MHRS

In our state one of the mental health services which is paid for by medicaid is Mental Health Rehabilitation Services or MHRS for short. We had our first appointment with one of the providers today. Sometimes people amuse me.

I have a teenage son. He is 16 just this past month. If you hit him or push him, he will hit you. Of course the daughter with Aspergers and ADHD wants to scream at him, hit him, and/or push him. The intake person told me my house was violent because he would hit her. I responded he would not hit her if she did not scream in his face, hit him, or push him. Although he is always in trouble when he hits, he is being provoked. She even went so far as to suggest he needed MHRS. I refused.

I guess what I am flabbergasted at is that attitude that he must need help. He listens to what I say. He does what I tell him to do. He has never touched me. He does what he is supposed to do. She does none of these things and has made me black and blue.

We obviously need help. She does not have any place to go. The Aspergers is making it difficult. She can always be with me, but we need to learn some new skills. She needs social skills so she doesn't have to scream, hit, or shove. I'm on board with whatever needs to be done.

Autism: Parent/Professional Partnerships for Progress

Many times explanations and techniques to deal with Autism are just as valid now as they were years ago. We are talking about techniques such as facilitated touch mainstreaming, talking typewriters, computers, etc. Many of these Autism Techniques are designed to do one thing, get children with Autism out of there shell.

Typical people believe with some clues from older people with autism that being part of what is going on around them in a larger ways is desired. Unfortunately there are also people who believe that children with autism are only mimicking what they see.

Parents know that their children think and feel. Parents understand this human condition in their children in a more fundamental way than other people might. It is interesting to observe that parents seem to understand that their children steer toward sensory feelings and emotions on some level that is not readily observed by others.

Children with Autism seek out structure in whatever small way they can. The ability to seek structure, take chances, and explore their surroundings are important characteristics to recognize and nurture in our children.

Those characteristics are also important for professionals to recognize. When recognized by everyone it is no leap to recognize that these characteristics are not in line with someone who just stores facts and regurgitates them.

Hopefully we are coming to a time when parents, professionals, and educators are working together to understand that there are many different ways to meet the needs of children with Autism. They all have useful information to bring to the table. There is no one way, but luckily a lot of information to be used.

One of the interesting developments is the use of Vasopressin. Vasopressin is typically used to control water content in people. Although the animal studies are very small when the bodies level of vasopressin is manipulated the animal can show autistic characteristics.

This chemical, not drug, may be the key or open to door to understanding bonding emotions. If a child with autism spontaneously shows affection or emotion it may be because they are producing Vasopressin. This chemical may also be a bridge to reintegrate people with mental illness into their social peer groups.

Another Rough Afternoon

We have had another rough afternoon, screaming and tantruming. I wonder how much the Cymbalta is working. This is the second evening she says she feels like hurting herself. I'm worried and watching her closely.

We have an appointment to do intake for MHRS services Wednesday. I just don't know how much help they will be able to do since we are just starting intake.

Does anyone have any experience with Cymbalta and Aspergers/Autism? I would appreciated hearing about it.

Her behavior is deteriorating dramatically this afternoon. Then again maybe she was just 'honey mooning' after the hospital.

It's been difficult to get my daughter's new medication. The hospital and doctor's after care plan sucked. We got the medication today. Good thing.

More Houskeeping

I think I have finally gotten all the posts fixed. I appreciate your patience. I have been a little out of it with the daughter going to the hospital. Hopefully posts will be a little more consistent now.

Well my child got out of the hospital. I am not so sure about the whole hospital experience. Part of the reason I brought her there was because I didn't know what else to do. At first it did not seem anything was being done but wait until she calmed down to go home. Then at some point I was accused of being the problem. Finally they released her on a Saturday and I am having problems getting the new medication... We did get a referral for MHRS services.

I finally have gotten to the point with the 17 year old that I had to put her in the hospital. I have resisted it since a doctor suggested it at five. I have always had another idea to try. I am out of ideas. She has run down the highway crying twice in 2 months, in her bare feet. Have any of you had to do this? If you feel confortable tell me about it. Please.

Apology

I apologize for any weird posts you may have gotten in the past few days. I am attempting to post from my phone. Obviously not successfully. Thank you for your patience.

I haven't decided exactly what the hospital is supposed to do. It certainly does not seem to be to talk about important things. Yes I know they can keep her safe and adjust medication. I just hoped for more than baby sitting. I am going to ask about what is going to be different. Right now she has told me she is doing what ever she has to do to get out. The staff are not getting a good idea of the problems.

Housekeeping

If you get several posts at once, I apologize. I noticed when you post differently it does not always go through correctly. I was also cleaning up spelling. Thanks for your patience.

oy vey. Daughter *aspie* told me I was too old to have friends. Especially younger ones!. The bigger question than whether I can have friends or not is whether this is typical teenage daughter behavior. It could be she is seeing the world in black and white.

Sometimes it does not matter how hard you try with a teen, everything is still going to be the parents fault. Then multiply that by 100 for the teen with Aspergers. Mine believes she is never wrong. Social immaturity is already difficult to see in oneself. When you add in the social skills deficts it is overwhelming. Then hormones...Oy vey.