How To Overcome Autism and Anxiety On Socialization

                

 

Children with autism are often misunderstood, especially when it comes to autism and anxiety on socialization and it?s not surprising that the most loving parents can make some mistakes.

The body of information about this condition is vast, but some of it is conflicting. This can leave even the best parents feeling confused and overwhelmed. One thing no parent wants to see is his or her child is suffering in any way. When it comes to autism and anxiety of socialization, there is some conflicting information out there about the children and what they might really want to accomplish.

For a long time it was thought that children with autism did not want to socialize. Some parents would feel bad about trying to get them to relate to other children their age, as it brought about a lot of frustration for the child. Autistics can lack many of the basic social skills needed to make and keep friends. They aren?t good with eye contact, initiating conversations, and relating to peoples emotions. Even some children who do not have this condition can have problems in these areas sometimes.

For a long time it was thought that autistic children did not seek out or did not want to develop these types of social relationships, and would rather be ?alone.? There have been many studies that have proven this theory to be false. They do want to relate, and sometimes they want this very badly, but they just don?t know how to go about it. This, as you can imagine, leads to enormous amounts of frustration for the child, and of course, for the parents. The anxiety that comes with this can be overwhelming and might cause setbacks.

People mistakenly think these children prefer to stay away from their peers because they show signs of preferring the company of adults they know, or they seem to show a preference to play by themselves. This isn?t necessarily a preference for many of them. They simply cannot handle the anxiety of trying to build and maintain relationships that they do not have the skills to hang on to.

Avoidance and withdrawal are their way of coping with the overwhelming anxiety of the situation. A child thrown into this situation without preamble or warning will suffer great anxiety and frustration. However, knowing how to proceed can be difficult for any parent. Sometimes, there are no easy answers.

Each child has to be evaluated individually. There are some great programs that help children with the basics of socialization before they are presented with actually trying it. Some children have severe problems, and the choice to put them into special educational classes does have drawbacks, but putting a low-functioning child into regular classes has huge drawbacks as well.

Though taking time to evaluate a child before making a decision will help, you can never really eliminate the effects of autism and anxiety on socialization for a child with this condition. You just have to keep up, readjust when needed, and give them all the support you can.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/ autism and anxiety on socialization.In the newsletter you'll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.

The Debate About Mercury Contamination and Autism

                

 

Though autism has been identified since the 1940s, there has yet to be a cure discovered or a definite cause established. This leaves many wondering if it is something that is happening because of our lifestyle, or if this is a condition that has been misdiagnosed for a very long time. There are record numbers of children now being diagnosed with autism. Is this because we are now able to pinpoint the proper diagnosis, or is there something more sinister going on? Many claim the high numbers of diagnosis are due to more understanding about this condition, and that makes it easier to get the correct diagnosis. Others believe mercury contamination and autism are related.

When it comes to mercury, the culprit seems to be related to childhood vaccinations. These are vaccinations that all children get, and many cannot enter school without them. However, there are a number of parents who believe these vaccinations that are meant to protect their children have led to autism.

There is a preservative used in some vaccinations that is called Thimerosal. This is almost half mercury in content, and is used when more than one dosage of a vaccine is in one bottle. This is meant to stop any sort of contamination that might occur.

Mercury is dangerous. However, its link to autism is debated. There has been research that has found a ?biomarker? which indicates that children with autism are more prone to having serious problems when toxins are introduced into the system. Because most children with autism have autoimmune problems, this does make sense. This then, would give the mercury contamination theory validity. Though most children would not be bothered by Thimerosal, a child with this biomarker might have huge problems. Vaccinations are not the only sources of this however, as there is mercury in other places that might very well be unknowingly ingested by any person.

There have been many studies conducted that state vaccinations have no link to autism, but there are many who simply don?t buy that theory. As a result, parents are refusing to vaccinate their children completely. Though this might indeed stop the mercury from entering the system of the child, their health is then placed in jeopardy. This can be a hard decision for many parents to make, though some see it as a very cut and dry conclusion. There are now vaccines that are said to be mercury-free. However, there may still be traces of it in the vaccine.

