Raising awareness about trauma-induced autism is crucial for improving support and outcomes for affected individuals. Recognizing the complex interplay between trauma and autism-like symptoms can help develop more effective strategies for addressing these issues. Some studies suggest that individuals who have experienced childhood trauma may exhibit autistic-like symptoms, such as difficulties with social interactions. However, empirical investigations of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are lacking despite indications of this.
Traumatic events can include natural disasters, abuse, neglect, war, death, loss, and witnessing violence. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be at increased risk for both encountering traumatic events and developing traumatic sequelae. Overlapping symptoms and distinct manifestations of these disorders pose challenges for the accurate identification, assessment, and treatment of anxiety and depression.
Trauma itself does not cause autism; it is primarily thought to have a genetic and neurodevelopmental basis. Early traumatic experiences or extreme stress can sometimes lead to behaviors or symptoms that might resemble autism, but these are often a response to the trauma, not a cause of autism. Several types of childhood trauma have been associated with an increased risk for developing autism, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and other behaviors.
In conclusion, while there is no clear evidence that childhood trauma causes autism, it can have many negative effects on a child’s mental and physical health. While trauma alone may not directly cause autism, it appears to increase the likelihood of developing ASD. The prevailing consensus among researchers and clinicians in the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is that trauma itself does not cause autism. Childhood trauma can significantly impact the symptoms and manifestations of autism, but it can exacerbate existing conditions.
📹 Real Questions – Is it true that emotional trauma at an early age a cause for autism?
Hi i’m jamie and i’m 50. is it true that some say emotional trauma at an early age especially bad parenting is the cause for autism …
Can trauma make you look autistic?
One in 13 UK children are believed to have PTSD, while around one in 57 are on the autistic spectrum. This is because childhood trauma often goes undiscovered, leading to children displaying autism-like behaviors that fit the timeline for an ASD diagnosis. Without trauma-informed assessment, autism can sometimes be the default diagnosis. However, it is possible for autistic people to experience PTSD and C-PTSD, just like anyone else. Both adults and children with autism and PTSD may struggle to get the additional diagnosis.
Studies suggest that autistic people may be at a slightly higher risk for developing PTSD, but reported rates are often low due to the differences in PTSD appearance in autistic individuals. Professor Connor Kerns from the University of British Columbia believes that the criteria used to diagnose PTSD may not be sensitive enough to spot signs in autistic people.
Is there a link between autism and childhood trauma?
Childhood trauma has been linked to a higher likelihood of developing autism in children. A study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that children who experienced physical abuse or neglect were more likely to develop autism. Emotional abuse or neglect was also linked to autism. Another study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that children who experienced trauma before the age of 3 were more likely to develop autism and had severe autism symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of addressing childhood trauma to prevent the development of autism.
What can trigger autism in adults?
Autism spectrum disorder is a condition affecting brain development, affecting social interaction and communication. It includes limited and repetitive behavior patterns. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity. Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions previously considered separate, such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and an unspecified form of pervasive developmental disorder.
It begins in early childhood and eventually causes problems in society, such as social, school, and work. Symptoms often appear within the first year, with some children developing normally in the first year and then going through a period of regression between 18 and 24 months of age when they develop autism symptoms. Some people still use the term “Asperger’s syndrome”, which is generally considered at the mild end of autism spectrum disorder.
What is often mistaken for autism?
Autism, short for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder causing behavior and communication problems. It typically presents in early childhood but can also affect adults. Some behaviors associated with ASD include trouble making eye contact. However, each person with ASD has a unique experience, with some experiencing mild symptoms that are barely noticeable, while others may have severe symptoms that significantly impact their lives.
Developmental delays, such as speech and hearing problems, can be mistaken for autism. It is essential to recognize and address these conditions to ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals with ASD.
Can trauma cause regressive autism?
Regressive autism, a neurodevelopmental difference affecting thinking, behavior, and communication, can be caused by stress, burnout, PTSD, and mental health issues. Early signs include reduced social and motor skills, and regression can occur later in adolescence. Some autistic individuals may be comfortable with their differences, while others require varying support to interact with a mostly allistic world.
What looks like autism but isn t autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a brain disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors, impaired social communication, and restricted interests. It often presents early but can be difficult to diagnose. Other brain disorders, such as ADHD and anxiety disorders, can mimic ASD symptoms. Autism can be misdiagnosed as another disorder with shared symptoms. The Drake Institute has been using advanced treatment technologies for over 40 years to help patients with brain-based disorders like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and autism. These treatments are non-invasive and non-drug, making them safe for children, teens, and adults.
Can emotional stress cause autism?
Research indicates that maternal stress during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of autism in children. However, stress alone does not cause autism; it acts as a contributing factor. The complex interplay between genetic predisposition and prenatal stress requires further investigation. To reduce maternal stress and promote emotional well-being, expectant mothers should adopt effective coping strategies like deep breathing exercises, prenatal yoga, meditation, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and seeking support from loved ones or professional counselors. Environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins, pollutants, and certain medications, can also contribute to prenatal stress and potentially impact autism development.
Can autism be triggered later in life?
Autism is a developmental disorder that occurs during childhood brain development, and while adults have completed basic neurodevelopment, symptoms can still appear in higher-functioning individuals under more stress or challenge. Some adults who were not diagnosed in childhood may be later diagnosed in adulthood. Symptoms of autism in adults can be similar to those in children, including difficulties in social situations, obsessive interests, and strict adherence to routines.
Can a person develop autism in adulthood?
Autism spectrum disorder is not a condition that can be developed by adults or teenagers, so there are no standard diagnostic criteria or testing for older children and adults with suspected autism spectrum disorder. Doctors rely on in-person interviews, interactions, and other symptoms to diagnose autism. In many cases, adults do not receive the correct diagnosis, as they may be misscreened as children and may be mistaken for a mental health or affective disorder. Additionally, adults who do not know they have autism may mask their symptoms, complicating the diagnostic process for both themselves and their clinicians.
Can early childhood abuse cause autism?
Recent research indicates a potential link between childhood trauma and autism, with some studies suggesting autistic-like symptoms such as social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors in individuals. However, this does not necessarily imply that trauma causes autism. The connection is still being explored, and researchers are working to understand the underlying mechanisms contributing to the similarities in symptoms. Factors to consider when exploring the link between trauma and autism include individual differences, and the manifestation of symptoms varying greatly among individuals with or without autism.
Can physical trauma cause autism?
Autism is not directly caused by trauma, but it may be more vulnerable in autistic children and adults due to adversity. Autism is primarily genetic, with genes accounting for 40 to 80 percent of a person’s likelihood of being autistic. Trauma can affect autistic individuals in unique ways, and people may confuse one for the other. This article explores the links between autism and trauma.
📹 Autism Trauma and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – What’s The Overlap?
Can childhood trauma cause autism? (Hint: No, there’s a very important distinction) In this video we’ll explore complex trauma and …
THIS!! THIS is what I’ve been waiting for as I grew up in a mentally & emotionally toxic environment where I was traumatised and yet victimised for another persons problems as well as my own autistic problems and made to feel ashamed for how I was hence the reason I suspect I also suffer with cPTSD. The shame and blame was enough to make me feel suicidal… even as a kid.
