I was recently diagnosed with Chornic Depression, and one of the things my doctor mentioned is that Adult Men with Autism (me) are at a much higher risk for Depression.
I made this thread for two reasons:
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How many of you are in the same boat? I’m not medicated yet, but I’ll be having a meeting with my GP today to discuss options. I’m curious what other’s experiences have been like. What medications worked for you? Which ones were awful?
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Awareness. I have a feeling this is known to most of you, but if you’re struggling and haven’t considered that Depression may be at play, it’s something to consider. I wasn’t suicidal, but was getting close. I don’t want to see any of you go through that, or worse.
Austistic burnout can present almost the same symptoms as depression (and is often misdiagnosed as depression), but responds very differently to antidepressants than depression would.
I was diagnosed with depression many years ago, but in hindsight, I’m fairly sure it was autistic burnout.
Not a doctor, seek medical advice before making medical decisions.
I have autism and persistent depressive disorder. I take Zoloft, which has done wonders for me, both for depression and anxiety. I also went to therapy, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy. I have been depressed my whole life, but it was really the neverending constant anxiety that drove me into the arms of alcohol. Luckily I quit drinking completely before starting the meds and haven’t touched a drop since.
This is really great to hear. I was just prescribed Zoloft, and drinking hasn’t been important to me since I was in my 20’s. I’ve taken CBT in the past but didn’t find it all that helpful.
Dunno if I’m prone to depression, but once I figured out how to turn into strengths what, up to then, I saw as weaknesses, my mood started shifting for better. So maybe something worth keeping in mind?
I’ve been struggling for years with just going to see a doctor. I don’t know why that is so hard for me, but my life would be infinitely better if I could get out of it.
Hope it work out well for you, and kudos to taking steps in dealing with it. I can’t say I know how you feel, but have gone through bouts of depression and it was truly a shitty time in my life, but I got out and never want to go back in. But who knows what life has for us ahead.
TIL that adult men with autism are at higher risk for depression. Were you recently diagnosed with autism, or were you diagnosed at a younger age?
I faced the reverse. School psychs (and peers) knew I was a bit odd since grade school. In my early 20s I was diagosed with major depression. At 27 it became anaclitic depression
Then in my late 40s I was diagnosed as ASD which runs parallel with my gender apathy.
Also, by this time I see the mental health epidemic across the states as pervasive and intergenerational, likely the result of how the industrial revolution has changed society and neglected the needs of individual persons, We’re all mad here. Just some are high functioning and don’t ever get assessed for mental illness, instead drinking like Ian Flemming,
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I have early onset chronic treatment resistant depression.
Tried a bunch of meds, only one that worked for a while was phenelzine, but it “pooped out” after about a year.
I rarely see this being mentioned, but vitamin B12 deficiency is a thing that certainly doesn’t help with mental health. This is fairly prevalent in people with any type of gut problem. And seeing as gut issues and autism are strongly correlated, I would suggest you look into that.
