Can therapy mitigate any AS symptoms?
Not saying that psychotherapy or psychiatry can mitigate ALL Asperger symptoms across the board, but I have a theory it can indirectly curtail some of them - particularly the ones related to the vicious cycle of comorbid depression.
Case in point: I have recently experienced more forgetfulness due to increased anxiety and depression based on the past 3-4 months being quite stressful for me. A lot of that forgetfulness is due to resurrecting painful past memories, involuntarily, that are somewhat related to recent bad experiences and events. I just want to be able to extract a lesson from painful experiences and use it analogously in similar situations without recalling and ruminating on the pain associated with the event, but this doesn't seem to come as naturally to us as it does to NTs. For them, the "feedback loop" of replaying unfortunate events in one's mind is weaker, but the link between experience and intuition appears to be stronger (than it is in us). I'd like to "close this gap" somewhat through the help of psychotherapy.
I did see a psychologist about a year ago for a few sessions till benefits ran out - they're starting again in the new year - but I'm thinking of seeing a psychiatrist instead, as here in Canada they are covered through universal health care (just not psychologists). I'm concerned though that the psychiatrist may not be as effective. The psychologist I saw a year ago was related to another somewhat tough time I went through, and he didn't seem to know about Aspergers that well, giving me one more reason to sever the ties.
I'm hoping that awareness of Aspergers has increased in the licensed therapist community - I'd really hate to go to one who is ignorant of it, or worse, claims it doesn't really exist or I don't really seem to have it...got enough of that crap already from laymen, thank you very much. Also if one of them says "well, everyone exhibits the traits you describe to some extent"...I will most definitely turn and RUN.
ive been trying different therapies and i find the best way to reduce symptoms is to contiously be aware of things you are not supose to do, like avoid eye contact, talk obsessivly about your interest and stim (rocking back and fourth, swinging your arms,) and channel it into something else, i no longer talk to people about sonic because i am now aware that they have no interest, but i forget sometimes. i can make eye contact but in a certain way, so i can still hear what theyre saying. and i still havent figured out how to sop stimming in public, but i dont think its that bad. remember, you will never EVER be neurotypical, medication and therapy will only make autistic symptoms less intense
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Obsessing over Sonic the Hedgehog since 2009
Diagnosed with Aspergers' syndrome in 2012.
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 severity without intellectual disability and without language impairment in 2015.
DA: http://mephilesdark123.deviantart.com