Reddit mentions: The best books about anxiety disorders

1.) Something that is blue.
This Neblua Funko Pop is not only cute, but also BLUE.
Because Mother's Day is around the corner, how about this gorgeous necklace?
Not only that, but are you a fidget kinda preson? Then this is the perfect thing for you!

2.) Something that says summer (literally or figuratively).
Gotta love summer! You know what comes with summer? Sunflowers!
For some reason, pineapples really remind me of summer. I can't really say why. They just, like, SCREAM "summer" to me.
Summer, to me, also means relaxing with a good book. And what better book than the next one in the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin?

3.) Something food related that is unusual.
Not sure if this counts as unusual, but I thought it was quite abnormal...
Also, I can't say I've ever seen a water melon cake-topper, though I'm no expert on cake toppers.
Also, if horror movies and the undead are your kinda thing, how about a side-dish of zombie?


4.) Something you want to gift to someone else, and tell me why.
I really want to gift this beautiful Pop moment to my brother, because he's amazing and deserves all the things.
I also want to gift this soundtrack to my sister because she's always singing, and I know it'd makes her happy.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!
Oh my gosh, you are totally asking the right person. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of the best books that has ever existed. Not only that, but it's a series! Also, my username is taken from the first page of the book, so that must mean that it's good. It's got suspense, kids with powers, and some horror themes. It's just overall a great book. PLEASE check it out!
Another good book series is the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. The final book is coming out this year, so I'm excited!
Why stop there? Another great book is All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. It will break your heart, but in a good way. It's a beautifully written book. I'm not sure what genre you like, but it reminded me of the genre of books like The Fault in Our Stars and Everything, Everything.
Another great series is The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken. Not only is a great series, but there's also a movie coming out in August that's based off the books! Better get reading. ;)

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
These are totally adorable AND affordable! Talk about a deal.
Like writing? This notebook would be the excellent choice for the writer within! Or just someone who likes taking notes.
Have a cat? How 'bout some good ol' catfood?

7.) Something related to dogs. (Bonus point if it works for my GSD)
I don't know what GSD means I'M SORRY! But here is the cutest alligator plushie. Like if I was a dog I would legit want it for myself.
I stumbled across this adorable squirrel set thing and I am internally squeeing at the cuteness.
Okay by now I really want a dog. Somebody send me one pronto. Here's an adorable taco plush, because heck it's cute and funny and I really want a puppy.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so awesome you must have it.
Oh boy, you shouldn't have asked. It's the most expensive thing on my wishlist, and it's beautiful. I know, I know, it's a book, but it's more than that! It's a HUGE book with photographs from my favorite, most-loved movie series! Seriously. Words cannot describe how cool of a book it is. And there's a limited number of them made, and there's only 3 left in stock. But I digress. It's not what one would consider useful, but it sure is awesome.
Wait, what's that? I haven't mentioned Kylo Ren in 2 minutes? Oh boy, better change that. Yes, I love Kylo Ren. I'm aware that is a touchy subject with people. I don't care. I have a shrine in my room for Kylo Ren. This pillow is not what most people would call necessary, though honestly I would probably beg to differ.
Pretty much everyone can agree that Funko Pops aren't necessary, but they are so much fun oh my gosh. Like, for instance, this somewhat expensive yet cool Darth Vader Pop.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?
I love movies. With a passion. But my favorite movies of all time, are The Hunger Games movies. If that wasn't evident by the massive expensive book above, then I don't know what is. But honestly, they're great movies. I know they're not for everyone, but they hold a special place in my heart.
Someone recently gifted me Moulin Rouge, and honestly it is so good. So, I also, of course, recommend that. It has singing, great vocalists, great songs, and a great plot. It also has Ewan McGregor, so what's not to like?
I saw Logan (the final Wolverine movie in theaters, and it is such a beautiful movie. Very sad, but very beautiful. The best Wolverine movie in my opinion. 10/10 would watch/cry again.
Another great futuristic movie is V for Vendetta. It's a well-known movie, and it's very good.
If you're into horror, I love the most recent Carrie movie. I know it's not for everyone, but I really liked it.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.
I mean, I think it's pretty self-explanatory, but this bat would make a great weapon in the apocalypse. Also, if you're into leading an army and "saving" people, this bat will probably get you there. (Ahem I totally didn't just buy this bat for myself cough.)
Not sure if bright green is the way to go in the apocalypse, but I'm sure a bow and arrow set would keep you alive for a little bit. Especially if you happen to be Daryl Dixon (though I guess he technically has a crossbow... I digress).
Don't try and tell me that in the apocalypse you won't get peckish. Everyone knows that snacks will be the first to go. Better stock up on those sweet, sweet snacks.

I haven't been diagnosed yet, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

With that said, I am 99.99% certain I have Asperger's. My wife agrees. The .01% would be taken care of by a diagnosis. Which I'm in the process of getting. I was diagnosed with other things in the past couple years but despite everything else getting better, something was still off. I came across a comment here about Asperger's in an unrelated sub, and when I started reading about it...everything made sense.

As far as I see, one of the main advantages of coming to terms with the fact that you have Asperger's is being able to recognize and eventually overcome a lifetime of negative feelings in response to knowing you're different, and others knowing you're different, but not being able to pin down why just leaves everyone frustrated. I'm not saying that's the case for everyone, some people have led successful and fulfilling lives I'm sure even undiagnosed. It's possible that if I didn't have my other health issues, I'd be better off.

But it's allowed me to forgive myself for a lifetime of self-criticism and guilt. It also allowed me to understand so many things about myself and others. It's given me a roadmap to find a little direction in a confusing world. There are guides and tips on how to navigate a society that is seemingly hostile to people on the spectrum. Strategies on how to better engage people, finding and keeping jobs that work for you, on whether or not to reveal your diagnosis, how to do so, etc.

Also, if you go back to a doctor and get therapy not only will it help with the Asperger's but they may treat some other underlying or comorbid thing like ADHD or anxiety.

I'm not saying you'd be eligible, I don't know enough about you. But depending on what country you're in, there are safety nets. In the US, while the programs are forever at risk, you can apply for disability if you haven't been working for awhile due to your health. You would meet with a disability lawyer and if they determine you may have a case, they help you get everything together including medical records. They'll help you apply as well. Some may ask you to apply the first time by yourself, because the first attempt is usually denied. The appeal is usually when the lawyers come in, and it's usually still denied. Then your lawyer will appeal again and you'll eventuallyyyy get a court date assigned. If you win, you get a certain amount awarded each month. You also get back pay: so if you get a $1000 a month, and you initiated the disability process 10 months before, you would get $10,000 in back pay. Your lawyer would get a percentage of that back pay, about 1/3. These are hypotheticals and ball park numbers, but that's the general idea. Definitely look it up. There are also state programs like temporary disability assistance.

There's also food stamps and Medicaid, etc.

I wouldn't force the job thing if you're not healthy. Really evaluate it. If you get a job, lose it , get another, lost it, not work for awhile... And so on? Especially if it's within a short time. But even if it's not in short time, look it up. That's not sustained employment which is what social security looks at to determine if you're eligible. So you may have a case.

Two things I'd recommend. Read this list (it's supposed to be for girls, but hit home with me):
https://the-art-of-autism.com/females-and-aspergers-a-checklist/

And get this book, and read it:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698

Those are just springboards.

As far as being alone, once you get better or in the midst of it, you can join support groups and go to community events, join Facebook groups, etc. there are meetups and other groups that get together to allow people with Asperger's and Autism to meet with others in a nonthreatening setting.

Also, sorry about your parents. Stay strong !

Wish you the best! And good luck on your journey. If you have any other questions I'll try my best to respond and help.

I'm on mobile btw, so I apologize for spelling/grammar/formatting lol.

I was (an am!) a lot like that. People with ADHD have deficits in executive functioning skills. These are:

1. Analyze a task
   
   
2. Plan how to address the task
   
   
3. Organize the steps needed to carry out the task
   
   
4. Develop timelines for completing the task
   
   
5. Adjust or shift the steps, if needed, to complete the task
   
   
6. Complete the task in a timely way
   
   
   So let's see what happens when someone with executive functioning deficits try to preform a complex task.
   
