Re:How Silicon Valley is dealing with mental illness
by lentil_soup on Thursday February 11, 2016 @02:23AM
(#11078712)
Can I ask why you think you're autistic if therapists tell you you're not? Or was it just that one?
Re:How Silicon Valley is dealing with mental illness
by phaus on Thursday February 11, 2016 @08:52AM
(#11080069)
It was just that one and her reasons showed that she has virtually no understanding whatsoever of what high functioning autism is.
Re:How Silicon Valley is dealing with mental illness
by Spiritus on Thursday February 11, 2016 @02:14AM
(#11078683)
What's the difference between a therapy dog and a regular dog?
Re:How Silicon Valley is dealing with mental illness
by jacalata on Thursday February 11, 2016 @02:27AM
(#11078729)
I'm not terribly familiar with them, but in general a therapy dog should have been trained in some way to ameliorate a specific condition - eg, to notice that the owner is approaching a panic attack and alert them with a specific series of barks, or to maintain a touch contact that helps the owner cope with anxiety, etc.
I'm autistic and my wife has PTSD and anxiety disorder. She's been through about 6 therapists, all of whom were highly recommended by other people we know or other therapists. We've been to three marriage counsellors. I've been to a therapist that was an "autism specialist" who told me after speaking to me for 3 minutes that I'm not autistic because I have at least 1 friend and I'm married. Perhaps these were all smart people, but between the 10 of them, they have so far been completely unable to help my wife and I with any of our problems. We've been throwing a small fortune at our various issues, and our lives are still a nightmare.
I'm even about to pay 10-15k out of pocket for a fucking therapy dog that's probably going to be a waste of money, because we are desperate and the professionals aren't very useful.