I recently received a host of reports from past histories. One of the comments made in one report was this:
"I stand by the current description of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, even though he experiences symptoms of childhood schizophrenia. He relates by way of provocative teasing, which is a conduct disorder and not associated with the fearful avoidance often seen in autistic-like behavior." -- This was back in 1986, when I was about ten or eleven years old.
What is exactly meant by "fearful avoidance?" I take it to mean a failed attempt to seek peer relationships due to anxieties, and if that is true ... then, I don't know how that doctor came up with that concept? Yeah ... I have related by provocative teasing, and that was due to intense social anxiety. Peer relationships were nonexistent for the most part, which was mentioned in a number of times in other reports. My parents commonly made comments that they believed I wanted to seek friends, and I probably agreed with them in psychological discussions. The fact of the matter, however, is that I simply didn't want to. I believe I do display signs of fearful avoidance, but maybe not in the context of what the doctor was talking about, whatever context that may be defined for an autistic disorder.
I don't believe that fearful avoidance is seen in AS, anyway ... because most with AS want to seek friends, but they just don't know how to. I sort of differ from many with AS in that regard, or so it seems from what I've read. This may be why there are a few doctors who think AS should be a diagnosis in of itself and not connected with the autistic spectrum.
- Ray M -
12 May 2006, 7:12 pm