“Recognise that a person’s “problematic” behaviors and responses may be their attempts to protect themselves and to cope with stress.” Wow… how life could have been if this was recognized, and how much less “problematic” one would feel. Because that has always been the key word hasn’t it, we’re “problematic”. I always thought, why am I problematic, I am just doing what I can to cope. It’s so up-side down. You already struggle to cope, and then you have to go on and defend yourself for doing that, because it’s problematic to most others in most situations.
I have tons of both – my father chose me as the scapegoat child – and signed me out for extra abuse – because I was autistic … my hypersensitivity made tormenting me more “fun” for him … However, in the years since his death, my C-PTSD symptoms have slowly receded – and a much more cheerful autistic personality has begun to emerge – though I still have anxiety about how I will fit in with the rest of the world …
As a child I was quiet and disconnected, had a tendacy to wander off. Wandering off got me into a serious traumatic incident, afterwhich I completely went into a shell, did not speak and I remember feeling lost and having difficulting processing what was going on around me. I have dealt with this the rest of my life slowly emerging out of it but as you can imagine I have struggled with all aspects of life. I have learned to hide my disconnection with my surroudings but sense that people perceive that something is wrong.
When you said “endless chain of broken relationships”, that sums up my life so far, unfortunately. I am really trying to break out of some of the unhealthy patterns I have developed over time through trauma. When I was a young kid, I was distant from other people but was so happy. Interpersonal and family trauma has burnt out my trust and emotion regulation. I never really learned to set boundaries or manage conflict so I feel like I have to build from the ground up 🙁
I spent the first 36 years of my life thinking all my issues were due to trauma from growing up. But since my last breakdown in summer 2021 and the assessment I had with a mental health nurse, I am now on the pathway to diagnosis for autism. This mental health nurse was the first person in my entire life who looked at my history, looked at ME and revealed that he saw autism in me. Since then every piece of autistic information I have read is like a lightbulb going off in my brain. How many times my “weirdness” or character traits have been ignored or misunderstood. It makes me feel like I am finally beginning to understand who I am and that there was never anything “wrong” with me! That all my life feeling different, now means that I understand I am different! Not in a frustrating and scary way, but in a way that I now know wasn’t my fault. I was treated terribly by my father especially growing up. Really hatefully and terribly, so I’ve spent my life thinking it’s just the trauma from that. I now understand whilst yes that was traumatic, I was also grossly underestimated and misunderstood. It’s articles like these that make me feel like I’m not alone. Thank you ❤
The part of the article that clicked for me was realising that the more I heal my trauma, and live in a way that is supportive of my anxiety and depression, the more I experience the ability and safety to have self-stimming behaviours, engage in my special interests, and communicate with others in a way that works for me. Thank you for this article.
This makes sense to me. I was diagnosed just before I turned 60. I had blamed my difficulties in life on my difficult upbringing, even though we appeared to be a model family without “problems”. But I never felt nurtured. Now I believe my mother was also autistic, but possibly she just suffered trauma herself as a child which impinged on her ability to mother. In hindsight I’d say her trauma and my autism affected how she mothered and today it is difficult to see where one starts and the other finishes, but the Venn diagram makes a lot of sense.
Nothing like a good cry on a Sunday morning because someone finally describes and understands your experiences. One way that I feel alien is that I need to cry to release my intense feelings, whether from PTSD or just being Autistic. People are upset by tears and are always either raising the fire alarm or doing anything, including being harsh, to get you to stop. Crying makes people uncomfortable and I need to cry to release energy and emotions, whether they are mine or ones I feel from empathizing to intensely with another being–so I constantly make people uncomfortable. I have two stims that society views as symptoms of anxiety and depression: I need to bounce one of my legs or I need to cry or shake my body. Most of my adult and adolescent life, even before I felt “generalized anxiety” and the paralyzing effects of my PTSD, I was told I was “anxious” and “nervous” because of my bouncing and also “dramatic” or a “crybaby” and “too sensitive.” Because I was so easily upset, I quickly became a scapegoat for a variety of bullies in my life, including my older brother, my boyfriends, my friends, my teachers. I don’t know how many times people told me how much “fun” it was to give me a “hard time” and tease me because I got so upset. I have found pockets of relief when my “symptoms” can become superpowers, such as showing up for others who are in distress. I don’t always get it right, but my ability to just hang out and let others feel negative feelings without trying to fix them has definitely helped others and made me feel like I was worth something.
I grew up in an abusive household, I was bullied in school, I developed narcissistic personality traits that I mostly healed through finding good friends where I learned how to take care of relationships, . during my upbringing I had recurring depressions and I began to think I might be bipolar. It wasn’t until I had nervous breakdown a few years ago my difficulties became so many and my coping skills vanished completely that I began searching for serious help. After many years of misdiagnosis (bipolarism, borderline, mentalization based therapy that didn’t help and loads of different medications that didn’t help we finally arrived at autism and ADHD, but I have been questioning it’s accuracy because of how some of my issues became visible because of the serious trauma I experienced, and it took a long time for me to see the internal problems I had before my breakdown. So I have often thought maybe I was sub threshold autistic during my upbringing, but because of my severe burnout I entered diagnosable autism territory. either way I finally have the hope I might be able to live a bearable life, and maybe even might be able to thrive. Life is still not easy, I’m still struggling with the most basic things and I seem fully normal and functioning to most people I know, even my closest friends, masking is a grey area where I’m not sure I’m even fully aware at what level I mask. i’m at home alone 95% of the time, I just had my mother over and I felt physically ill while she was here, but after a while of engaging in my interests in hyperfocus I was back to baseline.
There really is something relieving about hearing “you’re the expert of your own life”. That sentiment is rarely affirmed in my experience. I’ve seen first hand the lack of knowledge and consideration of others, including “professionals”. Some are great but so many of them don’t take the time to really understand our inner workings. I appreciate the person who told you that and you for sharing it 🙏🏽
I loved this. Especially the part about what a happy and healthy autistic person could look like where I felt like maybe I could imagine a future for myself where I am happy and confident while still being as weird and wacky as I am now! Plus, as someone who has been through trauma it was a wonderful reminder that trauma can be healed. <3
We’re looking into this now too. Pretty sure I have cPTSD issues. Besides the fact that autistic people can feel traumatized by even “lesser” events, I’ve had a few actual traumatic events in my life, and along with the late diagnosis AND I am very likely ADHD TOO, I figure I’m pretty much a shoe-in for the PTSD stuff. I’m thinking I’m going to start adding all the acronyms I’ve accumulated after my name in emails etc. Maybe people will confuse them with with accreditation initials and think I’m just insanely intelligent and educated. 🤪
Due to varied and extreme trauma during childhood, I struggled with CPTSD to such an extent that I tried to kill myself in my teens. I felt incredibly disconnected from my body and was perpetually exhausted emotionally from having to constantly mask how little I understood or was understood by my peers. I’ve grown fascinated by the shocking similarities between my character traits and those of Aspies.
