Published on 12, July, 2020
Has anybody else found that various or perhaps specific substances appear to have helped them?
Be that either helping to reduce anxiety, or boosting self confidence, or in some other way.
In my case, I have found that a number of substances have helped me a great deal, in some way they have just seemed make being around people so much easier.
The most helpful thing I have found so far, has definitely been benzodiazepines. I first discovered these during the legal high era, and it wasn't just their effects on anxiety that made an impression in me, as I quickly found a positive reinforcement effect when I took those before any social situation. In other words, things went a lot easier and people seemed to like me more on those occasions I did use benzos, compared to those which I didn't.. I don't think it was only due just to the elimination of anxiety, although that was probably a very large part of it.
I have seen a thread on another forum about benzos possibly alleviating the symptoms of ASD by some mechanism of GABA on brain chemistry. Although I have not seen any scientific studies or any evidence of any correlation.
Yes I am aware of the addictive nature of benzos, just thought I'd mention that.
Hi Shadweller, thank you for sharing in the online community. You may find some useful information on anxiety in our guide, which includes a note on medication: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/anxiety/autistic-adults.
I also found some specific information on benzodiazepines which you may find helpful at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/sleeping-pills-and-minor-tranquillisers/about-benzodiazepines/.
Best wishes,
Anna Mod
Thank you Anna.
I have researched benzos and anxiety a great deal and in quite some depth. (I suppose you could say they are some of my special interests.) It is interesting to see the topics approached specifically from the autism angle though, as per those links. I was kind of hoping to find anyone else on here that may also be ASD diagnosed or self-diagnosed with similar interests.
At times, it currently feels like a case of having to go back to look at everything I already thought I knew, in a new light, since my self diagnosis only a few weeks ago. And that applies to this subject as much as everything else.
So, if anyone else with similar interests does ever chance upon this thread, sooner or later, please do share your experiences or drop me a PM.