Thread by @TaniaAMarshall

Therapist Tip: 1 in 44 children are now born with #autism A core theme in many #autistic #aspergers #adhd individuals is self hatred or self-loathing, in both the diagnosed & undiagnosed. Many are unaware they are #neurodivergent Many are misdiagnosed or have missed diagnoses

Those who were late diagnosed (after kindergarten) are included. A common theme is growing up feeling 'different', 'not fitting in', being bullied, not being accepted, 'feeling like an alien', not understanding oneself, confusion, negative self-esteem, #adhd #selfesteem

a lack of friends, family of origin issues, difficulties communicating, being misunderstood & #trauma They may have ptsd from childhood, developmental trauma, have been bullied and/or abused. They often feel as though something is inherently wrong with them (shame & guilt) #PTSD

with no understanding of what or why. Their undiagnosed learning disabilities make them feel dumb when they may actually be high average to gifted IQ. They don't relate to their peers. Their strengths have gone unrecognized or ignored #twiceexceptional #2e

They often have sensory processing issues, clumsiness, executive function issues, Alexythymia, proprioception & interception issues, social communication issues, obsessions, restricted interests, & language issues (literal thinking, black & white thinking) #challenges

They may also have mental health issues, ranging from mild to severe. Autistic teens are at higher risk for psychosis. They are also are the highest risk group for sexual abuse, especially females. This is not uncommon in my work & seen in the research #Mentalhealth

All or any of these issues often lead to self hatred or internalised hatred, of the body, of the self, of the mind. The other aspect of this is that in social camouflaging, made up of masking, assimilation & compensation (trying to fit in, altering one's non-verbal appearance)

Repressing emotion, they give up their own identity to take on bits of other peoples identities. They do this to fit it. This can look like #Borderline although it certainly is possible to have both. This is a florid presentation different to 'pure autism'. It is also known as

'Autism plus' by @GillbergCentre Experienced & highly trained clinicians in Autism, who have seen hundreds of #autistic clients understand all the expressions, subtypes, including who would be the least likely to be diagnosed #assessment #diagnosis

Self hatred has Devastating consequences for the individual, where there is virtually nothing they like about themselves. They have no core self, sense of who they are or 'identity'. They may hate others who have the skills they wish they had & lash out at them in unhealthy ways

When I say #identity, I am not talking about pronouns or sexuality. I am talking about who they are at their core, what they like or don't like, their strengths, their personality, their unique self. Identity work is critical to self esteem & over coming self hatred #therapy

Long term #psychotherapy is indicated for internalised hatred and rejection of the body, their autism & associated challenges in addition to a exploration and focus on their strengths, understanding their #Autism & making environmental changes. Identity work is key #therapy

Children with #aspergers are often missed diagnostically due to the more subtler signs in childhood. It may appear that the Autism appeared when they were teenagers, but the subtle signs were there in early childhood. Puberty and Autism (diagnosed or undiagnosed) has been

Described by clients as 'hell'. They often have depression, severe anxiety, severe challenges with their changing bodies (which they cannot control), heightened emotions (larger amygdala), sensory issues, along with a higher social skills load, which often is exhausting.

We have a large number of undiagnosed Autistic individuals, desperate for appropriate diagnoses, therapy and support. Often their teenage difficulties mimic #gender Dysphoria and it is crucial they receive comprehensive assessments, diagnoses, treatment & support. #DoNoHarm

Lastly, therapy for #autism #adhd #neurodivergent must be modified. Typical traditional therapy does not work for these clients. When this is done can be highly successful. Environmental changes & academic accomodations are all very helpful #ActuallyAutistic #neurodiversity