I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD before Aspergers (now ASD-1). So yes, having that my whole life definitely led to the others. Mostly, it’s how other (neurotypical) people react to you and treat you as less than because they can’t possibly try to meet you halfway even though you attempt to meet them all the way every time. I think schools need to start teaching neurotypical people empathy.
I have CPTSD and got misdiagnosed through mental health services for years, then just recently had my autism assessment and got abused as part of it. I was dismissed based on ignorance and pseudoscience because the services in my area are underfunded and under investigation for extremely low diagnosis rates. So frustrated but going to keep fighting (sadly) to get what I deserve. This dynamic is reflective of the abuse I’ve experienced for being autistic – i.e. not believed, not listened to, dismissed. I’m so sick of fighting. I’m documenting the journey on my website anyway so I just hope it can help others in the future who will inevitably end up in the same position. Thanks for your content Paul.
I have been diagnosed with depression & anxiety, then bipolar, then BPD, then a year later complex PTSD. Last Saturday I met with a mental health person I hadn’t seen before and she suggested I get tested for autism, if I felt comfortable doing so. I’m a 37 year old woman and for the first time ever I feel like I finally have answers for why I’ve spent my life feeling the way I feel…it’s as shocking to me as being told told I’m adopted and that’s not to make light of people in that situation…that’s how shocked I feel.
Where my current source of therapy keeps falling short, you’re here always to pick up the pieces! I feel very lucky for the parts in my journey to acceptance that you have been able to help me fill in, and made me help bridge this period of coming to terms with my conditions, especially where my therapists had nothing to offer me. Thank you immensely.
I’ve been diagnosed with c-ptsd, but not autism and ADHD, which I’ve now come to realise, I fit the bill for. This came about after years of trauma recovery therapy and following the clues through other family members getting diagnosed with Autism and/or identifying with the symptoms of ADHD. I’m going to pursue diagnosis. Although I had a chaotic, frightening and neglected childhood and grew up with parents with disordered attachment (which I inherited), I have worked so hard to mask, (which I got severe burnout from, and yet helped me develop socially, as well) to get my frontal lobes online ( books are probably how I survived my childhood and how I ended up as sane as I am) and to create a life that isn’t so overloading that I cannot function. I now have a fullfilling relationship with another neurodiverse and trauma-recovering person. I I love your website. Very comforting and informative. Thank you.
This is such a great topic. And one that I’ve been obsessing about a little, too. Having read Pete Walker’s CTPSD. From Surviving to Thriving, I started having doubts whether I was autistic at all. Maybe I’m just traumatized, and a huge nerd, but otherwise typical? Not that it makes any difference, but I just looove to know stuff, just for the sake of it. And you are absolutely right, traumatic experiences we may have had as children, whether we are autistic or not, are not always connected to a clear memory of one, particular, “big T” traumatic event (one reason being, like you said, people may not remember the “big T”, and the other that they underwent a series of micro-traumas, i.e. exposure to some adverse circumstances). Thence the concepts of “cPTSD” and “emotional flashbacks”, not very academic but pretty handy! Somehow, I find it hard to imagine an autistic person without a level of complex trauma baggage. All humans have had traumatic experiences, even ones that seem small from the adult perspective, like falling of a bike or your pet dying, and all the more so sensitive individuals, which would include people on the spectrum. For example, as a kid I was bullied because of my quirks, disregularion and poor communication skills, which was a huge stressor for me because I yearned to be accepted – so was the issue here autism- or trauma-related? Could be both, intertwined.
I had an abusive stepparent from ages 10 to 15 and when we left him my mom took me to a counselor and I was diagnosed with PTSD. I remember trying to tell her that a lot of these things that she was asking me about were things that were happening long before we ever met this abusive person, but she wouldn’t listen to me and disregarded me. This article is very helpful for me to see the differences and similarities. I am definitely autistic and I definitely have had trauma. I worked for years with different therapist on my complex PTSD and never got as much from it as I felt I needed. Now I’m realizing that I’ve actually made a lot of progress overcoming my traumas, and I just need to be more understanding with myself.
It all makes so much sense now, It feels like you are speaking of everything I have not been able to explain for myself or others in a comprehensive summary way before. It feels like I finally realize that I might have Autism, Adhd, Autism Trauma, and PTSD in a very complex way that I haven’t been able to fully explain or understand and know for sure until now. Since I started to watch your articles it feels like I can relate to at least 99% of all the content I’ve seen so far on your website. Your sharing brings so much clarity and understanding and helps me (and hopefully a lot of others as well) to recognize, understand, accept, and heal deeper parts of my childhood, adolescence, and puberty that needed more attention, understanding, love, and healing. Thank you for sharing this valuable helpful content and I wish that everyone that feels incapable, misunderstood, hurt, and traumatized in any way finds the best way possible to function properly, finds their optimal way to complete healing, and finds deeper understanding about themselves and others and finally be able to create and receive true love and acceptance in their lives. Wish you all the best and thanks once again for sharing this mind-opening content!
The more I learn about PTSD the more I’m sure I’ve been through it. I had a traumatic injury had flashbacks for years. I’m talking suddenly gasping back into reality after spending 10 seconds just hearing my screams and feeling the snow start to burn my skin from over exposure. I’ve pretty much recovered from what I can tell but it feels good to have a label for it other than just “thinking about an injury too much.”
For years I’ve felt a strong affinity to people on the Spectrum, even though I’ve never been officially diagnosed. My parents refused to see the positive aspects you mentioned here. To them, my issues were just personality quirks that I should be able to overcome. When I tried to tell them otherwise, they told me not to be defeatist, and to just try harder. Toward the end of his life, my dad finally admitted that I’d had these traits since early childhood, but they never got me tested because they hoped I’d just outgrow them. Most probably they were also afraid of what a diagnosis would have meant for me, growing up in the 1960’s when ASD wasn’t nearly as well understood. I can’t say I blame them for not having me tested, but constantly invalidating my attempts to share how I felt left me with very low self esteem that I still struggle with to this day. I know they meant well, but I wish they had simply taken me seriously and had my back as parents should. Anyway, thanks so much for another excellent article!
Thank you for this fantastic article. Iam in the autistic spectrum myself with a comormidity of ADHD. PTSD seems to play a huge role. I work as a empathic therapist (systemic constellation). Working with my clients often resembels my own inner strugles. Espacially with trauma. Because I understand and feel my clients so well, I can go along with them in a very special way. This article helped my, to understand the link between autism and PTSD. I might integrate it into my work after some more research. So thank you very much!
Thank you for your excellent synthesis of two complex topics and their interrelarionships. I appreciate how you have integrated polyvagal theory, and clearly defined your terms. As a clinician who has complex trauma on the spectrum, I find that the current offerings in the mental health community often further traumatize those on the spectrum because they deny or are unaware of the needs of autistic patients. My goal is to make constructive change, and that change begins by awareness of the issues involved. Showing us a glimpse of healthy thriving autistic people is a start. We can not only thrive, but go on to be valuable assets to our communities. I thank you for your insight, and for your courage to share your experience. It echoes my own.
