2.1 Understanding Autism from the Inside Articles

Did you know there's a type of anxiety specific to autism that isn't explained by any of the existing anxiety disorders currently outlined in the DSM?

Researchers have identified this autism-specific anxiety as distinct from other anxiety disorders because it's specifically tied to autistic traits...

Autism causes anxiety, and it's absolutely crucial that we talk about this because...

1. Trained mental health practitioners are mistaking autistic anxiety for many other types of anxiety and missing / misunderstanding the actual root cause of the anxiety...

How do you tell the difference between autistic (distinct) anxiety and any other type of anxiety?

Let's first talk about what distinct anxiety is as defined by the researchers studying it.

In short, it's anxiety that's rooted in autistic brain wiring needs.

Examples include...

There's a type of autism most people can't see because all autistic traits have been internalized.

Meaning, the person's autistic needs are not met... but you can't tell. They look the exact same as someone whose needs are all met...

A person can have intense daily struggles with autism and appear "completely normal"...

As in, on the outside they look like they're on top of life... even excelling.

Life is good. They're successful. They have a complete handle on things.

But on the inside, they experience...

High masking explains what we do to survive.

Internalized autism explains what it does to us.

Masking autism is minimizing or hiding your physical traits of autism. Like learning how to minimize your stims or not talk about your special interests...

If you're self-diagnosed autistic this is for you...

Why internalized autism is hurting so many of us.

A timeline...

9 signs you might have internalized autism...

1. You didn't have a speech delay and you met all your early milestones as a child... but were mistreated a lot by classmates, peers, teachers, and other adults in your life for being "different"