Can complex PTSD be misdiagnosed as autism? Yes, the two conditions have many overlapping symptoms and may occasionally confuse each other. A clinician could misinterpret why the child isn't communicating well and connecting with others. It's certainly possible that a child with autism could also develop PTSD.
Similarities between PTSD and Autism
For example: Both conditions can cause anxiety or fear in certain situations. Both conditions can cause difficulty with social interaction and communication. Both conditions can cause difficulty with sleep and concentration.
There is some research to suggest that having PTSD can heighten autistic characteristics and you may feel an increased need for structure and consistency. Complex PTSD can lead to behaviour that is harmful to you, such as alcohol or drug misuse, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. PTSD is treatable.
Acute stress disorder refers to the initial traumatic symptoms that arise immediately after a traumatic event. PTSD refers to the long-term aftermath of trauma. PTSD can follow after ASD, but it can also occur even when ASD does not develop. PTSD can only be diagnosed if symptoms have lasted longer than a month.
Population-based studies have found that, in addition to the individuals with ASD, many others exhibit subthreshold autistic or autisticlike traits (ALTs), that is, problems or peculiarities in sociocommunicative behavior, perception of others and self, and adaptation to the environment that do not meet formal criteria ...
There are several conditions that resemble or have autism-like symptoms such as developmental delays, language disorders, motor impairments, attention-deficit, anxiety, brain injury, chromosomal abnormalities, and severe emotional and behavioral disturbance – just to name a few.
In children and adolescents with autism, PTSD appears to occur at a similar or higher rate compared to the general population (7). Adults with ASD are more than four times likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than adults without ASD (6).
1 People with other neurodivergencies, like schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), might also stim.
We focus on disorders with a clear link to stress, that have been described elsewhere as Trauma Spectrum Disorders (Bremner, 2002a). Those disorders include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a subgroup of major depression, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Fawning is an attempt to avoid conflict by appeasing people. They are both extremely common in neurodiverse people as it is a way for them to hide their neurodiverse behaviours and appear what is deemed to be “normal”. Therefore, it has been proposed that masking and fawning are just modern-day survival instincts.
There is a strong correlation between autism and trauma. In fact, research indicates that trauma can actually make ASD symptoms more challenging to live with.
One reason that PTSD can be confused with generalized anxiety disorder is the intense anxiety you experience with both conditions. Intrusive thoughts and a tendency to feel angry or on edge are also fairly common with both.
There are also theories that some chronic trauma disorders such as PTSD cause a person to create coping skills that mimic other disorders such as Borderline Personality disorder or Bipolar disorder.
PTSD Overview
However, the majority of people who experience a traumatic event do not go on to develop PTSD. PTSD is also considered a form of neurodivergence. However, this is an acquired neurodivergence (meaning it is situational and can be resolved through treatment).
Triggers can include sights, sounds, smells, or thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event in some way. Some PTSD triggers are obvious, such as seeing a news report of an assault. Others are less clear. For example, if you were attacked on a sunny day, seeing a bright blue sky might make you upset.
About stimming and autism
Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements – for example, rocking back and forth while sitting or standing. posturing – for example, holding hands or fingers out at an angle or arching the back while sitting.
Summary. Stims are behaviors like rocking, hand-flapping, and repeating words or phrases. Autistic people engage in stimming to help manage their emotions or block out overwhelming sensations. Stimming does not need to be treated unless it is constant, disruptive, or causes harm.
Scientists have been attempting to identify which genes might be implicated in autism for some years. Autism is likely to have multiple genes responsible rather than a single gene. However, it is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.
Also like PTSD, the diagnosis of ASD requires at least one symptom of reexperiencing the trauma, such as through recurring thoughts, images, nightmares, flashbacks, and intense emotional distress upon exposure to reminders of the trauma (Criterion C); that the person displays marked avoidance of trauma-related thoughts ...
First, it's important to understand that autism cannot develop in adults. Autism is caused by atypical brain development that occurs at the young age we mentioned above. By the time someone has reached an adult age, basic neurodevelopment has already completed.
Level 1 is the mildest, or “highest functioning” form of autism, which includes those who would have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD level 1 may have difficulty understanding social cues and may struggle to form and maintain personal relationships.
Mildly autistic people require the least amount of support and are often able to hide their symptoms. However, they may struggle with social interactions, reading social cues, understanding body language, and deciphering facial expressions.
However, a person can be mildly autistic. Mildly autistic people are unable to understand the body language or emotions (sarcasm, pain, and anger) of the people around them. However, they have normal intelligence and can carry out their day-to-day activities.