   
7. Analysis is either skipped altogether (Our brains say, "bbbooooo-ring, amiright?!") or poorly analyzed.
   
8. Can you imagine trying to be successful when you can't make logical, well thought out plans? This mean we might not understand how many actual steps it is going to take to do a task, how long it is going to take, or predict any problems that might come up. Going into a game without a strategy is always a bad idea.
   
   
9. Suppose you could analyze the task and plan what to do. Even if you get that far, now you have to pay attention to details and organize the steps in a logical way. You need to be able to prioritize tasks, think about varying scenarios, and what you need to do to be ready. That's pretty intense.
   
   
10. Timeliness for task is difficult when you do not have a sense of time. Just like people have a sense of balance or weight, most people have a sense of time. Many ADHD people do NOT. They may be horrible at predicting how long a task will take or estimate how long they've spent on a step. We tend to wander and get lost, with no sense of urgency or concern for time.
    
    
11. Adjust the steps?! But, I wasn't prepared for that! My brain is going to explode! It was hard enough analyzing the steps the first time....now I have to start all over!?! (pretty typical automatic reaction from my brain)
    
    How can you help?
    
    

1. Identify your daughter's executive functioning strengths and weaknesses. She may be really good at a couple of those steps, and miserable at others. Utilizing her strengths can increase confidence and compensate partly for the other skills.
   
   
2. Lend her your brain. Her executive functioning skills are not there yet, but she can learn strategies to build them. In the meantime, you will need to support the parts that are hard for her while helping her to be as independent as possible.
   
   If planning is difficult, plan it out and write up a checklist for her to use.
   
   If it hard for her to complete tasks on time, use a visual timer or teach her how to use one in order to track time and understand how long activities should take.
   
   If she has trouble adjusting the task or trying a different way, then help prepare her mentally by talking to her about the possibility that something might be challenging and helping her come up with a strategy on how she will handle it if it does come up.
   
   As she practices these strategies with support and is successful, slowly shift those responsibilities to her to promote independence. You will spend less time being reactive (which makes her feel inadequate) and more time being proactive (which makes her feel empowered).
   
   Another important component is helping her take control over her anxiety. In addition to looking into cognitive-behavioral therapy, I highly recommend the book "Freeing Your Child from Anxiety." It is a CBT book written for parents to understand the biology of anxiety and a variety of strategies to teach coping skills and resilience. There are also a ton of great free worksheets online that help teach similar concepts. (The author also has Freeing Your Child from OCD, if you are interested)
   http://www.therapistaid.com/content/0087.pdf
   
   http://www.therapistaid.com/content/0081.pdf
   
   http://www.therapistaid.com/content/0047.pdf
   
   http://www.therapistaid.com/content/0073.pdf
   
   http://www.therapistaid.com/content/0004.pdf
   
   http://www.therapistaid.com/content/0069.pdf
   
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804139806/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0767914929&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=02V5SHJGEN9RK93YRKD9
   
   And lastly, it might be helpful for you to sit down with her and practice making SMART goals and supporting her in following the plan.
   Specific
   Measureable
   Attainable
   Realistic
   Timely
   
   
   
   
   
   http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Goal-Setting-Form-1225523

This sounds like my son at that age, who was also middle of the spectrum. the developmental pediatrician recommended Floortime for us, which is an approach that was developed by Stanley Greenspan (child psychiatrist) together with Serena Wieder (I think psychologist). Sadly, Dr. Greenspan has passed away. However, I found those books and materials helpful, and we also received some help from trained Floortime therapists in our area.

Here is a youtube video of Dr. Greenspan helping a family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vApghedypFc. That same channel has a whole bunch of videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/greenspanfloortime/videos

Here are some things you can check out in that direction, if you are interested:

1. one of his books ("engaging autism") on amazon, it has a bit of a preview you can look at: https://www.amazon.com/Engaging-Autism-Floortime-Approach-Communicate/dp/0738210943. same book on google books has a preview, not sure if it's the same preview! https://books.google.com/books?id=6MkBAwAAQBAJ&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=%22engaging+autism%22%5D%5D&source=bl&ots=Kifx6vM8fg&sig=odVVaeTq0bBI68Ak3IKNThnE3SM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjh76X-mKjWAhWBOSYKHYOsBDkQ6AEIMjAC#v=onepage&q=%22engaging%20autism%22%5D%5D&f=false
   
   
2. some materials from the florida department of health about implementing the approach: http://www.floridahealth.gov/alternatesites/cms-kids/providers/early_steps/training/documents/floor_time.pdf
   
   
3. a short 2-pager from one of the organizations that implements the approach: https://www.stanleygreenspan.com/swf/The%20DIR%20Floortime%20Model.pdf
   
   In addition, this book here changed my life in terms of altering my outlook and helping me think more positively -- the authors are parents and doctors, and the mom-doctor is a neurologist, in fact -- there are some concrete helps in here -- a lot of the material is better for when your kid is older, maybe, because a lot of it is about helping them at school, but it helped me to shift my focus in a more positive direction, and just gave me a good framework for understanding things: https://www.amazon.com/Mislabeled-Child-Solutions-Childrens-Challenges/dp/1401308996/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1505513398&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mislabled+child
   
   Finally, I recommend this book, which can help you understand the sensory issues: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Recognizing-Processing/dp/0399531653/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1505513523&sr=1-1&keywords=the+out+of+sync+child.
   
   And then get this one: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Has-Revised/dp/0399532714/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7NP2KCQY50ZRWTC9JQA0, which will help you design activities around the sensory issues.
   
   I stopped here because I didn't want to overwhelm you, but let me know if you want more recommendations, more info, or more shared experience. happy to help, just let me know. feel free to pm me also. my kid is now 10.

There are many choices if you are looking for books that deal with drugs very directly. If you are looking information on the social aspect of drugs (i.e., what it is like for a person who doesn't care about the educational aspect of doing drugs to do drugs, including stereotypes of which people do which drugs, what stupid things people on drugs will frequently do, etc.), something like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas would be good.

For a clinical perspective, understanding how drugs affect people physically, books about neurotransmitters and receptors and brain function and the like, A Primer of Drug Action has served me well, though it is a bit dated and is not written with the psychonaut in mind. There is certainly value to learning about non-recreational drugs, as there are a wide variety of things like anti-psychotics or steroids or NSAIDs whose usage isn't 'fun' but nonetheless are interesting from a neurobiological standpoint. For a further understanding of the brain in general, an intro neurobiology textbook might be advised.

I feel like many people have already put forth a good selection of philosophical books on drug use, so I will abstain from providing any more. The Doors of Perception, as already mentioned, is a fantastic place to start. Few other books have filled me with such reverence of psychedelics and the human mind.

Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to point out (warning, .pdf link) Prometheus Rising. It is not a highly drug-centric book, but if you are interested in doing drugs to better understand the self and the human mind, as well as to reach 'enlightenment' (whatever that may be), this book is possibly the most valuable tool for that purpose. I highly recommend that everyone read this, though I must suggest that you not take it so seriously because it is not meant to be read in an overly-academic or fact-oriented light. Much like a zen koan, it is meant to illuminate through 'shocking' the mind into awareness, albeit in occasionally ridiculous or offensive ways.

