Can autism be mistaken for depression?

Can autism be mistaken for depression?

Many autistic girls and women accurately receive a depression or anxiety diagnosis. But, sadly, they do not receive an autism diagnosis. This can leave them feeling confused and incomplete because the cause of their troubles may not be fixed with traditional anxiety and depression treatment.

Can you have Aspergers and depression?

“Adults with Asperger’s syndrome often suffer with secondary depression due to social isolation, loneliness, social exclusion, lack of community services, underachievement and unemployment. Their depression and risk of suicide are preventable with the appropriate support.

Can Aspergers be misdiagnosed as depression?

While we know that Asperger’s and depression tend to co-occur, it can be hard to diagnose depression in someone with Asperger’s because of an overlap of symptoms. For example, a person with Asperger’s may have flat affect, meaning that they appear to be sad or down.

What does high functioning autism feel like?

Symptoms. Like all people on the autism spectrum, people who are high functioning have a hard time with social interaction and communication. They don’t naturally read social cues and might find it difficult to make friends. They can get so stressed by a social situation that they shut down.

What does female autism look like?

Autism Can Look Like Social Anxiety or Shyness For example, social deficits, like difficulty reading social cues can lead to heightened anxiety. Then, this may lead a woman with autism to avoid social situations. This social avoidance and minimal eye contact can be interpreted by others as shyness.

What it feels like to have Aspergers?

People with Asperger syndrome often have difficulty ‘reading’ other people – recognising or understanding others’ feelings and intentions – and expressing their own emotions. This can make it very hard for them to navigate the social world. They may: appear to be insensitive, even if they don’t intend to be.