If you are concerned, you should tell your doctor that you want mercury-free vaccines, and that you will not accept any other type for your child. Though there seems to be an ongoing debate, looking at the dangers of mercury would be enough to alarm anyone.

Most children will not have a problem with the regular vaccines, but there is no way to know if your child will or not. The increase in the numbers of children with autism might just have to do with better diagnosis and understanding, but that does not eliminate the mercury contamination and autism connection that many feel is legitimate. If you feel strongly about this, ask your doctor for the single vaccinations, and if they won?t offer them, find someone who will.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on autism. In the newsletter you'll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.

Autism Vaccine? - Could My Child's Autism Have Been Caused by a Vaccine?

                

 

It is a sad but true fact; many more children are being diagnosed with autism each year. Autism comes in many different forms, but regardless of the symptoms it causes; it is a very serious and life-altering disorder, both for the parents or caregivers of the child, and obviously, the child itself. Some of the children who have autism don?t develop social skills as they should, and have a hard time interacting with other people, adults and children. Some autistic children have difficulty with repetitive behaviors, and others even have language problems, affecting the way they communicate. Some people only have mild cases of autism, and are able to fully function in modern society, while others require constant care for the rest of their lives. Many doctors and researchers have theorized that there is a significant link between autism and vaccines, but currently there is no hard evidence to prove such a link.

There have been several research studies done over the years, trying to determine the exact cause of autism, but to date, no one has been able to definitively prove that autism is caused by childhood vaccinations. In fact, at one time autism was believed to be linked specifically to the measles vaccine, and a study was conducted in 1997 to verify that fact. Just the opposite was proved, evidence was found that clearly proved that there was no way that autism could be caused by the measles vaccine, not was it to blame for any other type of neurological disorder or malady.

Another study was done in 1998, trying again to prove a link between common childhood vaccines and autism, but no links were found. This study did claim to find proof that some intestinal deformities and developmental delays often began shortly after being vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, but this study came under fire in the medical community. One of the problems that this study came under fire for was the fact that the data was based only on 12 test subjects, and that none of them were healthy to begin with. When approached with this information, the researchers who were involved in the study retracted their claims, and the study was declared invalid.

Currently, although there is still a lot of suspicion surrounding the subject, there has been no concrete evidence found linking autism to childhood vaccines in any way. In fact, there are studies being conducted at this moment, trying to prove that autism is in fact caused by a genetic element, but it is still in process, and no results have been released as of yet.

Though many parents will research and hear about childhood immunizations and autism, the risks are far worse for your children if they receive no vaccines at all. There is no research to date that proves any kind of link between the two, so you shouldn?t really be concerned with it at this point. If you do have worries or fears about the vaccines, talk to your child?s pediatrician, or do some research on the subject. Just make certain that you also consider the illnesses and diseases that your child could be stricken with if he or she doesn?t get their immunizations, and then make an educated decision based on the information you have gathered. You can bet that as cautious as medical professionals are when it comes to children, if there was any real concern about a vaccine actually causing something as serious as autism, something would be done about it, and the vaccine would no longer be given.

If you enjoyed reading about Autism vaccine, and want to read more about Autism, visit http://www.autism.healthanddiettips.com/

 

Understanding The Autism And Diet Link

                

 

When the initial diagnosis of autism is made, parents often feel very scared, and incredibly lost. It is hard to know what to do next, and even where to begin. All parents want to help their children, but because there is no exact cause or cure known at the current time, finding and exploring options are often some of the first steps parents will take. One thing parents may come across in their research is the connection between autism and diet.

Though a change in eating habits and implementing a GFCF diet might not cure autism, there are many that believe this diet can help a child with this condition.

The initials GFCF stand for gluten free and casein free. Glutens are special proteins that are found in foods like grains or wheat, oats, and barley. Gluten can also be found in soy sauces, vinegar, some starches, and in many different types of food preservatives, artificial flavors and even dyes for colorings. Casein is also a protein, and is found in milk and almost every product made from milk. Think ice cream, cheese, and yogurts. Both of these proteins can be hidden in other types of food as well.