Same. And if you're anything like me, at 7 years it gets to a scary dangerous point. I'm still struggling but I've been to rehab this past year and now I'm in a better place after an 8 year adderall addiction. First: you need a support system. Family, friends, just someone who will not judge you that you can be totally honest with about your addiction. Sometimes it helps to have a good therapist but I never stuck with one for very long. I've been to NA meetings and they are not for me. I do recommend rehab, if anything to just get 30 days straight clean and clear your head. Set some goals and try to figure yourself out while you're there. Once the drugs were gone for a couple weeks I realized I had no idea who I was. I still have no idea what to do with myself sometimes because I really made myself believe I needed Adderall to get anything done. If you can get a solid couple of weeks clean, I will tell you it does get easier. The first few weeks are the hardest. It's also hard when you relapse. Besides rehab, I also highly recommend this book: I Want to Change My Life: How to Overcome Anxiety, Depression and Addiction https://www.amazon.com/dp/1897572239/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_p4XeAbDJWYGWC. I hate therapy. This book is my therapist. It preaches mindfulness and helps you really understand what's going on when you can't stop taking more pills. If you're hesitant about rehab, you have to make a hard decision. This drug took 7 years of your life from you. Are you going to keep giving into it, or are you going to take your life back? Good luck to you and feel free to PM me if you need support. Adderall is one hell of a drug.

What kind of background do you have with exposure therapy? Are you looking to learn about it in general? Are you curious about how to approach it with a specific person in mind? I ask, since that might help point you in some good direction.

"Traditional" exposure therapy relies heavily addressing negative reinforcement (operant conditioning), with an emphasis on habituation. Having a solid understanding of how negative reinforcement fuels anxiety disorders is a fundamental starting place in this line of work. Since exposure therapy works by attempting to extinguish a fear response through habituation, understanding this process becomes important not only for your own knowledge, but for psycheducation to help your clients/patients understand why you want them to do the things you'll ask them to do (e.g., face their fears).

It's worth noting that the habituation model isn't the only way to approach exposure therapy. Michelle Craske's article on inhibitory learning provides some additional context on enhancing exposure work and offers some useful insights that move beyond the habituation model. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides another school of thought involving exposure work, but as that's outside of my area of expertise I'm hesitant to recommend books there. However, anything by Steven Hayes is bound to be a good way to learn more about ACT


Within the habituation realm, Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders would be a good place to start, as it gives a broad overview of the concepts and begins delving into specifics.

Beyond that, however, my suggestion would be to focus on learning about exposure and response prevention (ERP), particularly for OCD. The concepts here apply to every other anxiety disorder (although certain adjustments need to be made in certain situations, such as patients with BDD or PTSD). OCD is simultaneously simple and complex to treat with ERP. The principles are straightforward (i.e., response prevention aimed towards compulsions, exposure aimed to obsessions and avoidance), but building and designing the appropriate treatment plans takes a solid understanding of both the process of ERP and a patient's individual symptoms. Two great places to start are The "Treatments That Work" book on OCD, which is part of the reading list for the International OCD foundation's Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), as well as Johnathan Grayson's book, Freedom from OCD, which I recommend to all of my patients with OCD.

/edit - spelling

First of all I would strongly suggest giving the Paxil a try - it may help stabilize your emotions. I know going on a new medication can be scary, but they can really help give you a little extra boost to get your life back together. My mom recently bought me this book and I think it looks very useful. I don't have the same symptoms that you do, but I do yoga to relax, I practice deep breathing/meditation, and I am talking to a therapist right now about how to manage symptoms so I can let things go and bring back some normalcy to my life. Talk to someone supportive, and challenge yourself to find coping mechanisms that work for you. Best wishes :) You may also find better advice in r/selfhelp

Interesting. You are the first person my age who has shared this, so thank you!

I did not remember much of my childhood until I started reading Dr. Tony Attwood's book. I recognized some traits and it got me to flash back to certain events. I think my brain suppressed most of my childhood and early teens because they were such negative years for me.

The book: https://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698/ref=pd_sbs_14_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1843106698&pd_rd_r=93f5b6d3-d069-4a74-b84a-32f47ac219f8&pd_rd_w=zoaC2&pd_rd_wg=94MbY&pf_rd_p=5a0f6968-18a5-43ab-a560-10f088b58e7e&pf_rd_r=VWWGB40M0WDQBHHZTGZ0&psc=1&refRID=VWWGB40M0WDQBHHZTGZ0

For some years I have not been interested in making any friends as I loose them all, just like my jobs. When I retired five years ago, I determined to isolate myself. We now live in the country in a small village by a lake and a mountain and it is Aspie Heaven!

My wife and I have told most of her inner circle that I have AS and everyone has been very accepting. Most have known us for over 30 years anyway and they have always accepted me as I am. I have cut myself off from my past and former colleagues and family. I am better off for it. Not having to work and being a pensioner has made a great difference. My mental and physical condition has actually improved since we moved here in May!

This is the closest I have ever come to happiness, and I hope you are happy too!

You might check out the book The Highly Sensitive Child and this website that has a list of resources.

In terms of resources for your daughter, there are lots of great picture books to help kids practice identifying and regulating their emotions. You might check out The Feelings Book, Today I Feel Silly, or My Many Colored Days for some good emotional vocabulary. You can also start talking about the different ways we can handle big feelings - you want to emphasize that all feelings are okay, what matters is how we act on them. Little Monkey Calms Down is a very simple board book you could start with. If she's a fan of Daniel Tiger, I'm sure you know there are some great songs on the show that teach how to handle different emotions, and there are some companion books such as How is Daniel Feeling. You might also check out the "When I Feel..." series (When I Feel Sad, When I Feel Worried, etc). For anger, try Anh's Anger and its sequel Steps and Stones, or When Miles Got Mad. Each of these introduces different coping skills she can practice to handle her own feelings - when she starts to get angry, for example, you can ask if she wants to try breathing like Anh or talk about why she's angry like Miles.

Another good story, aimed at slightly older kids, is Moody Cow Meditates - which features the brilliant "mind jar", also called a calm-down jar or feelings jar. See these instructions (and some cool variations) for making your own (definitely recommend using a plastic bottle rather than glass jar!). The idea is you shake up the jar/bottle to get all those big feelings out, and then sit quietly watching until all the glitter settles. I also recently discovered a cool coloring book that teaches different emotion regulation strategies, loosely based on some guided meditations for kids. Hopefully something in there is helpful!

It sounds like you feel completely trapped and helpless, which is definitely a huge component of depression. I've been there, and it sucks. It feels like it's impossible to do anything to make your situation better because you don't have the energy or motivation, right?

Honestly the best thing you can do is get treatment for your depression - that's the major thing blocking you from making any changes right now. Are you seeking any treatment already? I don't know your situation or your parents, but the best solution would be to go to your doctor, start experimenting with meds to see if they help, and find a therapist to talk to. Failing that, use online therapy, or buy a CBT workbook, or even get one from the library. There's even a few great websites for CBT like https://moodgym.com.au.

Something clearly needs to change, and I really believe your depression is at the crux of all these issues. It's almost impossible to make other changes until your mental health improves. Good luck, and stay safe on your trip!

Hello! I'm a library clerk and live with my SO in an apartment in Austin where we wish we had a dog. I usually play video games, read or listen to music. My favorite game lately is Stardew Valley because it's so soothing and the gameplay pacing is basically up to you. It's got a great community/conservation feel to it! If you're looking for music recommendations, my favorite artist is Robert Francis. He's an amazing musician, and his voice can improve any bad mood I'm in! I especially love his songs Violet and Some Things Never Change, though I've never found a song of his I don't like! As for book recommendations, I recently read Turtles All the Way Down and I really enjoyed it! It was an excellent portrayal of how mental disorders are experienced first-hand.

Well done on getting your diagnosis, I hope it's at least some weight off your mind to know that some of your 'odd' perceptions/experiences are 'only to be expected' (if you see what I mean). I felt relieved when I got my AS diagnosis at 29 since I too was really struggling with anxiety/depression, and I found out how 'normal' it was for undiagnosed Aspies to feel the same.

1. With your first question I can only say "Stay relaxed. There is a 'right person' for you out there somewhere." I was in an on-again off again relationship for six years, and I found that one by getting chatting to a girl in a pub one day. If you're on dating sites and/or go to pubs/bars/coffee shops, then you're half of the way there already. It's a huge cliché but you can cut out a lot of pain/effort/anxiety by not pretending to be someone else in order to get a GF. "Be yourself", and talk to people you like. Oh, and if you're worried about people taking certain things the wrong way, try your best to communicate with them as much as possible. Explain that 'I really like you, and don't want you to feel [X, Y, or Z], so please can you let me know if you ever feel worried about this.'
   
