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?Alexithymia

Unsure

Alexithymia - I came across this word, which appears to describes myself, does this resonate with others on the spectrum ? Does cPTSD in autism contribute or cause this, or could it just be (c)PTSD. Especially repeated shutting down over time. How do you know if shutting down is the autism, or ptsd?

Parents
  • Yes to your first question! I think it's definitely the intersection of these factors that causes it.
    From my own perspective, it took some time to resolve, but I am happy to say I have been out of burnout and 'living my best life'—so far as I am aware!—for some time now.
    This was part of an integration with a more authentic version of my autistic self. Strategies to re-balance stress hormones and 're-wire' the mental hardware were key to getting out of the 'monkey brain' chatter and "back on the horse" with my emotions.
    If you're looking for signposts, I found Interoception training and Polyvagal Theory to be the best tools for identifying if a shutdown is sensory or trauma-based:
    • Interoception is the "eighth sense" that helps you notice internal body signals like heart rate or hunger, which are often the building blocks of emotions.
    • Polyvagal Theory explains how our nervous system shifts between "safe," "fight/flight," or "shutdown" states based on perceived threats.
    The National Autistic Society has some excellent Advice and Guidance pages on interoception and mental wellbeing that are worth a look. Wishing you the best with your own resolution! 
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  • Yes to your first question! I think it's definitely the intersection of these factors that causes it.
    From my own perspective, it took some time to resolve, but I am happy to say I have been out of burnout and 'living my best life'—so far as I am aware!—for some time now.
    This was part of an integration with a more authentic version of my autistic self. Strategies to re-balance stress hormones and 're-wire' the mental hardware were key to getting out of the 'monkey brain' chatter and "back on the horse" with my emotions.
    If you're looking for signposts, I found Interoception training and Polyvagal Theory to be the best tools for identifying if a shutdown is sensory or trauma-based:
    • Interoception is the "eighth sense" that helps you notice internal body signals like heart rate or hunger, which are often the building blocks of emotions.
    • Polyvagal Theory explains how our nervous system shifts between "safe," "fight/flight," or "shutdown" states based on perceived threats.
    The National Autistic Society has some excellent Advice and Guidance pages on interoception and mental wellbeing that are worth a look. Wishing you the best with your own resolution! 
Children
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