Autism, Anxiety, and A Real Miracle
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Over the past four months or so, I’ve shared with you all on Facebook a number of times that my son has been dealing with pretty severe anxiety. And you all have been very helpful in offering recommendations. Thank you! If you haven’t “liked” Whole New Mom on Facebook, please do join us. It’s a very supportive community over there.
You see, my son suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. And Asperger’s almost always comingles (goes together) with anxiety.
Over the past 5 months, his anxiety has increased to the point of being well—really bad. Mainly it’s been anxiety about his life threatening food allergies.
It’s been hard some days to handle it.
To wonder if we can keep going.
To wonder if he’ll get better.
Over the years, we’re tried a lot of things to heal my son. You can read more about it in Natural Autism Healing and the Best Therapy of All.
We’ve tried a lot of things to help his anxiety, and are working closely with our practitioner to manage his stress.
We’ve tried/are trying the following:
Natural Anxiety Remedies
- GABA
- 5 HTP (partnered with B6)
- L-Taurine (this really seems to help)
- Essential Oils
- hugs and encouragement (though I must admit that it can be hard to do this when mom is really stressed out from all of the incessant questions).
We’ve been working with a practitioner for about 1 1/2 years now.
You might recall that I mentioned this practitioner in my posts on adrenal fatigue and heavy metals.
Well, since then, we moved on to other practitioners and eventually had much more progress working on our health on our own.
And copper causes anxiety (amongst other things.)
- feathers
- clowns
- well, fireworks–not really.
One head on either side of the photo, right?
The head on the left belongs to my son. The one on the right is his friend’s.
He made it through the whole fireworks show.
Yes, with sound-reducing ear muffs on, but he. made. it.
And he even says that he had “a great time.”
I’m still not sure why.
At first I thought it was because his friend was there, but then I realized that his friend was there last year too.
Were we as a family calmer about the fireworks thing this year (not worrying about how he would react) and so didn’t contribute to his anxiety? I don’t think so.
Not sure why – but he did great.
His other anxieties? Not the feathers and clown so much, but his other anxieties?
They’re still here.
And this Momma is tempted to despair when they get bad.
But here’s to small miracles.
Here’s to small victories.
And here’s to good memories.
I’m purposing to send these photos off to be developed this week so I can get them in a photo album and remember the day we had a Small Miracle on the Fourth of July.
Do you have a “Small (or Big) Miracle” to share?
SO wonderful to read this, Adrienne! Congrats all around. I hope that by next year, there are even more anxieties conquered. Big hugs! 🙂
Thanks, friend!!! I could use a hug – the trials continue. There are some real victories though. Take care!
My son’s autism started out as classic autism;head banging, lying on the floor “tantruming” non-verbal til in therapeutic day school started at age 2yrs,9mos. Just before birth to three started, as in the year before. Anxiety is a huge part of this type of autism, too. Now 26, he’s been unemployed for most of the last 19 months. He worked full-time for 13 months but it became too stressful and he kept trying too long so as not to disappoint and it’s really set him back. I think the fireworks attendance, even with ear muffs, was amazing! You’ll never know why, just enjoy it is. Our parenting is hard work and it doesn’t get easier with adulthood. I pray your son doesn’t develop the often comorbid psychiatric disorders that come with adolescence/adulthood as my son has. I rejoice with you.
Janet
Thanks for sharing. I am frightened to ask what has occurred w/ your husband. My son’s anxiety frightens me now. Thanks. You can share if you wish.
Amazing!! My son has PDD and has had issues with anxiety I recently found out that he has toxoplasma gondii parasite which could be the main culprit in his perception of things. I took him to see Dr. Hugh Smith in Carlsbad, CA. He is a research doctor in vital hematology. He told me all of my son’s health problems in 5 minutes! I highly recommend him. My son also had pertussis and pneumonococal(spell check!)infections. he does not prescribe drugs. He told me to give him colloidal silver for 2 days and the infections are gone! We are working on the parasite now with Cumanda and we’ve seen increased vocabulary, less anxiety and more eye contact! We also do the GAPS diet and the Son-Rise Program too!
Wow!! What an amazing answer to prayer! My five year old son is developmentally delayed without a definitive diagnosis. Autism has been suggested at a possibility but no one will confirm it yet. Milestones are few and far between… it is a hard road to walk. Praying for you and your family. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks. I struggle w/ sharing a lot about this but it is my heart. And my son is blessed reading the comments that perhaps we have helped someone. Did you read my other autism posts? I would read Facing Autism for sure. It really helped me.
Wow thank you for the inspiration today! It perked up my mommy ears. My oldest son has troubles. When he was younger I thought he might have autism and those around me would shake thier heads and say no I don’t see it. Maybe it is aspergers. He gets very nervous and talks out alot. Some of what I am reading is soooooo familiar. He gets so anxious at times. Vitamin B complex helps. He is not severe by any means, but sometimes your mommy senses kick in gear. Sometimes a mommy just knows when others do not. I will have to read up a little and see if we can’t find some better strageties for dealing with it.
Hi Melanie. I asked dr’s for years about autism and didn’t get my diagnosis ’til he was almost 7. Blessings and hope to see you around again!
Has your son been tested for MTHFR ? People with MTHFR have a hard time methylating out heavy metals, pestacides, toxins etc. I saw one study today that said that 97% of people with Aspergers and Autism have MTHFR.
Yes. It’s a problem. My practitioner thinks that taking care of the metals will help deal with this. Thanks!!!
https://naturalinsight.hubpages.com/hub/Hypercupremia-High-Copper
This is wonderful Adrienne. I think it’s so very important to celebrate every improvement/miracle we see along this journey!
Thanks Maria. I need to really focus on this one. My son had a particularly bad day so I need to really think about this when he is not doing well.
I am glad to see the list of things you have done for your son, for anxiety. I have a seven year old daughter with PTSD and anxiety. I will be trying some of these ideas. Thanks!
That’s awesome. My son has CP and sensory processing disorder. He is very anxious. We watched fireworks from very far away. He won’t go near even with headphones, but we concurred the a big box store with an iPod and headphones !!!