   
2. (I posted this the other day):
   I'm happy I got an Aspergers diagnosis because (amongst other things) I was able to identify causal links between particular situations and personal responses/outcomes that had not occurred to me previously (e.g. - social events make me really tired really quickly, and interpersonal communication problems were causing me to drink more than I should).
   It also (crucially) gave me a 'solid reason' why I want to be on my own a lot of the time. This stuff was making me feel really guilty, because I was concerned that others would think I hated them. I was beating myself up, depressed and anxious. Since I got the diagnosis I can say "I'm sorry, I just need to take some time out here", or "I'm sorry, I'm going to take a rain check on that, but I'll message you later".
   TL;DR: It makes me feel less guilty to know there is a structural difference in my brain that makes me think/feel/need certain things.
   I would recommend starting out by reading Steve Silbermann's book 'Neurotribes'. If you're female, there are books like 'Aspergirls' by Rudy Simone which may be of particular interest. I'm a big fan of Prof Tony Attwood; he's got a huge book out called 'The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome', which is a great reference guide. I'd also recommend checking out some of his talks on YouTube, especially 'Could it be Aspergers?'.
   
   
   
3. Other than using online forums, I'd recommend having a look for local meets/support groups in your area. I can't be sure about the U.S./rest of the World, but here in the UK there are council initiatives/free workshops/discount services run in most places for people on the spectrum. Either pop into your local Citizen's Advice Bureau or check online on your council's website.
   
   If you want me to expand on any of this info, please let me know and I'll see what I can do. Good luck with everything; it sounds like we're in a very similar situation :)
   
   EDIT: I wrote some general stuff about coping with anxiety in this thread over on r/anxiety.
   
   
   

My psych residents find Stahl's Prescriber Guide to be very helpful for clinical decision making. I believe the latest edition is the 5th.

Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry is good for general psych knowledge. Latest edition is 11th I believe.

Don't forget to have a copy of the DSM 5! At least for billing/coding purposes. Despite its limitations, it is the system that all insurances, etc use.

Also a shout out to Daniel Carlat's website, newletter and CME products. I find them helpful, and devoid of any Pharma advertising.

These are good sources for the psychopharm side of practice. If you are interested in doing psychotherapy, there are some good sources out there as well.

Hope this helps. And thanks for entering our field. We desperately need more good people, and the work though tough is very rewarding.

This is a terribly tough spot. The ethical thing to do is to emphasize that dyslexia and dysgraphia are seriously impacting his ability to do grade level work, and that your hourly fee may be better utilized by placing him with a tutor who is experienced in helping dyslexic students, and can deliver an Orton-Gillingham based program with the utmost fidelity. However, what also needs to be considered, is that it takes about 2-3 years to progress through a program like that, and while he is concentrated in a program to become the best reader his disability will allow, his high school years are still going to be happening, and expecting more and more out of him; this seems to be much of a "too little, too late" predicament.

Generally, appropriate instruction is first thing to address, while employing ideal accommodations and modifications. But I can't help but think that A&M should maybe be at the forefront in this scenario because he has so little time left?

If these parents have $$$, and private schooling could be a consideration, that would add another layer to this issue. Would private schooling, specializing in dyslexia, be his best/better option?

So many factors and variables to consider. Tough spot for sure. You've compiled a pretty great list of resources, and I admire your tenacity to learn about dyslexia. You may want to add Ben Foss's "Dyslexia Empowerment Plan" to the list (he also has a website).

maybe you should try meditating? it takes some time getting used to but it should help you clear your mind. there are lots of apps for smartphones with guided mediations that are free.

another thing i can recommend is trying to do some at home CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) - there are loads of books online like this one and websites that can teach you basic ways to change your thought patterns as long as you're committed to it. ideally though, i think therapy would be a good idea, but i understand most students can't afford it :(

I'm doing this on a throwaway account, but I just wanted to say I also have aspergers and it doesn't mean you can't be a productive member of society. I've graduated college, am certified to teach high school social studies, and worked as a substitute teacher for a semester before entering grad school. Other jobs I've had included temporary park ranger (summer position), target (doing carts, my first job), and data entry. I've never really been outgoing or had many friends, and had some problems in school, but this hasn't stopped me. There's no need to live a life of hell just because of aspergers syndrome. To the op: I'd suggest 2 things. 1 finding an online community, smaller than reddit related to your interests (don't tell people you have aspergers there) to post and interact with. 2, if you aren't already getting meaningful exercise in some way - start going to the gym - its amazing what increased fitness can do for self confidence.



Here's a couple books that might help, or let those interested learn more:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302796022&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Pretending-Be-Normal-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1853027499/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1302796022&sr=8-12

best of luck

I'm a woman, and I find that a lot of those traits are based off research on males (which was indeed the basis of Hans Asperger's work). I recommend you take a peak at the first chapter in this book book (free preview, yay!) and this blog if you're wondering if you might be on the spectrum. Girls tend to have different traits because of being socialized differently. I know of a great scientific article (with loads of solid references) about this in my native language, I'll PM you in case we share the same language. EDIT: Here's a google translated and shorter article based on the scientific article.

Otherwise, this is a list of common traits in girls. However, I don't think it's very scientfic. All of it applies to me, though (recently diagnosed adult). Maybe you find that you can indeed relate, and maybe this could be of some help to you in some way, or maybe only you will find it interesting. In any case, I hope you get something positive out of my tips. :)

The second best thing to therapy is self-therapy workbooks. CBT and DBT are both used for a variety of issues with a great deal of success. These workbooks are cheap, they're easy to follow, they are surprisingly very effective, and you have nothing to lose. You can take all the time you need by dedicating a little time each day to read and do the activities in the books.

FYI: DBT in particular has been noted for being more successful than traditional therapy in at least one study for suicidal tendencies.

It's funny that you're worried about losing your friends when you admit you're actually smoking alone 10x a day...take time for that to set in. You'll find new friends! Your current friends are only your friends because you choose to only associate with stoners. If you're just worried about losing friends and not taking care of yourself, you're going to keep feeling (more) shitty and encounter bigger life issues as you get older. Lots of my real friends started families and had children, while I just laughed and said "why have a kid when you can have a boat!" The "friends" I associated through weed are NOT moving forward, stuck in their ways, and I now find myself sorta laughing at them for their stupid/non-coherent stoner talk. I used to smoke just as much, if not more, and 90% of the time by myself. You likely have some anxiety/depression issues you should address with a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapist (MBCT). You should also explore meditation and find the true, inner you...he is waiting to come out if you're willing to allow him :) Here's a book you should check out! https://www.amazon.com/Want-Change-Life-Depression-Addiction/dp/1897572239

This is a copy paste of an email I've sent a couple of friends. My child has dyslexia and I found these resources useful. The Amazon links are not affiliate links or anything, just links to the books. The first two books were especially intersting and useful, and will apply even as an adult!

Dyslexic Advantage - by Brock and Fernette Eide


Overcoming Dyslexia - by Sally Shaywitz - the first part of the book is the most interesting - it's the science of dyslexia - the second is strategies for teaching/learning


Some other books:
I read them all - at least mostly - but I can't separate the info in my memory to remember which was best at what

• http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Kids-Who-Cant-Keep/dp/1609184726
  
• http://www.amazon.com/The-Dyslexia-Empowerment-Plan-Confidence/dp/0345541235
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Smart-but-Scattered-Revolutionary-Executive/dp/1593854455
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Right-Brained-Children-Left-Brained-World-Unlocking/dp/0684847930
  
  Some good websites:
  
  
• http://dyslexia.yale.edu/
  
• http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10435.aspx
  
• http://www.dyslexia.com/library/symptoms.htm
  
• https://www.understood.org/en
  
• https://www.understood.org/en/tools/tech-finder
  
• http://www.dyslexiaresourcegroup.com/
  
• http://dyslexia.yale.edu/EDU_signs.html < the yale site is good in general
  

I haven't read it, but Tony Attwood recommends Lynn Holiday's "Safety Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good Female Life" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1849058369/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AEX6Cb14JN4HC) and it seems relevant to your concerns.

