Weed Wars And Epilepsy, Aspergers And Anxiety
Without Prejudice
My nephew has this strange baffling illness called Aspergers. It is related to the Autism Spectrum.
He is on medication, now, and is doing a whole lot better and I am glad as he is a delightful, caring boy.
A condition, misunderstood.
I am also sure my ex suffers from it. I know he doesn't like being that way, but I guess it is his and his Families choice to treat it.
Alcohol self treatment is the worst thing for it.
However Medical marijuana is showing to be good for it. Weird ?
I guess when you consider that alcohol is a stimulant and marijuana without the " high " is sedating it's not so weird after all,
It also has a good effect on Epilepsy
May 2014 article
Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is considered a form of autism, rating high on the autistic spectrum. AS is exhibited in childhood and throughout life. Symptoms include social awkwardness, loud vocalizations, atypical speech, emotional detachment or over-attachment, anger management issues, and narrow interests that may become obsessive.
Those with AS usually feel like they don't "fit in" with society. They're often smarter, more creative, or more observant than their peers and can excel in life when given a chance.
Marijuana can be used to alleviate the negative symptoms and accentuate the positive aspects of Asperger's Syndrome.
From Wiki
My nephew has this strange baffling illness called Aspergers. It is related to the Autism Spectrum.
He is on medication, now, and is doing a whole lot better and I am glad as he is a delightful, caring boy.
A condition, misunderstood.
I am also sure my ex suffers from it. I know he doesn't like being that way, but I guess it is his and his Families choice to treat it.
Alcohol self treatment is the worst thing for it.
However Medical marijuana is showing to be good for it. Weird ?
I guess when you consider that alcohol is a stimulant and marijuana without the " high " is sedating it's not so weird after all,
It also has a good effect on Epilepsy
'Marijuana refugees' give cannabis to epileptic children
7 May 2014 Last updated at 01:32 BST
May 2014 article
Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is considered a form of autism, rating high on the autistic spectrum. AS is exhibited in childhood and throughout life. Symptoms include social awkwardness, loud vocalizations, atypical speech, emotional detachment or over-attachment, anger management issues, and narrow interests that may become obsessive.
Those with AS usually feel like they don't "fit in" with society. They're often smarter, more creative, or more observant than their peers and can excel in life when given a chance.
Marijuana can be used to alleviate the negative symptoms and accentuate the positive aspects of Asperger's Syndrome.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) are the two main cannabinoids found in marijuana. THC is psychoactive, causing the "high" associated with marijuana use.
CBD is non-psychoactive and has a calming effect. Aspies should choose high quality medical marijuana that has a high CBD to THC ratio. Use tinctures and edibles for long-lasting effects. Smoke or vaporize marijuana for a quick fix. Try mixing buds and leaves together to get more CBD's in your medicine.
Anxiety: Anxiety issues can make it impossible to lead a productive life. CBD's calm the body and mind to relieve stress. but beware of high THC concentrations that can cause severe anxiety and panic attacks.
Anger and Rage: Aspies are often ruled by their emotions and can have temper-tantrums well into adulthood. Smoke or vaporize marijuana as soon as you feel the anger rising and you should be able to calm down enough to talk about your feelings.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Sufferers of AS can have stress management issues due to their inability to control emotions. This can lead to disorders of the gastrointestinal system, such as ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn's Disease. Marijuana has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that can ease discomfort. If you are malnourished, use marijuana to stimulate your appetite.
Insomnia: Stress and depression can make it impossible to get a good night's sleep. Marijuana can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
Racing Brain: Aspie brains can race out of control making it difficult to concentrate and communicate. Marijuana slows down your thought processes, enabling you to think clearly and focus on one subject at a time.
Socialization: Marijuana can alleviate social phobias, allowing you to leave the house and interact with the world without worrying about feeling different.
Medical marijuana may not work for everyone diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. You may have to experiment with THC to CBD ratios and methods of ingestion to find a treatment plan that works for you.
