Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding Autism’s Unique Impact on Exceptional Women
Written By: DeAnn Winn
June 28, 2024
Exceptional women, with their unique talents and challenges, often have their autism overlooked. Let’s look at why autism was missed when they were children and how this impacts them in adulthood.
Reasons for Delayed Diagnosis:
1. Masking Abilities: Many exceptional women are skilled at hiding their autistic traits. This often results in their unique behaviors going unnoticed by others.
2. School Success: Excelling academically might lead adults in their lives to assume that everything is fine. People may think that if a child performs well in school, they cannot be on the autism spectrum, even though school performance does not always reflect overall well-being.
3. Subtle Presentation: Autism symptoms may be more subtle in women than in men, making it less obvious and delaying diagnosis.
4. Coexisting Conditions: Twice exceptional girls may have additional challenges such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD, which can overshadow their autistic traits and lead to misdiagnosis.
Consequences of Delayed Diagnosis in Adulthood:
1. Challenges in Relationships: Undiagnosed autistic traits can make it difficult to form and maintain relationships due to misunderstandings and social anxiety.
2. Mental Health Struggles: Late diagnosis can contribute to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as individuals cope with unidentified autistic traits.
3. Academic and Career Hurdles: Despite their academic talents, they may struggle to manage their workload or navigate the social aspects of school or work, leading to burnout.
4. Identity Confusion: Many undiagnosed autistic women wrestle with a sense of identity, feeling like they do not belong without understanding why.
Challenges with Autism Symptoms in Adulthood:
Social Fatigue: Many exceptional women experience social fatigue from constantly masking their autistic traits. This fatigue stems from the effort required to navigate social interactions while masking their true selves, often leading to burnout.
Sensory Sensitivities: Sensory sensitivities can persist, causing discomfort and potential meltdowns. These heightened sensitivities mean everyday stimuli, such as lights, sounds, or textures, can overwhelm their sensory systems, affecting their daily lives.
Difficulty with Change: Challenges related to transitions and changes in routine may still affect their ability to adapt to new situations. The difficulty lies in the discomfort and anxiety that sudden changes or transitions can evoke, making it challenging to adapt to change.
Emotional Regulation: Difficulties with emotional regulation may persist, affecting their ability to cope with stress and anxiety. Often therapists will suggest coping strategies that work with neurotypical clients, such as deep breathing. If they are very dysregulated this will be ineffective because they need strategies to address sensory needs such as pressure, rocking, or activities involving balance.
Mental Health Symptoms:
Anxiety and Depression: Coexisting conditions like anxiety and depression may persist or worsen without proper support and understanding of their autistic traits.
Impostor Syndrome: The gap between intellectual abilities and social struggles can lead to impostor syndrome in both academic and professional settings.
Low Self-Esteem: A lifetime of masking and struggling to fit in can erode self-esteem, making it challenging to recognize one’s true value and abilities. This diminished self-esteem is a result of a constant effort to conform to societal norms, often at the expense of self-worth.
In Conclusion:
As you can see, autism not being considered as a diagnosis in childhood will have a negative impact on the child, and the consequences will continue into adulthood. Self-diagnosis is more accepted today, though it is not a replacement for a formal diagnosis, especially if accommodations are needed for work or school. Many self-diagnosed adults are choosing not to get a formal diagnosis for many reasons.
As an AuDHD therapist, one of my specialties is collaborating with neurodivergent individuals, including those who suspect they may be on the autism spectrum, are self-diagnosed, or have a formal diagnosis. We have other therapists who also can help you navigate your journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Call us today at 217-203-2008. If you do not like talking on the phone, you can also email us at info@champaigncounseling.com
References:
https://medium.com/@jackieschuld/the-correlation-between-intelligence-and-undiagnosed-autism-in-women-da6b4cab0ffb
https://sparkforautism.org/discover_article/are-girls-with-autism-hiding-in-plain-sight/
https://theconversation.com/like-many-women-i-didnt-know-i-was-autistic-until-adulthood-how-late-diagnosis-can-hurt-mental-health-and-self-image-
212561#:~:text=Across%20research%20studies%2C%20we%20late,mental%20illness%20and%20relationship%20breakdowns.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-trauma/201905/why-women-autism-so-often-are-misdiagnosed