Ok, more on distinct anxiety… which is the type of anxiety specific to autism that’s the direct result of autistic brain wiring. 

Here are some examples of distinct anxiety…

- Anxiety tied to unexpected plan changes, changes in routine, or changes to the environment

- Anxiety tied to special interests—for example, not being able to talk about them or access them for some reason

- Anxiety related to sensory sensitivities—for example, not having access to safe foods or clothing items… or knowing an environment will cause sensory overload and being anxious to go there

- Anxiety tied to autistic stims—for example, not being able to access stimming activities that are typically done for self-regulation and comfort

- Anxiety tied to others misunderstanding intention or meaning (which is why many autistic people often “over-explain”)

And…

- Anxiety in social situations that’s not due to the social aspects of the situation (which would be associated with social anxiety disorder). For example, with distinct anxiety, it could be due to a disruption in routine… or the environment causing sensory overload

So far, only 1 study has been published, and the research is ongoing, but in that one study, about half of the autistic participants showed signs of distinct anxiety. 

I would say that’s definitely a high percentage, but the study was conducted on children and I have a feeling that percentage will go up significantly if they study adults who have spent their entire lives not getting their needs met… because anxiety definitely compounds over time.

If you’re autistic, I’d love to know if you’ve experienced this type of anxiety, and if so, how it’s shown up for you.

And as always, follow for more. 

References:

Here’s a link to the research/study for those interested…

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35341582/ 

And here are links to a couple of good/easy-to-digest articles on the subject:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220210154235.htm

https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/amygdala-changes-in-autistic-individuals-linked-to-anxiety/2022/02