socially awkward....

allowing everyone to express their own personal selves

as parents, we continually struggle with our kid's ongoing diagnosis symptoms;

being unable to clearly verbalise their anxieties and emotional feelings that are brought on by unknown situations or environmental factors, resulting in a heightened sensory emotional state that they can't regulate.

This is known as Emotional Dysregulation - (present in people with ASD, ADD/ADHD, bipolar, PTSD, etc), is caused from deficits in the frontal cortices of the brain, resulting in unregulated emotional responses, behavioural problems, erratic outbursts, all interfering with their social interactions and relationships.

 Having our teens coping with all these things especially during those vulnerable years, it can break your heart to see them struggling, while knowing as a parent/carer there is nothing we can do to make things truly better.

The concept of Social Interaction and Expression is an essential part of a teen's schooling environment;

as they progressively become involved in peer group structured learning programmes it is important to try and find ways of assisting integration as much as possible, to prevent barriers when accessing certain areas of learning.

Many children on the spectrum may succeed academically at school due to repetition, hard work and focus, with regulated assistance from parents and teachers instigating structured routines.

Although regarding interactions in normal social situations most overlook the critical development required and only realise a problem later on after their kids have already struggled in the school playground without any formulated assistance.

Although Social Impairment is a common feature of ASD children, without understanding the Autism traits it may lead people to believe that these children lack any interest in relating to others.

They do not ‘choose’ to alienate themselves; they are simply missing the essential skills to naturally develop meaningful peer interactions and relationships.

All too often Autistic children, having no physical defining traits, so are seen as normal, active and at times highly intelligent, rather than having a disability; until their behaviour due to sensory or social environment issues may trigger an episode of one or more of the Autism mannerisms; then they're viewed as being naughty, non-attentive, back-chatting, and abrupt.

They are ‘not’ purposely being rude it’s that they don’t fully understand and they're struggling with the concept of conversation.

Understanding this, learning how to help and interact with Autistic peers, will help to lesson their anxiety and emotional imbalance and allow them the chance to integrate comfortably within their own society.