Autistic Meltdowns and Meltdown Anxiety - Talking About Autism
Channel: Thomas Henley
Date: 2017-02-09

Hey Youtube, Today we address some of the reasons why I believe growing up with Autistic Spectrum disorder and living with it as adults, can cause a lot more stress and anxiety than normal folk. 

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Firstly stress is caused by danger, and is expressed due to being severely uncomfortable and scared in modern society. I was mulling over the issue of why people on the spectrum become easily anxious. Apart from being genetically prone to certain mental health issues like depression, anxiety etc. The anxiety stems from the conflict between a world designed for those without autism and a perceived world of an autistic person.
You see if people on the spectrum weren't forced and pushed into society, there would a lot less issues with anxiety. Those things that seem to make sense to even a young person, can be completely alien and different for someone on the spectrum. The confusion and anxiety of a situation usually arises from misunderstanding and confusion, which ultimately leads to a sense of fear and insecurity. For example: Some individuals on the spectrum carried ticks and stimming methods that they developed during childhood to cope with stress and anxiety. Although excepted as a product of autism the stimming, will ultimately be looked down on by a lot of members of society such as teachers, parent and most importantly peers. Social interaction can be great for someone on the spectrum, but if you are prone to stimming in stressful situations, it can deter people from becoming more intimate in friendships or relationships for obvious reasons. This is true especially for aspie adults and teens. Ultimately the stimming will be petered out after a few years due to embarrassment, and remove a very useful relaxation and breakdown prevention tool.
Now this is just an example of how society breaks down a persons ability to function properly and get enjoyment out of their day. There are many other examples such as social rituals and phases of dating which can seem completely abnormal and strange to take part in; in an ideal world you would ask to be friends or ask for a date after a few exchanges of information about each other. But with all the background fuzziness of these rituals, it can be very taxing, upsetting and confusing, when things don't turn out right.