Is It Autism or Trauma? Or Both?

[@strictnonconformist7369]

I as an auDHD individual find your voice very relaxing to listen to.

[@neridafarrer4633]

Thank you for this, very informative podcast. Late diagnosed (at 50) AuDHDer here, with ASD2, ADHD combined types, cPTSD and "2e". You describe my family very well and my lifelong difficulties as a daughter, sister, mother (of 7, mostly ND children, including children with schizophrenia, ASD2-3 plus intellectual impairment and developmental delays[1 of], children with my same kind of phenotype and children diagnosed with cPTSD and BPD). I very much appreciate how "seen" I feel via you describing difficulties and challenges us kinds of families and individuals are going through. I combat mine via artistic practise, self development, spiritual practise and researching about potential resources and theraputic modalities as are pertinent. It is helpful to have, at my disposal, language and identification such as you have provided. I have now subbed.

[@kristenhovet]

Thank you so much for your comment, and welcome to The Other Autism! 😊

[@theshylilie]

Thank you! This was super informative. I am on the waitlist for my ASD assessment and recently am diagnosed with ADHD combined. I wondered if you had any experience or information about a connection between gaslighting and the inability to lie. If an autistic person grew up in an extremely gaslighting environment where their reality is comprised, does that affect an autistic persons ability to distinguish the truth from lies? In other words does the autistic person know if what they themselves are saying is a truth it not? Not sure if I'm explaining this right. I grew up in this environment and sometimes I say what I think the other person wants to hear (a lie?) instead of what I actually believe is true because I am uncertain. This could be a protection mechanism on my part due to cptsd and my often inability to tell what is actually going on. Maybe some lack of confidence there too. I love your podcast and videos. Thank you!🌼

[@kristenhovet]

Thank you so much! I'm not sure of research on this, but anecdotally, I'd say anyone in that type of environment would learn to mask and say white lies to be accepted, safe, or even for survival in some circumstances. That type of environment usually lacks validation, so the person grows up thinking it is wrong to be themselves and to even have views, thoughts, emotions, etc. of their own. It can lead to a lot of challenges with identity because the person has lived as a kind of puppet, enacting everything others around them want or what is perceived by the individual as what others want. The work then becomes seeking to get in touch with the self, what the self wants and prefers, and the kind of life desired. 😊

[@hannahk.summerville5908]

I've grown up in an environment like that and am AuDHD plus have CPTSD. It is a form of masking definitely.

[@anonymousprivate6814]

Thank you. And hi from UK! I was nodding my head the whole way through listening to what you were sharing. I am almost 50 female. I grew up in an abusive/neglectful household. Both myself and my brother are autistic. My brother got diagnosed at 6, myself at 38 after 2 mental breakdowns and suicide attempts. I am so angry my autism was ignored despite one of my parents knowing when I was a child. I can relate to both the childhood attachment disorders you talked about. I got diagnosed BPD and Major Depression at 21. I lived in Delaware for a year with my Mum and late stepfather. I have just been diagnosed with CPTSD. I have been on disability benefits and cant work for the last 15 years. I'm so sad about ending up in this state of impacted functioning after recovering from the first mental breakdown in my 20's and getting back into work, loosing my stepdad in 2008 and another mental breakdown in 2009 and I havent been the same since and have lost skills. I realize I was very high masking all my life. I am awaiting therapy but anxious because of past negative experience/gaslighting/dismisal and the societal acceptance of family is everything even if they are abusive. There is a history of autism and mental health conditions on both sides of my family. I do have some resiliance despite suicidal depression daily.

[@lindaT82]

very informative - thank you ✨

[@rockstarjazzcat]

🤙🏻

[@annaynely]

Neurodevelopmental issues with poverty issues.