Adult Autism

RESOURCES

Book Recommendations:

“Is This Autism?: A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else” by Donna Henderson, Sarah Wayland, and Jamell White

“Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask!” by Dr. Megan Anna Neff

Helpful Websites:

https://www.autismcanada.org/

https://autisme-montreal.com/en/

https://www.autismemontreal.com/en/

confusion in communication, special interests, sensory overload, particular needs, a world that is both fascinating and nonsensical. There is a desire and a need to fit in, a bewilderment as to how, and a great fatigue from “faking it until you make it.” Ticks, stims, quirks: there is a fear of being found out and intense relief to be known and to belong.

Adult autism is gaining more and more awareness along with adult ADHD and along with that comes some accommodations for neurodivergent types at least in some educational institutions. Most work environments have yet to catch up, however, and families often remain uneducated as to what adult autism even looks like or what an autistic person needs. You may be so well functioning by now that people around you could have a hard time believing you, which might feel invalidating.

If you have been tested for adult ADHD and got negative results, you may now be wondering about adult autism. You may have done some research and found you fit some of the criteria, though autism is many and varied, to be fair, and masking can hide your symptoms even from yourself to an extent.

What you might not be aware of, besides the challenging symptoms you experience, is that autism comes with strengths such as creativity, an ability to focus on an interest, passion, intelligence. Of course, it often comes with burnout, sensory overload, difficulty in relationships, anxiety and/or depression. For these symptoms and others, there is help.