What causes Autism? Surely if we can get to the cause then we can focus on correcting and healing at the base level? Is Autism the result of brain dysfunction? What about the gut? Why do some parents blame vaccinations – is that the cause? Or is there some underlying metaphysical condition that hardly anyone is talking about and does this provide an exciting understanding that will help our kids out of autism?
What do we really need to know about autism that can be of most benefit to our children? |
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Autism as a brain dysfunction. |
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Although some research indicates differences in brain function in people with autism it is not always clear what comes first – whether a person is autistic because they have brain damage for example, or whether an abnormality with the ego integrating into the body or some other aspect of spirit or soul actually caused an unnatural brain development.
It may not be a matter of correcting the brain but instead stimulating the underlying organisms that determine the function and form of the brain. Neuro science, indicates brain plasticity for the full span of our lives -- so change and improved function is always available to us. (Ref: Seligman, The Brain That Changes Itself)
Alongside theories about brain abnormality are programs that advocate restoring connections between left and right brain hemispheres. Various brain exercises to stimulate these connections are providing encouraging results in the lives of many autistic children. For this reason, I adopt a number of exercises in my own work to encourage these neural connections. Combining brain gymnastic exercises with soul and ego integration techniques we have a powerful formula eliciting long-term miraculous change.
In a holistic approach and in my experience, there is always an underlying metaphysical cause and effect. So, it's not enough to merely state that the cause of autism is a problem in the brain or the connections within the brain but rather what caused that physical abnormality. |
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Autism as a metabolic disorder. |
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Common food intolerances in autistic children especially to gluten (found in wheat, barley, rye and oats) and casein (milk products) has stimulated research into gut problems as the cause of autism.
When food, especially protein, is not properly broken down symptoms include smelly bowel movements, constipation or diarrhea. Less obvious are the brain effects. Toxins or peptides from the gut pass into the bloodstream and then into the brain.
These peptides affect the brain in much the same way as endorphins. Endorphins are substances that have an opiate- like effect creating a feeling of well-being. However, if the level of opiate activity is raised too high we become restless or spaced out, with a poor ability to concentrate. They can also alter our sensory perceptions; we would see colours differently and our perception of our body would alter. Many of these symptoms can be found in people with autism. They are hyperactive, have a high pain threshold, and we now know, from many personal descriptions, that their sensory impressions are fragmented. (Reference: Woodward and Hogenboom, “Autism -- A Holistic Approach”)
In my own work with a 40-year-old autistic man it was a huge relief to correct problems within his bladder and intestinal tract and see immediate positive changes in behavior. Even the cessation of bedwetting and aggressive patterns.
Whilst not curing the autism it was a step in the direction towards being able to connect with and have a hugely better experience with this man.
Pain and discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract is responsible for much distress, sleeping problems and aggression in the child with autism and should be addressed.
Combining complimentary food types can offer immediate relief to struggling guts and if the whole family adopts the changes then everyone benefits with better energy, clear thinking and inner wellbeing.
A warning about rushing into exclusiory diets -- eliminating foods and replacing with alternatives -- is that families often see positive change in behaviours in the short term only to witness a regression in 6 or 12 months. The problem can be a new intolerance to the alternative foods – the non wheat flours or the non dairy milks etc. That's one reason why I prefer healing of the inflammation of the gut to a lifetime of seeking to eliminate all the irritating foods. Ideally, strengthening the digestive system of the child so it can deal with normal foodstuffs and with a cleaner system allowing the flow on effects into the brain, pancreas and other vital organs of the body—much of which our medical science is not yet fully cognizant. |
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What is the Real Truth About Autism? |
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Okay so let’s cut to the essence of this seeming enigma called autism.
Understanding autism as first and foremost a physical problem or a brain injury does not cut it with me. You need to understand autism at the highest level.
Autism is first and foremost a problem of incarnation.
Ever noticed how many 'A" kids walk on tip toes, flap hands and look to the heavens? This should give us some strong clues on who these kids are and what we need to do to help...
Only by addressing the highest nature of what makes human beings the most evolved creatures (although not necessarily the smartest) on the planet can we hope to have lasting positive success with these young, acutely sensitive and powerful beings.
Tackling the spiritual or metaphysical aspects of the human child is not new age hocus pocus but fundamental to where we come from and crucial to where we are headed. For deep and lasting change we must encounter the strongest and mostly invisible forces of nature and life.
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Shock as a Cause of Autism. |
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Many parents report normal development in their child and then a turning point around age 2 or 3 or 4 when speech deteriorates and obsessive behavior escalates and then a diagnosis of autism. So, what facilitates this turning point?
