Published on 12, July, 2020
Did anyone here have parents who smoked whilst they were pregnant or in the same room as you when you were a child?
Ever since I was born I remember being in the living room filled with smoke. My dad would regularly smoke in the room with me in it instead of going outside, and there would be no ventillation so I was basically breathing this in all the time on a daily basis for all of my childhood and some of my teenage years.
Also my mum says she didn't smoke when she was pregnant with me but I don't believe that is 100% accurate as even if she didn't, my dad has always smoked in her presence so she would still be effectively inhaling second hand smoke into her body.
I done some quick research and found that some people have written papers suggesting that there could be a link between breathing in second hand smoke as a child and autism. Going by my instincts I can easily see how having thousands of toxic chemicals in your body on a daily basis could affect your brain or certain parts of it as it is developing as a child. I have had problems at school and beyond all of my life and think I finally realise why. I know it is not 100% but I do believe a link is there.
It also lead me to find that children breathing in second hand smoke can lead to an ear infection, and I remember having an ear infection when I was younger too.
I do not know anyone else who grew up with breathing in second hand smoke all the time except my cousin from her parents. She has not been diagnosed with ASD but shows some signs, as well as other mental issues such as BPD.
So I would be interested to hear if anyone else diagnosed with ASD had parents that smoked in their early years
Growing up, both my parents were heavy smokers. I used to hate going anywhere in the car as I knew I'd be gasping for air by the time we'd reach our destination. Regarding pregnancy, while I obviously can't say for certain (I'd could ask, but no point because I wouldn't get an honest answer anyway), I'm somewhat confident in assuming my mother smoked throughout. It was a different world back then and people were held to much lower standards than they are today, especially so in terms of pregnancy and parenting in general. That's not to say any of that had anything to do with my ASD, offhand I can think of several members of extended family who show autistic traits.
Ditto! I remember one trip from Portsmouth to Salisbury and about 5 miles from Salisbury, I felt really faint and shaky (like sea sickness) . I had to plead with my Parents to stop the car and open the windows. I remember all the smoke leaving the car !!.
Both my parents were heavy smokers and they both drank quite a lot. I don't smoke and drink occasionally. Neither of them exercised but especially over weight.
I guess I got the last laugh when my mother died of Liver failure and my father died of Kidney cancer (linked to smoking).