autistic symptoms worsen during stressful times in life ?

Post Reply New Topic

Yes. Too many things happened yesterday. I screamed at the top of my lungs and slammed my head against the stair banister. It was weird, almost like an out of body experience. I felt what I was doing, but it was like something activated that I couldn't override. Even while feeling frustration and fear, my only coherrant thoughts were, "That's strange. I don't do that very often". I surprised my mom so much, she was no longer angry for the time being. Fortunately it only happened in front of her, and not in public. Within a couple of minutes I was acting as though nothing happened. I still feel embarrassed.

You know all those 'rare' side effects in the pamphlet that they say nobody actually gets? Well I got most of them.
I've got one more month before I can change my meds.


That a good way to describe a meltdown, as a sort of outer body experience.

Yes, since I have been off work over Cristmas most of my stimming has eased up. I know as soon as I go back to work it will flare up again.
For me my stimming allways increases with noise, stress and anxiety. I think the increased stress levels having AS contribute to stimming.

When stressed, I'll become very, very attached (beyond my norm-absolute tunnel vision) to my interests and I become very, very sensitive to touch, sound etc... disassociating myself from everything else completely.
For some reason I equate stress with fear as well, I'll get a little agoraphobic at times.

You know all those 'rare' side effects in the pamphlet that they say nobody actually gets? Well I got most of them.
I've got one more month before I can change my meds.


I know this is off topic but I also had those advertised "rare side effects" with Ritalin, which I was put on as a young teenager . I now take Straterra for my attention problems ,along with other meds for anxiety. This has worked well for me. Anyways, I'm glad you will be able to switch your meds at the end of the month. =)



In response to the other posts I'm not sure if I become more fixated on my interests. I've read that this often happens with AS. This might happen if I am a little stressed but if I am very anxious I usually lose interest in everything and perseverate on my problems. My stimming definitely increases though. Sometimes I get headaches from stress…. but not usually any other physical symptoms that a lot off you seem to get.

I do this too! Every so often I need time to be completely alone or else I'll get easily stressed out. I can socialize with others for 1-2 days provided I get enough sleepa nd food, but any more than that and I'll just tune myself out. It was worse when I was a kid though...I couldn't be around people for more than 2-3 hours max. I'm not sure if it's AS or anxiety related though, but out of all the people I know with AS, the vast majority of them experience "burn-out" after interacting with people.

I certainly experience "burn out" interacting with people and tune out after a time as well. I have a quota for social interaction that I cannot exceed even when I am not stressed. I do exceed this quota sometimes though and when I do , I get very anxious/overwhelmed. I am also an introvert though, so I need "reflection time" after social interaction. I have met aspies who are extroverts and can handle more socializing.

I wonder what the rate co-occurrence for AS and anxiety disorders is. I think it must be quite high! Most people I have met with AS are very anxious people and many have full-blown anxiety disorders. I have GAD and OCD traits so I never know whether to attribute these kind of things to AS or anxiety.