Autism Spectrum Disorders and Depression

Post Reply New Topic

I have autism, not Asperger's. Savant high functioning. My problem is I am always laughing and everything is always waaayyy too funny. I am also very hyper. And I can experience very sudden crying sometimes, but when I cry there is no depression emotion. No sad or down mood, just no emotional feeling in that regard at all. I can actually be laughing when I am crying tears. I don't know how to describe it, except maybe is it a form of pathological crying ? And even when this happens, it is so fleeting (can even just be a couple minutes), just as suddenly as tears come, I am laughing and everything is waaayy too funny again. I have been accused of being too optimistic before, but that is just how I am. I have even recently seen some of my childhood films from circa age 6, and I was the same way -- always laughing and smiling and very hyper. But it does tend to throw off some people, because they are certain my family history must mean I have depression, and this is a terrible danger for misdiagnoisis because it just isn't what is going on with me. I have a very difficult time, in fact, understanding depression and the line of thinking people experience who are supposedly depressed. I really just *don't get* about the depression emotion/mood/mindset, although depression does run in my family history on my mother's side. But, even though I really enjoy my overly-positive, funny oriented-neurology, it does get me into a lot of trouble when I laugh or think something is funny at the *wrong* time -- and it pisses off some neurotypical in a more somber mood. And that is no laughing matter ! In a neurotypical world, the only thing worse than saying the wrong thing at the wrong time is laughing at the wrong time !

co- morbids of depression, severe anxiety and adhd.

much better with good diet, regular exercise and basically taking responsibility for the lot I was handed when i checked in to planet earth 46years ago.

I think there's a difference between having a down day here and there and truly being "depressed." When I have a down day, I am able to tell myself that my body is just temporarily unbalanced, and that it will work itself out soon... usually within 24 hours.

I have never been prone to depression, as far as I know. The closest I get is in situations where I'm obsessed or passionate about something and I share it with others, yet get rejected. I can get kind of down when others don't share my enthusiasm. But I can either pick up something else or ignore it. I guess I can move on.

I am very lucky that I am able to do this. It makes me wonder, in fact, if I really have AS.

I think that's what sparked my current depression.

Personally, I've had depression on and off my whole life. Generally I have a few good years, then one really bad year. It's almost cyclic, but stages span over large periods of time. I can't wait for this depression to be over, but it will probably be a while yet. There's nothing worse than feeling completely empty, and unhappy, all the time - and NOTHING you do can make you feel happy (including all the things that used to make you happy).

It frustrates me, because naturally I'm a happy, positive person - and the depression in some way prevents me from being myself. It's also very irritating because the depression is illogical, unchosen, and hangs around like a bad smell no matter how many different ways I try to get rid of it.

Both situational depression and clinical depression, yes.

It seems to run throughout my family (at least on my mom's side; not so sure about my dad's side.).

Well I think everyone goes though an emo phase at some point, especially when they're young. XD; I was really sad when I was 10 because I felt like a useless speck, but I got over it. I'm very happy most of the time. I think it's because I'm too spacey to keep my mind on a problem for too long. Maybe that's not the best thing though, since it makes it easier to procrastinate..

My depression started around the prime age of 7-ish.

I was diagnosed with depression AND Asperger's Syndrome at the same time (though I had depression for many years before it). However everytime, I went to counseling and such I was always treated for depression and not for my AS (which was the cause of my depression to begin with) cause well...doctors have a guidebook for treating depression (drugs and such) since they dont know anything about AS.

I may or may not have a form of minor clinical depression... no one's sure.

I like to think that what I have is Cyclothymia, but it's not necessarily the case - afterall, I'm an aspie, and as such I'm viable to being sensitively in tune with things to such a degree that my lows are real low and my highs are perhaps a wee higher than many non-aspies.

I like the idea of Cyclothymia - it sounds fun, and if you can accept the down phases, then all the better for the up phases. I do have pretty striking mood swings.