More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, according to the National Autistic Society. 

What is autism? 

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. It’s also a spectrum – which means there is a wide range of presentations and everybody with autism is different and unique.

Our member Lisa McAnish says that autism is often described as a social disability too, and ‘being neurodevelopmentally different brings with it challenges in trying to fit into societal expectations’.

Common signs of autism

‘Autistic brains work differently to non-autistic people's brains’, shares Lisa. ‘There’s a variety of autistic people, just as there’s a variety of non-autistic people, but there are also some similarities’.

Common signs of autism include being either over-sensitive or under-sensitive to sensory stimuli – such as sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste, temperature or pain.

There are sometimes differences with verbal communication, and challenges, such as not easily picking up non-autistic people's cues. Autistic people may also find it difficult to read others’ actions and emotions - just as non-autistic people can struggle to read autistic people. Depending on the individual, they also sometimes need extra time to process information, and prefer a more literal communication style.

Lisa says that many autistic people prefer routine and structure, and they can find unplanned and big events unsettling. She says that some self-regulate their emotions with self-stimulating behaviours – also known as 'stimming’. These are repetitive movements or actions like spinning, flapping hands or more subtle gestures like tapping. These are often used to alleviate stress or simply because they are enjoyable.

Poor mental health

More than a third of autistic people have poor mental health, according to the National Autistic Society.

‘This is likely due to inadequate support in society, and by them trying to navigate a social world which is predominantly non-autistic, unpredictable, and where sensory overload is common’, explains Lisa.

She says that hiding an autism identity can lead to masking behaviours, which sometimes results in autistic burnout.

How can you find out if you are autistic?

Lisa advises that if someone suspects they are autistic, initially, they should research to find out what autism is as there are a lot of misconceptions, stereotypes and stigma in society around autism. She recommends checking online resources by the National Autism Society and Aucademy.

‘Once you are reasonably sure that you could be autistic, approaching your GP is often the most common route for a diagnosis’, says Lisa.

Where can you get support for autism?

There are some clinics and assessment centres that offer post-diagnostic support, however, local charities provide most autism support to individuals.

‘An internet search for “find my nearest autism charity” is the most effective route’, shares Lisa. ‘Many of the autism charities will offer the opportunity to socialise with other autistic people, offer leisure activities, provide mental health support and often have social media support groups, too’.

How to support someone who is autistic?

There are many ways you can support someone who’s autistic.

‘One way is to be mindful of their environment – such as noises, bright lights, loud colours, and strong scents’, Lisa says.

Lisa also recommends adopting your communication style to use logical and direct language, and to try to learn each other's different communication styles to reduce any misunderstandings. Lisa notes that many autistic people have visual strengths but they may have trouble explaining an element of being autistic to you.

‘Read books, articles, blogs and vlogs by autistic people’, Lisa continues. ‘Attend workshops run by autistic people. Get to know autistic people and autistic role models. Find useful resources available and pass them on to your loved ones’.

How can therapy help an autistic person?

Lisa says that self-esteem is often low in autistic people – which can come from having developed a negative social identity due to being seen as different from peers and society.

‘Trying to “fit in” creates unachievable conditions of self-worth, which often leads to autistic people hiding their true self’, says Lisa.

‘Counselling can help people understand the energy spent, and autistic burnout experienced, in trying to mask their autistic identity. This can lead them to remove this mask when they feel safe to do so and find acceptance of their authentic autistic self. Having a positive autistic identity has been found to improve self-esteem’.

Sensory sensitivity, masking, stigmatisation and bullying can increase the likelihood of autistic people experiencing trauma - and counselling can help address these issues too.

To find a counsellor who specialises in autism visit our therapists directory.  

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