Thank you. This is so helpful. I’m in my 40s, diagnosed with CPTSD about 6 years ago. I have worked through a lot of the trauma triggers, but I’m starting to realize how much I still struggle and how much relief I have gotten from addressing sensory sensitivities lately (reducing occurrence of panic attacks or a need to remove myself from uncomfortable places)– wearing earplugs, using lamps in my office, etc. And as I’ve begun to explore more about my childhood, I wonder if I might be autistic. But my major point of confusion has been around the differences between CPTSD and Autism.
On such a great article as this one my comments seem pathetic. The usual “good article, buddy” seems like an injuctice. This website is helping me unravel the lifelong mystery of it all and is giving me the spunk to share all this with my family. Well, I’m not quite there, but…in time, I hope. So a big “thank you” to the creator who put so much time and effort into a website that deserves so much more love. Aspees Eternum! 😁
I’m 61 years old, female and was diagnosed with Austism/Apergers’ Syndrome last month. I sought diagnosis as I had identified myself as Autistic through research and a life of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicide attempts and utter exhaustion! Paul investigated and explained the relationship between Autism and Trauma so well. Thank you! This information is so vital to understanding ourselves as Autistics and working through years of cumulative, negative experiences. Again, thank you so much, Paul!!
Paul! I just realised that all my seeking for what caused my probles was in the wrong direction. I allways tought I had a trauma but I didn’t remember what was that? I hadn’t a too good childhood but nothing special. Something was clearly missing from the solution. Now I realised that all my “trauma” simptomes started at a very young age. Actually they were allways with me. Now I day by day know better and better that I have autism. Now I just need a diagnosis.
I pity those three souls who downvoted this, this is so great and informative. I’m in treatment because of cPTSD-caused depressions and have recently found out that I show significant traits of Asperger as well, which actually feels like a biiig relief. I always felt something about me was WRONG despite all the progress I made in therapy, and knowing I’m not wrong. Now I think to know what this feeling is. I’m not wrong, I’m just very DIFFEENT. Phew. I can breathe again. This article was great and very clear and helped a lot. Thanks a ton!
I grew up in a loving environment and was diagnosed very early, but even then there were moments where I just wasn’t respected and moments where I just couldn’t function, especially on long journeys. It’s really surprising to see a comparison made to trauma, and I hope I don’t have any lasting issues from it, just life experience. I’m just generally a happy person.
Excellent, I was really looking for this information and needed to know that the two have common traits, but that they need to be worked on each level. I wish I could find the right therapist. I have spent my time and money going to people who don’t understand complex trauma and don’t understand autism, especially in women. It brought to a state of despair and I lost any motivation to stay alive. People like you give me hope, but they’re hard to find, especially in Europe.
Society stresses us, extracts only our reactions, and again ignores us. Social exclusion and traumatic experiences are thick rain clouds that mask the original problem. I honestly believe that many autistic people suffer from PTSD at the same time. We are at risk of lifelong exposure to the risk of trauma. (I have been treated as a useless machine and a mute robot in a world without manuals, and I have been treated badly.) I hope that ours will be a society that nurtures us in good health.
Thank you, Paul. Before I started school, I was happy, but then, once I started school, my life became very different. I was bullied by so many kids and I became quite anxious and upset by so many things. I remember, in my first week at school, kids would come up to me and roar like lions. I have complex PTSD issues, as well as autism and I find that engaging in my autistic special interests helps me.
I think I might have trauma as a result of speaking out against ableism years ago and all of my friends dismissing me. I feel very humiliated and let down. Often very angry. Sometimes suicidal about it. I just think of their smug declarations of “This isn’t a big deal.” As if I didn’t research for years before even opening my mouth and I need them to tell me what’s a big deal and what’s not. I feel villified and awful. And they think they are right and I am just having a tantrum out of nowhere. It’s so isolating.
Watching this made me cry, I have long believed I have Asperger’s but know one believes me. For the last year I have been seeing a councellor and found out that I also suffer complex trauma, I thought my childhood was different but it was normal for me!?!? I know that may not make sense to some of you…. I really really would like an official diagnosis but here in the UK it is proving to be extremely difficult and being a femal of 55yrs its vertual impossible but if I could get one it would help me accept myself for who I am and not just a hypochondriac that some doctors think I am?!?!? Thank you for your article
Wow. I can tick off the whole list of all these symptoms. I have an extreme neurotic personality and struggle with relating to people normally, perpetually feeling like an alien. I tend to overwhelm others with information and struggle with withholding my thoughts and opinions when I should. I once had enormous energy and social interactions were fun and natural, occasionally learning people were surprised by me just walking off when I think things are done, instead of recognizing if they’re done or not. I studied the interactions and expected responses of others around me constantly. I’ve always shifted my behaviors to become more positive with others but as an adult this has been extremely difficult to do, because I have a lot of severe fear reactions to things that I’m barely aware of and struggling to recognize in time to hopefully curb the reactions. I recognized quickly that my behavior when I began university was extremely different from my behavior at the end of it. My behavior changed even further since then: after repeated hospitalizations, surgeries, and social isolation. I have always had emotions that exist in an all or nothing state, have had extremely contradictory abilities and weaknesses, love doing ritualistic and rhythmic behaviors, and have extreme enjoyment of delving into learning and working on specific things, even though I now realize some of the delving into topics has also been a protective mechanism, to shield myself from the stressful environment I grew up in and continue to live in.
I have had Cptsd and have sought out therapy Initially for complications from childhood sexual abuse from a family member from 8 to 12.In the process found out I’m on the spectrum.Was diagnosed with asd level 2 just a yr ago.I’m a 42 yrs old. Trying to get proper help with this has been a 20 yr process and still going.Thank you so much for this article.
This was so interesting and informative. I suffer from complex ptsd and I didn’t know the correlation to autistic symptoms. I was an occupational therapist working with children on the spectrum for many years and it was always so apparent that we just understood each other. Parents could not understand why their child felt more comfortable with me than themselves. I wish I had known this information then, it would have broken less hearts…I think. I have been perusal many of your articles and I think this is such important work. Perhaps you will help the world accept differences and treat each other with love and kindness.💜
I have SPD (on the spectrum) and CPTSD. I was diagnosed with SPD as a child (was called Sensory Integration Dysfunction back then) and diagnosed with CPTSD a few years ago. I am very early on in my journey of what is a trauma response and what is a sensory overload issue. This article was really great to watch – made sense and helped me to see that I’m not the only one trying to find a way to navigate life with these issues. Thank you for this article!
Very helpful, Paul, from both standpoints separately as well as together. I also work with a lot of traumatized people, ASD or not. The trauma as well as the autism explanations are probably the most clear I’ve seen. This was much more clear than most trauma training. As someone also having ADHD, I had no trouble (well, I paused a couple of times) perusal this long. The graphics helped, rather than overwhelmed me, which is usually a big issue. Your timing in speaking and in the visuals was also good, not at all overwhelming. I hope that some day you re-visit the ASD-ADHD comparison article after this same format!!! Thanks!
