How can I tell autism traits from effects of childhood trauma?

[SandraN]

I had a traumatic childhood , neglectful parents. Physical and mental abuse. I think also I am asd maybe adhd. I tried therapy but it doesn’t really work for me. I want to live the best life I can. How do I distinguish my asd from my trauma?

Trauma is something that can be resolved, ASD is believed to be caused by genetic or early brain developmental changes.

Have you have any help or therapy with the trauma?

I think this is a really good question. And that the answer is to focus, not on labels, but on the precise details of your distress, how it is impacting you, and the strategies that you might adopt to make things better.

Labels are incredibly tempting, because we feel such a strong need to find a narrative for our lives. But narratives don't exist in the raw reality, only in our orientation to reality.

Any narrative is a bit of a distraction from the task of finding what works for you. The danger is that you will seize on it as a respite from self-judgement. But you need to consider why you need permission for that respite before you actually take whatever practical steps will help - which may be the same whatever label you choose.

This is a good question, one I'm wrangling with myself. I'm glad you asked it although I am sorry you needed to. I will be reading replies with interest.

It can be really hard to separate trauma from ASD or ADHD because some traits can look very similar. A trauma-informed, neurodiversity-aware professional may help you understand what comes from where without reducing everything to a single label.

I've got the same thing to unpick. The NHS have been worse than useless in supporting me. I'm having to go private (psychiatrist). I don't know what I'm hoping to achieve exactly - some answers/discover more about me.
If ADHD is at play possible medication. There isn't any medication for autism apart from antidepressants but I want to be sure that if I'm prescribed something, I'm taking the right kind of something.
Personally, I think I have a mixture of ND and trauma (CPTSD confirmed some years ago). Things are very much still up in the air for me. It's going to take a few more months before I get any answers.

Just wanted to say that I had the same predicament. Complex trauma, asd and adhd and couldnt decipher what was what. Did extensive emdr to process the trauma (there was a lot of it). Realised that autism and adhd were always there.

I've sent you a PM Everest

I have adhd and asd traits. I dont like to accept labels but try and trest individual symtoms. Does it matter if its asd or trauma? For symtoms that are not treatable i found acceptance commitment therapy helpful. I had emdr for ptsd symptoms which helped too.

Atleastitsnotsunstroke
I've got a feeling for me, it is a mixture of everything.
I would like to know whether I could access dopamine or some different kind of medication in relation to ADHD traits and this is something I would like to pursue. I've taken a plethora of anti-depressants and I don't think they are the answer.
I think it is useful to know what is at play. Then perhaps therapy and medication can be more targeted (whatever this may be)
It's helping me put some of my awful childhood experiences in perspective because looking back, I am considering whether my parents were neurodiverse/and or traumatised. I suppose in a way, it is helping me to make more sense of things.