Help for Asperger’s Disorder?

Reader’s Question

I wonder if at 28, it’s too little, too late to receive help/treatment? In my case, I have Asperger’s, which caused me to develop severe depression and schizoid personality, along with serious emotional & social skills deficits.

So, I have missed out on all the childhood events, experiences, learning & developmental phases, stages of academic & social maturation as a toddler, as a child and then adolescent into adulthood. What now? Is it realistic to think that some form of psychotherapy like behavioral or otherwise, will actually turn back time and I will turn me into a social butterfly and will undo nearly 30 years of negative experiences, rigidly set ways of doing things with particular patterns, and dysfunction — social, academic, professional and life in general — and missed opportunities and experiences? Is there any chance or hope for me to achieve my fullest potential and become a completely balanced adult, just as if my condition was caught at the earliest stages and I would have received early intervention & appropriate treatment; or is everything revolved around treating the symptoms, doing and coping in the best way possible with a very negative, sad, tragic and frustrating situation?

Right now, I’m just learning about the subject, gathering information and contemplating possibly getting professional help, but I’m just not sure a psychologist or psychiatrist will be able to help me correct the past and change the 1st half of my life, instead of just managing for the present & accepting the unchangeable.

Thanks for your time.

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

It’s not too late for treatment. It is too late to fix those things in the past. On the other hand, millions of adults missed normal and healthy childhoods — also due to no fault of their own. The goal of treatment is often to improve functioning now and learn skills to improve functioning in the future. There are a variety of treatments available for this purpose:

• Medication has several options. We have effective medications to deal with the depression, anxiety, and even compulsiveness often found in Asperger’s Disorder.
• Psychotherapy programs, often cognitively and/or behaviorally based have been effective. Traditional thearpies such as “insight oriented therapy” have not shown effectiveness in Asperger’s.
• The Internet has opened a tremendous amount of support and information resources. There are websites for adults with Asperger’s Disorder for example. These websites often have recommendations and personal experiences that are helpful as you reorganize your life.
• Social skills programs are also available. These tend to be most effective when depressive symptoms are under control.

As with any chronic condition — there are those who function very well with it and those who don’t. With treatment you can, like many others, achieve your highest potential and maximize your talents. I have worked with many adults with Asperger’s Disorder who have been successful by using treatment and finding a good fit both socially and vocationally. You may always have some characteristics that will be of social concern or curosity — but lots of people have those as well. I’ve worked with judges, lawyers, physicians, psychologists, engineers, teachers, etc. who have a diagnosis of Asperger’s. They all make a living, have friends, and lead a full life. At the same time, they are not Boy Scout leaders, politicians, or social butterflies. They have found a position in life that fits who they are…and it works. Your depression may be casting a gloom-and-doom shadow over the future.

I’d recommend starting with a psychologist or psychiatrist. They are knowledgeable about other resources in your community and can hopefully guide you through the treatment process. You’ve got an adventure ahead of you. Don’t be surprised if medications are recommended to deal with the depressive aspects of your situation.