I’m 46 years old now. And I’m totally broken. In the age of 35 I got my first psychiatric clinical stay. I have been diagnosed with autism and a bipolar spectrum disease. Now 10 years later nothing got better. I’m still suffering from my problems. End of last year I had a breakdown. Now I realized that I had a terribly childhood. I find a very hard to get help. Luckily I have a employee who helps me where possible. I have the possibility to get to a clinic. But now I realized: no special treatment for trauma. It’s a general psychiatric hospital. They say, they don’t beleave autism may be correct because of some numbers (probabilites, not my personal situation). The therapy won’t contain any elements to minimize my social difficulties. It’s so bad. I can choose for this therapy or wait a few years. But how long? I’m 46 years old. My life is not livable that way. No friends, not social contacts, no own family… Anything I reached has no worth for me.
I am undiagnosed and my brain can’t stop thinking about if it’s just CPSD or if my gut is right about being on the spectrum – for ten years I am doing Polyvagal-informed trauma work and now I am still left with quick sensory overload, not liking soft touch (yikes), upsetting classrooms with my apparently very excited learning brain and still not really deeply understanding social interactions. But although my childhood had challenges, I felt happy, compassionate and l like humans – they just don’t seem to share the same live and let live with me… this article made me cry, because after healing trauma, that is the person I am! Thank you so much!
Excellent article. I started suspecting I was on the spectrum when I felt I had worked through complex trauma sustained in early childhood and again in my teenage years, and then again as a young adult yet to this day, at 31, I still run into problems with relating to people, maintaining friendships and the drain from what I have identified as masking. I still shut down in certain situations, I still feel overwhelmed at times, I still obsess over ultra niche stuff that brings me joy or stimulates me intellectually, I still do the happy heel bounce and hand flutter or can’t seem to stop whistling/singing. But at the same time, I am worried that therapists will blame it all on trauma and won’t take me seriously – as a trans man I am often seen as a tomboy and the “autism is a boy disorder” is still going strong.
This is what I’m in the middle of af this moment. Started trauma therapy (emdr) last week for some events that I’d say any “normal” person wouldn’t develop traumatic response to or would be able to process it in small time and move on at least. I have really fought off the term trauma, because in my mind it doesn’t fit, it’s more an over-reacting or the autistic response or lack of processing. But then where there’s smoke there must be a source, and if it does keep on bothering in the day to day life it probably should be addressed. The emdr is a draining experience, having to follow the light with my eyes is over-stimulating on it’s own-we might change to a different type of stimulus (auditive of tactile) if it keeps having that effect. I’m curious about the content of this article. (After seeing the content) I can really resonate with this. Thank you so much Paul, this is more or less the information I would like my environment to know (but at this point I’m still too unsure of my identity to do so, still finding my way since being diagnosed december 2019, at 25 years then)
Thank you for this very informative article, I am 70 years old and always knew there was something not right in my world. I have realised only in the last 2 years exactly what it is – both autism and CPTSD. This article confirmed my thoughts, better late than living in fear and all the other symptoms for the rest of my life. Take care and thanks so much once again xx
Funny how when I came to the full realization I have Aspergers all the flashbacks of random events in my life and the guilt associated with them melted away immediately. Everything just suddenly made sense. I think it’s because knowing WHY anything is what it is has always been an integral part of me feeling Comfortable with it.
Thank you for this article. I have been worried about my son and his ability to “fit in” in society. After you did the breakdown of a healthy individual and how they interact with the world describes my son. But as a functional adult, I dont fit the build. I recently was diagnosed as ptsd/adhd after a lifetime of being told i was bipolar and the various levels of abuse. It took the pandemic happening and being around someone who respects my son and I to show that i wasnt damaged. I am told I need to write a book by alot of people. That it would be something that can affect others in a great way.
Man this was an eye-opener I didn’t know I needed. I’ve connected my symptoms to c-ptsd for a while in some way, but it felt wrong. some symptoms also overlap with Borderline Personality Disorder, which was suspected by psychiatrists and me, too, at some point. Not too long ago I’ve been diagnosed with asperger’s and your articles have helped me understand serveral key things about myself. Thanks for explaining the stuff in a truly relatable way.
This was a great article, Paul. Thank you so much for analyzing this subject so thoroughly. As someone who has been profoundly affected by PTSD since childhood and also unaware of my autism until later in life, this journey has been extremely tough. But perusal articles like yours certainly helps put things into some sort of perspective and I would anticipate that this article can also be of good value to many other autistic people too. I watch your articles every week and you are doing a fine job. People like your good self do not grow on trees and are invaluable to the autistic community. As I’m sure you are fully aware, it is wonderful to discover someone who really gets it with regards to autistic related difficulties. Keep up the good work and thanks again!
Oh my, the best autism awareness article I have seen this far! It’s ressonates so extremely well with me, because I believed I had PTSD from years of school bullying and even emotional abuse from some of the teachers, but my psychocologist thougt I am autistic, so now I am assesed for it at the age of 33.And I am fine with it, at last, even though I didn’t identified myself as autistic because I am able to understand sarcasms and not a completely litteral thinker, but I was indeed labeled as a weird child despite doing great with learning skills and I never made any true friends. I still feel like I am too odd to be able to be loved by anybody else than my parents. Hopefully, I will get help with sorting this out and thank you for pointing out the concept of mentally healthy aspies! It’s so refreshing and hopefull compared to all the misery I have read about in my research of the diagnosis! I needed to hear that! ❤
I can certainly see similarities to my own experience. Many things which would be a minor and temporary problem to others would be trauma for me. The memories from such events can haunt me for years and cause permanent terror of a certain person, place, or situation. In cases that seem to be my fault, the guilt, shame, and even physical distress can last for months, or even years. My exceptional long term memory can be a curse more than a blessing. Lately my rheumatologist has told me that I have an autoimmune disorder, so perhaps the emotional symptoms can lead to physical ones.
Hello! I watched and listened until the end, and you asked for comments. I never think about writing comments, but as you asked so sincerely I will comment! I must say my life has been nothing more than riding a tornado which deposits me in various “lives” before sometime later sweeping me up again and thoroughly disorienting me. I often reflect about, each time, I start over each time emotionally, a baby again, unsure, but so needy and dependent on those beings around me. It takes time to learn what they want and try to stay safe while staying nearby. I feel a bit like a feral cat. I know those nice people are trying to help and love me, but they still scare me. They move too quickly and speak too loudly. I have loved a feral cat or two to the point they feel safe and I have always wondered how to do that for myself. This article has opened up a new objectivity about myself. I suppose that is what you call acceptance. One can’t be objective about something they don’t accept by definition. Perhaps the empathic journey with my cats was about conveying to them that I understood that they might bite, or feel scared, or be depressed. I think they knew I could relate to their traumas. It allowed them to accept also and then trust opened up with their new felt confidence. So, Thank you for conveying this empathy and understanding to us feral cats, my friend!
Currently going through my childs IEP looking to change some of the wording around “due to autism child may cause harm etc” my child ask if they are dangerous. I’ve been going back and forth to inform about the trauma response and the autism atypical response with the key that my child just wants to feel safe. This article is plain. Thanks so much!
