🩺 Navigating Health as an Autistic Individual

Having spent the last few weeks under the weather, and following my recent reflections on accessing healthcare, I wanted to delve deeper into the unique challenges of being autistic and navigating health. While accessing healthcare is often a hurdle, the initial challenge for me is something even more fundamental: actually identifying when something is wrong.

Why is this so difficult? After reflecting, I’ve identified two significant factors: rejection sensitivity and interoception difficulties.

1️⃣ Rejection sensitivity can make navigating health concerns deeply anxiety-inducing. The fear of being misunderstood or dismissed often leads to a cycle of second-guessing myself. 

Thoughts like:

💬 "What if I'm not actually ill and people think I'm pretending?" 

💬 "Everyone feels this way, so maybe I’m overreacting" 

For autistic individuals, this fear isn't just about others' perceptions but also a struggle to validate our own experience. This sensitivity can result in delays in seeking medical attention or downplaying symptoms when speaking to healthcare providers. It also creates a high emotional toll, feeling like I must “prove” the legitimacy of my experience or brace myself for skepticism.

2️⃣ Interoception, the sense of interpreting internal bodily signs, is another key challenge. This can lead to feeling “off” or “weird” without being able to articulate why. Am I hungry, tired, in pain, or just overwhelmed? I often can’t decipher. 

This disconnect makes it harder to communicate symptoms or even act on them. I’ve had moments where I’ve hesitated to visit a doctor simply because I couldn’t articulate what was wrong. After all, saying “I don’t feel right, but I can’t explain why” doesn’t always inspire urgency or understanding from healthcare professionals.

💫 Having a diagnosis has been instrumental in helping me understand and identify my behaviours and thought patterns. Over time, I’ve started to find strategies that help, like journaling symptoms, reflecting on patterns, and being more compassionate with myself when things feel uncertain. 

I am also learning to ask for help - something I’m very much still working on. It’s not always easy, but I’m starting to see it as a way to grow rather than a sign of weakness. Sometimes, it’s as simple as sharing how I’m feeling and hearing a different perspective, or even taking a step back to ask myself what I truly need in the moment.

Does this resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences in the comments. 

#BehindTheSmiles #ActuallyAutistic #RejectionSensitivity #Interoception #Healthcare