my life as a young carer

introduction and definitions

Hi, my name is Louise. I am 15 years old and have to look after my little brother and my mum. My little brother Toby is 7 years old and has autism. My mum was diagnosed with having depression about a year ago after my dad left us. Everyday is a stressful, with all my exams and having to look after them both.

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Hey people,
This was just a short introduction to the book so sorry its super short, anyway I thought for those of you that don't know here are the definitions of autism and depression.

Autism:

People usually call it autism, but the official name is autism spectrum disorders. Why? Because doctors include autism in a group of problems that kids can have, including Asperger syndrome and others. These problems happen when the brain develops differently and has trouble with an important job: making sense of the world.

Every day, our brains iterpret (understand) the things we see, smell, hear, taste, touch, and experience. But when someone's brain has trouble interpreting these things, it can make it hard to talk, listen, understand, play, and learn.

A kid's symptoms could be very mild, severe, or somewhere in the middle. For example, some kids might be upset by too many noises or sounds that are too loud. Kids who have milder symptoms don't mind loud noises so much. Someone with mild symptoms might need only a little bit of help. But a kid with severe symptoms might need a lot of help with learning and doing everyday stuff.

Kids with autism often can't make connections that other kids make easily. For example, when people smile, you know they feel happy or friendly; when people look mad, you can tell by their face or their voice. But many kids who have autism spectrum disorders have trouble understanding what emotions look like and what another person is thinking. They might act in a way that seems unusual, and it can be hard to understand why they're doing it.

A kid with an autism spectrum disorder might:

have trouble learning the meaning of wordsdo the same thing over and over, like saying the same wordmove his or her arms or body in a certain wayhave trouble adjusting to changes (like trying new foods, having a substitute teacher, or having toys moved from their usual places)

Imagine trying to understand what your teacher is saying if you didn't know what her words really mean. It is even more frustrating if a kid can't come up with the right words to express his or her own thoughts, or tell a parent what he or she needs or wants. Sometimes this can make a kid very upset and frustrated.

Some issues — like not wanting to try new foods or not wanting anyone to move your toys — affect lots of kids, not just those who have an autism spectrum disorder. But kids with these disorders have more trouble "growing out of it" and learning to handle stuff that's challenging and annoying.

When you're in a sad mood, it may feel like it will last forever. But usually feelings of sadness don't last very long — a few moments, a few hours, or maybe a day or two.

But sometimes sad feelings can go on for too long, hurt too deeply, and make it hard for someone to enjoy the good things about life. This deeper, more intense kind of sadness that lasts a lot longer is called depression.

People of all ages can become depressed — even kids. Depression brings down a person's mood and energy. It can affect how people think about themselves and their situation.

If you think you have depression or you just have sadness that simply will not go away, it is important to talk to an adult about it (a parent, relative, doctor, teacher, counselor, coach, or close adult friend) so this person can help you.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

People who are depressed have some (but not necessarily all) of these symptoms:

Negative mood: Depression causes a sad, hopeless, or grumpy mood that lasts for weeks or longer. When people are depressed, they can also seem easily annoyed or angry.Negative thinking: People who are depressed might mistakenly think they are worthless, unlovable, or bad. They might think things will never get better.Negative attitude: People who are depressed might feel like nothing is worth trying, nothing's any good. This can make them feel like giving up.Low energy: People who feel depressed often feel too tired to do things they normally do, like play, go to school, or go to work.Not enjoying things: Depression can ruin enjoyment of the things someone normally likes, such as being with friends, enjoying family, or having fun.Trouble concentrating: Depression can make it hard to concentrate on schoolwork, reading, or what people say.Sleeping or eating problems: Depression can cause someone to sleep or eat too much or not enough.Feeling overwhelmed by problems: Depression can make it seem like every problem is too big to deal with.

When these problems last for weeks or longer, it is most likely a sign that the person is depressed. Some people who have depression may not even realize it. Often it's a parent, teacher, or family member who notices behavior changes like the ones in the list above.

Thanks for taking the time to read this guys

                       Katie x