Warning: Long TL;DR: This article was really helpful to me. Also this website is very aesthetically pleasing, without being overwhelming. I’m so glad you made this article. I’ve had some people (teachers, doctors, and even some of my neurodivergent peers) ask me if I have autism, or just assume that I do. So, naturally, I looked into it (that’s actually how I found this website). In spite of the fact that I had some of the symptoms, which all ended up falling under the overlapping portion of the Venn diagram, something about it never really clicked. The best way I can think to describe it is that I couldn’t relate to the experience of having autism, even if I could relate to some things that can be correlated with autism (e.g. not understanding social norms). And of course, there were a lot of symptoms that I just didn’t have. I’d heard of C-PTSD, but didn’t think it could apply to me for several reasons. For context, I spent my infancy in a Christian cult in the middle of Buttfuck-Nowhere, Missouri. I have very few memories from my time there, as my parents left when I was 4, and only one of the memories I do have is negative—most of them were just normal childhood stuff. My parents were far from abusive, and did their best to raise me and my siblings normally. Considering the fact that they spent 20+ years in an abusive cult, I’d say they did pretty good. But the way I saw it was, if I was too young to even be making memories, then there’s no way I could develop PTSD. I also straight up didn’t want to believe I could be traumatized, because I saw those with trauma as weak and irrational (I have no clue where these beliefs came from), and because the discourse around trauma on social media seemed shallow and disingenuous, which discouraged me from pursuing the subject further.
Diagnosis in Switzerland is still very backwards, and for me it was invalidating and shaming on top of that. I still hiss in frustration, whenever think back at this encounter, with “SO called” autism expert. Last year I was diagnosed with ONLY Aspergers Autism. I know in other countries such as Canada, USA they do double diagnosis of Autism AND Ptsd, some even do a ACE Screening!! (Big Kaiser Permanente ACE STUDY By Felitti and Anda, almost 20 years ago!) Because my report was such a disaster, riddled with mistakes and misrepresentations, I had asked for another meeting and I had prepared myself well, for this last meeting. I wanted my Trauma acknowledged in the corrected report, NOT swept under the rug) So I did my presentation, stating all traumas – developmental – school – relationship – cult but “autism expert” literally turned her body away, not wanting to acknowledge I had PTSD from all of that. Refusing basically, to give me support where I needed it (so I could have access to necessary therapies) She told me to my face, that she had asked me a few questions during the evaluation (regarding PTSD) but since I was no expert, I might not have even observed it (how can your PTSD be triggered by random questions, when only VERY SPECIFIC THINGS, THAT REMIND YOU OF YOUR TRAUMA, will TRIGGER A PTSD STRESS RESPONSE) and that she, with a supervisor comittee of other experts had discussed my case and decided, there was no PTSD (none of these supervisors had ever met me in person, they just heart “autism expert” perspective) How is that objective?
Gr8… More fear of I won’t be believed, again. I have had a tonne of trauma. But because of my (let’s call it..) self discovery writing over several years and remembered keys that really stand out from my life and point to Autism I cannot overlook. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve received comments such as these mainly from people who barely knew me or spent much time with me, “you’re a very deep thinker” “you articulate things very well” “you’re quite intelligent” “you’re wise”, that’s a few off the top of my head that I’ve been told by more than one person more than once for each. I didn’t intentionally influence them to say it ever, neither did I expect any of them were about to say it beforehand. I also never say those things to myself even if I think I am that or not, and I certainly wouldn’t say something like “I’m intelligent or wise” out loud to someone else. It isn’t due to school based learning type knowledge so much, only it’s hard to simply say what type of understanding I have that caused people to see those things in me and say them to me. However I say it’s like a blessing and a curse. And my belief I have Autism does not spur from poor emotional regulation in the form of bad behavior, but I do feel some very real effects of burnout and other features of Autism are present like stimming, executive function and more which I’m still researching Autism to find what names do match the types of ways I am, how I work that relate to Autism. I think I can from my own experiences identify the defining differences between Autism and Trauma that I’ve had throughout life since I believe I’ve had Both.
I came to the possibility that I may be ASD while in the process of learning about cPTSD. I am slowly coming to the hypothesis that the trauma was caused by my difficulties in communicating with peers and adults, creating the situations where I was treated badly (sometimes criminally) by them. One indirectly caused the other, and the combination of the two has been nearly fatal on many occasions. Only now am I beginning to see it all like a road map… And reclaim my life in the process. Thank you for covering this.
Thank you so much for the info, both about the support program and the reminder that I’m not alone and I’m not crazy. I felt so terrified as a child that I was somehow just pretending to be ASD, despite it being obvious even to me from as young as breastfeeding. Being Hyperlexic as well as ASD meant I hyperfocussed on communication to try to somehow eliminate or fight my feelings of fear, being misunderstood etc but that caused everyone around me to “forget they were interacting with a child” causing more trauma and stress. My mother was the main cause of my stress and misunderstanding fears so every interaction had what you described as trauma signs. I literally feared being at home, hearing her voice etc so my own home was the trigger that stayed with me and built up for near two decades.
Thanks for this insightful article. I was diagnosed over a decade ago with PTSD and major depression from multiple sources. From childhood abuse to being a passenger in multiple car wrecks to being abandoned by my first husband while pregnant with our third child, there has been much to work through. At the time diagnosed, it seemed logical and, yet, not quite complete. There were reasons beyond the abuse I could not understand people, for example. There was more than fear attached to my lack of pursuing a driver’s license. There were triggers and sensory issues that could not be correlated to any of my trauma, yet there they were- and are. I always knew I related to all my spectrum kiddos’ testing but I never gave myself permission to examine that fact for a long, long time. Once I began to allow myself to take the tests for myself in earnest, answers began to click in. Now is the struggle to cope and to feel validated in my daily walk as a self-diagnosed adult…
Loving the newer higher production value on this article as opposed to earlier articles of yours. Love the amount of research and detail. This definitely resonated with me having been officially diagnosed with both PTSD and ASD, and also the MDD and GAD that seem so incredibly common. I was also one of the late diagnosed females who was incorrectly diagnosed as well, so I wholeheartedly support the dialogue from the Autistic community to help better inform and break down the walls of stigma. (I really should start making a list of all the wonderful advocates within our community. You all give so much and it’s so greatly appreciated. After official diagnosis it was not only listening to many individuals online express themselves, but advocates who were producing online material that helped me better understand my diagnosis and really start to come to terms with it… moreso than any professional therapy/counseling I’ve had thusfar. Thank you SO so much. Much love.)
very clear and very helpful…..i’m learning to listen and respond in a new positive powerful way……this is a very new experience…diagnosed recently at 72….the world is opening up and it is powerful….ihave had the same therapist for many years…..and they are agreed to work with me, positively, with my new diagnosis…..trauma and ptsd has followed me to here…..on the whole i am looking foward…..thank you for your articles…….
This article is helping me maintain my long slipping grip on whatever my reality is. 31. Losing it – phew! I am lucky to have developed hardcore intuitive introspection earlier in life and reached out for help and resources over the last 4 years. I think I am finally making headway. Life itself is forcing me to hunker down in the middle of the metro but I think that may be the paradigm I need through and through.
