Living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is like navigating an invisible obstacle course. While the challenges may not always be obvious to others, there’s always a reason behind the behaviors and struggles.
Embracing Zak is now available in Hardcover, Softcover, and e-Book.
Let’s peek into a day in the life of Zak, a young adult with FASD, to understand this better.
1. The Mysterious Case of the Missing Keys
What we see: Zak is always losing their keys and arriving late to appointments. What’s really happening: Zak’s FASD affects their working memory and organizational skills. Despite trying hard, they struggle to remember where they put things or to establish consistent routines.
2. The Social Butterfly Who Suddenly Withdraws
What we see: At a party, Zak is the life of the crowd one minute, then suddenly retreats to a quiet corner.
What’s really happening: Individuals with FASD often have difficulty with sensory processing. The noise, lights, and social interactions may become overwhelming, necessitating a retreat to recharge.
3. The “Lazy” Employee
What we see: Zak’s boss thinks they’re lazy because they keep asking for instructions to be repeated.
What’s really happening: FASD can affect how information is processed. Zak may need information presented in different ways or broken down into smaller steps to fully understand and execute tasks.
4. The Impulsive Shopper
What we see: Zak makes frequent impulsive purchases, leading to financial troubles.
What’s really happening: FASD can impact impulse control and understanding of abstract concepts like budgeting. Zak may struggle to connect their current actions with future consequences.
5. The “Moody” Friend
What we see: Zak’s friends think Zak is moody because his emotional reactions seem disproportionate to situations.
What’s really happening: FASD can affect emotional regulation. What seems like a minor issue to others might feel overwhelming to Zak, leading to seemingly outsized reactions. Remember, while these challenges may not be immediately visible, they’re very real for individuals with FASD.
The next time you encounter someone struggling in ways you don’t understand, consider that there might be more going on beneath the surface. A little patience and understanding can go a long way in supporting individuals with invisible disabilities like FASD.
TODAY’S NOTE: “When things go to overwhelm for me, Mom most of the time (not always sometimes she goes crazy) waits and then we figure it out.” – In Solidarity, Liz (1986-July 6, 2024)”
Red Shoes Rock 