My son is definitely a puzzle. I love him to “pieces” he drives me crazy at times, yet makes me laugh nearly every day. The symbol for autism is the puzzle piece. Yet, even in the scheme of things as far as autism is concerned his puzzle piece does not fit into the spectrum, in fact, I feel he is two puzzle pieces short of the autism puzzle. So here I am desperately seeking answers to help my son, every day and every night. I am not sure how many mothers, fathers, parents go through what I am going through now, and I know we all have our own struggles, but right now I am struggling and at a loss. I need answers.
As you may know from my previous post, “ADHD – ASD and How They Come Together“, my seventeen-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD at seven years old. In addition to ADHD, three years ago, my son was diagnosed with autism (high-functioning), PTSD, Anxiety, and depression. I’ve empathized, I’ve sympathized, I’ve reasoned, I’ve stayed quiet, I’ve argued, I’ve grounded him for making wrong choices or being disrespectful, I’ve taken things away and even sold his car and nothing penetrates this kid. I also have looked up each of these diagnoses and do not agree with all of them. I know my son, and while I am not saying he doesn’t have quirks. I think he has just that a quirkiness that doesn’t fit all of the labels the professionals have stuck on him.
I have researched every psychology peer-reviewed article on autism I can find, and on all of his other symptoms too. While I see some of the diagnosis in him, there are others I can see a glimmer, but that is it I do not see enough of the symptoms to say I agree with the doctors. And, with each journal article I’ve read, when I come to the conclusion I’ve taken it to his therapist (5 over the past 10 years) and I’ve either been told “it won’t work” or some have tried the ideas given and it hasn’t worked. Recently, I read an article titled “Wounds That Time Won’t Heal; The Neurobiology of Child Abuse” by Martin H. Teicher, M.D., Ph.D.” This article caught my eye because my son as I said earlier was diagnosed with PTSD.
This article discusses a study that was done with children who suffered mostly emotional and verbal abuse as did my son. The doctor’s hypothesis also states, “the trauma of abuse induces a cascade of effects, including changes in hormones and neurotransmitters that mediate the development of vulnerable brain regions”. Dr. Teicher’s article further suggests, “abnormalities in the cerebellar vermis may be involved in psychiatric disorders including depression, manic-depressive illness, schizophrenia, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder”.
The study showed that while many doctors in the past have associated the entire cerebellum as being the only factor in motor coordination it has now been shown it also regulates emotion and attention. Moreover, if this testing is correct the vermis when activated controls and represses the electrical irritability that is found in the limbic system. However, in abused individuals, it appears less able to control these emotions. Therefore, children may exert calming effects by rocking and stimming. This part of the study does not apply to my son as he does not rock or exercise stimming in the way others with autism do. However, the emotional piece is related to how he explodes when his anxiety kicks in even if he is not in trouble. When he “thinks” he “could be” in trouble he becomes increasingly anxious and has “melt-downs”.
The study as stated in this article showed, “consequences of abuse seem consistent with inadequate development of the corpus callosum, which is a highly myelinated structures, and abnormal development of the hippocampus and cerebellum”, and it further states, “approximately 2-10 years of age the left brain develops more rapidly than the right, making it more vulnerable to the effects of early maltreatment.” Therefore in my son’s case, his experiences father’s rigidness and constant belittling and need for full control would have caused high levels of cortisol to hinder the development of his cerebral cortex to the extent of being vulnerable depending on how rapid his brain was growing at the time of the abuse.
The effects that these abuses have on the left hemisphere of the brain such as the left frontal lobes and limbic system have been linked to depression and anxiety, which set-up a perfect situation for panic disorder and increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder all of which my son exhibits.
Dr. Teicher, concludes that “30% of the children studied with a history of severe abuse met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD”, however, he further stated, “some studies also found an association between the reduced size of the mid-portion of the corpus callosum and emergence of ADHD-like symptoms of impulsivity.” Hence, early abuse may produce brain changes that mimic the key aspects of ADHD.”
In conclusion, another fact that this article brought to light was the dysphoria created by maltreatment of limbic irritability can create dysphorias such as low-level unhappiness, aggression, and violence. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help these children by strengthening the left-right hemisphere control allowing it to work harder than the right-left hemisphere which controls emotions and impulses. This is the part that caught my attention. My son definitely acts on impulse. I am now looking into new treatments to help him to overcome these impulses such as juuling when anxiety kicks in, or seeing something of his brothers and taking it then lying about it later.
A new tool they are using to help PTSD is known as EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) which appears to stop flashbacks and other intrusive memories. The treatment is conducted by producing side-to-side eye movement using visual stimulus while a psychotherapist guides the patients through recalling disturbing memories. Studies show patients seem to able to tolerate the recall during treatment with the eye-movement. Therapists theorize, “these eye movements can be more effective in integrating and processing thee patients highly disturbing memories by fostering hemispheric integrations and activating the cerebellar vermis” which in turn will soothe the patients’ intense limbic response when memories are recalled.
I have looked up different psychoanalysts who use EMDR and am weighing the pros and cons. I have not found a downside to this treatment to date. I am weighing my options and have talked to his psychiatrist about this treatment as an option for my son. For now, he has added Intuiv to his medicine to hopefully help calm his impulses and said we can further discuss EMDR in two-weeks when we go back to give our opinion on how Intuiv is or is not helping my son.
Has anyone else ever looked into or used EMDR with their son or daughter, or even for yourself? If so, please leave a comment or email me to tell me what your thoughts are on this treatment.
While I search for answers I learn more and more that my son is not a puzzle he is a beautiful creative mosaic.
Keep sparkling~
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