What's autism and what's trauma?

23 October 2022

What's autism and what's trauma?

In my multidimensional experiential learning journey about my self, shadows, behaviours, personality, coping strategies, etc, I'm at a sticking point around what's autism and what's trauma.

I'm seeking evidence, experience, ideas and musings on this topic – understanding there is unlikely to be one conclusively correct answer or stance on this topic.

Can you help me learn and understand how best to work with autism and trauma.

On trauma –

"Trauma is not what happens to you, it's what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you." – Gabor Mate

On autism –

Current thinking is autistic people are born with autism. Does that mean it's inherited or ancestral trauma? Or is it simply a developmental difference?

Autism or trauma?

My autism specialist said that some people have autistic traits because of their trauma, but they're not autistic. Whereas autistic people are more likely to have trauma because of challenges of living with autism. I thought this was a really interesting nuance.