[PsychoPhil]

I have dyspraxia alongside my autism. So this is a life long condition affecting my motor skills and most obvious in sports where balls are thrown and caught, but is also evident in my mumbling speech and terrible handwriting.

Speech and handwriting improve somewhat by reading aloud and taking lecture notes, so practice definitely helps. One of the only ball games I can play to some extent is badminton. Unlike football of basketball, where in physical education no one would ever pass me a ball, I can at least participate. And with practice I also improve a little bit.

But here is my problem: my clumsiness fluctuates and when I am missing out on whole series of easy balls in badminton, I get very downbeat about just not being able to make progress like almost everybody else, which then makes me angry, or maybe I'm experiencing minor meltdowns, and then the game is no fun and I'm playing even worse.

So one one hand, because of my dyspraxia, it's good for me to practice motor skills, it also helps socially, but on the other hand I often end up disappointed and stressed from what should be an enjoyable pastime.

Does anyone else with autism+dyspraxia have similar issues, any advice how to handle this in a better way? Currently I pause between matches, or simply give up and go home if things aren't going well.

[PrairieCat]

I don't have dyspraxia, I just have autism. Now I know why I always hated to play any games. I congratulate you on having the guts to keep trying to play and use motor skills! I think you are handling it well.