Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can often co-occur with the Autism Spectrum Condition. In fact, 17.4-37 % of autistic individuals also can have OCD at the same time (vanSteensal, et., al 2011; Zabowski & Storch, 2018). For the purpose of this blog post, I will refer to autism in identity first language. It’s important to remember to
Aril is autism awareness and acceptance month. So in honor of this, and to highlight the neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed work we do at Spectrum Connections Therapy, we will share some more resources and blogs this month related to autism. At Spectrum Connections Therapy, we specialize in both Autism and OCD and this post will focus
Life as a neurotypical person can be hard to navigate and overwhelming at times. That’s for someone who has zero difficulties regulating their behavior, moods, or environment around them. When you have neurodivergent differences, such as Autism Spectrum and/or ADHD, it can be hard to navigate the day-to-day and feel regulated and calm. A diagnosis
You may have heard the term interoception before and know what it means, or maybe this is a completely new concept for you to understand. Many neurodivergent individuals with Autism and/or ADHD struggle with interoception skills which, as a result, can negatively impact mental and physical health. I didn’t really learn about interoception until years
Trauma-informed care is increasingly becoming the preferred standard when working with neurodivergent folks with autism spectrum differences. Autistic individuals tend to experience more trauma for a variety of reasons as they continue to try to adapt to living in a world with neurotypical standards. Individuals with developmental differences, such as autism spectrum, are more vulnerable
It’s estimated that 15-20% of the global population is neurodivergent. While we can certainly get into the details of what neurodiversity truly means, in a nutshell, it refers to anyone with a condition that causes their brain to work a bit differently than a neurotypical brain. The neurodiversity movement promotes and accepts these differences and does
We all dread work from time to time. Whether you have too much on your plate at the moment or have ableism in the workplace, it can make you feel uneasy and unwilling to go to work. As a result, if you are neurodivergent, you may suffer even more from the “Sunday scaries.” In either event,
Trauma can have a serious, long-term impact on anyone who goes through it. Whether it was a one-time traumatic event or complex trauma like abuse or neglect, no one is immune from struggling with the aftermath. However, trauma can affect someone with autism differently. Unfortunately, people with autism are often at a greater risk of experiencing trauma
Social anxiety can impact anyone. It refers to any individual who deals with irrational anxiety in social situations or through different interactions. Neurodivergent people often get labeled as “socially anxious,” though it’s even more common that they get mislabeled as shy. For those on the autism spectrum or with other neurodiverse conditions, being around groups
During the last twenty years, awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has grown by leaps and bounds. Through a variety of means, society is now familiar with the language associated with trauma and the need for treatment. As time goes on, we are also gaining a deeper understanding of the impact that abuse, neglect, bullying,