Aspergers, Autism, and Trauma

[Dan Metevier]

I was diagnosed with PTSD and aspergers officially 2 years ago.

Welcome to this website. I hope you find it as informative and satisfying as I have.

 

[tia_darcy]

I am beginning to agree with this as I read more of what is being written in this thread and others. It seems that aspergers (at least in some) may turn down or turn off the part of the brain that "normally" signals danger, leaving that person without much of a first line of defense. Back in the day, so to speak, people were not aware of this possibility so parents and others didn't even think of providing this line of defense on behalf of their children (not to make excuses). Does all this sound right?

Yes.

 

[Kari Suttle]

Sorry, Kari, for the psychobabble. Dissociative just means that your mind goes blank, like you're not really there, so to speak. The lights are off and no one is home. One might have this kind of experience while drinking heavily, where they have a memory "blackout" afterwards. Or it might be a survival mechanism that allows a person not to have to experience something particularly painful or overwhelming.

Emotional flooding means just what it sounds like. One gets so filled with an emotion (anger, fear, etc.) that they're not able to function effectively. Typically, this requires a "cool down" period to return to a state where one can function OK.

I hope that helps. If not, I'll take another go at it. Sorry! Thanks for asking.

Ahh okay. I like psychology, hence why i asked. I've heard the word 'dissassociation' thrown around a lot but never really knew what it referred to. It sounds like a more extreme version of forcibly numbing your own emotions, like instead of just shutting off emotions you check out completely. Am i right?

 

[epath13]

Your needs sound familiar and I'm sorry you did not have a therapist that was able to "get" what you needed. While I want to continue to be careful about not doing online therapy here, you may wish to look at a book on a topic called "Dialectical Behavior Therapy." This method was originally developed to treat people who had been labeled "Borderline Personality Disorder," but has been found useful for other people as well. Here is a link to a workbook that one might use to work through many of the issues you mentioned: . You may find this helpful or you may not. Just a thought. Let me know what you think either way. And thanks for sharing your story.

The book seems interesting. I'm not sure if it would be applicable in my case though. My issues are usually caused by sensory overload. Sometimes when I'm in this "overload" mode I may start engaging in "black and white" thinking or experiencing negative emotions, but then I remember that if I wasn't generally overwhelmed I wouldn't see the world in such dark colors. I have recently realized that I shouldn't worry so much about being unable to take a break on time, I have to find a way to take some of the pressure off without "running away". I can still do whatever needs to be done, talk to whoever I need to talk to etc. I've noticed that talking less, moving slower, doing some monotone physical activity (for me it's usually sorting something if possible), avoid participating in serious discussions can help to take some of the information load off. There's more to it but it'll take too long to describe Before I have thought that my negative emotions are caused by traumatic experiences, and, I'm sure, some of them are. But recently I have noticed that I only experience those emotions when I'm in this "overload" or "crashing" mode. When I seem to be having difficulties with any extra information coming in, whatever that information is, whether it is positive or negative. When I read the book's free preview, some of the statements sounded familiar. Something I told to myself, or something my therapists tried to work on without any success. Now I know pretty well what I need. It's a lot of work but all the work will be worth it. I'm sure a lot of people on Autism spectrum would benefit from addressing actual autism symptoms 1st before addressing anything else, because without doing so any therapy is pretty much useless.

Thank you for the link, though

 

[radasp]

I'm a mature adult diagnosed bipolar and Asperger. My main complaint about mental health diagnosis is that the criteria take the form of Chinese menus; run through enough of these, and you're "guilty" of some disorder, disease, or disability. I write a blog that examines traditional assumptions about people like us -

Asperger: The HypoSocial Human | Investigating the Asperger brain as a legacy of ancestral humans

 

[Warmheart]

My trauma and autism are linked. I've written and re-written this post several times, and I keep trying to fend off panic attacks. Whoo, deep topic!
Due to ASD, I have some extremely hypersensitive areas on my body. Touch in one area in particular causes a sudden physical/psychological agony and instant flight-or-fight/meltdown. I was born with a medical condition that (oh, joy!) means that area needed to be examined/handled every 3 months by a specialist doc. As a tiny child, Mom or Dad would often suddenly take me out of playing outside, even on a seemingly lovely day, to go to the doc. I was usually held down by 4 - 6 adults while having a part of my body touched that was excruciating. I was a compliant, timid kid, but I had meltdowns during this. As an adult, I must still regularly see a specialist. Now, I can ask to be examined without contact in the area of hypersensitivity. But some procedures may need handling there-- and I absolutely cannot manage it without going Chernobyl.

Shutdowns (due to stress of dealing with a trauma trigger) can mean one is trapped in a vertical tunnel of fog, going through life disembodied, so it's hard to answer medical questions such as "Do you have pain?" and "Where?" In a fogged-out shutdown, it can even be hard to distingish if you are nauseous, in pain, or have to pee. And in this inward, zombie-like state, you still need to manage executive functioning and, yikes, even run errands so there's food in your house.

Due to the ASD, when stressed, like Rain Man, I keep repeating the same few phrases over and over. If stress continues, I lose speech altogether. So as a child, I learned I can be tortured, it can happen at any time, and that I figuratively had no voice. It so happens that when in a scary situation, I also literally have no voice. So, I now live with PTSD and ASD-- with the ASD hamstringing me when I'm in the PTSD situation!

I'm fascinated by someone trying to help ASD people with trauma. Thank you for what you are trying to do to help! I am so grateful that someone is exploring this.

