[caringmum]

Final diagnosis is in - SZA plus ASD level 1(what would have been known as Aspergers - shocked I missed that one when the poor kid was growing up). Anyone here have BP1 or SZA with ASD? If so, what works for you to manage day to day living, what kind of therapy do you find helpful?

My youngest nephew had Asperger's Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. I'm not sure what type. Probably type 2.

He did not receive enough counseling. He was at one point sent to a special school for children who had special needs. And at a point there was a therapist that would come to my sister's house to see him, but then support seemed to stop.

I am sad to say this, but the household he grew up in was dysfunctional, mostly because of my brother-in-law. That didn't help.

My sister did get him on SDI for a while, but he received no support during that time. It's all a long story, but the combination of his very severe tendency to be depressed and the other factors ended up being too much for him.

His own fears and limitations made some support difficult (his fear of driving and extreme discomfort in support groups). I'm not sure what would have been best. Please consult with his/her psychiatrist and autism groups.

I wish he had had friends. I wish I (his aunt) had not been so ill so I could have given him more support. I was his closest aunt. He was only 24.

I don't know how much his Asperger's played a part. It was the depression. He struggled with it since he was a little boy. Multiple hospitalizations. Two rounds of ECT. Of course medications.

[SorryShaped]

Bipolar one, "probable ASD," ADHD, PTSD, chronic pain.
Mixed diagnosis makes a many-splendid mess of me.
Talk therapist regularly(2+times monthly), meds for bipolar and sleep, scheduling everything I do including and especially sleep, limiting caffeine helps though I don't do well trying. I also use an herbal for PTSD, kratom, and it does help.