The link between the foods containing gluten and casein and autism is still being studied. It is believed that some autistic children struggle to digest these foods, and they are instead a toxin to the body.

This toxin then has an affect on personality and behaviors that are associated with autism. For someone with intolerance to foods containing gluten and casein, eating them could also create a huge disturbance in the digestive system causing bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and sometimes vomiting.

Though many parents hope that this diet will help with all of autism symptoms, some rely on it mostly to help with the physical problems associated with ingesting these foods and proteins.

Any parent that thinks autism and diet are related should talk with their doctor before trying such a diet. Eliminating milk might be one of the first steps, but it also means eliminating a major source of calcium.

Continue reading for more information about GFCF diets and to sign up to the newsletter for additional information on managing autism with dietary changes.

When many of the foods are eliminated in order to try the GFCF diet, there can be deficiencies in some of the important vitamins and minerals a child needs. A doctor can help decide what to eliminate from the diet and what might be added to make up any nutritional shortfall. A doctor will also help monitor the over-all health of the child as the diet progresses, something that is essential for good health.

Results and conclusions about the effectiveness of avoiding GFCF foods on autistic behavior are still debated. Some parents have noticed significant changes, while other parents have found that is has had no real benefit for their child.

While enforcing a GFCF regime, some parents? report marked improvement with not only the physical problems, but with social and emotional difficulties facing their children too. The frustrating part is as all children are different it is impossible to know what will happen until you put the GFCF diet to the test.

If you chose to go down the autism and diet treatment route, as long as your child is under a doctor?s care, and the foods being avoided are replaced with nutritional equivalents, there should be no harm in trying it.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter about autism and diet and discover more on the signs and symptoms of autism.

The Advantages of Autism

                

 

My husband and I are the sometimes-proud, sometimes-mortified parents of a four-and-a-half year old boy, Jonah, who has autism. Jonah is a bright, mischievous, affectionate, challenging, monkey of a kid. We love him and are managing our somewhat unusual lives pretty well. With autism, though, everything can seem like a challenge: meals, bath time, car trips, birthday parties, you name it.

Jonah doesn?t talk and he doesn?t understand normal social cues. He?ll walk right up to strangers at a park and rifle through their picnic basket. He?ll climb up a playground slide without taking note of whether or not some kid is poised to slide down right into him. Every time he hears the song ?Happy Birthday to You,? he marches right up to the place of honor, ready to blow out the candles and tear into cake. When prevented, distracted, or redirected away from these activities, a tantrum is a likely result. And when the tantrum is in public, there?s usually the added fun of strangers? stares, glares, and disapproving glances. I could go on...but this article isn?t about what autism is, or how it is difficult, or why its occurrence has risen to epidemic proportions. It?s about the advantages of autism. And really, there are several.

I have to admit right off the bat: I?m only being half-facetious when I say we fully intend to cash in on any and all emergent savant skills, like in the Las Vegas scene from Rain Man -- but that doesn?t seem likely since they say only 10% or so of autists have these skills. Oh, well. Winning ridiculous amounts of money counting cards isn?t everything, I suppose. Good thing there are other things we can enjoy right now.

One is innocence. While other kids his age have ?moved on? to superheroes and swords, our son still loves bubbles and blocks. While his peers have discarded traditional kids? songs for pop music, Jonah still happily requests ?Wheels on the Bus? ? and does all the hand motions too. He doesn?t watch commercials then demand whatever toy or gadget or breakfast cereal was advertised. He doesn?t understand the concept of Christmas or birthdays, at least not in the way other kids do, so he?s perfectly happy with a few toys and something yummy to eat.

When our son is fully enjoying himself, there is no one as uninhibitedly delighted. A joyful Jonah is a beautiful sight. He is never embarrassed or self-conscious about what he is doing, and it shows. What you get is a child largely unaffected by most things that can?t help but affect the consciousness of other kids: bad news on TV, anxiety about dad leaving for work, fear of the boogeyman under the bed. In a sense, autism protects him from much of the normal worry, apprehension, and insecurity of being an almost-five-year-old kid.