From Wiki
Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger disorder (AD) or simplyAsperger's, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic andcognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical (peculiar, odd) use of language are frequently reported.[1][2] The diagnosis of Asperger's was eliminated in the 2013 fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and replaced by a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder on a severity scale.[3]
The syndrome is named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, studied and described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to identify their peers' emotions, and were physically clumsy.[4] The modern conception of Asperger syndrome came into existence in 1981[5] and went through a period of popularization,[6][7] becoming standardized as a diagnosis in the early 1990s.
Many questions remain about aspects of the disorder.[8] There is doubt about whether it is distinct from high-functioning autism (HFA);[9] partly because of this, its prevalence is not firmly established.[1]
The exact cause is unknown. Although research suggests the likelihood of agenetic basis,[1] there is no known genetic cause[10][11] and brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.[1] There is no single treatment, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data.[1]Intervention is aimed at improving symptoms and function.
The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.[12] Most children improve as they mature to adulthood, but social and communication difficulties may persist.[8] Some researchers and people with Asperger's have advocated a shift in attitudes toward the view that it is a difference, rather than a disability that must be treated or cured.[
A lack of demonstrated cognitive empathy has a significant impact on aspects of communal living for persons with Asperger syndrome.[2] Individuals with AS experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional reciprocity (social "games" give-and-take mechanic), and impaired nonverbal behaviorsin areas such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture.[1]
People with AS may not be as withdrawn around others compared to those with other, more debilitating, forms of autism; they approach others, even if awkwardly. For example, a person with AS may engage in a one-sided, long-winded speech about a favorite topic, while misunderstanding or not recognizing the listener's feelings or reactions, such as a wish to change the topic of talk or end the interaction.[9]
This social awkwardness has been called "active but odd".[1] This failure to react appropriately to social interaction may appear as disregard for other people's feelings, and may come across as insensitive.[9] However, not all individuals with AS will approach others. Some of them may even display selective mutism, speaking not at all to most people and excessively to specific people. Some may choose only to talk to people they like.[28]
The cognitive ability of children with AS often allows them to articulate social norms in a laboratory context,[1] where they may be able to show a theoretical understanding of other people's emotions; however, they typically have difficulty acting on this knowledge in fluid, real-life situations.[9] People with AS may analyze and distill their observations of social interaction into rigid behavioral guidelines, and apply these rules in awkward ways, such as forced eye contact, resulting in a demeanor that appears rigid or socially naive. Childhood desire for companionship can become numbed through a history of failed social encounters.[1]
The hypothesis that individuals with AS are predisposed to violent or criminal behavior has been investigated, but is not supported by data.[1][29] More evidence suggests children with AS are victims rather than victimizers.[30] A 2008 review found that an overwhelming number of reported violent criminals with AS had coexisting psychiatric disorders such as schizoaffective disorder.[31]
Medications
No medications directly treat the core symptoms of AS.[79] Although research into the efficacy of pharmaceutical intervention for AS is limited,[1] it is essential to diagnose and treat comorbid
conditions.[2] Deficits in self-identifying emotions or in observing effects of one's behavior on others can make it difficult for individuals with AS to see why medication may be appropriate.[79] Medication can be effective in combination with behavioral interventions and environmental
accommodations in treating comorbid symptoms such as anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, inattention and aggression.[1] The atypical antipsychotic medications risperidone and olanzapine have been shown to reduce the associated symptoms of AS;[1]risperidone can reduce repetitive and self-injurious behaviors, aggressive outbursts and impulsivity, and improve stereotypical patterns of behavior and social relatedness. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, andsertraline have been effective in treating restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors.[1][2][46]
Care must be taken with medications, as side effects may be more common and harder to evaluate in individuals with AS, and tests of drugs' effectiveness against comorbid conditions routinely exclude individuals from the autism spectrum.[79]Abnormalities in metabolism, cardiac conduction times, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes have been raised as concerns with these medications,[84][85] along with serious long-term neurological side effects.[81] SSRIs can lead to manifestations of behavioral activation such as increased impulsivity, aggression, and sleep disturbance.[46] Weight gain and fatigue are commonly reported side effects of risperidone, which may also lead to increased risk for extrapyramidal symptoms such as restlessness and dystonia[46] and increased serum prolactin levels.[86] Sedation and weight gain are more common witholanzapine,[85] which has also been linked with diabetes.[84] Sedative side-effects in school-age children[87] have ramifications for classroom learning. Individuals with AS may be unable to identify and communicate their internal moods and emotions or to tolerate side effects that for most people would not be problematic.[88]
How to Manage Asperger Syndrome and Alcohol
Do you know someone who has Asperger Syndrome or someone who hasn’t been diagnosed but has symptoms similar? Often that person has had a hard time interacting with other people or the public they come in contact with or that public contact comes back to them in the form of mistreatment or ridicule. If you see this behavior and think someone you know has an alcohol problem because of it. Please do take the time to read on.
