Many Autistic Adults go through childhood without receiving a diagnosis. Often, the absence of this full understanding of themselves can lead to a person growing up with significantly increased anxiety  due to sensory overload or the stress of ‘masking.’ Some may even have spent time in to psychiatric units when autistic burnout is mistaken for a nervous breakdown.

They may be more likely to develop problems of addiction in an attempt to reduce their anxiety. These combined issues also mean that under or unemployment is frequent problem. Since there is no public route for pursuing an adult diagnosis they may be forced to go private, which may be too expensive for them to access.

In this section you will find key information and support sections relating to Autistic adults.