My older brother has what I assume must be severe autism (when he was diagnosed, labeling "severe" and "moderate" wasn't really a popular thing to do), but my parents never tried any of the meds or diets or anything like that. They just treat him like a regular person, if with a few strange quirks. He's grown up to be a sweet, lovable guy, though he'll never be able to take care of himself really.

I think the most important thing my parents ever did was to fight for my brother's education. My parents consistently worked to find the best possible classrooms for my brother, and as a result, he's become a much more social person over time. Now that he's an adult, he has a job for Goodwill, which gets him out of the house for a few hours at a time and lets him socialize with others, which despite what everyone says about autism, he really enjoys.

Obviously, being a sister is very different from being a parent, and I don't know that I can say much. But I just wanted to tell you that no, you're not alone, not by any stretch of the imagination. I admire my parents greatly for the way they treat my brother, and the way they don't allow the disease to be the center of their relationship with him. I can't possibly know what will help your son; autism is so variable that it's impossible to give good generic advice. But if you feel so alone, find a support group and talk to people face-to-face. It's nice to be able to talk face-to-face to others in the same position.