The Autism Advantage. Asperger's and Depression: Inside a Common Paradox. Asperger's and Depression: Inside a Common Paradox By Nomi Kaim A large proportion of people with Asperger’s Syndrome–perhaps especially those who are higher functioning–suffer from some form of depression. It is unclear whether this depression emerges as a result of the struggles, exhaustion, rejection and failures so often present in a life with Asperger’s Syndrome, or whether the mysterious neurology of AS somehow invites, or includes, a hard-wired affective disorder.
What is clear is that people with Asperger’s Syndrome can end up particularly entrenched in their depression, and be difficult to treat or “cure.” My own personal struggles with Asperger’s Syndrome and depression have also revealed some seeming paradoxes in the juxtaposition of these two conditions. Below are some of the contradictory forces I find myself battling daily. The Dissolution of Special Interests. Sacrificing Ideas for Feelings. The Loss of Constructive Solitude. Compromising Self-Sufficiency. Back to Top. Depression Common in Young Adults with Asperger’s. By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on March 12, 2012 Swedish researchers found that almost 70 percent of young Swedes with Asperger’s syndrome in a new study have suffered from depression.
Tove Lugnegård, a researcher and doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg, discovered that mood disorders and anxiety disorders are very common among young adults with Asperger syndrome. Around 70 percent of the young adults with Asperger’s syndrome in the study reported at least one previous episode of depression, and up to 50 percent had had repeated episodes — a remarkable result given that the mean age of the group was just 27 years. “The results mean that it’s important that psychiatric care staff keep an eye open for the symptoms of depression in young adults with autism spectrum disorders,” said Lugnegård. “This goes for both clinics that carry out assessments for autism spectrum disorders, and for general psychiatric care. Visualizing the Autism Spectrum. We often talk about autism being a spectrum, but what exactly does that mean? A spectrum exists when different values are present to different degrees.
The picture picture above shows one kind of spectrum. People with autism tend to more difficulty than others with the following things: 1) Forming relationships 2) Communicating with others 3) Following social conventions 4) Understanding emotions 5) Dealing with sensory input 6) Tolerating change and difference Let's assign one of these traits to each color in our spectrum picture: People with autism have trouble with these areas because they are getting too much or too little input. When we talk about autism being a spectrum, part of what we mean is that these problems exist in different people to different degrees.
Let's consider me: Obviously, it doen't matter to you where I fall on these scales. A long shadow is lifted on Asperger's in adults. By Suzanne Leigh, Special for USA TODAY Ten years ago, Kathy Marshack, a psychologist in Vancouver, Wash., was unfamiliar with Asperger's syndrome in adults. Asperger's is a condition on the spectrum of autism disorders that most people associate with children and teens, but Marshack has about 15 patients who are either adults with Asperger's or are the spouses or grown children of them. Marshack, who says her late mother had Asperger's and her adopted daughter has it, believes the condition is widely undiagnosed. In many cases, it doesn't come to light until a spouse or adult child seeks therapy for depression or poor self-esteem that results from the coldness and egocentricity Asperger's adults demonstrate in relationships, she says.
The number of Asperger's adults, like the diagnosis, is hard to pin down. Because some Asperger's adults are spouses and parents and have enduring careers, others suggest that the diagnostic criteria are being interpreted too loosely. Disparities in diagnoses. Families of Adults Affected By Asperger's Syndrome. Coping with an adult with Asperger's (4) - Mental Health - Families.com. In the final blog in this present series on Asperger’s Disorder, we look at further behavioral markers as well as treatment options for this condition. Being partnered to an Asperger’s sufferer comes with its own set of marital difficulties. Of primary concern is the lack of intimacy and reciprocation of emotion. This is the most common reason for marriage breakdown associated with this disorder. As discussed previously in Coping with an adult Asperger (1), (2) and (3), this neurological disorder makes it extremely difficult for the sufferer to interact emotionally in an appropriate way with others.
In a marriage situation, the so-called “normal” partner may be content with doing the bulk of the emotional work of the relationship, particularly if that person is a female. For partners and family members of an Asperger sufferer, counseling can help in learning to overcome feelings of anger, hurt, disappointment, and depression. Related Articles: What is Asperger’s Disorder?
What is Autism? What Everybody Ought to Know About Aspergers and Marriage. Couple in love, by pedrosimoes on Flickr Creative Commons Young love. It's so beautiful, so wonderful, it takes your breath away. Like any other romantic couple, two adults who are in love in an Asperger's relationship are on cloud nine when they first meet. Reality sinks in once the emotional high wears off, and if there are not some tools for navigating the journey, Aspie-NT couples may find themselves at-risk. There are many successful Aspie-Aspie marriages and Aspie-NT marriages. For the purposes of this article, I am going to cover the subject of Aspie-NT (one adult with Asperger's and one adult who is Neurotypical). For every successful Aspie-NT committed relationship, there are many others who are struggling, teetering, and on the brink of failing. I am borrowing the ideas for this article from Solutions for Adults with Asperger Syndrome (2005), and specifically to psychologist Dr.
Building Understanding Between AS and NT Worlds Steps to Help Make An AS-NT Relationship Work. What Everybody Ought to Know About Aspergers and Marriage.