Anxiety and Autism: Which One Do You Suffer From?
Anxiety vs Autism. Anxiety and autism are two different disorders that have their own set of symptoms, but they are not mutually exclusive. Anxiety vs autism: which is worse? Anxiety affects the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, while autism is a developmental disorder involving social skills and communication difficulties. Anxiety vs autism: which one do you suffer from?
Anxiety
Anxiety is a disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. Anxiety can cause a person to feel overwhelmed, scared, or stressed. Anxiety can also lead to physical symptoms such as a racing heart, chest pain, or dizziness.
Anxiety is often treated with medication and therapy. Anxiety can be debilitating for some people, but there are treatments available that can help.
Symptoms of Anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety can vary from person to person. Some people may experience physical symptoms such as a racing heart or chest pain, while others may only experience emotional symptoms like feeling nervous and scared. Anxiety can also lead to difficulty concentrating,
Causes of Anxiety
There are many different causes of anxiety. Some of the most common causes include stress, genetics, and chemical imbalances in the brain. Anxiety can also be caused by traumatic events or a history of abuse.
If you are experiencing anxiety, it is important to find the root cause of your anxiety and address it. There are many different treatments available for anxiety, and with the help of a doctor or therapist, you can find relief from your symptoms.
trouble sleeping, and feelings of isolation.
Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects social skills and communication. Autism can also lead to difficulties with motor skills, sensory processing, and executive functioning. Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that the symptoms can vary from person to person.
There is no single cause of autism, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure for autism, but there are treatments available that can help improve the quality of life for people with autism.
Symptoms of Autism
The symptoms of autism can vary from person to person. Some people with autism may have difficulty with communication and social interaction, while others may have difficulty with motor skills or sensory processing. Many people with autism also have some degree of intellectual disability.
Anxiety and autism are two different disorders
Anxiety and autism are two different disorders that have their own set of symptoms. Anxiety is a disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. While autism is a developmental disorder involving social skills and communication difficulties. Anxiety can manifest in a variety of ways, including social anxiety, panic attacks, and generalized anxiety disorder. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects how a person perceives the world and interacts with others. It can cause problems with communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors.
Similarities between Social Anxiety and Autism spectrum disorder:
Can autism be mistaken for anxiety?
The main reason behind the confusion between social anxiety disorder and autism spectrum disorders is that there are a lot of similarities between the two. Psychologists can diagnose anxiety by confusing social anxiety symptoms in autistic children.
A renowned psychologist and therapist Richelle Whittaker has listed four common symptoms of social anxiety and autism:
- Nervousness
- Little social communication
- Difficulty in adapting to change
- Difficulty in making (or no) eye contact
How do I know if I have autism or just anxiety?
Anxiety is a mental health condition, which means that it is connected to a traumatic event or chemical imbalance in the brain.
For example, if some kid experiences trauma in a shopping mall when he/she was a kid, she might encounter some symptoms of social anxiety or intense anxiety while visiting the same mall again.
Whereas, autism is a biological disease and the patients have difficulty in understanding and their thinking process is different.
For example, if there is a conversation going on between two people at a table, you will have trouble comprehending what they are actually saying and what their thinking process is behind that.
Major differences between anxiety and autism:
Anxiety disorders fall in the category of mental health conditions, which are treatable. The patient who is suffering from anxiety disorders can visit the mental health clinic where the professional can suggest medical or cognitive behavioral therapy which can help alleviate the anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety disorders come from a trauma or chemical imbalance in the brain which is treatable after formal diagnosis by a mental health professional. On the other hand, autism spectrum disorders are a neurotypical type of disease that is not treatable like treating anxiety disorders.
People with an autism spectrum disorder (asd) have difficulty in understanding conversations because they think differently, owing to the biological conditions of their neurons. In general, we can say that autism spectrum disorder (asd) is something that can impact social anxiety. It is something that can generate sensory processing disorder (SPD).
Furthermore, anxiety disorders can be a personality trait which a patient can overcome through his/her willpower and some changes in the lifestyle. The best practice to treat anxiety is by visiting the mental health practitioner through counseling or psychiatric medication.
For further insight into the differences between autism and anxiety disorder, follow this video:
In addition, you can get additional information about anxiety, autism, and ADHD from a patient who has been diagnosed herself with ADHD and autism. Watch the video by clicking the link here.
Diagnosis of Anxiety vs Autism:
Before you try to judge yourself for having autism spectrum disorder, you must visit a mental health professional for a formal diagnosis. Autism and anxiety disorders have many similarities and a proper diagnosis can be done by a practitioner to diagnose anxiety vs autism.
A psychologist can take help from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders that is published by the American Psychiatric Association for the proper diagnosis of the mental health condition.
The mental health professional can provide medical advice on the activities to relieve anxiety and control autism. They can also suggest medications or cognitive behavioral therapy. These activities – if properly adhered to- can help the patient in treating anxiety and autism and help them in social interactions and overcome severe anxiety.
