“The saddest thing for me as a late diagnosed person is that I spent 35 years feeling like everything was my fault. I’m sad for the person I was as I should never have been made to feel like that for being different.”
Kris, an autistic adult
Although many strengths come with being autistic, throughout their lives, autistic people are likely to face challenges. These could be caused by things like health conditions that can co-occur in autistic people, or from difficulties that come with being an autistic person in a world built for neurotypicals.
Every autistic person is different, just like every non-autistic person, so not every autistic person will relate to all of the challenges listed below.
Autistic people and family members have kindly shared their experiences to contribute to this article, and may have shared experiences that some readers may find distressing. Please read with care.
1. Negative attitudes from non-autistic people
Stigmatising attitudes and a lack of understanding from non-autistic people can make life difficult for autistic people. This can affect their careers, social lives and interactions with health professionals, which can have devastating consequences.
I find the world incredibly inflexible and unkind. There's no tolerance for difference, for accommodations, for empathy. I have to mask all of the time to be accepted by people around me and that has led to such trauma and mental ill health. Society consistently tells me that I'm a burden and something that has no place within it, that doesn't belong, and it's exhausting and miserable. It's getting harder and harder not to believe them.
Lauren, an autistic adult
Too many people are aware of autism, but don't understand autistic people. That's why one of our Goals is by 2030, attitudes towards autistic people will change.
2. Mental health challenges
Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health difficulties than non-autistic people. About 8 in 10 autistic people experience a mental health challenge during their lifetime. This could include anxiety, depression, eating disorders or psychosis. Sadly, autistic people are more likely to die by suicide than non-autistic people.
For years, I have been a victim of depression and anxiety because of how I'm a person in the autism spectrum, living in a world that has yet to understand and accept us for who we are.
See AlsoAutism: Managing Over-stimulation and Stress“Autistic” vs. “Person with Autism”: Let’s Talk about Disability Language - The Latest National Disability NewsAutism Spectrum DisorderHigh-Functioning Autism: What Is It and How Is It Diagnosed?Dylan, an autistic adult
Mental health in autistic people is an urgent research priority. That’s why by 2030 we want to see a yearly tailored health check for autistic people, and proven treatments for anxiety to help more autistic people live happy, healthy and long lives.
3. Barriers to employment
Just 3 in 10 autistic people are in employment in the UK, but 3 out 4 autistic people would like to be in work.
Many autistic people face barriers to employment, such as unnecessary emphasis on social skills listed on a job description, outdated interview practices, or being overlooked for promotion if they don’t participate in office social activities.
A challenge my son is currently facing is trying to find someone to take a chance on him and give him employment. He would be an asset to any company but struggles with the application and interview process
Clare, mother of an autistic adult son
By 2030, we want to double the rate of employment for autistic people. As part of this, we have developed the Neurodiversity Employers Index, or NDEI® so organisations can learn how to make their workplaces more inclusive for neurodivergent people.
4. Sensory differences in public spaces that don't consider neurodivergence
Sensory differences can mean many public spaces can be overwhelming and not inclusive for autistic people who have sensory differences that make them more sensitive to things like sound and bright lighting.
I find sound very challenging as an autistic person. I don’t like to visit loud places or sit in a public place near a speaker or noisy people as it increases my stress levels
Fiona
By 2030, we want to make public spaces more accessible for autistic people.
5.Alexithymia
About half of autistic people struggle with naming their feelings, known as alexithymia. This can make things especially confusing and difficult when someone is experiencing challenging emotions, as they might not understand what they are feeling, or be able to communicate to others about what they are feeling.
Some autistic people also have difficulties with interoception, which is noticing their body’s internal cues. Having challenges with interoception can affect things like how someone eats, as they may not notice if they are hungry or thirsty. Learn more about this in our eating, eating eating disorders and autism page.
I went through tremendous suffering because I couldn't understand my own feelings. Bewildered by my emotions and sensations, I would ascribe stories to them that revolved around me being stupid, broken, lazy. This just led to substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Once I had my diagnosis, I was able to understand what the reasons behind my stress really were.
An autistic woman
A yearly-tailored health check would help support autistic people with their physical and mental health.
6. Masking
Masking. Many autistic ‘mask’ or ‘camouflage’ their autistic traits to better fit in with non-autistic people. Examples of masking include forcing eye contact or practicing and learning cues for social situations. Some people are not diagnosed until later as they don't realise they are autistic due to high levels of masking. Masking can be exhausting for autistic people and some research connects it to poorer mental health.
I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in a world where I felt safe, where I felt like I could truly be myself; what would it be like to not have to constantly pretend, to have the energy to do things because it's not being spent on masking and managing and pushing through, to feel unashamed to ask for what I need because I know I won't be judged?
Lauren, an autistic adult
By changing attitudes towards autistic people and improving non-autistic people’s understanding of autism, more autistic people will feel more accepted and won’t feel obliged to mask as much.
7. Executive function struggles
Executive functions are skills that help people plan and meet goals, stay organised or control unwanted impulses. If someone has difficulties with executive function, it can impact their performance in school or work and may mean care tasks are more difficult, such as washing, keeping organised or housework.
My executive function is variable which makes everything much harder to task-complete which my brain requires but which my body cannot process
Victoria, neurodivergent adult and parent to neurodivergent children
Many autistic people could benefit from additional support to help them in areas where they struggle. By 2030 we want all autistic people to have support from day one.
8. Co-ocurring conditions
Autistic people experience certain physical and mental health challenges and other kinds of neurodivergence at higher rates than the general population.
Learn more about autism and anxiety, ADHD, depression, eating disorders, epilepsy, learning disabilities, and psychosis.
My son's anxiety & inability to understand his emotional reactions are difficult.The lack of support is the problem not him!
Maria, mum to an autistic child
By working towards our 2030 Goals of annual tailored health checks and proven treatments for anxiety we are using research to help create a future where autistic people with co-occurring conditions have better health outcomes and live happy, healthy and long lives.
Although being autistic comes with challenges, there are also some brilliant strengths that people associate with being autistic. Learn more about autistic strengths.
