"Living with and dealing with autism makes my thought process difficult. Weeks into lockdown and my bad thoughts are back. They've been with me since I was a small child.
OCD
I always thought it was mostly OCD. Now with more research on it, my OCD is an atypical presentation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It is a disorder that starts in childhood. Most nights those bad thoughts stopped me from sleeping, days were slightly easier, but I’d have to keep myself busy.
Although there were numerous environmental issues growing up, how I coped with my mental and emotional difficulties would take centre stage. Ordinary OCD fears may spark a compulsion based on obsessive thoughts, hence ‘OCD.’
Patterns and/or Behaviour
In the absence of ritualised patterns and/or behaviour, it may be difficult to recognise OCD. Bad thoughts for any child can make them feel anxious, scared, frightened even and that was true for me. Because I was dealing with autism, (that I didn't know about) I was unable to control the bad thoughts, the intensity of obsessive thoughts and it’s still the same today.
Bad Thought OCD obsessive symptoms presented for me in the following ways:
Looking back on those times I can’t believe I was left to deal with it on my own. I reached out every day. Through research, those close to me would have known I couldn’t do it.
Debilitating Thoughts
Most days, my thoughts were debilitating, left emotionally paralysed. Although any form of OCD may be hidden or subtle, the other reason in children it's not always recognised, is because a child’s obsessions are usually dismissed as being fluctuations.
Looking for Reassurance
I would continually look for reassurance from mum, to make sure she was aware those thoughts weren’t me and to hope for support. I failed. Bad thoughts and OCD is something I still struggle with today. The Coronavirus and lockdown is making it more difficult to contain. (Source: drmommybrain.com)"
As children we all struggle with bad thoughts at some point but I had not heard of Bad Thoughts OCD before. As you say with autism, this is not something you grow out of as most children will, but something you must try to live with.
I thought the jigsaw was complete, but this reaffirms my suspicion that there are many missing pieces, and it may be you never get to find all of them.
Yes, it seems that's my reality. I'm still not through the other end. Difficult to know how I feel. It's bad enough finding out about something you didn't know you had for 46 years.
But it would go on to take me another 11 years for me to research each symptom pertaining to my primary condition of cerebral palsy.
Who really does that to a child? I'm struggling to get past that, more than I am my symptoms. Not everyone is happy for me to 'be just me' with all of my autism traits.
Being allowed to be me is my biggest struggle.
Ilana, you have proved that you're more than capable of removing yourself from bad situations and thoughts. But with this Coronavirus lock down you may surrender to them now and again, which is perfectly normal.
Today I'm coping by bathing in your book, that's where the good thoughts are.
Thanks Tim. When you say, 'today I'm coping by bathing in your book, that's where the good thoughts are' - that means the world to me, truly.
I think you're right. I need to be kind to myself at this time so that I can handle my emotional health with my autism in tow.