recover from exercise
* slow to recover from injury, illness or stress
* difficulty concentrating, brain fog
* poor digestion
* low immune function
* food or environmental allergies
* consistent low blood pressure
* extreme sensitivity to cold

I would almost bet that this could be a problem for many on the autism spectrum who have anxiety, sensory issues, digestive trouble, etc.

Anyway, that’s all I have to say. Your son is so very lucky to have a mum who cares and tries her best to understand and be helpful. Kudos to you!! :^)

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