Also, people have told us he?s especially entertaining to watch ? and we can see why; the way he interacts with his environment is undeniably interesting. We consider it an advantage to have a child who sees the world through a somehow different lens. He?ll hold his fingers up to his eyes to catch an interesting visual, or cock his head to the side and look at things from an angle. He adores kaleidoscopes and spinning toys and flashlights and seems to see them in a way the rest of us can?t. He teaches us to stop, look, and listen to things in ways that may never have occurred to us before.

There are advantages, even, to his silence. Though we?d love for him to learn to talk and are doing everything we can to help him learn to communicate verbally, it is nice to know he?s not going to start yelling obscenities in the mall or call the cops and tell them our house is on fire. He may perseverate on the light switch by turning it on and off a thousand times, but we?re never subjected to endless repetitions of movie quotes, nursery rhymes, or some random snippet of something he heard on TV.

We've come to find that for every challenge we face with Jonah, we're presented an unexpected, precious, and often humorous gift. The gifts are what keep us going ? for, as with everything in life, they balance out the bad and show us our son and situation in an ever-changing, beautiful light.

We're thankful for the advantages of autism!

Amy Wink Krebs is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing. She lives in upstate New York with one husband, one son, one cat, and one fish.

Cure Autism Now with a Silver Charm

                

 

 Purchasing a silver charm is just one of the ways that you can help support autism research. Autism is a brain disorder that affects ones ability to communicate and associate with others normally. Symptoms are usually detected in the first three years of life. Autism affects about 1 out of every 166 people in the United States; however, there is currently very little information about autism. Cure Autism Now (CAN) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to increasing the quantity and quality of autism research in order to find better treatments. If you are searching for a way to help, there are several different ways, including: purchasing one of the organizations silver charm bracelets, participating in a WALK NOW event, becoming a corporate partner, starting your own fundraiser, or making a monetary donation.

Silver charm bracelets are now available through the CAN website to raise more money for autism research. Each silver charm bracelet comes with a silver charm heart. For an extra donation, you may also receive five additional silver charms with different designs (a boy, a girl, a cross, a peace sign, and a Star of David). This silver charm bracelet was designed by actress Rene Russo, an honorary board member of CAN. The charm bracelet is also available in gold along with other accessories that will help benefit CAN with your purchase.

In addition to the silver charm bracelet, one can support CAN by participating in a WALK NOW event. WALK NOW is a 5 K (just over 3 miles) walk to raise money and provide awareness for autism. At each WALK NOW event there is an information center where parents and others can learn more about autism and what the current research has found. There are also arts, crafts and other activities to keep the children entertained. There are several WALK NOW events every year in different locations to give a chance for everyone to participate.

Another way to help CAN is to become a corporate partner. CAN is always looking for corporate sponsorship. Some of CANs current corporate partners include Johnson and Johnson, RBC Mortgage, and MBNA America. If you have a company that would like to become a corporate partner, CAN would truly appreciate any help you can offer.

You can also help out CAN by creating your own fundraising event or campaign. This method takes a great deal of planning and organization, however, it is a way that you can let your imagination run wild. One of the more creative fundraising events for CAN was the Express Your Love Motorcycle Ride in Chicago. However, there are some guidelines and procedures from CAN that must be followed if you want to create your own charity event.

Lastly, if you would like to make a cash donation but are not interested in a silver charm bracelet, there are several other ways to make a monetary donation. You can do it online, by mail, or through United Way. You also have the option to donate appreciated stocks and mutual funds or you can even include CAN in your will. CAN will appreciate any way that you can possibly help them out financially so they can continue to provide quality autism research.

Purchasing a silver charm bracelet, participating in a WALK NOW event, becoming a corporate partner, creating your own fundraising event, making a donation are all ways that you can help support CAN in the goal to find suitable treatments for autism. With this research, there is hope for tens of thousands of people to find decent treatment or possibly even a cure for autism. CAN works to bring hope.

Kaitlin Carruth is a client account specialist with http://www.10xMarketing.com More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For information on other silver charms, please visit http://www.harrismichaeljewelry.com/learning-center/resources/silver-charm.html