Is anxiety really co-morbid? (please fill out poll!)

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Please only fill out the poll if you have an autism spectrum disorder!

From what I can gather (correct me if I'm wrong!), the vast majority of people on the autistic spectrum suffer from anxiety problems. If the majority of us have it, is it really comorbid, or just part of having the condition?

I don't believe it's part of the condition, just a common result of it. I mean, going through life without knowing what others expect of you is bound to make most people extremely nervous.

I have comorbid OCD and panic attacks. I have both anxiety that is a result of my AS and anxiety that is comorbid. I showed signs of AS from very early on in my childhood, and the syndrome was clear by about age 3. My OCD symptoms also started around age 3. Thus, my comorbid anxiety disorder was not a result of my AS. It started too early on.
-OddDuckNash99-

Yep. Being inflexible in a world that is dynamic and ever-changing is a source of constant stress too.

Agreed. Anxiety Disorder is a sociological result of AS.

Yes it's part of it but some people may say it's not but it is. That's what my mom told me. I think they say it's part of it because it's so common. Same as saying dyspraxia is part of AS and sensory processing disorder. Then there is OCD and they also say it's part of it and the depression. I am also wondering if social anxiety is part of it. It also seems to be common. I wonder if they are ever going to make internet addiction part of it? I can see how aspies can have all this.

My anxiety started in my pre teens though. I don't think I had it before then. If I did, I wasn't aware then. It just got real bad in my pre teens then is all. I got more stressed and frustrated and anxious.

Of the people I know, it seems to be about half and half. Unfortunately, I got on the wrong half.

I think anxiety for autistics can be different from anxiety for NT's.
I once had severe social anxiety. The usual chest pains, shaking, freezing up.
When I got treatment all those symptoms stopped by I still couldn't talk so to avoid going back to my severe social anxiety state I would turn off to those around me, or listen rather than wanting to join in on a conversation. Or regress.
I don't like change in routine or going to a new location, and this has always been a part of me.
I've developed anxiety over other things like walking while dehydrated on an extremely hot day and almost being hit by a car. But I don't get anxiety attacks, I meltdown/shutdown more. Sometimes I can find it hard to breathe, but very rarely.
I think my aversion to change is more to do with autism than anxiety.
So yes, I think that autistic anxiety is different from regular anxiety. I also read that autistics are more prone to anxiety and having paranoia.

I wouldn't call it comorbid, unless it's a specific anxiety disorder you have. I'd say that anxiety is a secondary effect as manifested by the primary symptoms.

What do you mean by specific? I'm fairly sure I meet the criteria for GAD. I know it's not good to self diagnose, but I do think it's a valid.

From waht I know there will be some neurological basis on the anxiety of asperger. It"s because the agmydala is oversixed.

When I was diagnosed with Asperger's, the psychologist also included a "possible" anxiety disorder, but I haven't really gotten treated for it after a bad experience with a psychiatrist I was seeing for depression. This psychiatrist was really a drug dealer with a MD because he only saw people long enough to fill out a prescription. I probably could get therapy to deal with anxiety, but I would want to be sure that the therapist is not going to give me a referral to a psychiatrist. Until I can be absolutely sure of that, I would rather treat my anxiety with exercise and supplements like B complex and fish oil pills.

I have read this also. And many of us seem to be anxious from a very young age, which implies to me that it's not because our disability makes us feel inadequate or anything like that.