My suspicion is that something happens and it may even be pre-birth that shocks a particularly sensitive soul out of their already tentative hold on this physical plane.
It makes interesting reading to compare symptoms of Autism with symptoms of shock. For Example, symptoms of shock include: |
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large intestine becomes irritated due to hypotension |
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kidney function may be affected (resulting in smelly urine) |
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No crying at all, or excessive crying that is unexplained |
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Low affect, little emotional expression |
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Not very present; dissociated; out of body |
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Lack of focused eye contact; stuporous or fixed gaze (zoning out); vacant or distant look (preoccupied) |
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Cold, clammy hands and feet |
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Restlessness |
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Hypervigilance |
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Chronic muscle tension |
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Shallow breathing |
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Speedy, racy, hurried |
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Extreme precision in physical movement; physically cautious |
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Hypersensitive sulting |
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Inability to sleep for the lengths of time appropriate to their age |
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Digestive upsets |
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And still on symptoms of shock:
Emotional symptoms |
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Easily frustrated |
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Lack of confidence to try new things |
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Gets unreasonably angry (out of proportion to the cause) |
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Overly expressive, hysterical |
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Not very present; dissociated; out of body |
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Try to predict and anticipate life; difficulty going with the flow |
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No inner trust; doesn't look inward for answers |
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Need (and try) to possess |
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Afraid of the unknown |
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Use/abuse others to meet their own needs; difficulty taking in love |
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Live in the head; try to theorize, figure things out intellectually |
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Eternally on the alert and hyper-vigilant |
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Seek safety; obsessed with being safe (even unconsciously); highly defended |
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Don't "belong" or "have no place" |
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Everything is "life and death" |
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Feels threatened by everything; hypersensitive |
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Learning disabilities |
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Extreme shyness or extreme gregariousness |
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Attention Deficit Disorder |
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Autism |
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If there is a connection between autism and shock then it needs to be addressed. I've had some recent experience that shows great promise in clearing shock from body and psyche of individuals with autism and seeing immediate change. I will pass that information on to my subscribers as it becomes available.
Intervention & what works.
Higher sensibilities, such is thinking, conceptualizing, empathy, understanding humour, compassion, creativity and passion for people and life all rely on well-developed foundational senses.
In normal development for example, creeping and crawling as an infant is responsible for the connections in the brain that lead to clear thinking, good eyesight and a host of other favorable outcomes. If a normal child were to have heavy restrictions placed on its natural desire to move and touch and play with objects it would most likely later demonstrate disabilities in coordination, eyesight, brain function and relationship with others.
And even in normal children some kids just need more time to develop certain senses. In a childhood stage of crawling on the belly, for example, what one child does in 3 weeks (in terms of development of organs and faculties) may necessitate 3 months or 6 months for a child whose body has been flooded by the chemicals of shock from childbirth or some other incident.
The symptoms of childhood autism are evidence that something has interfered with the development of the basic senses as talked about by Rudolf Steiner— the senses of life, movement, touch, balance, hearing and warmth. So these need to be addressed. It may just require more time and more work on certain stages and the qualitative use of the foundational senses to provide the full benefits to the developing child with autism.
Life is firstly about rhythm. Rhythmical patterns can be exaggerated and therapeutic. Parents and carers can encourage and lead the way in walking, talking, singing, drawing and breathing activities that engage and develop the sense of rhythm or life.
The sense of touch also needs attention. A box full of different materials and textures including rough and prickly, hard and soft, etc hidden beneath a cloth can work for some children. Encouraging them to feel for a particular item helps them to distinguish the boundaries between their body and the objects of the world. Gentle games that incorporate brushing and touching objects, hot and cold, smooth and rough to the face or arms or other exposed skin can also aid the process.
Children without speech can be encouraged to communicate with musical instruments. The child is guided to respond to a tone or note that you play on an instrument with a note played on a lyre, guitar, flute or other instrument. Sense of hearing in this way is developed as the precursor to speech.
An evening warm footbath has been shown not only to help children go to sleep but may also increase the interest and responsiveness i.e., “the warmth” of the child towards other people and the world in general. And rubbing the feet until they become pink is suggested by Woodward and Hogenboom as a way to stimulate the sense of warmth first thing in the morning.
Footnote: Highly recommended for parents or carers of children with ASD is our program, "52 STEPS to Parenting Autism Success". This contains our best insights and offerings including ongoing support, help and unique outside the box thoughts that help you quickly move towards designing your own toolbox of skills towards less autism, more normality, peace, joy and transformation...
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