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Autistic Stress Disorder

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Do you suffer from 'Autistic Stress Disorder'?
Yes, I think so 65%  65%  [ 11 ]
No, because I don't have any of those symptoms 12%  12%  [ 2 ]
No, because you just made that up, you fool 24%  24%  [ 4 ]
Total votes : 17

MrsPeel
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31 Aug 2019, 10:46 pm

Autistic Stress Disorder is a form of nervous system dysregulation commonly reported in people on the autism spectrum.

It is primarily related to differences in the amygdala and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in unusual neuroendocrine responses to stresses. The affected person my be under- or over-responsive to stressors, and stress reactions may be unusual in intensity and/or duration.

The condition can produce a wide variety of behaviours in affected persons. In children, it commonly presents as extreme physical/emotional reactions (meltdowns), withdrawal behaviours (shutdowns) and effects on speech (selective mutism). In adults, it is common for the condition to be misdiagnosed as an anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or PTSD. In the long-term, it can result in loss of functioning (burnout).

Do you suffer from 'Autistic Stress Disorder'?



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31 Aug 2019, 11:07 pm

I'd pass the list as a child. More so at teenage years and earlier adult years.

As recent as a year to 5 months ago, yeah.


But not currently at this time around. Somehow I've partially figured after so many years of forgetting my progress all over, and now I'm committing myself from ever letting it go.
My current focus now, it seems, the most persistent issue I got isn't entirely connected to stress, habit, or sorts of trigger but something more underneath that... Something more random and quite independent to most factors.


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01 Sep 2019, 5:40 am

MrsPeel wrote:
Autistic Stress Disorder is a form of nervous system dysregulation commonly reported in people on the autism spectrum.

It is primarily related to differences in the amygdala and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in unusual neuroendocrine responses to stresses. The affected person my be under- or over-responsive to stressors, and stress reactions may be unusual in intensity and/or duration.

The condition can produce a wide variety of behaviours in affected persons. In children, it commonly presents as extreme physical/emotional reactions (meltdowns), withdrawal behaviours (shutdowns) and effects on speech (selective mutism). In adults, it is common for the condition to be misdiagnosed as an anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or PTSD. In the long-term, it can result in loss of functioning (burnout).

Do you suffer from 'Autistic Stress Disorder'?


I can definitely relate to the behaviors you're talking about, but I feel "autistic stress disorder" is a bit unfair. And I'm not directing that at you, just curious about the thought process here. I feel many disorders are just ways of blaming people for not living easily within a society which is artificial. And instead of realizing that people created that society, we expect people to adapt to it like it's some natural environment. I mean, we have wheelchair ramps. What if we didn't, and people said, "Wow, if he wanted to get into that building he'd definitely do it. I guess he's just lazy or doesn't care." That's pretty heartless, but with people on the spectrum that is the attitude society has.

To me, the above are signs of trauma, not so much a disorder. Why should I believe I'm disordered rather than traumatized? When I hear a neurotypical person complain about the weather, which allows them to exist, do they get Unappreciative Perspective Disorder? No, they're just venting. They have personality. But, with us it's different. And while it can be helpful to know what's going on in the brain, I don't think that's the same as what's going on in the mind. It's easy to say, "You're overreacting because [x] is happening in your brain," but that also diminishes the experience of the individual. When neurotypical people don't understand our sensory issues we don't get to say, "Well, this part of your brain is blocking the empathy you normally have, blah, blah, blah." Why must everything we experience be viewed as some flaw or malfunction?



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01 Sep 2019, 1:07 pm

I would have to say yes but I thought this was just part of regular Autism


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01 Sep 2019, 1:19 pm

How is this different to the usual symptoms of autism, though?



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01 Sep 2019, 11:47 pm

Do you mean like autistic burnout?


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02 Sep 2019, 12:12 am

HighLlama wrote:
MrsPeel wrote:
Autistic Stress Disorder is a form of nervous system dysregulation commonly reported in people on the autism spectrum.

