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Does late diagnosis lead to trauma?

tintal
over 5 years ago

I think it can, and there are a few articles online that explore how autism relates to trauma and PTSD. Compared to neurotypical people, trauma in autistic people has different causes and plays out in different ways.

Some examples: 

  • Exclusion, exploitation or mistreatment by peers, leading to social phobia and mistrust of others
  • Isolation
  • Forcing oneself to put up with loud noises and bright light
  • Pressure and criticism from parents unaware of child's underlying limitations
  • Not knowing how to manage one's stress
  • Forcefully masking stress-relieving behaviours like stimming 
  • Suicidal thoughts in children, with no ability to rationalise or identify the root of these thoughts

Although there is a little research on the topic, I think it deserves more. I would guess that the above examples are all risk factors for depression, stress, alcoholism, heart disease, and a whole host of other health problems.

Parents
  • over 5 years ago

    Yea, I only got my diagnosis when I was 30, I never had any support from school and I don't have parents. I have severe post traumatic stress disorder from having my home broken into by 12 people as a teenager. I was left with my face swollen and split and my arm broken and I was taken into police custody for GBH and attempted murder just for trying to defend myself. I don't have soft triggers but I have harrowing ones. I can't go out places because I get anxious and distressed and I can't articulate the severity of my problems to my doctor without coming across as threatening and aggressive. Every single day is a waking nightmare and I don't even have the freedom to kill myself.

Reply
  • over 5 years ago

    Yea, I only got my diagnosis when I was 30, I never had any support from school and I don't have parents. I have severe post traumatic stress disorder from having my home broken into by 12 people as a teenager. I was left with my face swollen and split and my arm broken and I was taken into police custody for GBH and attempted murder just for trying to defend myself. I don't have soft triggers but I have harrowing ones. I can't go out places because I get anxious and distressed and I can't articulate the severity of my problems to my doctor without coming across as threatening and aggressive. Every single day is a waking nightmare and I don't even have the freedom to kill myself.

Children
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