How To Cope with Aspergers Obsessions And Rituals



Posted: Friday, January 14, 2011

by Dave Angel
http://www.parentingaspergers.com

Aspergers obsessions are very common for those with Aspergers Syndrome. A hallmark of Aspergers is the development of obsessive thinking the performing ritual behaviors. This is done by the child in an effort to reduce stress and anxiety. This behavior can meet the criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults later in your child's life. Many Aspergers children have a particular obsessive interest in one subject and little interest in anything else. They may obsessively seek out information about maps, or clocks, or some other topic. Their obsession will usually make the ability to concentrate on other topics very difficult.

They can also be very inflexible in their habits and rigid about routines or rituals. These obsessions and compulsions are believed to be biological in origin. This means it is difficult to address these behaviors with therapy. It is impossible to try to reason with them about the behaviors. It is not something they have control over. Even so, there is some evidence suggesting that cognitive-behavioral therapy may help control some of the behaviors. This therapy can make the child aware of ways to recognize when the behavior is starting so they can stop it right away. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on concrete concepts like behavior and thought changes that can be taught to children, teens and adults with Aspergers. Aspergers obsessions can be controlled to improve function on a day-to-day basis, but not "cured."

Parents may need to simply be supportive of a child who hangs on to rituals they don't understand themselves. Without a great deal of therapy, it is very, very difficult to fight the rituals performed by Aspergers children. Punishing the child for performing the Aspergers obsessions will not stop them and will only traumatize the child. Medications are often used to take the edge off of obsessive compulsive disorder behaviors. They are particularly successful when combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Every medication has side-effects, however, and improvement may be limited. Try medications recommended by your child's doctor with complete and full knowledge of the intended effects as well as the side effects that might apply. Work with your doctor to find a medication with the least amount of side effects, or the side effects your child can most easily live with. A compromise of what the costs and benefits of the use of medication are important to consider, when treating Aspergers obsessions. Take all decisions about medications very seriously.

I hope that this has been a helpful article for you in better understanding Aspergers obsessions and rituals.

Dave Angel is a Social Worker and the author of three best-selling ebooks about Aspergers Syndrome. Do you have an Aspergers child? Get your free report 'Secrets to Parenting your Child with Aspergers' Guide at www.parentingaspergers.com/blog
This Article has been viewed 315 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.