AS isn't what you think it is... AS --> PTSD

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Hey guys,

So many times, I hear professionals, authors, and especially members here describe Aspergers as simply part of their identity, part of who they are. Even the language of "neurotypical" and "neurodivergent" strongly implies that people with Aspergers essentially just have brains that are physically different from the majority population.... I'm not convinced.... Here's why:

In my life (and in hearing the stories of others), I've found a strong connection between Aspergers and PTSD and I'm beginning to believe that, to some extent, they are one and the same. Is it possible that Aspergers is actually essentially a stronger tendency to perceive experiences as traumatic? Is it possible that consequently the majority of Aspies are not different because of different brains but are different because all of them are suffering from the mental and physiological symptoms of PTSD? Stay with me here. Growing up, I had very minor if any symptoms of Aspergers. A quirky obsession here, an awkward movement there. I really began to blow up after perceived traumatic events. With every traumatic event (that most people would not perceive as traumatic but most AS's would) stacked on top of each other, my symptoms became increasingly pronounced to the point that I have become significantly different from everyone else as you have. Is it possible that I have become increasingly "Autistic" because I and all of us are actually suffering from PTSD? Here are some of my symptoms:

I have become stone-faced in that my feelings are rarely demonstrated on my face (also a symptom of PTSD). I have become unable to cry and often feel emotionally numb (PTSD). I have become hyper sensitive and easily offended to things that most people would let roll of their backs (PTSD). I have become hypersensitive and jittery to my surroundings (i.e. temperature) (PTSD). I am always "on guard" and defensive toward perceived threats (PTSD). I am untrusting of others (PTSD). And most important and most pronounced, I have become unable to form deep connections and lasting, meaningful relationships with others (PTSD).

In Peter Levine's "In an Unspoken Voice," he explores the ways in which trauma affects those suffering from PTSD. From an evolutionary perspective, when looking at cheetahs hunting gazelles, Levine observed that when the gazelle becomes traumatized and overwhelmed, it goes into "freeze" or "shock" mode and falls to the ground. If the cheetah misses it for whatever reason, it begins to shake uncontrollably and freak out to get rid of the traumatic energy. Subsequently, it runs off, recovered from the experience. This is how most people process trauma. Levine argues that those suffering from PTSD never shake off all the energy and thus are stuck in the "freeze," "shock" mode in which they are 24-7 in defense mode and unable to live how they are designed to live. I don't know about you guys. But the more traumatic events I've experienced, the more I feel like I am in "freeze" mode. I feel that although the cheetah has already run away, I still am always defending myself and on guard, unable to properly process the traumas that continually stack on top of each other, increasing the severity of my symptoms.

I'm shocked that more people have not linked PTSD with Autism because, in my mind, the connection is astounding and my experience through this lens make so much more sense than simply having a neurodivergent brain.

Have any of you every thought about this before? Have any of you ever tried "Somatic Experiencing" therapy? Are there any books on the link?

Let me know your thoughts as I try to better understand Asperger's and who I've become.... and how I can go back to who I'm supposed to be....

The Autism PTSD connection has come up fairly often in the 2+ years I have been a member here. It is usually thought of as Autistic traits leading to bieng abused causing PTSD.

ASPartofme, I understand that PTSD is often communicated as something co-occurring with Aspergers. That doesn't mean anything though. What am trying to figure out is NOT whether they are co-occurring, but rather whether they are actually linked so that they are exactly the SAME thing... that people with AS are simply prone to perceive normal events as traumatic and consequently become victims of PTSD.... that AS symptoms are actually not AS symptoms at all, that they are PTSD symptoms.

I would say that lack of autistic traits in early childhood means no autism, so autistic-like traits in adulthood may be PTSD instead.

They are not the same. AS is present from infancy. PTSD develops in response to exposure to traumatic events. I've seen people with severe PTSD and they don't have the deficits that are a part of AS. Your theory is wrong.

No.

