On being a neurodivergent woman

[Supercuriousforever]

Do you think being a woman made neurodivergence harder for you? Like do you think life would have been easier if you were male? Did you face some extra challenges along the way?

Wow I knew that the statistics were high, but 90% is shocking. If there is this prevalence for neuro diverse women to be pre disposed to different kinds of trauma and I'd include home, school and work based bullying here, you'd think that anxiety/ptsd would be considered to be a co morbid diagnosis.

In my own experience and that of several other women I know personally, autism was missed/nearly missed and explained by symptoms of anxiety or other mental health disorders. I really do hope that the criteria in the DMS-5 for autism women is evaluated and updated to reflect this at some point.

autism was missed/nearly missed and explained by symptoms of anxiety or other mental health disorders

I was only diagnosed in my 40s. But apparently I was depressed with elements of EUPD from late teens onwards...

I think you are absolutely correct that anxiety and PTSD should be considered co-morbid. I'd also suggest that more than one instance of sexual assault or DV should be considered a red flag for autism, because if we keep "walking into" abuse, it's probably because we cannot detect an abuser.

Self, that makes me feel sad and angry both for you and for the collective struggle. I am so sorry that you were let down.

The person assessing me said 'I don't see autism, I see trauma' and I felt this wave of despair wash over me. I know from observing and fighting for my son's needs, that autism is absolutely at my core. There are so many painful similarities. It is still just such a battle for women in the autistic community to find their voice.