PS-- As luck would have it, tomorrow's my routine specialist appointment. I've lost speech twice this month. Whee! Good thoughts for my exam warmly welcomed.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Deepest sympathies, Warmheart. A few people I was talking to elsewhere suggested a group needed to be started for Aspies after doctor visits for reassurance and coping. Apparently we're very prone to trauma when dealing with medical staff since they seem to declare vendetta on our sensory issues and do their dead-level best to aggravate them and put us through the worst hell we've ever been through, made even worse when some of them dare laugh at us to our face about our problems. (People really don't respect how much I force myself into shutdown to prevent an explosion.) I honestly can't imagine how much more severe it must be for you because it is even more mandatory and frequent than for the rest of us. If I were in your shoes, I'd be nothing short of violent if being sedated or a potent local anesthetic wasn't an option. Many kudos for having the strength to deal with it as well as you do, and many fuzzy bathrobes or chocolate sundaes (or comfort of choice) for as long as you have that condition.

 

[LilyJo]

LJ, in my mind that statement could have been made by any human being. I believe we all learn to live behind a front in order to get along in this world. Even us "neuro-typicals" (definitely this one). There is a great tension in our lives between being who we are (whatever that might be) and being someone who is acceptable to others. It can be a balancing act, or it can go out of balance, one way or the other. This is not to discount your particular experience and struggles. This is to let you know that you are not alone in this struggle. I join you in this struggle, though in my own unique way. I wish you the best with yours.

Many thanks Dan, that is kind. I appreciate your comment and wish you all the best.

I was just thinking that I have been very negative in my comments about the effects AS has had on me. On a positive note, I think my AS superpower of hyperfocusing has really helped me in managing flashbacks and dissociative episodes and allowed me to keep working even through the worst of it. Its not all bad! I sincerely hope that others sharing their stories here or reading this thread can see an upside.

 

[Warmheart]

AsheSkyler, thank you for your compassion. I am new to learning about ASD, and have never had anyone understand this situation before. The expression you use, to force oneself into shutdown to avoid an explosion, is so fitting. Thank you for your understanding, your kindness, and your wisdom. Seems that you have overcome much, and have an amazing well of inner strength and resiliency. I'm wishing you good thoughts for today.

 

[AsheSkyler]

AsheSkyler, thank you for your compassion. I am new to learning about ASD, and have never had anyone understand this situation before. The expression you use, to force oneself into shutdown to avoid an explosion, is so fitting. Thank you for your understanding, your kindness, and your wisdom. Seems that you have overcome much, and have an amazing well of inner strength and resiliency. I'm wishing you good thoughts for today.

Many thanks as well, but I am soooo far from overcoming what causes my own PTSD or controlling my reactions to my triggers without using some kind of avoidance like shutdowns or staying far, far away for decades at a time. It's just not a healthy situation all around, and my emotions are so strong about it I've got a tenuous grasp at best on controlling it. I just wish I could get the people causing it to understand that whatever "help" they think they're giving is so much more disastrous than what they think they are preventing. And blast it all if they aren't federally protected so I can't give them a proper demonstration and let them see for themselves! But knowing my luck I'd just get locked up, strapped down even more, and then get assaulted much more often than I already am by those "helpful" people.

 

[Warmheart]

My deepest compassion, AsheSkylar. Those in a position of power really do need to be aware of our sensitivities, know how to read us, and give appropriate space to us. I'm wishing you a feeling of wellness and safety. It seems we on the spectrum never take those basic things things for granted.

 

[geO]

My DR told me my aspergers amplifies my ptsd. Living with both is often like being locked up in a cage with a tiger.

 

[fredvizsla]

My trauma and autism are linked. I've written and re-written this post several times, and I keep trying to fend off panic attacks. Whoo, deep topic!
Due to ASD, I have some extremely hypersensitive areas on my body. Touch in one area in particular causes a sudden physical/psychological agony and instant flight-or-fight/meltdown. I was born with a medical condition that (oh, joy!) means that area needed to be examined/handled every 3 months by a specialist doc. As a tiny child, Mom or Dad would often suddenly take me out of playing outside, even on a seemingly lovely day, to go to the doc. I was usually held down by 4 - 6 adults while having a part of my body touched that was excruciating. I was a compliant, timid kid, but I had meltdowns during this. As an adult, I must still regularly see a specialist. Now, I can ask to be examined without contact in the area of hypersensitivity. But some procedures may need handling there-- and I absolutely cannot manage it without going Chernobyl.

Shutdowns (due to stress of dealing with a trauma trigger) can mean one is trapped in a vertical tunnel of fog, going through life disembodied, so it's hard to answer medical questions such as "Do you have pain?" and "Where?" In a fogged-out shutdown, it can even be hard to distingish if you are nauseous, in pain, or have to pee. And in this inward, zombie-like state, you still need to manage executive functioning and, yikes, even run errands so there's food in your house.

Due to the ASD, when stressed, like Rain Man, I keep repeating the same few phrases over and over. If stress continues, I lose speech altogether. So as a child, I learned I can be tortured, it can happen at any time, and that I figuratively had no voice. It so happens that when in a scary situation, I also literally have no voice. So, I now live with PTSD and ASD-- with the ASD hamstringing me when I'm in the PTSD situation!

I'm fascinated by someone trying to help ASD people with trauma. Thank you for what you are trying to do to help! I am so grateful that someone is exploring this.

PS-- As luck would have it, tomorrow's my routine specialist appointment. I've lost speech twice this month. Whee! Good thoughts for my exam warmly welcomed.

Are you sure that it's not the other way around? That you are sensitive / panic stricken in that area BECAUSE you were "handled" traumatically when young?

 

[geO]

Here is one method i use and it does help. don't expect any miracles right away but try it. http://www.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Audio/Chill_Drills/2_Chill_Drill.mp3