This article really helped me understand a bit more with my own aspergers and my PTSD. I hope to see more articles on the subject especially people with aspergers and PTSD. Cause I’ve been struggling alot ever since me and my other brother found my youngest brother in our parents basement the day he committed suicide.
Thank you for this fantastic article! So nuanced, thorough and empathetic yet neutral. Content about psychiatric conditions (both from professional/official sources and from people online) often feels a bit exaggerated and polarizing to me. Like I have to see myself as ‘having it worse than others’ in order to properly fit into the diagnostic category. I’ve been officially diagnosed with ASD since a few years, but this kind of talk has made me feel very guilty and doubtful about the diagnosis. Therefore, I think it’s great that you specifically mentioned that childhood trauma is extremely common and that there’s huge overlap between ASD & PTSD symptoms. Great job 🙏
More about healthy autistic folks please 🥰 As I come to terms with a late in life (just shy of 45, though I’ve been exploring/denying for a decade, as well as addressing mental health/mood disorders/ACE trauma) I’m a fairly well adjusted, resilient, emotionally intelligent (if somewhat robotic about it, I feel like it’s more that I’m just not surprised by things/people patterns and can predict outcomes readily which makes me seem lacking affect) and I’d just like to be around more oddballs that have a healthy embrace of their traits!
i dont even have words for what i’m feeling right now. perusal your articles is like looking into a mirror that reflects my true self, my inner being and how my brain works. i’ve experienced a lot of trauma from a very young age and have had various misdiagnosis all throughout my life. i often wonder if my recent diagnosis (ASD 1) is also wrong due to recent traumatic events i’ve experienced. But i do remember being “a healthy autistic” after healing from my childhood trauma, even though i didn’t know i was autistic at that time. I just knew i was different and I was proud of it; i was able to communicate what i needed in a somewhat “normal” or acceptable way; i was engaged in my special interests and i felt passionate about them; and i was able to make friends who loved me for who i truly am. thank god they are still in my life despite me not being able to reciprocate for a long time, they just stood by me and helped me the best they could. Oh my goodness! I’m sorry about the feelings coming out like that lol. i guess what i’m trying to say is thank you for making me feel validated and helping me answer a question that has been lingering in my brain since getting the diagnosis. much love to you!
I have both. I was diagnosed with cPTSD first. I accept that diagnosis because I experienced extreme trauma. I didn’t even consider autsim although my son and my niece and even their kids have been diagnosed with it. I never thought I could have autism. I was in therapy for PTSD and we spent about 4 years removing the layers and putting them in their place. it wasn’t until just this year, after I could remember my childhood other than the trauma I started to remember the abuse about my lack of eye contact and other things. I read before I was 4 yrs old and although I could comprehend what I read my reading skills were still a bit impared. How I played with my toys and I’m grateful that I had stereotypical stims and more as a child. My mother reported sensory issues from birth. I had no idea my psychiatrist suspected it because he didnt’ mention it for a long time. We ended talking about it. I finally accept that I have both cPTSD and Autism.
I’m incredibly frustrated. I fit the bill for ASD, ADHD and C-PTSD. I’ve been told that I have GAD, bipolar, potential BPD… but nobody has ever really narrowed it down. I’ve spent the past decade trying to figure myself out. I’ve largely healed from my trauma, but there are still difficulties with emotional regulation, stimming, self-confidence and other aspects. I just don’t know, even after all this time, and I wish I could just work it out.
Thank you for this sincere, informative article. I am starting to wonder if most people have some level of trauma by adulthood, this would be magnified enormously if an individual is on the Autistic Spectrum. I often feel life does not make sense on this planet, yet it is the only one ( currently) to live on. Also we often have delayed emotional processing,which means when we do need to deal with the trauma it can seem out of context to others-both in timing and intensity.
its so interesting to listen to you as a non autistic person who s considered to be highly social skilled by the doctor, i myself thought for a long time that something s not quite right with me because i had a lot of sensory stuff going on, …the doctor said i am hsp…and have social anxiety due to a traumatic event but not autistic…hm…i am learning a lot from you, love this website !
Well this article was heart-wrenching to watch. I relate to just about every single trait on BOTH sides of the diagram. I got my autism diagnosis just a week ago almost exactly on my 30th birthday. It helped me realise how the awful experiences I’ve been through all my life weren’t just my own weakness, but really were valid. I had a teacher in school who used to give me detention every single day. She punished me constantly just for being myself. No one ever took my word for anything especially if someone else told different versions of events, but I was always the one telling the truth. I’ve been treated like I’m a problem my whole life. I was held to a higher standard than other kids because of my intelligence, yet barely anyone had any sympathy for my emotions and were always harder on me for any mistakes – the combination resulting in my experience being at least four times as difficult as the other kids even BEFORE taking into account the fact I had a disability. It’s hopeful but also painful to find out that the world was wrong – that I’ve actually been the victim of constant ablism all this time.
I want to add that with CPTSD, the individual traumatic evend doesn’t have to be usually traumatizing. It’s the frequency and their compunding effects, that traumatize the person. For example, a parent losing their cool and yelling at their child is something most people experience once or twice growing up, but a parent yelling at their child daily or even multiple times per day can add up to become CPTSD.
waiting to see the doctor about being on the Spectrum as well as possible C-PTSD, hard to know if I have one the other or both, this really helps see some of the differences and similarities, Suspected Autism for many years, just only realising I have been hiding from the trauma to embarrassed/ashamed to talk about it, and afraid of uncontrollable outburst/meltdown bringing it up, had enough meltdown trying to talk with doctors, that are so stuck with their out dated training to consider anything outside of it, I don´t don´t understand how naïve they can be some times, but then its not really their fault its just the way they have been educated.
Thank you for this article, it is incredibly enlightening and helpful. I was dx with ASD this year at 31 years old. I also have a traumatic past and I believe because of this, my autism was missed and mis-diagnosed as major deppressive disorder/c-PTSD. I always felt that it wasn’t quite right though but I couldn’t explain or verbalize how or why. You have described my experience/behavior almost to a t. Thank you for the information. <3
Things I’m now wondering are autism (or maybe ADHD-I?), or a trauma response: – My social difficulties – My being easily overwhelmed by large crowds and environments with many different unrelated sounds (such as multiple conversations) – Being overwhelmed when there is a change to my routines or environment, despite me personally being quite impulsive – My difficulties in starting tasks, even tasks that need doing or that I enjoy, and difficulty stopping tasks as I tend to get “lost” in them. -My extreme sensitivity to criticism and (especially) rejection, especially leading to feelings of worthlessness and being unwanted and unloved when faced with even a simple rejection such as friends not being available for social activities.
My adult son has autism and I have diagnosed adhd and complex ptsd I always thought I didn’t have autism until I saw your masking article the other day by random chance. Never heard of that before. Read lots about it after. perusal this article really helped me understand a lot about why I continued to be victimized over my lifetime because I kept such a happy face or an I’m fine face to make everyone happy because I thought it was my job. Seeing the difference between each in a vinn diagram helps me see how I definitely have autistic traits and trauma traits that I dealt with by masking and pleasing everyone. I’m 45 now and it’s a lot to take in but I appreciate that these articles exist because maybe now I can finally start peeling these confusing layers
Very good overall. (Functional) Autism is not just caused by different neurophysiological development (higher exposition to testosterone in the womb) though. Please make a article about the importance of the gut microbiome as well as the influence of heavy metals when you have the time. Tons of children show lasting betterment of symptoms when they have their gut microbiome “healed” for example. Autism is similar to an auto-immune disorder and part of the effect is via neurological inflammation.
