Do you believe everyone is slightly autistic?

[Unfriendlywoes]

Constantly have people saying this to me, usually when I’m trying to open up about my struggles with my ASD dd. I feel like a complete failure as a parent quite a lot, and feel so utterly broken and angry after fighting and begging for support for so long and still not getting any really. Currently draining all of my finances to access private therapies for her. If it’s a case of everyone is slightly autistic, why is it so fucking hard?

due to the autism dx covering multiple conditions

What other conditions does an autism diagnosis cover?

Not always repetitive behaviours which can manifest as ocd, food restriction, self harm are part of autism and are serious mental health conditions.

Learning disabilities are separate to autism.

Autism, Aspergers, Rett's and pdd are all now under the autism umbrella whereas they were previously separate dx. Many genetic tests are now showing differences which account for autism presentation too each different dx.

The dsm changes with politics and lobbying.

@Fl100p555 but they can all exist on their own without autism. I'm not denying mh is comorbid for many so are sensory needs for example but they don't apply to everyone with autism and people can have those needs without autism.

I agree, sorry if it sounded like I don't but this is the same as mh, separate.

But serious mental
conditions that are part of an autistic diagnosis criteria,listed on an autism report and due to autism are part of that individuals autism.

I'm going to give this another go.

Working in IT does not qualify you in any way to speculatively diagnose others with any kind of ND.

To diagnose others as AS on the basis of they're not fitting your stereotypes for oddness and sociability is, and I use this phrase carefully, fucking prejudiced and ignorant.

Dear MN, the F word seems perfectly acceptable elsewhere, I don't see why I shouldn't use it here.

I've never seen them listed in the autism criteria hence why I keep writing you can have autism without mh and mh without autism. They may be listed on the report as they may occur because of the persons autism and may require treatment especially in adulthood or as a late dx. I'd be interested to know the assessment that includes mh as a requirement for autism dx please?

The above is for @Fl100p555

I think autism/aspergers is a stand alone thing but now everything is classed under one roof with ASD so that is autism, ocd, anxiety etc all under one title. This is what I understand from what the clinical psychologist told me after my own recent diagnosis. I will confirm when I am in with the psychiatrist in a few weeks but that is what I got from it anyway.

Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour are part of the diagnosis criteria which can manifest in mental health conditions such as self harm and restricted eating.

But they can manifest in other ways too so mh isn't a requirement for a diagnosis.

Self harm and restricted eating can occur without autism likewise autism can occur without them (with other repetitive and restrictive patterns). R and r can include sensory needs too and often does with children.

I dont want to wade in in a debate between two people but if an individuals self harm or restricted eating is part of their restricted and repetitive behaviour it would be dealt with differently than if they were self harming due to sexual abuse.

Exactly Spendonsend

Really not sure what your point is Baileyscream. Nobody is disputing SH and EDs can occur outside of autism but they are often linked to Autism( Maudsley now screens all new patients for Autism) and for some are part of their autism diagnosis. Extreme examples of repetitive behaviours.

Rett syndrome used to be under the autism umbrella, it no longer is.

Who is lobbying for this? And if it's something to do with politics, why do so many politically different countries agree with the changes?

My point is that they are not part of the diagnosis criteria. You do not need to have mental health needs in order to have autism. They can co occur and occur because of traits linked to autism but they are not a requirement for diagnosis hence you can have severe mental health needs and autism or autism without mh needs at all. Mental health needs are separate to autism.

Treatment will always take or should take co forbids into consideration that is good practice.

Still not getting your point.

@HellsToilet Rett's is part of the autism umbrella I agree, so is aspergers, pddnos and autism but you'd still gettesame dx.

The DSM is the main diagnostic manual. It is American and we along with many other countries follow. Groups with motivation usually lobby. Have a read of the Washington Post link, it'll explain the sides involved.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/11/18/profound-autism-labels-neurodiversity/

As someone with adhd & autism (diagnosed and medicated) I do actually tell myself this often (to make me feel less alienated if you know what I mean)

I believed it pre diagnosis as I thought I was neuro typical and had all the traits, it was a form of denial I think.

The problem is no one can understand how another mind works- and how truly different it is.

I described my brain to my boss quite well. He was astonished when given autonomy how well I worked. Identifying and solving problems during the review process of a project I am on.

I told him to imagine our brains were printers - he is ink, logical and precise.

Mine is like a 3d printer - wired totally different and approaching from other angles.

All he needed was to provide me with the right tools to create.

It's only when I understood how different my brain was I could hack it - and stop trying to be normal.

Autism is a spectrum but that is for people who are autistic- i am mild, but severe adhd. Me being mild doesn't mean I can fix it / train it out of me but does mean I can function relatively well.

I think we'll have to leave that there then. It's nye and while I've tried my hardest to explain there aren't many other ways to write that you don't need to have mh to have autism. Or that someone can be severely impacted by their autism without mh needs which is different to someone who has autism and is severely impacted by mh needs.

Yes I think it would be best, you clearly think it’s important to keep going over the same point but I’m really not getting why.

You asked....

I agree with this.

I have an Autism diagnosis with no mental health issues, therefore were not part of the diagnostic criteria. I have never been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, nor taken associated medications. (I do get stressed in social situations, but I do not consider this to be anxiety) I do have 'OCD type repetitive stimming behaviours' detailed in my report, which are directly linked to my Autism.

DD has a recent diagnosis of Autism and also has severe anxiety and has self harmed. The anxiety and self harm were dealt with entirely separately from her Autism diagnosis (even though they were occurring at the time) and do not form part of her Autism report.

Aspergers and pdd no longer exist as diagnoses, they are both autism. Rett Syndrome is its own distinct entity. It is sometimes misdiagnosed as autism, but it is an uninherited genetic condition and does not come under the autism spectrum banner.