Deciding if you have autism or PTSD (or both) requires professional diagnosis, as they share symptoms like social difficulty, sensory issues, and emotional dysregulation, but differ in origin, with autism being a developmental condition and PTSD stemming from trauma. Key differences include autism's lifelong social communication challenges versus PTSD's trauma-specific avoidance, flashbacks (not typical for autism), and hypervigilance tied to triggers, while autism involves repetitive behaviors (stimming) for self-regulation and specific sensory sensitivities not always trauma-linked.
Given the co-occurrence of Autism and PTSD, it is likely rarely a misdiagnosis (it's likely accurate), but the autism may be missed. PTSD is rarely an inaccurate diagnosis; however, when PTSD is used to explain away the Autistic traits and experiences, it may be considered a “misdiagnosis.”
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Main signs of autism
finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own. seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to. finding it hard to say how you feel. taking things very literally – for example, you may not understand sarcasm or phrases like "break a leg"
Atypical autism, otherwise known as pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), is used to classify individuals who show mild-to-moderate symptoms of ASD that are not enough for a diagnosis.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
The different types of autism include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), autistic disorder (classic autism), Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), and Rett syndrome.
Understand Nonspeaking Habits
“When a person with autism is nonspeaking, they do not communicate using spoken language, including vocalizations or sounds which have symbolic meaning,” explains Meghan O'Neill, MD, a neurodevelopmental disabilities physician at Ann & Robert H.
Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Autism
Symptoms of High-Functioning Autism
Difficulty with Social Interaction: Individuals with high-functioning autism may struggle to understand social norms, make eye contact, initiate or maintain conversations, and interpret nonverbal cues such as facial expressions or body language.
Chinning is a form of repetitive self-stimulatory behavior (stimming) that you may notice in children or adults with autism. It involves pressing, rubbing, or holding the chin against objects, surfaces, or even hands to gain sensory input or comfort.
"Looping" in autism refers to getting "stuck" in repetitive mental cycles, replaying thoughts, questions, worries, or phrases endlessly, often triggered by stress, sensory overload, or uncertainty, and linked to challenges with executive function and attention. It's a non-clinical term for perseveration or rumination, where an autistic individual's brain struggles to shift focus from an internal loop, which can be mentally exhausting but sometimes also comforting.
In general, people who have an active lifestyle are much more emotionally resilient and focused. There also seems to be some evidence that physical exercise helps people with depression and ADHD, which are commonly co-occurring conditions with autism.
Many individuals on the autism spectrum are misdiagnosed with psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, ADHD or social anxiety due to overlapping traits. Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatments, negative self-perception, anxiety and stress.
If you have low support needs (high-functioning autism), you may have symptoms such as: Not making direct eye contact. Having a hard time making friends (or preferring to be alone) Not understanding social “rules” or norms.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) feels like being trapped in a perpetual state of threat, marked by intense emotional dysregulation (anger, emptiness, shame), distorted self-perception (worthlessness, being permanently damaged), severe relationship difficulties (distrust, isolation), and feeling detached or unreal (dissociation), all stemming from prolonged trauma. Survivors often struggle with flashbacks, hypervigilance (always feeling on edge), hopelessness, and destructive behaviors, creating a fundamental disconnect from themselves and others.
5 common signs of autism in adults
Top 10 Calming Strategies for Autism
There is not just one cause of ASD. Many different factors have been identified that may make a child more likely to have ASD, including environmental, biologic, and genetic factors.
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms.
Analytical Thinking: People with an autism spectrum disorder think in a logically consistent way that leads to quick decision making. These thinkers can make decisions without experiencing the framing effect that inhibits most neurotypicals from making decisions without bias.
The Autism Spectrum Disorder person often has no idea what he or she is feeling, and even less how you are feeling. Discussions tend to stay at a superficial level, often focused on facts, ignoring subtly and nuance, and with little regard to multiple perspectives on any given position.
Conditions That Mimic Autism
Changes in the diagnostic criteria and increased screening at wellness visits seem to be the main contributors.
Children who experience trauma when they are young may display autism-like behaviours that fit the timeline for an ASD diagnosis, which tends to occur around early school-age. In the absence of trauma-informed assessment, autism can sometimes be the default diagnosis.