Why do those with AS tend to suffer from depression?

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In my case, the two are synonymous. THe social isolation and inability to undersand how people operate socially and in a networking sense has severely affected my career. I have not reached my full potential in my industry precisely BECAUSE i cannot do the social/networking things that are required to "get ahead." i have some success, but nowhere near my full capabilities and potential. I am in the arts field. There are others here who are in the science and academic fields who state exactly the same thing. They have all the talent and credentials, but because they have not been able to network, socialise etc in a manner that is the 'norm requirement" in their given fields, they get passed over when there are grants, offers of research positions, and a host of other opportunities, including permanent employment.

So for me, the two are inextricably linked in with each other unfortunately. MY ASD naivety and gullibility led me to believe for many years, that people actually got somewhere on the basis of their integrity and their decency and hard work and talents. Most often, these are components of success and the other missing ingredient is a bit like the Holy Grail for me - the social world and the to-ing and fro-ing that makes for inclusion, opportunities and getting "ahead."

Welcome to the way the world goes round......

Because we're low-functioing enough for it to affect our quality of life, but high-functioning enough to realise this. It's the realisation that you can't have the kind of life that your peers can have. At least not without a hell of a lot of work.

That's a bit startling and saddening, considering I was under the impression that art and science are the most open-minded and welcoming fields, and therefore ideal for autists/Aspies. I was in fact thinking that my future might lie in science, with perhaps a little bit of art on the side, now that I'm coming out of my long period of apathy and inactivity. But it seems I might be in for a tougher ride than I would have expected? Underestimating situations is what brought me down a couple of years ago in the first place, so I'll remember to keep my guard up.

not really open minded at all, sadly. The same as anywhere else.
BUT the thing is in the arts, I have found a few friends - other artists who are not ASD but who are odd and they are caring, supportive and protective of me. They are even starting to help me with how to manage some aspects of my career I am terrible at, because of my AS.
I have achieved to a certain degree, but am definitely unable to reach the level I would like because i cannot hob-nob, network and do what is required.
BUT there is hope. there are alternative ways of achieving that suit me. I am also a painter's painter- more respected by other artists than the general population and that is important to me.
if ever you need or want advice on anything, just pm me.

We need to traverse a career trajectory with mentoring, guidance and some help i think. some hidden people in the background, guiding us and understanding our issues. I have this. it helps. And still i am poo poo-ed by the luddites of the art scene - and the nasties. and there are a lot of nasties, who have treated me poorly. oh well.

BUt we still need to take risks and try to reach goals and dreams. do not give up. Maybe try to find some mentors even through WP - who might be able to help you with their experience.

good luck

Cognitive dissonance, at least in my case. I can see things that don't make sense, or experience moments when I am aware that things are going on that I don't recognize. It's frustrating, and therefore has left me sad, depressed and despondent that despite my ability to grasp a great many things, that this interconnection is somehow distant and seemingly unattainable at times.


M.

True !

True !

I've always thought that the aspie long-term memory is a reason too.

Many NTs have abysmal memories and only remember stuff by looking in photo albums. As we all know, most people only take photos of happy memories - things that they do want to remember.

Aspies tend to remember things (events) in detail and they're often triggered by other events, surroundings, sights, smells etc... For me, the sad memories are just as accessible as the happy ones.

^gbollard, that is a very good point. I agree.

I think that under it all, alot of depression is caused by the knowledge that we are different. Whether diagnosed with AS or not, we know we are different than the majority. And whether we dwell on that or not, it's still there in the back of your mind, reminding you. Sooner or later, it takes it's toll. Then you get through it, and all is well again for awhile.

It repeats as necessary.

A lot of depression comes from the dissatisfaction of our lives. Aspies are often quite isolated and unable to make social connections and build a good, solid, supportative social network. For me, theres always a sense of isolation, like in the end Im always on my own, I perfer to lean and cling to people but its often not the thing to do. Theres so much confusion, I find myself in a lot of knots. Also, i easily envy others. Theres the whole no one truely understands me issue.

Well put Barbarossa! At the heart of it, humans are social animals. Those of us with AS, however, are more akin to domesticated cats living in the human world. We're conditioned and socialised over time to respond appropriately and fit in around social expectations, but sociability is not inherent like it should be. Consequently, despite the payoffs, we never truly fit in or understand or like being amongst most other humans.

I like to think that my cats want to be around me, but I think they've probably just done a cost-benefit analysis and figured out their life's not too bad given the alternatives. They are horribly spoiled after all! I, on the other hand, have many moments where I really yearn to be a social animal like nature intended for me. I think in most cases our Depression is reactive. Like others have said, it arises out of our failure to form inclusive, satisfying relationships, and thus, support networks. Plus, the constant barrage of sensory overload and confusing signals from so many quarters in our external environment places our nervous system in overdrive and at some point it retreats in protest. What it comes down to is it's exhausting work living on the wrong planet! Many of us are naturally perfectionists and have spent a lifetime over-analysing everything, so it can frequently feel like life hands back some questionable returns for all the tireless effort we put in to make a go of things. Especially when it seems like most others out there don't go to half the effort and succeed anyway! That's depressing.

Well nobody truly understands anybody, not even themselves. One will not Know One until One becomes Two. By understanding who you were, you become more than that. Two knows not Two, until Two is Three.

The fact that there isn't a replicable, objective, physical test for AS based on quantitative empirical data makes me feel depressed sometimes.

I feel depressed because people labeled me in the past as AS without any numeric physically provable data to back their assertions up with.

I hope in the future that there will be more scientifically provable information about the condition as well as precise descriptions of the brain circuitry involved in different types of cognition.

I would love to know about the precise neurology that causes the condition because I've never been told about this in any detail.

It makes me feel depressed when psychiatric labels are sometimes used an an excuse to exclude unwanted people from society, rather than helping them to help themselves in a constructive manner.

I'd also feel less depressed if I could find out exactly how syncretic cognition works and what mental circuitry is responsible for it.

This has great resonance.

Pressure to fit in with the rest of society, whether we want to, or not. The low expectations that our families and teachers have of us. Bad past experiences with our parents. Bad social experiences in school and higher institutions, such as college and university. How society says that you have to have a driver's license, drink, do drugs and have sex, in order to be considered a normal young adult. That's all that I can think of for now.