Autism v trauma

The way assessments are done now has changed loads since I was diagnosed, I don't think there was a crib sheet sort of thing assessors had to work through, I think it was more down to what the indiviual assessor thought.

Thank you for sharing your experience.  It's good to know someone has had a similar experience. 

I don't need a full formal diagnosis. I'd probably be happy with an initial assessment, even it just said, "yeah, this is possible "

Yes, my childhood experiences caused me lots of problems. And, yes, it may be impossible to tease apart what mechanism is causing me problems  (trauma or something else like autism).

I have found understanding the mechanism helps. So understanding why trauma makes me act and react a certain way. But is autism another lens? If so understanding that mechanism may help too.

If my continued difficulties are because my wiring is different, that may help as shorthand to give to others, or as a manual, so they understand why I function a certain way. And to help me understand myself too.

It's just how will I or a clinician determine trauma from Autism. 

I know what you mean about there being no before trauma, I'm in much the same position myself, like you I've had loads of therapy and to an extent feel at the end of my thereputic journey, thats not to say nothing will come up again. I was diagnosed at 50 and I felt a huge sense of relief to have a diagnosis to work with and explore. I also understand your fears about being '.filtered out..' from my own experience this didn't happen, but then I'm very lucky with my GP's and with the psychologist I saw who was Ok with me not dragging up every instance of trauma and going over it again because I didn't want to be retraumatised.

Autism or trauma is a bit of a chicken and egg question, was the trauma the result of differences you displayed ffrom an early age (autism) or have your autistic tendencies been made worse by the trauma? To be honest I'm not sure it matters in anything but a intellectual sense, if you've scored highly on self tests then there's a high possibility that they're right. But bear in mind that these tests are gendered towards how autism manifests in males rather than females, women tend to manifest autism differently. Try reading Gina Roppon's The Lost Girls of Autism, to see how and why this is.

Childhood emotional neglect causes a lot of issues, if you Google it.

It is not easy to tease things apart. It can become a balance of probabilities, based on lots of small pieces fitting together to create a picture.

I understand you would like to know for sure. I did as well.

But the real purpose is to apply the knowledge to make life easier. What course of action makes things better is determined by what the root cause is.

Trauma in autism can sometimes be made better just through understanding. It is the confusion which drives the overwhelm which drives the emotions. Rather than emotions (fear) driving the problems. NT treatment is more about managing emotions, effective autistic treatment is more in-depth and unemotional, in my opinion. Which is why a lot of therapy doesn't work well for autism, because it is treating the symptom. Understanding yourself and how to live with yourself is what helps.

The question is what you want to try to improve. What is causing you the most problems. You don't need to say, but it's something to think about. Just being diagnosed doesn't change this, but does give you permission to be kinder to yourself. In theory you can do this anyway, but some people can't without external validation (like me).

OK I understand. I hope you get the answers you are seeking.

I'm sorry, I don't think I explained myself very well.  I am concerned that as soon as I mention my history and emotional trauma, any GP (and clinician) will just see that, and jump to the conclusion that is the only problem.   And they will filter me out. I feel my GP wouldn't refer me in the first place too.My therapist also thought this might happen. 

I'm not looking for a full diagnostic work up. Just an initial assessment. More for my peace of mind. To understand if this was why, despite all the therapy, I still struggle.   Even an initial assessment, saying that autism was possible would help. That would be enough 

Thank you for your reply

A very salient question. How much is a diagnosis needed?

I function.  But I struggle.  And always have.  That may be due to trauma.  However, if it were also due to autism, it may a way of explaining my difficulties.   A shorthand or like an instruction booklet, so people can understand why I act/react the way I do. And also a way of understanding myself 

Thank you Stuart.

You have compared and contrasted Autism and trauma.  But I chime with things from both.

I was born into a domestically violent and oppressive home. So I  have no before or after to look to.

I have stress from load, but fear too.  I don't think I have any sensory issues. 

I live in my head a lot, feeling separate from the world. But I have quick firing intense emotions and threat response from fear and trauma.  I have fierce perfectionism.  This is two-fold: a feeling that things should be a certain way and should never be deviated from, but also because of fear and anxiety that if it's perfect I'll be safe.

I script out loud when alone, or in my head when with others.   I rehearse conversations, replay conversation, justify, organise out loud. 

I feel like I'm running a different program to everyone else.  Don't feel some things come naturally.   I'm uncomfortable in the company of other women as I feel I just don't know how to be with them. It just doesn't compute.

I get emotionally and mentally exhausted easily.  Just going to work etc.  I have a lot of alone time to decompress. 

I have deep interests, intertwined with parasocial connections, that lead to me being in fantasies a lot, to the point of maladaptive day dreaming. 

Given my life, I fully accept there is trauma.  The question is, is there autism there too. And are they too intertwined to distinguish. 

Thank you for your input

Hello.

I sorry life has not been as kind as it could have been for you.

The AQ-50 is the main screening test. I think the score for clinical significance is 30-32. You are higher than NT typical though. This is not the only measure, but may likely influence your GP.

Its not a competition, that's just for info. Presentations differ.

Trauma can cause a lot of similar effects.

Here are some differences, but it is not exact and these are just my opinion.

Autism is lifelong, the traits were there when young and before the trauma. Although they could have been masked or only become apparent as life stress increased. Note that many autistic people also have trauma.

Stress comes from overload with autism, rather than fear with trauma.

Time pressure being hard, difficulty starting tasks, monotropic focus, etc. are autistic things.

Problems with tasks are fear based with trauma. Remove the fear and be in a safe space and you are ok. Executive function can be ok. It is not caused by being pressured, overloaded or the environment.

Sensory differences show up in autism. Trauma can give heightened threat responses, such as hearing sensitivity raised, but things like touch and preference for certain fabrics may not be present.

Emotions are fast with trauma. They tend to be delayed with autism. You think then feel, you live more in your head. Rather than feel first the act.

Thinking about conversations and social interactions and scripting them is much more an autistic thing.

Autism tends to feel like you are different, running a different operating system, not quite aligned with others. Social interactions don't go quite right or are a bit awkward (you can learn but something new is hard or to be avoided). Trauma tends to feel like you are not safe.

Autism tends to have more confusion.

Autism can make you more prone to trauma.

Autistic burnout is a giveaway though. Autistic burnout does not go quickly, it requires alone time and you feel better by reducing demands. Trauma can feel better quickly if threats are removed, and company can help not hinder.

Autism is more a processing difference. But of course from the inside it is not easy to tell you are not viewing it quite the same.

Hope this helps.

Hi Snookiebookie 

I’m glad that you are getting support from your therapist.

The tests that you have taken with scores can give people an indication if it would be worth seeking an autism assessment, but they cannot give people a diagnosis. Certainly your traits show similarity with some traits people with autism might have but then again there could be other reasons and conditions for your traits. I’m not qualified to say anything more than that.

Snookiebookie said:

My concern is if I go to GP I'll get 'filtered out'.

You are saying you don’t want an assessment. Is that because you are reluctant to ask your GP for a referral? I don’t understand what you mean by filtered out.

If you are in doubt about whether or not you might be autistic, it would be worth speaking to your GP. Most private referrals from clinics that adhere to NICE guidelines charge more than £1200 for a full assessment and medical report. If you seek this route and want the diagnosis in your NHS medical record, just check with your GP that they will accept the diagnosis from your clinic of choice.

Hi, it's worth exploring the possibility of being autistic,  but the final answer can come only from a diagnostician.  As far as I know a good trained professional will be able to tell trauma from autism apart. Getting the formal diagnosis may be hard, there is also another question- how much it's needed.