Just came back from speaking to a councillor today after I suffered from a massive nervous breakdown back in May and again last week. Based on everything she and I discussed in our first sitting? She said I might be suffering from PTSD thanks to the emotional abuse I endured at the hands of my adopted siblings from my childhood.
I’ve gone to an assesser recently and was told that I’m on the Autism Spectrum (she thinks likely Asperger’s). She told me that my childhood trauma could have caused my autism, and suggested that I do a bit of reading to get to understand this cognizant state better. I have, and some of the symptoms I see in myself, and some I don’t, which makes me suspicious as to whether this diagnosis fits me; made all the more frustrating by having an entire spectrum to work with, and the strong possibility of this issue being a genetic trait because of my mother’s situation. With all of this confusion as to what direction to go for my treatment, I appreciate your making this article, as it gives me a clue to search out other leads in case I’ve been diagnosed wrong. Thank you.
Hi,I’m new.to the party. Still learning . I just wanted to tell ya,I really enjoyed learning about all this . To be honest I have a neighbor that has a child he’s 15, he’s acts like a 5 year old,but once he said some thing to me in another voice,it scared me. I’m trying to understand why this boy scared me. So thank you you do a great job .
I have CPTSD, I had to physically fight every 2 weeks just to exist for nearly 10 years, I was in a super homogeneous population, anything slightly different from the norm was shuned, violently. I am both on the gifted and autistic spectrum, you can imagine how much I stood out I think. Add to that that my father died when I was 8 after 2 years of an ugly struggle with brain cancer and I became a mess real quick, making my autistic and gifted traits stand out even more. I’m now nearly 40, I feel things are getting better, back when I was a teen mental health was a total taboo, now I keep finding people offering if not understanding at least empathy for the challenges I’m facing. I’m getting ready to go back to work after nearly 15 years… there is a huge difference between me pre trauma treatment and post trauma treatment to the point I had literally a fractured identity prior (3 identities were sharing splitting aspect of my instincts and emotions into identity shards). Luckily my main interest is sociology, psychology and pretty much anything connected to social sciences at large. I had to become a specialist in those domains (sadly unrecognized legally) to find the diagnostics that befited my situation. I had multiple disastrously false diagnostics to dig from… first it was depression, then bipolar disorder both accompanied with medications that made me extremely sick… I tried everything. I had to literally read the books on cPTSD by myself and do 90% of the work by myself.
Thank you so much for this article. It resonated with me so much. I am autistic and have CPTSD, and when I started working with a somatic practitioner who based their practice on polyvagal theory and embodied those principles you mentioned, it was exactly like you described: I was being met for the first time with respect and compassion. It made all the difference, and I could finally relax and learn how to regulate my nervous system.
I needed this article. Thank you so much, it was incredibly informative and helps me with the pieces of my puzzle life. It’s like a healing salve to have access to such privileged information or presentations in a very difficult and specialized topic. I went on the internet for a precise search on Autism and Trauma because I’m positive about the 2 and that they can overlap in a life like mine and how they definitely co-exist in my world. To advocate and have to find all the answers to make sense of oneself and maintain a fragile self esteem because you know you are missing a vital link to your peace of mind is a solo journey where too many aren’t sensitive enough to recognize the issues you are facing or understand your neurodiversity for lack of ignorance or information. I rejoice in knowing who I am and how it makes me wonderfully beautiful in an often boring world of what feels like simple mindedness that can’t handle the gifted and our brilliance. THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the wonderful work, for devoting time and research to our cause and quality of life.
Really great and important article. I went in for testing to see if I was autistic as an adult a few years ago. I have felt a kinship with and related to the autistic experience for a while and my autistic friends had encouraged me to get checked. I was abused young though, which made the testing process really difficult to determine a concrete answer. They interviewed my parents, but they were also both abused as children and as tough as it is to say, I don’t fully trust their insights onto me, as there were a lot of aspects of my childhood that it felt like they were in denial about. The researchers concluded that my symptoms with autism overlapped extensively, but it was due to my (c)ptsd. It was validating to hear that there were genuine reasons for me being the way I was. But also difficult as I then wasn’t sure where to go with this strong relation to the autistic experience, for fear that I would appropriate or misdiagnose myself. Even now, when I make new autistic friends they assume I have autism too at the beginning. I talk about my sensory issues and live a life where I’m very open about the things I and others need to feel comfortable in this world. I still feel a little bit in a no man’s land for what’s actually going on, but by researching ways to create space for myself and others who are dealing with similar symptoms to me, I feel as though I can create a little world where we can all be ourselves more. Thank you for making this article. I think it’s important to acknowledge the similarities between these experiences, and especially acknowledge the trauma that can come from being autistic in a world that lacks awareness and compassion for you.
I’ve been through a lot of trauma and at this point probably have complex ptsd. I have briefly dated a man with graduate level education in child psychology specializing in autism and he would call me autistic. Really, had no understanding of concept of trauma and its symptoms. This is such a great article. Thank you for making it.
This all resonates with me. I am waiting to get in for an evaluation for HF autism since with my mental health issues that are now causing physical issues of widespread chronic pain. I have long been identified with ADHD but my therapist realized that it doesn’t all fit what she sees. Also the longer, I live the more traumatic my life feels and the more out of place I feel in the world. I need answers to my square peg in a round hole life to understand what I need to live and not just survive. I am tired and overwhelmed and in constant search of more positives than negatives in life. I have found one through a friend working with her horses where I genuinely feel connected to something that makes me feel like a round peg for a time. Thank you for this information. It is very thorough and relatable.
Thank you!! This has REALLY resonated with me!! I’m 43, diagnosed as autistic last year & as having c-PTSD just last week. My daughter is 10 & also autistic & she perfectly fits what you describe as a “healthy autistic person”!! We are doing everything we can to ensure she stays that way, by teaching her that who she is is 100% ok & giving her the tools to be her ausome self in a world not made for us!!
Thank you for this, This hit on the button for me. You’re amazing and an inspiration for me, Paul. There is a way to move forward and feel fulfilled when it seems I’m all wrong for so many things. I’m just learning to accept my symptoms and how they are not what I wanted to picture of myself. Thank you for helping me keep going and learning to let go of outcomes and expectations and still develop an appreciation for who I am. Hugs and cheers.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for providing this tidy, excellently put together summary of a topic I’ve been desperately struggling to explain to people. I figured out I have C-PTSD last year after much research, and have a hunch I may be autistic (tho I’m diagnosed with ADHD and there’s also a ton of overlap there so who knows anymore lol). This is going to be so helpful to send to people when I just do not have the energy to explain such a complex topic to people (and I rarely do, mostly I think I just ramble and probably confuse people despite how much reading I do). THANK YOUUUUUU!!!!!