How do I know if I have autism or anxiety?
Before visiting a professional, the person itself must have a slight realization of the underlying mental health conditions.
Anxiety disorders are very common in the world and they tend to increase with our age and responsibilities. There is a lot of discussion on anxiety vs autism. The main differences are discussed in the following paragraphs.
The person with anxiety disorders does not realize having it unless they are faced with the meltdown accompanying the anxiety symptoms. Anxiety can start with a trigger, and it can relate to past experiences. Panic disorder and consequent compulsive behaviors can accompany them.
The person with anxiety has trouble dealing with the slight changes in plans and he/she finds it challenging to manage anxiety. They tend to:
- Sleep early and on time
- Keep a proper routine
- Have better alignment with a 9 to 5 job
- Cannot handle a lot of stress
- Lack social skills
The person with autism spectrum disorder has difficulty in understanding other people’s thinking and he/she has trouble in making and understanding conversations. Autism spectrum disorders can be confused with social anxiety disorder, but autism is an advanced level of anxiety symptoms.
A person with autism spectrum disorders:
- Gets very anxious about social interaction
- Finds it hard to make friends
- Feels comfortable being on their own
- Seems blunt or rude
- Have difficulty in navigating the plans for their career and education
- Not interested in others without having an interest for some benefit
- Think a lot about ‘What others might think’
- Has difficulty in managing anxiety
- Has difficulty in managing demands at work, family, or school because of the feeling of getting overwhelmed.
How to live with anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorder is a mental health condition and is treatable. If anxiety is left untreated, it can create developmental disabilities where the associated factors like any added stress into your life. Anxiety disorder can cause problems in your social skills and intense fear in dealing with everyday tasks. It can lead to more severe symptoms which can involve highly unusual stimuli.
If you feel like you are having an anxiety disorder, like social anxiety disorder that is showing repetitive behaviors in your social circle, you must take the first step towards the solution by consulting a mental health professional.
The professional can suggest different treatment options, e.g. medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes, etc. Upon diagnosis, proper treatment, routine, and lifestyle changes can help alleviate the anxiety disorder.
Treatment options for anxiety:
Social skills training is very effective for people with social anxiety disorder and also ASD. This therapy can teach the patients to practice social skills in a social or performance situation. Whittaker says that it can help patients realize some social skills that they take for granted, e.g. reading facial expressions & asking about their day.
A study conducted in 2014 suggested improvement of social skills in 106 adults.
How to live with autism spectrum disorders?
Autism spectrum disorders are neurological and are not treatable. It starts to appear at an early age, typically developing children. These developmental disorders start appearing with age and children with asd have trouble in their social lives.
But, individuals within the autism spectrum can be treated and they can control this disease by making some lifestyle changes and managing their life with a routine and discipline.
You can create an autistic support group by adding people with autism to your circle. These people can be provided with an autism-friendly space where they can support each other and make an interactive autism network.
Being social beings, humans prefer to live in groups and that is why we make friends. What can be better than having a support group like-minded people in your circle within the autism spectrum?
You can look for support groups at local hospitals, friends referral, and Mental Health America.
Treatment options for ASD:
There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, but people can learn to live with them. The psychologist Richelle Whittaker suggests customized support for people with ASD, including occupational therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, and applied behavioral analysis.
Which disorder is more severe: anxiety or autism?
Anxiety and autism are both different disorders that can have a significant impact on a person’s life. However, anxiety is more severe than autism. Anxiety is a disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, while autism is a developmental disorder involving social skills and communication difficulties. Anxiety is also more common than autism; about 1 in 5 people in the United States suffer from some form of anxiety, while only about 1 in 68 people have autism.
Autism vs ADHD: Compare and Contrast
Autism Programs for Adults
Autism in Males vs Females
Symptoms Of Autism in Kids
Concluding remarks on Anxiety vs Autism
Anxiety and Autism relate in some ways and there are also a lot of differences when it comes to anxiety vs autism. There is a lot of anxiety vs autism debate among the general public. But, the right diagnosis can only be possible by visiting a mental health professional.
If the same symptoms appear while measuring anxiety in everyday tasks, you must feel free to contact a mental health practitioner. There is a lot of discussion between anxiety vs autism. There is also a lot of anxiety and autism research going on. The researchers have found out till now that anxiety can be exclusive of autism, but autism can accompany anxiety.
There is no cure for autism (neurodevelopmental disorder), but there are some support options to help the patient alleviate these developmental disorders. Whereas, anxiety is treatable (mental health disorder). You must visit a mental health professional to help you cope with unwanted and intrusive thoughts, developing a routine, medication, or CBT to help control the disorder.
In Conclusion, life is beautiful and any underlying mental health condition must not hinder its beauty. If you are facing mental health problems, fight this condition, regardless of whether it is anxiety vs autism, and go see a doctor!
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