Autistic Processing or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Is it Autistic Processing or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Or is it BOTH?

Any co-occurring diagnosis with Autism can be challenging to detect with certainty, even with the most thorough diagnostic tools. Autistics self-diagnosing OCD traits can be confused as well.

OCD and Autism, overlapping processing difference that cause confusion for Autistics, clinicians and evaluators.

CONSIDERATIONS, Autistic Processing or OCD?:

Outdated literature, new literacy of Autistic Processing

1. Autistic processing differences that present like OCD:

   
   

   1. Perseverating

   2. Focus on solving problems

   3. Looping

   4. Rituals, a way of being-doing-knowing

   5. Repetition, as with echolalia & rituals

2. Misunderstanding of Autistic processing differences. It may not be OCD, it may be Autism alone.

3. OCD is an anxiety disorder that produces a fear-control response cycles that can be internal (thoughts, emotions), external (behavioral) or internal and external together.

   
   

   Key distinction: is it Autism with anxiety? Or, is it Autism with anxiety that is producing OCD?

   
   

   Key distinction: anxiety with Autistics can look and sound like basic self-regulation, and can look and sound like simply being Autistic without any anxiety or stress. *Distinguish between "anxiety" and other Autistic traits.

4. Hasty diagnosing. If you are Autistic, it takes time to witness yourself, and to understand your patterns of processing. If you are a clinician or evaluator, it takes time AND creative, untraditional and targeted questions to know if it's OCD and Autism together, OCD, or if it's Autistic processing alone.

Autistic Processing or Obssessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Or, Both?

Why is this topic important?

Autistics who are aware of being Autistic are receiving therapy and mental health services more than ever. Autistics want to understand themselves better, and they are relying on outdated and oversimplified literature and research. This information is currently being collectively redefined, but there remains promblematic misunderstandings. In my practice, on Reddit, with my colleagues, etc....this topic on OCD and Autism needs more attention and better practices in the field of mental health.

Thank you for reading!!

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-Kristina Bravo, LMFT

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