How to Manage Asperger Syndrome and Depression
Is there someone in your life who has Asperger Syndrome that has a hard time interacting with other people? Perhaps the people they interact with ridicule or make fun of them. Possibly they are even mistreated because of their disease. With this type treatment and the inability to find a way to interact that is acceptable, anger and frustration can build along with feelings of inadequacies. Because of this it is possible for depression to manifest itself in someone with autism.
Depression is one symptom that particularly affects someone with Asperger Syndrome in their late adolescence and early adult life. Symptoms can be diagnosed as often as once in every 15 people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. It’s thought to be possibly triggered by a new or growing knowledge of the disability they have or maybe a feeling of being different. Often there is an inability to make friends or to take part in any social activities. This can be seen as a problem many have with their personal space when with another person.
The symptoms for depression for someone with Asperger Syndrome are seen also in people who do not have autism who are also depressed. These might show in the form of loneliness, sexual frustration, bereavement or other ftype of loss, a constant and nagging feeling of failure along with extreme levels of anxiety. A person with Asperger Syndrome might also have been bullied or abused which could result in a wide range of depression as any issue that could cause major frustration.
Medications are generally used to treat depression in someone with Asperger Syndrome. Remember that medication for depression does not work on the aspect of Asperger Syndrome itself. As with any medical treatments, you may have to make adjustments along the way to find the correct drug and dosage for any particular person. Side effects have to be monitored. It is also important to identify the cause for the depression to utilize efficient counselling, or other aspects that might be needed such as social skills training, or meeting up with people with similar interests and values.
To successfully treat mental illness in someone with Asperger syndrome, it is very important that the person continues their contact with their doctor so the doctor can stay up to date on the patient. The doctor may want to speak to the parents or employers of the person they are treating with Asperger Syndrome and depression to keep track of any recent changes from their normal pattern of behavior.
Depression is an important issue, but don’t forget that people who have Asperger syndrome can also experience other problems, such as impulsive behavior and mood swings. Little research has been done for this area but these symptoms also can be incapacitating. Treatment includes conventional mood stabilizing drugs, and improving their self-awareness is important.
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