What has autism got to do with trauma?
-
Autism often involves this hyper–hypo pattern; very intense experience in some areas, and very reduced experience in others.
But hypo-responsiveness can at times be a response to feeling too much, and (instinctively, as a survival mechanism) withdrawing in self-defence.
7/10
-
There are theories that speak to this.
The ‘Intense World Theory’ points to heightened sensitivity and reactivity; and many autistic people will recognise something in that immediately.
8/10
And then there is the external reality.
Autistic people are more likely to experience bullying, abuse, unemployment, financial insecurity, and other forms of adversity (refs at the end).
Many are also navigating other forms of marginalisation at the same time.
9/10
-
And then there is the external reality.
Autistic people are more likely to experience bullying, abuse, unemployment, financial insecurity, and other forms of adversity (refs at the end).
Many are also navigating other forms of marginalisation at the same time.
9/10
-
Refs for this thread can be found here: https://www.neurofabulous.org.uk/refs-for-neurosense-podcast.html
-
Refs for this thread can be found here: https://www.neurofabulous.org.uk/refs-for-neurosense-podcast.html
@KatyElphinstone
This reference list looks fantastic - I’ll take my time going through it. A few things I’m aware of, but lots to discover here -
What has autism got to do with trauma?
Quite a lot, actually.
And not only because of what happens inside the autistic person, but because of what happens around us.
A thread 🧵
1/10
@KatyElphinstone I've been saying for years now that if the numbers were reversed and autistic people were the majority, a lot of the things we think of as autistic traits would be way less common than you'd think. A lot of of these traits (not even the allistic laundry list of things that make us different) are responses to living in a world that isn't made for us.
-
Autism often involves this hyper–hypo pattern; very intense experience in some areas, and very reduced experience in others.
But hypo-responsiveness can at times be a response to feeling too much, and (instinctively, as a survival mechanism) withdrawing in self-defence.
7/10
@KatyElphinstone this! I sometimes kinda enter a ‘shielded mode’ that tones down all the feelings if I have some overly intense income. Like, when I have bleeding sores on my feet and keep walking 5km more without noticing it further, but also without hearing the ambient noise, without seeing details, without reacting to the people talking to me etc - because I kinda tuned down the sensitivity to not feel the pain, but I can’t tune down only one thing at a time, I’m doing it with most of the sensory input
-
@KatyElphinstone I've been saying for years now that if the numbers were reversed and autistic people were the majority, a lot of the things we think of as autistic traits would be way less common than you'd think. A lot of of these traits (not even the allistic laundry list of things that make us different) are responses to living in a world that isn't made for us.
Exactly this.
-
@KatyElphinstone I've been saying for years now that if the numbers were reversed and autistic people were the majority, a lot of the things we think of as autistic traits would be way less common than you'd think. A lot of of these traits (not even the allistic laundry list of things that make us different) are responses to living in a world that isn't made for us.
@elmiller0330 @KatyElphinstone
I believe that many of the special talents attributed to autistic people are the result of their desperate attempts to fit in.
I use the analogy of a pearl that has grown inside a shell. Most people (non-shells
may find pearls beautiful and fascinating (whilst having little interest in the shell itself). But the pearl is usually the result of an injury, causing the tissue that forms mother-of-pearl to proliferate in the wrong place. -
@elmiller0330 @KatyElphinstone
I believe that many of the special talents attributed to autistic people are the result of their desperate attempts to fit in.
I use the analogy of a pearl that has grown inside a shell. Most people (non-shells
may find pearls beautiful and fascinating (whilst having little interest in the shell itself). But the pearl is usually the result of an injury, causing the tissue that forms mother-of-pearl to proliferate in the wrong place.@stekopf @elmiller0330 @KatyElphinstone
great allegory
-
This, of course, brings us to epistemic injustice.
Autistic people’s accounts of their own experience are often given less weight, or not properly recognised at all.
Over time, that can contribute to shame, self-hate, and associated mental health difficulties.
5/10
@KatyElphinstone Also it can build up resentment, which is also discounted.
-
@KatyElphinstone Also it can build up resentment, which is also discounted.
-
M monkee@other.li shared this topic