When you’re autistic and it’s not just “regular” anxiety
If you're autistic and you have anxiety, but...
- Meds haven't helped at all
- Doctors can't diagnose it or explain it
- Your anxiety is triggered by things tied to your autistic traits
There's a good chance what you're experiencing is distinct anxiety.
Distinct anxiety is a type of anxiety that only autistic people experience... and it can't be explained by any other existing anxiety disorder currently outlined in the DSM.
Examples of distinct anxiety are...
- Anxiety from sensory triggers
- Anxiety when safe foods/items are not accessible
- Anxiety related to unexpected plan changes
- Anxiety when you can't talk about your special interests
- Anxiety when you are misunderstood
Research on this is still relatively new and not all autistic people experience distinct anxiety... but as an autistic person who's had heart issues that I'm convinced were directly related to this, I can confirm from my lived experience that distinct anxiety is VERY real.
If you're autistic, I'd love to know if you've experienced this. And if you're comfortable sharing examples, I think it would be extremely helpful for those trying to understand it. ❤️
You can read more about distinct anxiety in the published journal article (link below)
The study for reference...