It makes sense. I think you had good intentions: staying busy and working hard. It's just there's a balance. And while a good distraction here and there might be nice, you don't want to avoid the proper dialogues you need to have with yourself.

I'm a big fan of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Instead of tracing things back to the source, it focuses on what to do in the moment when triggers flare. I like the book Retrain Your Brain because it goes through the CBT stuff in an easy to read and digest manner. Not too theoretical. Each chapter had me nodding with how it made sense. See if your library has a copy.

If you're a more auditory learner, try listening to one of Noah Elkrief's videos. I'll link this one How to Forgive Yourself.

I'm usually wary of any life coachy type of talk, and Noah doesn't seem to have and therapist credentials. That said, if you listen to a few of his videos, he seems to ask the right questions. And you'll notice he repeats certain themes a lot... Because those are the questions you need to ask yourself.

Good luck!

Wow, awesome! If I get chosen I'd love this pet feeder for my kitty, or this shirt which is super cute, or this CBT therapy workbook. I can add more if you want lol, but hopefully you like one of those things!

I'm still pretty young, 27, but I've had social anxiety since as long as I can remember and I can say it has decreased significantly over time.

I don't attribute that to age though. I started educating myself about it in my late high school years and really started taking action on it college. Honestly, based on my understanding on anxiety, it probably won't go away if your constantly reinforcing it through your actions, such as avoiding social interactions to not have to experience the distress that comes with it. Not to mention, social ability comes with practice, children learn to socialize by doing it, so while it may seem awkward at first trying to jump back into it, it does get better with time if you persist.

If you haven't done so already, I'd highly recommend seeking therapy, specifically something like cognitive behavioral therapy, or at the very least something that includes an element of exposure. If something like that is cost prohibitive, I can suggest the book I followed when I went to therapy:

Managing Social Anxiety: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach (Treatments That Work) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195336690/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jqXVzbGGY7KGB

If you can go to therapy though, I'd still recommend that just because I feel like having someone there to hold you accountable really helps.

I am finding it very challenging. Even thinking about times that I've felt anxious can make me feel anxious, and this method pretty much requires you to look at anxiety and dissect it. There's also substantial 'homework' in the form of one or two page worksheets where you try to identify the individual thoughts, feelings, behaviors, physiological symptoms (heart racing, tingling in extremities, tightness in the chest, and such).

I found a therapist that had some pretty impressive credentials on the internets, met with her and chose her out of the other ones I was checking out. Her assessment was to work on the social anxiety first since it is looking like my largest issue and to see what's left - she claims that often other problems like depression go away when you can handle your social anxiety. I agree with her, and am so far still impressed.

She started me almost immediately on a workbook she's used before titled Managing Social Anxiety. There are a couple of other social anxiety workbooks I've seen, but I'm focusing on this one first. And maybe last! I'm sure it's possible for someone to go through these sorts of workbooks alone, though I find the therapist really helps keep me honest - as in presenting to me things that I hadn't even realized I was avoiding.

The general idea for CBT (as far as I can tell, I'm no expert) is that you learn how to catch these thoughts and feelings and try to cast them in a more objective light to see if your reaction is reasonable. CBT can be effective for many other disorders, too.

I am hoping it will help.

I don’t know your severity but I could recommend some workbooks to help, here’s one that has pretty good reviews online.

I always like to tell people that a therapist could be anyone/anything, not to downplay all of their hard work and dedication but in the very simplest form all they really did was study books that are available to you as well - you have the same capabilities to help yourself but it will take some time and work

Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks: A Workbook for Managing Depression and Anxiety

If you're looking for a book to read, I would suggest this. I'm not sure whether or not it goes into the baby/toddler stages, but it's a really good wealth of information, and some of it may help you even if she's not diagnosed with Autism.

Honestly, the regression, and the inability to focus on sounds like Autism. For some of us, making eye contact is extremely overwhelming. Also, there can be a 2-3 second gap between when we hear something and when we "understand" or "translate" it (this is hard to describe, think of it like the message getting delayed between the ears/eyes/whatever to the brain because it has to be translated to what we can understand) which makes focusing when lots of people are talking difficult, which is why she might not be following. Regression is also a coping tactic that some people have, I myself included.

How does she react to sound? I don't mean a single loud sound, but like a constant, large amount of sound, like a crowd in a supermarket? It's quite easy to focus on the television, even for a toddler, but Autism makes it hard to block out things we don't want to hear which may result in meltdowns and shutdowns.

Meltdowns appear like temper tantrums, or covering the ears, crying, ect. while Shutdowns are when the person in question does unresponsive and non-verbal.

Another thing for you to look at would be her response to foods that have certain different type of textures. For me, having something slimy like sushi in my mouth makes me want to spit it out immediately.

Long post. ಠ_ರೃ I got too into it, sorry.

Check Amazon. They have quite a few titles. I'd definitely start witht this one:

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

Here are some others that I've read at least partway through. All have been useful to me in some measure.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult Asperger's Syndrome (Very academic look at ASD. I think it's actually a textbook based on the price. Includes lots of citations to published papers and some insight into what you should expect if you seek professional therapy)

I Think I Might Be Autistic (good starting point for the diagnosis process)

Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate (Just an autobiographical account of the author's experience with ASD, but still helpful to read IMO)

The Journal of Best Practices (for ASD/NT relationships)

Here are a couple more that I haven't read, but are on my "to-read" list, and seem to fit within the bounds of what you're looking for:

Look Me In the Eye

Be Different

Ask your mom to become educated about autism:

I bought everyone in my family a copy of this book, and when I told them I had autism, I told them the best thing they could do for me was to read this:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843104954

I am not claiming that this is the perfect book, but it is thorough, and learning about and understanding your loved one is often the best thing you can do for them.

Thank you ☺️

And absolutely! I bought this book:
Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623157803?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I actually think I found it through someone else on this sub. It breaks down CBT in a way that allows you to “be your own therapist.” It guides you through 7 weeks the same way a therapist would: how does anxiety/depression affect X area of your life, what are your values, what are your goals for the next 7 weeks across all areas of life, track your activities/their importance/your enjoyment level, etc.

I’m only on week 2, but already I can see a difference in how I react to my anxious thoughts. At first I didn’t think the book would be right for me. A lot of the examples given are simplistic, more geared toward people with specific phobias, not GAD/panic disorder, etc. but once I got deeper into it I realized that it’s actually a great place to be honest with yourself and confront your anxiety in a non-intimidating way.

I would definitely recommend it!

OK. Well thanks for replying. Maybe posting here will help you out. That's certainly why I'm reading through this board. Also, I've just started to unravel myself with this book: The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

I've only just started it, but fingers crossed. I hope you find something to help.

I used to believe I had Aspergers until I read this book It's an excellent guide, and after I truly understood exactly what Asperger's is, what the diagnostic process entails, and such, I think it's clear that I don't have it, which was useful information to have as well.

Can you cite a scientific test that psychoanalysis is better than any other "sit down and talk" approach? I think Freud was a genius, so are many other people with bad theories, but he served a useful cultural function of shaking things up. However, I'm pretty sure that almost all of his ideas about psychology and mental illness are at best pseudoscience.

For a compelling critique from a philosophy of science perspective, see http://www.amazon.com/The-Foundations-Psychoanalysis-Philosophical-Pittsburgh/dp/0520050177

There's Turtles All the Way Down which is brilliant, about a girl with OCD, not exactly what you're looking for, but it's such a good book.

Are you looking for a memoir/non-fiction type book? If so, There's An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

Edit: Didn't see that another commenter had already mentioned it. So you know it must be good!

