Mark Haddon has written a wonderful book that is a best seller and won the Whitbread Book of the Year and the Whitbread Novel Awards. Mark Haddon himself wrote the book: "Who wants to read about a fifteen-year-old boy with a facial disfigurement?" he shouted. Little did she know that she was a crippled fifteen-year-old whose book was an award-winning, best-selling bestseller. The book is called "The Curious Incident of the Dog and Boy Christopher Through the Night."
Christopher is an autism scientist. He can name all the countries and their capitals. He has a photographic memory and a talent for math and science. Despite his unusual intelligence, he cannot imagine, understands figures of speech, and has an affinity for humor. He also does not like people touching him or crowded places. Individuals with autism sensitivity show common characteristics between autistic individuals and those with savant syndrome. Autism is a developmental disorder in the autism spectrum disorder group. This condition is mainly characterised by impaired socialization, imagination, and communication. Savant syndrome is characterised by very low general intelligence but typically very narrow intelligence in math, music, art, and memory.
In the story, Christopher's parents are separated. His mother has decided to leave Christopher and his father because she can no longer meet the demands of raising an autistic child. Parents of special children, such as children with autism, may experience higher levels of stress than most parents. This is mainly because their children have special needs, different behaviors, and different abilities compared to other children of the same age. These children will find it difficult to communicate, which will lead to unusual reactions. An example of this is when an autistic child starts crying and giggling for no apparent reason. It was possible that he was angry, but he couldn't say why because he didn't know what it was. Some autistic children with sensory integration problems may be hypersensitive to touch, pressure, movement, and sound. Sometimes they will exhibit behaviours that are difficult to understand, such as avoiding certain foods and drinks, pinching or hitting, repetitive movements, and screaming. Some of them can also show strict adherence to certain rules and fear new places or people. Adapting to the needs and coping with these children's habits is not easy and can cause a lot of stress.
Autism can limit a child's world significantly. They develop insecurities and need to avoid what they perceive as threats to their security. However, many social factors, situations, and demands make them insecure, and forcing them to deal with them often makes them anxious. Children with autism are often unconscious and intentionally worry about new or unusual things. As in the book, Christopher feels physically intimidated and afraid when he has to step outside the city he knows. The process of learning to understand and accept the previously unknown causes heightened anxiety.
Although adapting and coping with autistic children may seem like a daunting task, much has been learned and published about proper management that will not only reduce anxiety in children but also reduce stress for parents. Several techniques, such as cognitive behaviour modification, behaviour modification techniques, and environmental modification techniques, have been shown to be effective in changing inappropriate behaviour and improving learning skills in children with autism. Some conditions other than autism require additional treatment, as recommended by a doctor. Autistic children who suffer from manic depression due to their frustration at being voluntarily trapped in self-protective behaviour may need more treatment than previously thought. In this case, consultation with a psychiatrist is recommended, and additional medication may be prescribed.
Christopher's story ends with him overcoming the problems that plague him and his mother deciding to return to take care of him. As in the novel, this obstacle can be overcome in real-life families dealing with stress and anxiety. With proper management, medication, or therapy, stress and anxiety between parents and autistic children can be managed effectively.
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