It is primarily related to differences in the amygdala and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in unusual neuroendocrine responses to stresses. The affected person my be under- or over-responsive to stressors, and stress reactions may be unusual in intensity and/or duration.

The condition can produce a wide variety of behaviours in affected persons. In children, it commonly presents as extreme physical/emotional reactions (meltdowns), withdrawal behaviours (shutdowns) and effects on speech (selective mutism). In adults, it is common for the condition to be misdiagnosed as an anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or PTSD. In the long-term, it can result in loss of functioning (burnout).

Do you suffer from 'Autistic Stress Disorder'?


I can definitely relate to the behaviors you're talking about, but I feel "autistic stress disorder" is a bit unfair. And I'm not directing that at you, just curious about the thought process here. I feel many disorders are just ways of blaming people for not living easily within a society which is artificial. And instead of realizing that people created that society, we expect people to adapt to it like it's some natural environment. I mean, we have wheelchair ramps. What if we didn't, and people said, "Wow, if he wanted to get into that building he'd definitely do it. I guess he's just lazy or doesn't care." That's pretty heartless, but with people on the spectrum that is the attitude society has.

To me, the above are signs of trauma, not so much a disorder. Why should I believe I'm disordered rather than traumatized? When I hear a neurotypical person complain about the weather, which allows them to exist, do they get Unappreciative Perspective Disorder? No, they're just venting. They have personality. But, with us it's different. And while it can be helpful to know what's going on in the brain, I don't think that's the same as what's going on in the mind. It's easy to say, "You're overreacting because [x] is happening in your brain," but that also diminishes the experience of the individual. When neurotypical people don't understand our sensory issues we don't get to say, "Well, this part of your brain is blocking the empathy you normally have, blah, blah, blah." Why must everything we experience be viewed as some flaw or malfunction?


Very well put. I feel the same way.


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02 Sep 2019, 5:33 am

HighLlama wrote:
I can definitely relate to the behaviors you're talking about, but I feel "autistic stress disorder" is a bit unfair. And I'm not directing that at you, just curious about the thought process here. I feel many disorders are just ways of blaming people for not living easily within a society which is artificial. And instead of realizing that people created that society, we expect people to adapt to it like it's some natural environment. I mean, we have wheelchair ramps. What if we didn't, and people said, "Wow, if he wanted to get into that building he'd definitely do it. I guess he's just lazy or doesn't care." That's pretty heartless, but with people on the spectrum that is the attitude society has.

To me, the above are signs of trauma, not so much a disorder. Why should I believe I'm disordered rather than traumatized? When I hear a neurotypical person complain about the weather, which allows them to exist, do they get Unappreciative Perspective Disorder? No, they're just venting. They have personality. But, with us it's different. And while it can be helpful to know what's going on in the brain, I don't think that's the same as what's going on in the mind. It's easy to say, "You're overreacting because [x] is happening in your brain," but that also diminishes the experience of the individual. When neurotypical people don't understand our sensory issues we don't get to say, "Well, this part of your brain is blocking the empathy you normally have, blah, blah, blah." Why must everything we experience be viewed as some flaw or malfunction?


I was hoping I might get some debate on this, thank you.
My post arose from a thought bubble, I was mulling over the high numbers of autistics diagnosed with anxiety and stress disorders and wondering whether anxiety and/or stress reactivity was something inherent to autism or whether it arose from trying to live in a world not designed for our neurotype. The post is 'trying on for size' the idea that it might be an inherent part of the condition, to see how well my WPeers think that 'fits', for them.
I don't have any answers (and the answer probably lies in the grey area between those options), but I'm interested in what people think when they read the post.

I'd be interested to know, if you don't mind my asking, would you also support removing the term 'disorder' from 'autism spectrum disorder'? How would you prefer we refer to the condition?



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02 Sep 2019, 5:43 am

racheypie666 wrote:
How is this different to the usual symptoms of autism, though?


