Alcoholism and autism?

Just for additional information, there's a book on this (I think under-researched) subject and it comes up time and time again in forums, webinars and courses.  The book does allude to the need for more research, although it was writtena  few years ago now and the language is outdated, unfortunately.

https://uk.jkp.com/products/asperger-syndrome-and-alcohol

Aucademy have done a couple of videos on the subject, though, including this one:-   

www.youtube.com/watch

Plus Ausome Training have a course on addiction, and, although not specific to alcohol, the underlying themes and drivers will probably be very familiar to many.  

For me (and yes, I'm aware that this is just more "anecdotal evidence and I'm just a highly subjective, personal study in which "n=1"), the themes are all too familiar.  I didn't know that I was autistic at the time but, from adolescence onwards, I self medicated for years with alcohol, never finding any other options that actually helped from my GP, nor from other services, mental health charities or self help books.  The key to unravelling it all was understanding and accepting my neurodivergence and feeling able to separate out the various causative factors then reduce or eliminate them.  

In my case this meant discarding (or at least trying to discard) any "shoulds" and "oughts" that were put on me from an early age and understanding that much of it wasn't my fault or really even a free choice at all but the result of being bullied, marginalised and misunderstood for the longest time, such that I never felt comfortable socialising or indeed doing very much of anything involving others, without something to calm me down - yes, even though this was a kind of "counterfeit calmness".  It also meant seeking information from other autistics and getting a bit of distance from the judgmental attitudes of many of those around me.  Then also removing myself from toxic situations that were never going to work for me.  It's bee a long, hard journey but incredibly valuable.      

Just for additional information, there's a book on this (I think under-researched) subject and it comes up time and time again in forums, webinars and courses.  The book does allude to the need for more research, although it was writtena  few years ago now and the language is outdated, unfortunately.

https://uk.jkp.com/products/asperger-syndrome-and-alcohol

Aucademy have done a couple of videos on the subject, though, including this one:-   

www.youtube.com/watch

Plus Ausome Training have a course on addiction, and, although not specific to alcohol, the underlying themes and drivers will probably be very familiar to many.  

For me (and yes, I'm aware that this is just more "anecdotal evidence and I'm just a highly subjective, personal study in which "n=1"), the themes are all too familiar.  I didn't know that I was autistic at the time but, from adolescence onwards, I self medicated for years with alcohol, never finding any other options that actually helped from my GP, nor from other services, mental health charities or self help books.  The key to unravelling it all was understanding and accepting my neurodivergence and feeling able to separate out the various causative factors then reduce or eliminate them.  

In my case this meant discarding (or at least trying to discard) any "shoulds" and "oughts" that were put on me from an early age and understanding that much of it wasn't my fault or really even a free choice at all but the result of being bullied, marginalised and misunderstood for the longest time, such that I never felt comfortable socialising or indeed doing very much of anything involving others, without something to calm me down - yes, even though this was a kind of "counterfeit calmness".  It also meant seeking information from other autistics and getting a bit of distance from the judgmental attitudes of many of those around me.  Then also removing myself from toxic situations that were never going to work for me.  It's bee a long, hard journey but incredibly valuable.