Hello everyone

[mztrna]

I'm new to this site and am relieved to have found your site. I think my 23yr old daughter has aspergers and am looking for resources to help her. We live in the Atlanta area and are not sure where to go for diagnosis. Does anyone have any recommendations? We have known for quite sometime that she was different and she just wants to get tested so she can get treatment. I feel like I failed her as a parent because she asked for help years ago and I just thought she would grow out of it. She is now a single parent and I feel as if parenting can be overwhelming. She is great mom but life sometimes gets the best of her and she gets depressed. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ereth]

Hello!

While I have no knowledge of where you can seek treatment in your area, I can tell you that you are definitely not a failure as a parent. What happened years ago was not your fault. You just didn't understand at the time. I think the fact that you're trying to help your daughter now means more than anything, especially since she's a mother herself.

I'm not much older than your daughter, and I only found out about my autism a few years ago. It was hard for my parents to accept, too. Sometimes I think it still is.

Best wishes to you both.

 

[Vanilla]

Welcome

I'm glad to hear you're keen to help your daughter. She sounds like she needs all the help she can get. I imagine having Aspergers can make being a single parent quite daunting. It may be beneficial for your daughter to share her problems, and ask specific questions on these threads. It can even be helpful to vent with those who are like-minded.

I myself found that the most liberating thing you can do, is to arm yourself with as much knowledge about this as you both can. I recommend taking a look at the following books:

http://www.bookdepository.com/Aspergirls-Rudy-Simone/9781849058261

http://www.bookdepository.com/Aspie-Girls-Guide-Being-Safe-with-Men-Debi-Brown/9781849053549

It may be good as well to speak with other couples dealing with Aspergers; perhaps starting a thread in the 'Family and Friends' section will get you more answers.

When finding a specialist for your daughter to speak with, be sure that they are experienced in dealing with women on the spectrum, as not all professionals are; many focus more on the male characteristics; which can be quite different.

I hope that helps with getting you started.

 

[Turk]

Hi Mz,
Welcome. Before you do anything, forgive yourself first. Guilt has a way of complicating things. Let it be the start of a new understanding.

Cheers
Turk

 

[Archer36]

Welcome.

Yeah, don't feel guilty. I never got the help I needed when i was young. For years I was "angry" at people that i felt never helped me. But now I'm 36 and I no longer have those feelings .. i got rid of them because they were poisoning my life. My mom back in the time had a lot of things to deal with but she always fed me, bought me clothes, sent me to school, bought me books and did her best. She just didn't know what to do with my special problems. Its not easy to deal with when you don't know or aren't certain what it could be.

Get rid of those guilty feelings, they will poison your life. Just the fact that you are here shows that you really care and that's what count the most.

 

[Brent]

Welcome

 

[EdenPrime]

You haven't failed as a parent. Please don't think that.

I got diagnosed this year. I will be 23 in April. I do not live in your area so I wont be the best at advice.. but I would recommend reading books on aspergers (there are books written by people with aspergers which might help) and also she could join this forum if she needs people to talk too.