Kinda sounds like me as an Asian dude but only because I got burned by my Chinatown community, if not for my Borderline Personality Mother/Narcissistic Personality Father (like many TRP fellas complaining about haven fallen victim with the Achilles’ Heel for “Cluster-B” Personality Disorders girls...therefore becoming all-encompassing misogynistic) doing the BPD/NPD ‘V-Spot’ Winnocott True/False Self dance—sandwiching me with their enmeshed-role-reversal-parentification as an only child where I became psychotic.

If only my parents could read The Search for The True Self by James F. Masterson—a simple layman entry that triumphs any ‘5 Love Language in Loving Each Other’ type of garbage psuedo-self-help/pop-psychology/self-development books by X English con artist that are reappropriated by PUAs. Probably would help many other cucks from not having to read and follow empty platitudes and conjured artificial phoniness of PUA instruction and utilizing false cognitive-behavioral “tips and tricks” from said books too.

I’d make /r/asianparentstories proud..but I got over most of it with non-CBT insight-oriented psychoanalytic psychotherapy and intense introspection with now discontinued adjunctive psychiatric medication (Ablify, Depakote, plus Cogentin for auxiliary anti-Parkinsonism).

I have no problems with most of my ethnic identity just that sometimes insecure Asian bros try to sabotage, undermine, cockblock me and everyone patronizes thinking I’m a legit autist retard because I dropped out of school...and as I’ve lamented to my counselor the other day on the topic of romance, I probably didn’t have much emotional availability or attraction to Asian chicks because of this, if at all. But I think I’m beginning to find light at the end of the tunnel? Unfortunately there are more Whites here than Asian Mecca’s elsewhere though with a larger degree of separation..

http://www.apadivisions.org/division-39/publications/reviews/narcissistic.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Borderline-Couple-Approaches-Marital/dp/0415934710

edit: “...why couples stay in painful, conflictual, never-ending relationships (traumatic bonding). The new chapters, case illustrations, and updated treatment sequences are invaluable to both beginning and experienced clinicians. The Narcissistic / Borderline Couple is an essential text for every marital therapist, offering an improved understanding of marital pathology within the framework of our changing world.”

‘Traumatic bonding’ awefully sounds like our inter-Asian community relations interwoven with introspective identity politics to scapegoat our inner childhood torments of an overbearing mother and pain of an emotionally unavailable scolding father, while we all confide pseudo-anonymous to soul-search aka find ways to amend our collective Erik Erickson arrested identities development issues, if not for the Mahler ‘seperation-individuation’ or Bowlby insecure disorganized attachments for truly healthy intimate bond and healthy relationships.

I’m intellectual New England by greater upbringing to which I find a lot of phoniness in trying to vilify and find a savior in a celebrity-god-worship through a Hollywood hero complex that y’all West Coast types seem to do. Joseph Campbell...Jungian archetypal psychology stuff for me here

I don't know the kid so I can't say what's going through his head, but as an autistic adult I can tell you what these behaviours would mean if it were me in his position:

>So we just sit in the same room, not saying anything.

That's normal. You might think it's natural to have a connection and make conversation if you're sitting in the same room with someone, but that's not how he would see it. He's not ignoring you, dismissing you or afraid to talk to you; he's just doing his own thing, and you might as well be on the moon, for all he cares. Again, this isn't meant in a negative way. He's just hanging out, paying attention to his own whatever.

>When he does talk, his speech is terrible, to the point I can barely understand him and when I ask him to repeat himself, he gets super quiet so I can barely hear him.

He probably has trouble with speech. I can't modulate my tone of voice; it's always too soft or too loud and I tend to sound hurt or angry when I'm not. I had a speech delay and was severely hyperlexic as a baby/toddler, and although I can be eloquent in text, I don't speak very well. It's like being the opposite of someone who sounds intelligent when you talk to them, but as soon as they put pen to paper you realize they're virtually illiterate. I just don't speak well. Maybe he has the same problem.

>He sneaks around the house, trying to not make a noise.

Many of us are sensitive to sensory input. Maybe he just doesn't like noise. On the other hand, maybe he's used to having to sneak around so as not to attract his mother's attention. I wouldn't blame him for that.

> He doesn't do anything on his own, with out first being told. So if I tell him to get off the computer, he does, but then he'll sit there waiting for the next command.

Ouch. Please try REALLY hard not to be too hard on him for that one. Just go ahead and give him the next command. I'm a 32-year-old married woman with a child of my own, and I'm STILL like that. It's called executive dysfunction. I'm not trying to be difficult or lazy; it's just that the next move honestly doesn't occur to me. Cleaning the kitchen is a Herculean task for me, and we're buying a Roomba next week. :-/


All in all, it sounds like the kid could benefit from some therapy. If you can't afford that, then look into ways you can help him yourself. Start with learning about executive dysfunction and handling children who've been abused. Also, consider this book. It's not perfect but it's easy to read and might be a good introduction for you.

I'm impressed you've stuck with it as long as you have! I also have social anxiety, and I sure as hell would not be making myself leave the house and go to a group where everyone made fun of me for my ADHD tendencies.

If you feel up to working on this on your own, I would recommend getting a CBT workbook for anxiety. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Managing-Social-Anxiety-Workbook-Cognitive-Behavioral/dp/0195336690

My own treatment plan right now is an SSRI for three months. My psychiatrist explained that it will take the edge off my anxiety, making it easier for me to learn new, healthier habits. Frequently, the new habits and greater confidence continues after the medication is discontinued.

I think all groups are sort of existential in nature. Common themes include anxiety about existence, identity and meaning. Our groups (ultra long term patients) often bring in psychoanalytical themes but we might just as easily try to get some cognitive flexibility in a thought process.

I think the value of groups is multifold:

Shared experiences with peers.
Multiple therapy modalities for the facilitator(s).
Social skills building.
Relationship building.
Less pressure on the participants etc.

I think a classic textbook on this is Yalom’s group psychotherapy:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-Practice-Group-Psychotherapy-Fifth/dp/0465092845

I see, in reading the comments, that you aren't very motivated to seek counseling, which is fine. Frankly, it isn't for everybody.

I'm a strong proponent of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, due to the fact that it has completely turned my life around. This is something you can do WITHOUT professional help. There are many really awesome, step-by-step workbooks out there to walk yourself through CBT at your own pace. This one was the one I used primarily, and I think it's awesome. There are plenty out there, though, and I encourage finding what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all thing for this kind of problem.

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood they have a kindle version! I have loved his lectures/videos and has a LOT to say about how it's different with girls. Book seems more like a study/university class material, but good info!

Hence why it's one of my favorite videos. His book, The Complete Guide to Aspergers, is fantastic as well.

Texts and Reference Books

Days in the Lives of Social Workers

DSM-5

Child Development, Third Edition: A Practitioner's Guide

Racial and Ethnic Groups

Social Work Documentation: A Guide to Strengthening Your Case Recording

Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond

[Thoughts and Feelings: Taking Control of Your Moods and Your Life]
(https://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Feelings-Harbinger-Self-Help-Workbook/dp/1608822087/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3ZW7PRW5TK2PB0MDR9R3)

Interpersonal Process in Therapy: An Integrative Model

[The Clinical Assessment Workbook: Balancing Strengths and Differential Diagnosis]
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0534578438/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_38?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ARCO1HGQTQFT8)

Helping Abused and Traumatized Children

Essential Research Methods for Social Work

Navigating Human Service Organizations

Privilege: A Reader

Play Therapy with Children in Crisis

The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives

The School Counseling and School Social Work Treatment Planner

Streets of Hope : The Fall and Rise of an Urban Neighborhood

Deviant Behavior

Social Work with Older Adults

The Aging Networks: A Guide to Programs and Services

[Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society: Bridging Research and Practice]
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415884810/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy

Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change

Ethnicity and Family Therapy

Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Perspectives on Development and the Life Course

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Generalist Social Work Practice: An Empowering Approach

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents

DBT Skills Manual

DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets

Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need

Novels

[A People’s History of the United States]
(https://www.amazon.com/Peoples-History-United-States/dp/0062397346/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1511070674&sr=1-1&keywords=howard+zinn&dpID=51pps1C9%252BGL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch)


The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Life For Me Ain't Been No Crystal Stair

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Tuesdays with Morrie

The Death Class <- This one is based off of a course I took at my undergrad university

The Quiet Room

Girl, Interrupted

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Flowers for Algernon

Of Mice and Men

A Child Called It

Go Ask Alice

Under the Udala Trees

Prozac Nation

It's Kind of a Funny Story

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Yellow Wallpaper

The Bell Jar

The Outsiders

To Kill a Mockingbird

I've read his book. It was interesting. I will check out the video, thanks for sharing.

