It’s sad but what do you expect when as kids their emotional needs are ignored because they didn’t express them in words or correctly, punished for stimming or are taught forced eye contact. Then there is the constant disapproval from the loved ones and peers who get a kick from bullying. It’s very very sad and hope someone does something but too many want nuro typical kids and won’t stop at anything to make ASD kids nuro typical or cure them. They are treated like non humans and so how are they supposed to grow up with any self confidence? Or self esteem? Sad just sad. When you think of it, who taught these kids that they aren’t “normal” and should be “normal”??? Vent over.

This is very sad to hear but I guess its also understandable when you think of the onslaught of unknown or misunderstood feelings & emotions that our ASD loved ones endure day to day and the common prejudice that often goes along with it from NON- ASD peers who haven't been brought up to have compassion for their peers with more limited abilities than themselves. On the rare occasions that my daughter is able to briefly tell me what she's feeling she usually laments over the intense fight she daily endures to try and appear as she terms it "Normal" to her peers at College. I hate that she feels she has to do this but despite my reassurances, her fight against herself continues. And she doesn't like me to get involved when she's treated badly with a peer so I often feel like my hands are tied. She told a helper recently that she often cries herself to sleep at night because of this, which breaks my heart. As I'm also widowed & losing my long fight against a terminal illness she has so much more on her plate than she can deal with, and this causes me much anguish that I am one of the main causes of her distress! But on the plus side, I recently insisted she speak with the Psychotherapist at our Palliative Care Centre just once despite her protests, and thankfully she came out of the appointment feeling a little better & she willingly agreed to a regular fortnightly appointment with her.
I suppose the fact that my daughter is a verbal ASD teenager is fortunate in this respect. But I'm glad that you posted this article because knowledge is the first step to arming ourselves with the tools available to do all we can to prevent this outcome for our ASD loved ones.

I can see that. My daughter is only 7 and seems depressed. A lot of it is because she doesn't feel like she is in total control. She hates that she has to do things (her words). Example there was a time she had to turn around so many times every time she walked (Mostly at home, we stay home alot.) She has to touch things 4 times, and so forth. When I ask why she does the different things she says she has to, my cranium (She doesn't like the word brain) tells me to. She has came to me and told me many times that she wished she was safe back in my belly. So sad and only 7. She worries so much about Everything.