As April was Autism awareness month and May is mental health awareness month, this is a great time to bring these topics to our attention and know what they really are. Especially since sometimes the two affect a person simultaneously. About 30 percent of people with autism also experience seizures or epilepsy. One third of people with autism suffer from an anxiety disorder. The Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network works with people who have been diagnosed with both autism and another mental illness. The network is currently supporting over 30,000 children and adolescents.
Autism is defined as a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. Autism has both strong genetic and environmental basis. Scientists have done genetic testing with twins and found that if one identical twin has the disorder, there is an 80% chance the other does as well. Complications during birth work can, with genetics, cause autism in a child. Scientists have found over 65 genes that are linked to autism in some way. There is still so much we don’t know about the 98% of the human genome genes that are non-coding and if they affect the chance of autism in a child. Although the genetics behind autism is complicated, it is not complicated to connect and communicate with children with autism. Communicating non-verbally can be beneficial. Look for signals they are giving and not getting frustrated or into power struggles can make all the difference. Just connect with them like you would any other person: human to human. Simply “be.” You don’t need to “get” anything out of them, just connect on an emotional level. Not everything has to be forced.
Mental illness is defined as a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. The most common types include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Some may believe mental illness is a rare thing, but one in 25 Americans live with a serious mental illness. The people diagnosed with a mental disorder may seem like they should be more violent or unpredictable, but they are no more likely to be so than anyone else. Another common misconception is that there is no hope for those suffering from a mental health problem. Studies have found that many people recover completely and really do get better as time progresses. Friends and family have huge impacts on people who need the support.
If you know someone who has an autism spectrum disorder or other mental disorder, the most you can do is just be there for them. Don’t get frustrated with them or leave when it gets hard. If they haven’t already, get professional help. Doctors really do know what they’re doing when it comes to any of these problems. The main thing is to not define a person by the disorder they may have. Be a friend and just “be” with them.
