Introducing Distinct Anxiety
Here's your friendly reminder that there's a type of anxiety specific to autism that isn't diagnosable because the DSM has yet to catch up to the fact that this anxiety even exists.
It's been referred to as "distinct anxiety" by some researchers (link to the reference study below) because it's distinct to autism and refers to anxiety that's the direct result of autistic triggers, like...
- Sensory overstimulation
- Unexpected plan changes
- Not having access to safe foods or clothing items
- Being misunderstood
- Not being able to talk about your special interests
And anxiety meds are unlikely to solve this type of anxiety because they don't resolve the underlying issue (the autistic trigger, aka the cause of the anxiety).
Meds *might* help in the short term (similar to how alcohol can mask sensory overstimulation in the short term) but they are unlikely to be a long term solution for otherwise unaddressed distinct anxiety.
This type of anxiety can also lead to health issues if unaddressed long term. (Potentially really scary ones.)
I say this from personal experience having had a "stress induced" heart event at 34 that I now believe was the result of long-term unaddressed distinct anxiety.
The study for reference...