I was, at one point, the most negative human on planet earth, and quite proud of it.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) transformed my wife and I from extremely negative people to positive, grateful people.

The CBT for Dummies Workbook is a must-read.

It is a goal-oriented, short-term therapy that is supported by tons of scientific research.

It's simple, logical, and it just works.

Mindfulness Meditation is one aspect of CBT, but it is not sufficient by itself.

I wrote this, which might also help you as well.

I found a couple of books on this subject that I thought were useful for thinking about childhood anxiety (one of my girls is anxiety-prone). I wonder if one of these might give you enough background to assess whether what your daughter's therapist is doing is likely to help and if there's anything you could change about your own behavior that might help:

Growing Up Brave

Freeing Your Child From Anxiety

A Primer of Drug Action by Robert Julien (http://www.amazon.com/Primer-Drug-Action-Non-Technical-Psychoactive/dp/080507158X)

Awesome book. He goes through drug class by drug class, explains effects on the body, drug-drug interactions, and even has a chapter on natural medicines. Very thorough!

As a diagnosed aspie with 43 AQ points, I agree. You seem to have the traits(you do not have to have them all) and high functioning too. If you want more reading into it, I am currently reading http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843104954, mostly for fun. It tells how I could have been diagnosed during my childhood but nobody cared.

Whispers: The Voices of Paranoia - not so much about schizophrenia directly, but a great read.

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome is the best I've found, though it's geared more towards the parents of an Asperger's child. It's also the only resource I've seen that explains Asperger's in females and there are considerable differences between the characteristics in females and males. Relevant to me because my mate is also Asperger's.

You can also use Wikipedia's ability to view earlier versions. Look back about 8 years.

Hi!

When you say do you have a good read on anxiety symptoms? Do you mean do I have any good books to recommend on anxiety symptoms that are available worldwide?

A good resource would be the self-study, online course [Master Your Public Speaking Fear] (https://speakmeister.com/edu/product/master-your-public-speaking-fear/). I'm the author of this course, and it explains the symptoms in detail with video animations so you can see exactly how fear works and how to control it. You can take it at anytime from anywhere (it works like a Netflix movie where you can watch it immediately). I don't know of another resource that really explains the symptoms. That's why I created the course - I couldn't find much that gave a good explanation with animations. I'm happy to chat with anyone who takes the course for free (by chat, email or phone) to answer any questions and help you apply the material to your situation.

These books don't really go into the symptoms in detail, but they can be very helpful:

▪︎ [Books by Claire Weeks] (http://www.amazon.com/Claire-Weekes/e/B001HOT92I/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1)

▪︎ [Your phobia: Understanding your fears through contextual therapy] (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Phobia-Harry-Zane-Manuel/dp/0446346039/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469118949&sr=1-2&keywords=manuel+zane+phobia)

▪︎ [Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias] (https://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Over-Fear-Anxiety-Attacks/dp/0553374443/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469119054&sr=1-5&keywords=manuel+zane+phobia)

▪︎ [Managing Social Anxiety: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach] (https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Social-Anxiety-Cognitive-Behavioral-Treatments/dp/0195336690/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51%2B71pysxCL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR244%2C320_&psc=1&refRID=R91TS49Z6SX7TQYRDKRT)

Note: In the next week, I'll be publishing an ebook on Amazon that will contain much of the same material as the course with links to the video animations. When it's ready, I'll post the link here. If you want me to notify you, PM me here with your email or fill out the "Keep Me Informed" form on the bottom of the page at https://speakmeister.com/edu.

Get this book, please, it will be very helpful to understand them better.

Tony Attwood. The complete guide to Aspergers syndrome.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698

OK, this might scare him; and seems to be true:

Autism and aspergers seems to be cured / treatable with stem cell therapy.

Stem cells can be naturally obtained by getting pregnant (stem cells migrate from the baby to the Mother)
If your daughter is not otherwise treated, she might get better when she gets pregnant.

This literature does not support the above, but contains a review of many other treatments

including this handy one-page summary,

and another redditor recently recommended this

How are you a professional psychologist, without any resources or training in the field you're going to be working in?

Autism is a very broad spectrum, I don't see how you can advice others in a professional setting, just by reading a layman's book or two.

That said, my understanding is that this is the single best book on Asperger's:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698

it also alluded to in Whispers: The Voices of Paranoia by Ronald K. Siegel. A very interesting book in and of itself (FYI his book titled Fire in the Brain is fascinating as well).

I Want to Change My Life

Author did a study of many, many forms of meditation from the world over and broke it down to the common elements.

His example that I heard was "If one form tells you to put your left hand over your right, and another tells you to put your right hand over your left, then obviously it doesn't matter which you do, so I left it out."

He breaks it down to, if I recall, 5 simple things, and this is how I learned to meditate and have for the last 4 years.

When looking for valid information about asperger syndrome on the internet lookout for 2014-to this day, or DSM-5 related. Otherwise you might end up reading not up to date stuff that has no more scientifical value. Autism changed dramatically in tbe last few years.

Tony Attwood is an up-to-date psychologist. You can't go wrong with him. He is the Asperger's whisperer of our era. You should definitely get his book:
The complete guide to Asperger syndrome

There are some books on amazon about CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). It is about your thoughts which produce an emotion regarding a situation.

Soyou have to "reframe" your thinking in a way to free yourself from those intrusive thoughts.

The good part is that it not only works for one specific mind frame or set of thoughts, you can use it to cope with jealousy issues, anxiety,insecurity, phobias, etc.

You should give it a shot ;)

https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Brain-Behavioral-Depression/dp/1623157803/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1485722758&sr=8-5&keywords=cbt

ASD here as well. However, I'm not going to directly answer your question, rather look at your example. First, comparing between yourself and your brother is more likely to get false results than some non-related person. Second, and more importantly, the brain processes different information differently. For instance tools are processed as their function. If I say HAMMER, you would most likely picture it hammering a nail (or respond with TIME). This isn't true of non-tool objects/concepts.

I read The Complete Guide to Asperger's (Tony Atwood), but it was years ago I don't recall how he described it. But, I really don't care either. Any "difference" you can point to is going to a difference of magnitude. I'm me, and that's enough. If it isn't, oh fucking well. Deal.

(But it's a good question that - assuming it hasn't been answered - needs an answer, particularly to develop educational strategies.)

Maybe have her read The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood, or read it yourself so can explain your situation more effectively to her.

So long as you aren't suicidal, nothing wrong with self-education. The professional community is lacking in ASD as a whole.

Being forced to NT standards, and then burning out because of it sounds common.

Here are some resources that I know of... I was just diagnosed, and some of these were recommended by the psychologist who made the diagnosis. I am a man, but I have mostly female stereotyped manifestation/traits of ASD.

Pretending to Be Normal: Living With Asperger's Syndrome by Liane Holliday Willey

https://www.amazon.com/Pretending-Normal-Aspergers-Syndrome-Spectrum/dp/1849057559/

The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698/

And for free you can check out Cynthia Kim's Blog:

https://musingsofanaspie.com/about/

She has a book too:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1849057575/

Synopsis Of Psychiatry by Sadock, Sadock and Ruiz

https://www.amazon.com/Kaplan-Sadocks-Synopsis-Psychiatry-Behavioral/dp/1609139712/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537285344&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=synopsis+of+psychiatry+11th+ed&dpPl=1&dpID=51Zh0rYBDaL&ref=plSrch

Pocket DSM - V

https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Guide-DSM-5-Diagnostic-Exam/dp/1585624667/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537285418&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=pocket+dsm+v&dpPl=1&dpID=41n2aRvk4KL&ref=plSrch#

This is quite a lot, I promise.

