Behaviors/Symptoms cycling in and out?

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Is it common for AS symptoms and behaviors to cycle in and out. My son can go a couple of weeks "acting" like a very typical kid. He can show self control, not feel the need to control everything, and have good conversations. Then we will go through the phase where everything seems out of control. He is quick to anger, manipulates every conversation, controls siblings, questions rules, takes comments literally, argues, talks back, cannot regulate sensory issues, etc, etc etc. This seems to be a pattern back and forth. Is this normal?

I've observed this with my children also. Only one has a confirmed ASD diagnosis, but we suspect that all of us are somewhere on the spectrum.

Just today, one seemingly minor event had a domino effect on everyone for the rest of the day.

7:30am Oldest calls home in a panic because the bus is late. Husband rushes off to get her from the bus stop and drive her to school. The whole way there she's stressing that she will be late. She isn't, but because of this "zigzag" she can't get on with the rest of the day (was still grumpy at the end of the day)

When my husband returns, my kindergartener is upset because she wanted to leave with dad as that is her usual routine. In a bad mood and taking it out on her brother.

Little brother did not sleep well, so is grouchy too. He gets upset to leave to go to school early, because now he's thrown off too.

It all ended up okay, but that was a lot of emotional stress before 9 am!
We try to ride the waves as best we can. Hang in there

It is almost certain that anxiety/stress will be at the root of this. Anger (and most of the associated issues) are almost always the outlet for the anxiety/stress.

Has anything changed at the times when his behaviour is different? Remember it can be almost anything - almost any change can result in heightened levels of stress.

The previous poster illustrated this.

But once something does trigger this, is it common for him to have heightened symptoms for weeks?

My concern is that he appears like a classic aspergers child for a few weeks, then seems to appear very typical (with minor things only noticeable to me-mom) for a couple weeks.

My hypothesis would be that because neurology is involved--and researchers are still figuring it out-- that this is just the nature of aspergers. Many adults who were diagnosed late in life were diagnosed as having a mood disorder first. I'm sure it's frustrating for your son too in that because he is so perceptive, he would know something didn't feel right, but would not know how to deal with it.

Could you make a family plan that supports these changes? Like say if you set up a consistent routine around when he feels bad; what would help him feel better, learn how to self-manage/self-soothe, and possibly shorten the amount of time that he's out of sorts?

For example, my daughter with autism was taught at school to recognise the things that would set her off (like getting her clothes wet, being hungry, environment is too noisy) and then have a place to retreat to. She learned to take some deep breaths and then sit in her favorite spot (rocking chair or tent) until she felt calm again. She has a box of "fidgets" that she uses for this purpose also. (colored glass beads, picture cards, small dolls)

She is learning that tantruming won't help her feel better or get a positive response from most people, but also that she's not "bad" because she gets angry and moody. Shes learning that she is not helpless when those feelings arise. Also, this is just a part of who she is but it doesn't define her as a person.

I notice with my 13 year old that things are getting a bit more complicated because of changing hormones. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.


Hope that's helpful!