Autism and OCD, is OCD more debilitating?

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My son was diagnosed with both autism and OCD, later changed to Asperger's and OCD, etc...I realized long ago I am just like him as well, etc...but the more I learn about OCD the more I think that OCD's impact is much greater than autism/Asperger's...

Anyone else with both diagnosis? If so, which impacts you the most and how have you managed?

It is no different than autism. It depends on how severe the symptoms are for each.

Either can be worst than the other depending on innate severity. However, OCD does respond to treatment.

Have both; OCD isn't as bad in regards to disability (school, work and whatnot), but it's more bothersome in regards to overall discomfort -- the ASD is usually fine when I'm left alone, whereas OCD can make one/me obsess no matter what's happening.

I think in the case of aspergers, ocd is frequently a part of it to varying degrees. In many people with co-morbid conditions, the conditions become rather intertwined with each other and not so much seperate entities. So you have to look as a whole. I dont have full on ocd and was never diagnosed with it. I was suspected to have borderline ocd.

Autism leaves me unable to explain my OCD behavior.

OCD behaviors attract attention, autism causes onlookers to make judgements.

Time and place make this worse or worser so it is hard to tell which is worsest.

The incorrect words convey the meaning better for me.

I have both.

My OCD is so severe I cannot work or study, and I have had it since I was four years old; for me it is a genuine co-morbidity, and I think for me it is probably worse overall than the Aspergers in some senses.

The Aspergers can be improved on and gets somewhat better with age. My executive dysfunction problems really do cripple me, but having OCD alongside that surely makes it worse.

But this is all subjective. For me, having the brain that I do, with both a huge genetic loading of High Functioning Autism and OCD, I would say I'm pretty f****d up and would rather just have had the former. For sure.

But everyone will feel differently about it.

I am genuinely sorry to hear that your son is experiencing similar problems.

I hope you can find some meds or CBT that can lessen the problems with OCD at least. And Aspergers being what it is really can be worked on and actually get better.

Hmm... yes, I think for me the OCD problems do present greater difficulties. In answer to query about how I have managed: medication and about eight months of CBT focused specifically on OCD issues last year. Between the two I believe I have reached some level of control over the more dangerous aspects of my particular manifestations of OCD.

I imagine this would vary a great deal depending on the individual. OCD, like autism, consists of a broad spectrum of severity, from mild to severe.