Ah, I'm really glad you asked that.

The diagnostic criteria for autism do not actually include any of those issues, I believe. The criteria for AS are mainly based whether or not one has communication and social challenges and repetitive behaviours.

Since none of the issues I mentioned are recognised as symptoms of autism per se, anyone seeking treatment for such issues (unless already diagnosed AS) are likely to be given an alternative diagnosis such as a mood disorder.

A part of my 'thought bubble' was wondering whether or not such issues are so widespread amongst autistics that they ought to be included in the diagnostic criteria. Not that I'm a scientist or anything, I'm just interested to see what people think.



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02 Sep 2019, 5:50 am

I believe anxiety could be said to occur amongst most autistic people.......but not all.

I believe anxiety could also be a reaction to living within the “neurotypical” environment.

Autism, in some people, could be a “disorder” in some cultures.....but an “acceptable difference” in others.



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02 Sep 2019, 7:01 am

Maybe it could be a reactive disorder.
I feel the same as highlama and alita though, it's the environment that introduces barriers that I can't find work arounds for without support. Like getting stable employment, it's like hens teeth here, a unicorn if you prefer... The uncertainty of never being able to plan causes me more anxiety than I'm able for at times.



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02 Sep 2019, 4:16 pm

Amity wrote:
Maybe it could be a reactive disorder.
I feel the same as highlama and alita though, it's the environment that introduces barriers that I can't find work arounds for without support. Like getting stable employment, it's like hens teeth here, a unicorn if you prefer... The uncertainty of never being able to plan causes me more anxiety than I'm able for at times.


Thank you, Amity.

I'm hearing all those who are saying it is the environmental and social barriers which are creating anxiety and trauma, there's clearly some resistance to the idea of an inherent vulnerability associated specifically with autism. My feeling is that the numbers of us suffering anxiety/mood/stress disorders would indicate otherwise (or perhaps indicate that modern society is even less autism-friendly than I thought). I'm open to being persuaded either way.

Keep the comments coming.



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03 Sep 2019, 4:42 am

MrsPeel wrote:
I'd be interested to know, if you don't mind my asking, would you also support removing the term 'disorder' from 'autism spectrum disorder'? How would you prefer we refer to the condition?


I'm not sure. Considering the social (stigma) and business (insurance) interests, it's complicated and will take time for people to see autism otherwise. I guess the hard part is still recognizing any individual's problems without thinking that's all that autism is.



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04 Sep 2019, 12:09 am

MrsPeel wrote:
I'd be interested to know, if you don't mind my asking, would you also support removing the term 'disorder' from 'autism spectrum disorder'? How would you prefer we refer to the condition?


I think you answered your own question.

I've always referred to it as ASC: Autism Spectrum Condition.


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04 Sep 2019, 5:00 am

Yes, I agree that sounds better.
Come to think of it I actually disclosed to someone once by saying I have an autism spectrum condition. Though my thinking at the time was more along the lines of there being multiple variants of autism, which could each be considered a separate condition.



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06 Sep 2019, 5:26 am

MrsPeel wrote:
Autistic Stress Disorder is a form of nervous system dysregulation commonly reported in people on the autism spectrum.

It is primarily related to differences in the amygdala and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in unusual neuroendocrine responses to stresses. The affected person my be under- or over-responsive to stressors, and stress reactions may be unusual in intensity and/or duration.

The condition can produce a wide variety of behaviours in affected persons. In children, it commonly presents as extreme physical/emotional reactions (meltdowns), withdrawal behaviours (shutdowns) and effects on speech (selective mutism). In adults, it is common for the condition to be misdiagnosed as an anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or PTSD. In the long-term, it can result in loss of functioning (burnout).

Do you suffer from 'Autistic Stress Disorder'?


It sounds to me as if ASD leads to PTSD, etc. So, just treating the resulting conditions is like painting over rust. It can make things better, but not stable.