This is probably the best book I've read on AS. Reading through this, it all made sense. Try to get a copy, it will be helpful.

This is absolutely the right thing to do for unwanted intrusive thoughts. Exposing yourself to the thoughts will help to make them lose power over you. Also, when these thoughts are in your head deliberately (during exposure), it's a lot more difficult to perform mental compulsions or rituals that you'd otherwise use to try and get rid of the thought, this is exposure and response prevention for your thoughts with a little different rationale. The rationale sounds a little like ACT like others have said, which is related to CBT. Exposure and response prevention and ACT are pretty compatible, but I don't want to bore you with all of that.

Source: clinical psych grad student, studying anxiety disorders and their treatment for 4+ years now.

http://www.amazon.com/Exposure-Therapy-Anxiety-Principles-Practice/dp/146250969X

The above book (p. 193-194 to be exact) contains the rationale for what your therapist is doing. It is written by three of the most knowledgeable CBT for anxiety researchers on the planet. The 1st author, Jon Abramowitz, is the president elect of ABCT (the world organization for CBT) for 2014-2015.

tl;dr: This stuff is CBT exposure with a splash of an ACT-ey rationale given. This is legit as far as being scientifically-based treatment. Hope this helps!

No problem! The first book that kind of led me down the path to cognitive restructuring was "The Feeling Good Handbook" by Dr. Burns. This was really eye opening, and after reading about the 10 thinking fallacies and doing the 3 column technique that he describes (at my own discretion) I saw and felt noticeable changes.

Then I started seeing a professional, and they helped guide me and point me in the proper direction. The book we used in therapy was this one, and it was very good:

https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Social-Anxiety-Cognitive-Behavioral-Treatments/dp/0195336690

In general, the therapy is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, and is the most effective form of treatment for social anxiety.

Here's a quick and dirty article about how it works:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/socratic-method-improve-depression_us_55ca2888e4b0f1cbf1e65731

You might be interested in Adolf Grunbaum's response to Popper:

You have a very smart 4 year old who might be prone to anxiety. I have a 5 year old in therapy for a full-blown anxiety disorder, so let me share a couple of books that have made a big difference in how I relate to her when she's worrying too much about something.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572245751/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804139806/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Working through the programs in those books has really helped to improve my kid's ability to take risks and calm herself down when she's getting irrationally wound up.

Managing Social Anxiety: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach has helped me a lot and if you're in therapy I highly recommend integrating it into your treatment.

Self-help CBT books have been shown to be as effective as thousands of dollars of visits with a therapist. As long as a person commits and does the exercises, it can really change things around.

In addition to seconding your book rec, I'd recommend also "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks" by Seth Gillihan, and "Mind Over Mood" by Greenbereger and Padesky. Also "Rewire Your Anxious Brain."

The ultimate book on Aspergers. The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome https://www.amazon.com/dp/1843104954/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_InH9ub082RZ87
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1843104954/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_InH9ub082RZ87

What, specifically, do you want? Social skills? Relationships?

Happy to! It's "Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks."
Amazon UK;
Amazon US (Holy shit, so expensive for some reason?!).

Maybe try this? I haven’t read it myself, but I’ve heard people talking about it a lot.

highly sensitive child book

There isn't?

http://www.zazzle.com/flappy_happy_t_shirt-235660970405064707
http://portal.wpspublish.com/portal/page?_pageid=53,190663&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-8452392-8940808?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Aspergers&x=0&y=0
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Aspergers-Syndrome/dp/1843106698/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216825309&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Look-Me-Eye-Life-Aspergers/dp/0307396185/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216825309&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Brain-Behavioral-Depression/dp/1623157803/

I bought this for my sister a little ways back.

https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Brain-Behavioral-Depression/dp/1623157803/

Here's the workbook: http://www.amazon.ca/Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-Workbook-Dummies/dp/1119951402/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452196620&sr=8-1&keywords=cbt+workbook+for+dummies

Here's my video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfGdvfyZIwg

It can be kind of tough to find a good group, as they are sort of hard to organize and coordinate. Psychology Today has a therapist finder search which you can then filter by "group". This is sort of the seminal book on group therapy and really explains everything about them group.. In terms of evaluation really check out how the facilitator interacts with the group. There are usually certain archetypes in every group, (the know it all, the boss, the victim, etc.) and if the leader doesn't know how to manage all of the personalities, the group can really lose its ability to be effective.

Sure! These are just a few that I've read...
They're not all completely geared toward adults with ASD and talk about kids too, but they do address adults at some point.


The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome https://www.amazon.com/dp/1843106698/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qQ5IxbWGWAG3D


The Way I See It, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's https://www.amazon.com/dp/193527421X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yT5IxbVXQE7BR

Twirling Naked in the Streets and No One Noticed: Growing Up With Undiagnosed Autism https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615801439/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4W5Ixb5QJMGZ7

Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): How Seeking a Diagnosis in Adulthood Can Change Your Life https://www.amazon.com/dp/1849054339/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TM5IxbSRTX1HR

Yes. As has been documented before by people like Tony Attwood, it's a major problem for girls (and guys, to a lesser extent) who lack good lie detection and creep detection skills and who are taught not to trust their own instincts or their understanding of rules and social expectations.

Being naive, gullible, and socially clueless makes us easy victims. Also, unlike a lot of NT girls, many girls who are on the spectrum don't have a network of close friends watching out for us, warning us about creepy guys.

In my teens and early 20s I tended to miss red flags that should have warned me away from certain guys. And, once in a relationship, if a guy told me that doing certain things or acting in certain ways was normal or expected, I tended to believe him, gullible idiot that I was. I was targeted repeatedly by men I now realize were sexual predators, including a severe abuser and manipulator who completely gaslighted me. That ended in a depression that was nearly fatal, but also led to my diagnosis as an Aspie @23.

There are two books listed on the u/Aspergirls Wiki that are directly aimed at helping girls and women on the spectrum avoid this kind of exploitation and abuse:

• Safety Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good Female Life, by Liane Holliday Willey. Foreword by Tony Attwood. "The focus throughout is on keeping safe, and this extends to travel, social awareness, and general life management. With deeply personal accounts from the author's own experiences, this book doesn't shy away from difficult issues such as coping with bullying, self-harm, depression, and eating disorders."
  
  
• The Aspie Girl’s Guide to Being Safe With Men, by Debi Brown. “This must-read book spells out the unwritten safety rules around dating, relationships and sex, informing and empowering them to live full and independent lives while staying safe.”
  
  I haven't read them, but other women on the Aspergirls sub have recommended them.

[This](Freeing Your Child from Anxiety, Revised and Updated Edition: Practical Strategies to Overcome Fears, Worries, and Phobias and Be Prepared for Life--f https://www.amazon.com/dp/0804139806/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_jfI3QABCAUFPr) book was highly recommended to me by my daughter's case worker. I haven't gotten through all of it yet (I skipped to how to deal my youngest's main problem which is selective mutism) but I have found it very helpful so far. My middle child has a lot of generalized anxiety.

I don't know what this is about, but I doubt it's turtles.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works but can be expensive. Seek out a psychologist with a PhD. Social phobia or anxiety is a common problem easily treated once therapy is started.
I worked in an anxiety clinic and Treatments that Work is an evidence-based, highly effective series for many forms of anxiety and fear (phobias).

I'm currently working through this program.

http://www.amazon.com/Managing-Social-Anxiety-Workbook-Edition/dp/0195336690

My therapist suggested it, but she also says it's something that one could work through on their own. I looked at various medications, but all of them had potential side effects that I didn't want and no matter what, when you stop taking them, the anxiety comes back. This program teaches your brain to identify the triggers of anxiety, and to stop it before it spirals out of control.