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MrAnxious

Updated 1y ago

Can Anxiety be Misdiagnosed as Autism?

Does anyone know if its possible to be diagnosed with Anxiety when you actually have Autism? I filled out one of those online quizzes and it stated I was on the spectrum. What differences would I be looking for?

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AI-generated answer based on the text from previous posts and comments

Yes, it is possible to be misdiagnosed with anxiety when you actually have autism. Online quizzes can give you an idea but are not definitive. The differences between the two conditions can be subtle,...See More

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PocketBeanz

1y

i was misdiagnosed for G.A.D. when i most likely have ASD and i have been since diagnosed with ADHD. The main difference is that, with Autism, your anxiousness is a logical and sensible response to sensory inputs that your over-active central nervous system is not designed to handle. eg. the loud, unexpected honk of a train horn will make an autistic person jump, and will hurt their ears, which makes them very stressed and uncomfortable because of their sensory processing symptoms. The unexpected honk of a train horn will make a person with an anxiety disorder go into a fight/flight/freeze/fawn response due to the panic being a trigger. They may have a panic attack, because the honking of the horn triggers a series of memories, thoughts and feelings that relate back to the underlying trauma. TLDR: Autistic people have similar symptoms to anxiety, but the mechanisms are different. People with anxiety disorders have their symptoms because of trauma, and their responses to stimuli don't necessarily make logical sense.
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MrAnxious

1y

I think I understand what your saying. Not 100% sure.
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Igglepiggle

1y

when you have anxiety it’s irrational, when you have autism it’s rational but the response is not widely socially accepted, and there’s a lot more to autism than just anxiety. So if you have autism you hear a sudden loud noise and jump and get anxiety from being surprised, when you have generalised anxiety you’re more likely to have anxiety about that loud noise being a dangerous thing like a gun or to be paranoid of illness
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hippy_goth

1y

It's also very possible that undiagnosed autism can CAUSE anxiety. Like the anxiety is a symptom, not the whole diagnosis.
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Igglepiggle

1y

Of course it’s possible, I have autism and anxiety disorder been diagnosed with both they’re pretty linked anyways
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MrAnxious

1y

Is it possible to get tested for Autism without consulting a doctor. 1 doctor has already classed me as being a hypochondriac.
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Igglepiggle

1y

only if you pay for it privately, hypochondria is a real problem that deserves treatment and support anyway though so if they think that they should be helping you, an autism diagnosis isn’t helpful anyway it can cause issues with getting help there’s some real ableism in the world there’s no way or improving it, being treated for anxiety is probably more useful and if you relate to autism you can take comfort in that without needing a piece of paper for it
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europa.xavier

1y

i mean, the thing is that you can definitely have both. i think i might, but now we are pretty sure i have autism. but GAD can display in a variety of ways and cam be severe or mild, the same with anything else. but autism is definitely something to consider
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AnimalBoy

1y

There are a surprising number of similarities between autism and anxiety and undiagnosed autism can cause anxiety so it can be misdiagnosed. Especially if you have issues with emotional regulation or, in the case of social anxiety, struggle with social situations and have had bad experiences with them. However they are also common comorbidities so it's possible that you have both.
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Bre19

1y

It's possible
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Mx.Up

1y

You can be autistic and have anxiety disorders, there's a lot of overlap and similarities. Have a chat with your gp, therapist, or clin psych, it's worth checking if you have the means to
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Kaitlin1

1y

Of course! It may be a symptom of autism but it can be irrelevant depending on the situation.
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bookwormTan97

1y

✋ i am diagnosed with anxiety and on medication for it as well as ADHD and on medication for that too... I'm currently going through an autism assessment 🤗

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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