Do people with AS suffer from anxiety & sleep problems?

Post Reply New Topic

OK, another question, if you folks don't mind. Do people with Aspergers sometimes suffer from severe, prolonged anxiety and sleep problems? I understand that many of you live quite normal lives but how about if your environment is not Aspie-friendly and you struggle with multitasking problems at work, sensory overload, dealing with too many people, bad lights in the office, noisy environment plus family relationship issues, etc?

That's what's happening to me, I have bad anxiety and that leads to problems with falling asleep at night. During my initial pre-testing evaluation at the Autism Center I was told that I do have AS. But I had another conversation with my "regular" psychiatrist and he still disagrees. Now he says that people with AS don't have sleep problems and I'm just suffering from social anxiety. He's the same guy who said that that people with AS don't have empathy and aren't emotional. I think I'm wasting time with him.

What do you think?

This is another trick question, right?

I think your regular psychiatrist isn't specialized in Aspergers and the more recent studies. I do not think he knows what he's talking about. For most people, who are just learning the book-smarts and what is mostly printed for their general knowledge, they're going to get the older information that does not apply to a LOT of people with AS. People with AS get social anxiety, in my opinion, because of bad experiences in the past with social aspects, and also because with so many people around, there's so much sensory input/overload that you have a hard time coping. Also, when you're anxious and have a lot of worries going on in life, it's normal for you to have a hard time falling at sleep at night because you can't get your brain to STFU about what you're worried about.

I'd tell your 'regular' psychiatrist to start visiting this website and actually take time looking at a broader aspect of the Aspergers, which I've been able to learn and see from what I've experienced in just a couple weeks, and then he can give you an actual diagnosis about whether or not you have it.

PS. I'd trust the people who are specialized in it more than the general one. They know AS, and if they thing you have it, then I believe you have it.

I get anxious and get bouts of insomnia because my mind keeps going and I keep thinking about stuff and it keeps me awake.

Last edited by Radiofixr on 02 Nov 2011, 6:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

He's a young doctor too. When I started seeing him about 5 years ago he was a resident. I think depression is his specialization. I thought being fresh out of university and young he would be more up to date with recent developments. I guess not.



No I'm really confused and tired and I'm looking for answers.



That's exactly what is happening to me. And it's a vicious cycle (circle?): as I become sleep deprived and tired in the morning my ability to deal with stuff during the day is affected and that leads to even higher anxiety and even more rushing thoughts at the end of the day.

"Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, would be expected to be relatively common for those with Asperger's syndrome, especially in the teenage and adult years when they are more acutely aware of their confusion in social situations, of making social mistakes, and possibly suffering ridicule."
Tony Attwood. The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (p. 140). Kindle Edition.

Thank you. How's that book written? Is it accessible to an average person or it's written more for professionals?

Its a well written book and written for everybody-easy to understand and a fine reference book

I've had prolonged bouts of insomnia and I have an anxiety disorder. What I'm about to share is something you can take or leave. The anxiety was contributing to indigestion, though not with the usual overt symptoms. A chiropractor discovered that I have a hiatal hernia. Sometimes there's stomach pressure that I'm unaware of and it keeps me awake. So he made dietary recommendations, told me not to eat past a certain hour, etc. It sounds simple, but it was like a miracle when I was at wit's end. Meditation has also helped. These changes finally broke the cycles of sleeplessness. Sometimes there's also a physical component.

Whatever it for you, I hope you find a solution. Your psychiatrist seems to lack the experience you need.

I ordered it. Thanks



I believe you. I have digestive issues too, mainly acid reflux, esophagus irritation and sometimes diarrhea although I often get that feeling of pressure and sensation of being bloated and these symptoms clearly get worse when my anxiety goes up. I had digestive system endoscopy done couple years ago and they said there was nothing really wrong and it's more likely related to stress, i.e. anxiety in my case. They basically said the same thing: don't eat 3h before sleeping, drink a lot of water during the day, don't lie down after eating, avoid certain foods. Even more pieces fall into place. Thanks!

I'm feeling too lazy to go find where I read these, and post these and what not, but they've also found a high correlation with Aspies and digestive problems. I read in the "Neanderthal Autism Theory" (Fascinating read, by the way. Just google it), that it could be something with our dna. We have 'helpful' and 'harmful' bacteria in our digestive tract. The helpful helps us digest our food. Perhaps with our DNA being differently, we may not be in symbiosis with the bacteria, and the 'helpful' may actually be 'harmful.' Another thing I feel may add to it is people with Aspergers that have the anxieties, well, I find when I'm more anxious, I don't eat as well as I should. I either eat unhealthy foods, a lot of meat (Which our bodies actually don't digest quite as well since we're not PURE carnivores), soda, or I just don't eat as much as I can. And then the physical aspect of not feeling well, eating right, adds to the anxiety, which just goes into a vicious circle.
I'm not a specialist in any way, so don't take me for fact. These are just things my brain finds to be logical and could explain things, and why we may have certain problems.

I have delayed sleep-phase syndrome.

I just looked that up. Perhaps that's what a 'night-person' is. That would make a lot of sense for me. I find when I go to sleep around 3ish and wake up around noonish, I tend to have a better day and feel more energized. It's just a matter of me not taking naps inbetween and then sleeping odder hours. With no school/work, I just kinda...sleep whenever I feel tired, uninterested, have a headache/migraine, etc.

What cemented it for me was that even during the school year, getting up at six AM every weekday morning didn't break me of staying up until two or three in the morning because I wasn't tired until then. Out of school right now, I go to bed around two or three AM and wake up at around noon. It started back in middle school and hasn't changed since; I'm 21, now.

I suffer from sleep problems but not anxiety.

My sleep patterns are all over the place depending on weather and season. I was a night person once, but having a regular 9-5 job I can't really do that. I always needed minimum 8h of sleep so staying up late was never really an option. But I like nights when it's quiet and people are asleep. I also like early mornings too for that reason too, but I haven't been able to wake up before 7am for a long time. Of course, anxiety and insomnia screws everything up.

But I have been on Klonopin for several years so I no longer know what my real sleep pattern is. I hope that with a written AS diagnosis I will be able to make changes at work and lower my anxiety and get off of Klonopin.