I was actually having a conversation with my daughter the other day about how people with AS do also suffer with PTSD.

I would say that my Aspergers is fairl mild in comparison to many others on WP, so I am fortunate. However, I do believe I was born with this condition but there have been times in my life where trauma have heightened the symptoms.

I think there is overlap. ASD people do tend to get traumatized more, and I think they have more risk factors. Studies have shown that people without much of a support network are more likely to get PTSD, compared to other people who experience the same traumatic events.
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V11N3.pdf

Since autistic people don't form a lot of social bonds, that would make them more likely to have trouble recovering from trauma.

Another risk factor is the feeling of helplessness at the time of the event:
http://www.afterpsychotherapy.com/post- ... -disorder/

People who are able to do something to react to their trauma are better able to process it. I don't have the reference (Lenore Terr?) but there was a study of a group of school children that were kidnapped and buried in Chowchilla, CA, in brutal conditions. The children who worked to dig themselves out experienced less PTSD than those who did nothing. How does this relate to us? Well, my idea is that those of us who were unable to defend ourselves against the trauma, or didn't know that we could, or that we could reach out for help, were more likely to experience PTSD.

People with ASD often can pass for neurotypical by using learned and taught social skills and other learned behaviors for a long time, often only having their ASD type traits become pronounced during/after times of extreme stress.

Likewise, people who cannot pass and are clearly on teh spectrum often have more pronounced symptoms during times of increased stress.

Therefore it would seem reasonable that someone with mild ASD who has been passing their entire life might finally find their symptoms "coming out" and becoming an issue for them only after a series of traumas (which might also cause them to have PTSD along with their ASD, or might merely be making their ASD symptoms more pronounced for awhile).

However, some people will instead just have PTSD with many symptoms similar to ASD. In that case, their childhood would have to have been clearly lacking any signs of ASD in retrospect.

This is my understanding.

Uhh I have both AS and PTSD and they are not 'one in the same'...I can see how people with aspergers could be more prone to being traumatized since many of us have trouble with anxiety and getting overwhelmed. It doesn't mean people with aspergers just automatically have PTSD....still have to experience trauma to get PTSD.

I could see aspergers as a factor that could make some more likely to get PTSD after facing trauma, but they are hardly the same condition .

For those of you sharing your thoughts, thanks so much for your input, it gives me a lot more to research/think about!
For those of you being rude, chill the heck out yo. No I never said this was a "theory" so don't put words in my mouth, and yes I'm just voicing some of my thoughts as I try to figure out, as someone recently diagnosed, exactly what AS is and how to make the most of it.

I would say, for the most part, that people on the Spectrum are born to be on the Spectrum. The environment could very well play a role in how the symptoms manifest themselves. Usually, symptoms do not develop until at least late infancy--many times later than that. No precipitating event (which could potentially cause PTSD) CAUSED the autism--but precipitating events could make the autism worse (or could make it better).

People who are autistic, and people who are not autistic could develop PTSD which arises from particular precipitating events. It's possible that people on the Spectrum are more prone to developing this.

But I don't believe Autism/Asperger's is solely caused by specific precipitating events.

Another no, but I have both. PTSD doesn't include the social deficiencies involved with ASD. I am more aware of PTSD symptoms because they fluctuate, while my AS experience is my baseline experience and is constant.

I'm an aspie and no PTSD.

I might have been depressed AND anxious, but I got over it.

No longer have sensory issues, I became tolerant and still no filters. No longer have social phobias, I just dislike socializing.
Sure, I get to do outbursts but not as often. I don't have any meltdowns for so long... And my frustration stems from impatience, not memories.
My focus is still as good if not better.
No intrusive flashbacks of traumatic events. No traumatic amnesia either, I remember all the madness happened to me and doesn't scare me.
And I'm pretty much lax about my own safety, everyone around me (who only has the 2nd hand knowledge of incidents) are practically more paranoid on the streets than I'm.

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