IS AUTISM A GIFT OR A CURSE?
The recent announcement by Secretary Kennedy to find the cause of autism has set off a firestorm of debate.
Some are quite angry over the notion that he wants to “fix” the most beautiful of their children or these unique individuals who bring such a remarkable perspective to our world.
As my prior Substacks discuss, I am somewhere on the spectrum. The bulk of my medical practice is helping families whose children have autism spectrum disorder. So you can say I am quite familiar with this world.
When we speak of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - and notice the last word here - disorder, we are NOT talking about what makes individuals on the spectrum unique, beautiful, or gifted.
It is true - individuals with ASD have neurodivergence. The way our brains are wired is different. The way we see the world is different. Some have exceptional talents and gifts. THESE ARE OUR GIFTS. This is what makes children with autism so unique and special.
This is not what Secretary Kennedy is trying to address. You cannot eliminate/”fix” neurodivergence even if you wanted to.
What RFK Jr. is talking about is the exceptional suffering and disability that comes from the disorder part of the equation. Most people are fortunate enough not to know how much suffering some of these children and families have to endure.
MY LIFE IS SHATTERED. This is what one non-verbal autistic child communicated to his parents through his communication device. There are millions of children and individuals who cannot express any aspect of their gifts, because every moment of their lives is a living hell.
There are children who are enduring so much internal pain that their best recourse is to injure themselves. Some of these children spend hours per day crying, and their poor parents cannot even understand why.
Some of these poor children experience such extreme anxiety and sensory distortions that they cannot be or function in the world. For these children, the world is a threatening and overwhelming place.
How would your experience be if every sound, smell, and touch completely overwhelmed you?
What would your experience of life be if you felt everything to be a threat because your mind’s perception of reality and the threats in this reality were completely distorted?
What would your experience be like if your mind exploded with anger and aggression, yet these destructive moods and behaviors were not in your control, because your mind was possessed by an alien element?
You see, what Secretary Kennedy is trying to help us understand is what this alien element is that causes individuals with ASD to suffer and struggle. What Secretary Kennedy wants to understand is the toxicity and inflammation that is causing all the findings above, and destroying the lives of these beautiful individuals and limiting their ability to thrive and enjoy the world. Healing this toxicity and inflammation is the entire focus of my practice, and in doing so, I have seen so many children start thriving and enjoying their lives. Through this work, I have seen children finally be able to connect with their families and loved ones around them, and sharing the beautiful light and love that shines brightly within.
I think medications have a time and place, and they certainly have helped many people live happier, more balanced lives.
But let us be clear about something, when we put 500K kids per year on anti-psychotics (a large % of whom are on the spectrum), and millions on anxiolytics or anti-depressants, because WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION, this is not doing any favors to those with autism. If anything, these medications are what prevent the light of these children from shining through!
I hope more individuals with autism (or their families) will speak up and bring clarity to this discussion so that all individuals, regardless of their beliefs and perspectives, understand the importance of this discussion. I hope that these discussions will for once bring unity to a cause that can help millions of children heal so they can thrive and enjoy life. Hopefully, we come together to find a way to prevent the suffering and disability that keeps the most beautiful and special part of these individuals from shinning through.
Pejman Katiraei