What if Autism Isn't the Problem? 🤔

This video dives deep (literally—there’s scuba gear involved 🦑) into why autistic people aren’t broken, why anxiety and trauma are so common in our community (we aren't born with it), and most importantly—how we can stop adapting to the world and start adapting the world for us. Join the Autisti-Cat Community and get extra content, Discord, and more: https://www.patreon.com/autisticaf WATCH NEXT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwKP60CMaGM VIDEOS MENTIONED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1StsdcUJupA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpIYYCGAi-s *Research Sources:* 1. "Anxiety Disorders in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Population-Based Study" - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6946757/ 2. "Autism: The Impact of Anxiety on Daily Life" - https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/blogs/news/autism-the-impact-of-anxiety-on-daily-life 3. "Anxiety" - National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/anxiety 4. "Sociodemographic Factors, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Risk of Bullying Exposure" - JAMA Pediatrics - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2792743 5. "Autism and the Built Environment" - https://www.redmond.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30121/autism-and-the-built-environment 6. Additional research on environmental factors affecting autism from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573608/ 🎵 Music licensed from Lickd. Conversations With Angels by Luke Richards, https://t.lickd.co/exZRxwOAr3l License ID: rjN7v8jBlw4 Elysium by Luke Richards, https://t.lickd.co/arn8vkyrXe7 License ID: vNgnJqBbgb4 📌 Stay Connected: Stim the notification bell and subscription button to be notified when I release new content. 📸 I'm now on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autisticafter40/ 👩🏼‍💻 And the web: https://www.autisticafter40.com 👨‍⚖️ Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional or psychotherapist. If you are watching this and feel that you need immediate mental health support, please see the list of mental health helplines at [HelpGuide.org](http://helpguide.org/) here: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm If you have met one autistic (and or ADHD) person, you have met one person. This is a spectrum condition, and many traits may be different, or have alternative explanations for your symptoms. If in doubt, refer to a psychologist, and not a YouTuber. Self-diagnosis is valid (because: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwKP60CMaGM) Chapters 00:00 What if Autism Isn't the Problem? 00:28 Autism is a valid way to be in the world 🍀 03:16 The Deep-Sea Fish 🐠 06:28: Level 99 Autism? 08:02 Environment Determines Support Needs 09:35 Adapting to Environments vs. Adapting Environments 11:11 Anxiety Isn't a Symptom of Autism 14:25 Masking, Trauma and Mental Health Risks 18:01 Self Employment 18:59 Creating a Sensory-Friendly Home 19:57 Socialising on Our Terms 20:59 Why Predictability Matters 22:25 Changing the Environment Changes Behaviour 23:26 Intersectionality 25:29 Watch this video next (self identification) 👀