Because of this there is a growing concern that there might be a link to autism and alcohol. The research linking alcohol to autism and Asperger Syndrome is still growing. There are people out there who don’t know they have Asperger Syndrome but they also have a hard time acknowledging the fact that they use alcohol. A correct diagnosis for a person is a critical first step in understanding their condition and maintaining good long term health care.
Often with someone that has Asperger Syndrome the initial problem starts when they are young. This is a condition that as a child or teen growing up they are most often singled out as being very different. As a result of this difference most young people are treated with taunts, bullying, and other forms of mistreatment. This makes the person with Asperger Syndrome often feel bad about themselves and looking for ways to cope with their day to day life.
When a person struggling with Asperger Syndrome gets to the point that they are struggling to go through each day, it can be an easy choice to turn to alcohol. Alcohol is easily available and most people do see it as an acceptable form of lifestyle. In the United States in 2006, 61 percent of the population drank alcohol and of those 33% drank more than 5 drinks at least once in that year. That makes it an easy item to choose if someone with Asperger Syndrome were looking at a way to get relief.
Often, the way someone with Asperger Syndrome will find their way out of a problem with alcohol is the same way someone without Asperger Syndrome finds their way out of their drinking problem. It is done first by recognizing they have a problem with alcohol and next by seeking help in stopping their abuse. This can be help from friends and family or it can include help and assistance by a program tailored specifically for that need.
If you think someone you know might have Asperger Syndrome or an alcohol problem, or both, there are many local agencies’ that offer help and assistance or can direct you to someone who can help. Don’t let someone you know suffer needlessly.
Prognosis
There is some evidence that children with AS may see a lessening of symptoms; up to 20% of children may no longer meet the diagnostic criteria as adults, although social and communication difficulties may persist.[8] As of 2006, no studies addressing the long-term outcome of individuals with Asperger syndrome are available and there are no systematic long-term follow-up studies of children with AS.[9] Individuals with AS appear to have normal life expectancy, but have an increased prevalence ofcomorbid psychiatric conditions, such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder that may significantly affectprognosis.[1][8] Although social impairment is lifelong, the outcome is generally more positive than with individuals with lower functioning autism spectrum disorders;[1] for example, ASD symptoms are more likely to diminish with time in children with AS or HFA.[89] Although most students with AS/HFA have average mathematical ability and test slightly worse in mathematics than in general intelligence, some are gifted in mathematics[90] and AS has not prevented some adults from major accomplishments such as Vernon L. Smith winning the Nobel Prize.[91]
Although many attend regular education classes, some children with AS may utilize special education services because of their social and behavioral difficulties.[9] Adolescents with AS may exhibit ongoing difficulty with self care or organization, and disturbances in social and romantic relationships. Despite high cognitive potential, most young adults with AS remain at home, although some do marry and work independently.[1] The "different-ness" adolescents experience can be traumatic.[92] Anxiety may stem from preoccupation over possible violations of routines and rituals, from being placed in a situation without a clear schedule or expectations, or from concern with failing in social encounters;[1] the resulting stress may manifest as inattention, withdrawal, reliance on obsessions, hyperactivity, or aggressive or oppositional behavior.[78] Depression is often the result of chronic frustration from repeated failure to engage others socially, and mood disorders requiring treatment may develop.[1]Clinical experience suggests the rate of suicide may be higher among those with AS, but this has not been confirmed by systematic empirical studies.[93]
