some family members think that my dd's pdd-nos is a "phase", that we're "seeing things that aren't there" and that she'll grow out of it and that "all kids do that". It's really bothering me and even DH because they just don't get the stress, worry, fear and hardship aspects of it or acknowledge at all how our lives have changed due to this recent diagnosis and what we're dealing with on a daily basis, let alone for a lifetime.
I don't have any other children so maybe all 3 year olds DO tantrum and bite and don't sleep and recite entire videos, books and songs and ignore you and not respond and repeat the same phrase over and over and at random and can't stand to have their hair washed and can't go in public bathrooms and are petrified of vaccums and can't tell you if they are hungry or if they are sick or answer yes/no questions and are in speech therapy to learn how to use language and have meltdowns over nothing and flap their hands, and spin and walk in circles and push you and scream in your face...
Anyway, I am looking for a good handout that describes the symptoms of pdd/asd in enough detail that one would get a picture of what life would be like living with a child on the spectrum. I love my dd and I wouldn't trade her for anything, but she's not walk in the park! A therapist that I recently saw suggested I "educate" family members to try to eliminate the hurtful comments.
I looked on the newbie site but mostly found descriptions of what autism is and how to get it diagnosed, criteria, etc. I'm looking for something a little more directed at helping family members understand how the symptoms play out in daily life. Does such a thing exist (I did see the dos and don't for family members listing). Or, how did any of you go about "educating" family members who think you're making this up or that it's "not that bad". I don't think I can really educate them, they are going to think what they think and I'm just going to have to learn to deal with it, but I'd thought I'd at least give this a try........
I also like this sally:
http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=851& PN=1
Sorry of the stress. I feel the same way and ds isn't even dx'd yet. I still get people trying to "help" by saying things like: all kids do that, I know a boy that did that and he's fine now, he'll grow out of it, etc. But it doesn't make me feel better by not validating or understanding my concerns feelings, and frustrations...it just upsets me. I hope this helps.
Amber