My Observation about Mental Health and guns....

I am a professed die hard Liberal Democrat and do not make ant excuses oer explanations ...
That being set aside with all the chatter about gun control and the question of Mental Health being a component, as a parent/caregiver I feel that REGARDLESS of my political persuasion I have a few valid points to be talked about... about 75% of these horrendous mass shootings are white males from the early teens to their 30's.. Of those over 60% to 75% had a history of mental health issues... That is scary. What is even more scary is that in some ways we have an element of responsibility,,,WHY you ask??????

For 26 years I have dealt with professionals and medical personnel  working,observing, studying or diagnosing Dakota .... The first line of defense or discussion is MEDS... No one wants to work with these kids, spend real time with them , totally understand them and do what it takes to actually help or TRY to help most of these kids.
LET ME BE REALLY CLEAR  ... I don't not condone this behavior , I do not think all offenders are in the same category as individuals with disabilities, BUT I do believe that the majority of them have been lost in the system or "shuffled of to buffalo" when it came to doing anything of substance for them! 

Look, parents are not totally innocent and as the last horrific incident in Sandy Hook, Connecticut  has unraveled , we are finding out that this kids had problems recognized by his parents who did not address them properly BUT also a Mother who was an active gun enthusiast so it was the perfect storm for disaster to strike.... What I am saying is that parents every day talk to teachers, psychologist, doctors, therapist, social workers, administrators who routinely don't have any answers, don't want to cooperate with with the parents and what they want to do for their kids, Ignore the kids , the kids get lost among all the other kids needing help, they are discounted as being someone who will "never amount to anything"11so why bother and "lets give them meds so they will cooperate in the classroom until they can be exited with a "Certificate of Completeion" not even a Diploma and then they are your problem not ours"...

Also highlighting parents who for the most part either have lost their ability to fight anymore . they are overwhelmed with other children in the family, their own medical needs, jobs, bills several just give up and give in....There are also those parent who have kids that manages to circulate in the mainstream of school for the most part and get by while the parents are caught up in "Keeping up with the Jones".... They are more worried about buying the next new SUV or boat, where they are gonna go for their next vacation. putting new furniture in the house or painting their house again cuz the neighbor just did....instead of truly realizing they have a kid that's on the edge... They are numb , they don't realize this child needs help and they probably don't even know how to get it or give it...

The reason I write this is because I have had personal dealings and involvement with all of these types of situations .. I do not judge or say whats right or wrong .. What I know is a recently as December I took Dakota to a medical Facility that has been treating him since birth, they know him , they know his diagnosis yet when he displays a little bit of aggression or behavior ....do they react like medical professionals should????Hell No they call security...IN A FACILITY THAT HAS TREATED HIM SINCE BIRTH???????? W T F
Is it any wonder that they individuals who have committed these unforgivable crimes killing innocent children and adults  when the reaction from our own medical community is what I just described???/ AGAIN I AM NOT SAYING many are not guilty or even responsible for their actions what I am saying is people who are supposed to help situations by their training react like they are Joe Public right off the street .

I am all for letting some one possess a gun if the choose to .. I don't think they need and AK47 or a magazine that holds 10o's of bullets...and I do think that we need to regulate them to make sure people have a little sense and clean back ground... Do I think it will stop all of whats happening... NO      BUT my lament is much more simple  if adding Mental Health as a component to Gun Regulation prevents even ONE MORE FROM DYING then its the right thing to do.

Happy New Year 2013

With every New Year we all seem to have a feeling of renewal , fresh starts and aspirations to do things differently ; Either for health mental or physical or as a way to make ourselves feel better about something that seems "not Right" to us. 
As I explained in the last post, oh so long ago things have definitely been different around here and I to had given up on the notion of trying to change or alter life ...Things have been different yet all too much the same and it is something I have struggled with my whole life... I welcome the challenge and excitement of doing things differently yet the old demons of "sameness" follow me like a dark shadow ,,,accompanied by the whispers of disappointment when I don't do what I set out to do....As the years have rolled by I have become much more comfortable with myself and accomplishments, whether they happen or they don't and I would say that even those who know me sometimes  wonder why I think and do the way I do...
Again I would say that Autism has kinda put me in this space...
If I have learned no other lesson it is that you can have a grand master plan but when you add autism into the equation the formula can turn into something completely different.That's not to say you don't try that's just to say that you have to be open to alternate outcomes.
So many I have known over the years have had such structure, determination and commitment .... to their daily lives and accomplishments , I admire that . For the last 26 years I have always said "But they don't have autism as a factor"... Thats not to say they don't have bumps in the road or things to overcome however again and again I continue to segregate my situation from theirs on that premise.
The holidays have a way of highlighting this thought process and execution. The last part of the year is always a festive time and everyone has plans, traditions and gatherings. You talk to people on the phone or exchange Christmas cards or even speak to someone passing you n the hall at work and the air is full of things to do . Having family over for Thanksgiving or going skiing for the first winters snow or everyone getting together for the Rose Parade and football game . Shopping, cooking , visiting Santa Claus, wrapping. church or whatever........ 
Sometimes when you have an individual with Autism IT JUST DOESN'T FLY...
 I have said this  many times before all you can do is present the opportunity ..its up to the individual to decide whether they take it. What you have to do is prepare yourself for the outcome. You have to be OK if it doesn't go the way you want it too.. You have to be OK to realize that the person in side the body that is plagued with this nasty disorder is doing the best they can and if you push {at least too much} it will turn ugly for you and it will be a nightmare for them.
So my friends I love you all and I know each of us have our own set of circumstances
We just have to March to the beat of our drum .... not someone elses!!!
Happy New Year