ASD getting "lumped in" with bipolar & schizophrenia??

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I don't mean clinically speaking, obviously not - I mean from the perspective of laypeople in general, have you noticed how they tend to jump lump in our ASD/HFA with the likes of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia??

It's a recurring theme that I've heard a few times already - outside of the WP forum. One anecdote I read was from a woman with Aspergers (called that at the time, not yet "autism" in general) disclosed to her boss (another woman) and this nasty intolerant b**** of a boss started ranting like "Oh, great, another weirdo - my sister was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and we all shut her out because we couldn't put up with her anymore." Then the bully boss turned up the torment with further sabotage, insults, etc.

I definitely see a similar "umbrella" reaction to those who are deemed mentally ill or deficient; they're shunned, stigmatized, ignored, ridiculed, had unjust aspersions cast on them (like pedo, or rampage killer, or whatever)


One time I was asked if I was schizophrenic, before I was diagnosed, and it was mostly due to a certain sense of paranoia from the relentless bullying I endured in the past PLUS a certain "glassy" look at times.

I think for many people with ASD, we get "lumped in" to the classic mental illness conditions, b/c they perceive on a visceral level someone who's "not all there", it conjures up images of a scruffy homeless person with the glassy-eyed or crazed look who's tuned out. And likewise, they tend to blame the sufferer for it, that they didn't take steps to "act normal by now", ergo they're irresponsible parasites and only worthy of contempt.

It doesn't matter if you explain to them that ASD/HFA is a neuro-developmental disorder and not a mental illness like bipolar or schizo, they still viscerally regard it as such.

IN closing, I really think that because those people who have this contempt or disdain towards those who struggle with this condition, or any other condition that it gets lumped in with, finds that they can "afford" to act this way towards them simply because they know that they'll never suffer that condition - it's not like someone with cancer or ALS or something non-stigmatized, which ANYONE could get, so they don't judge.

I don’t see a problem if it is “lumped” in with other conditions by people who are bigoted against disability and mental illness. It’s the overall bigotry that’s the problem.

I also wouldn’t mind really if someone thought I had schizophrenia or bipolar simply based on the “there’s something different about her.” They are just mental health conditions. They also can share a lot of overlap in symptoms with ASD. Also, there are plenty of people on the spectrum who also have schizophrenia or bipolar. And there are clinical similarities too with ongoing research into it. I don't think it's right to have an either or mentality about ASD vs other conditions. It just adds to the horrible stigma that already surrounds bipolar and schizophrenia. It's frustrating and sad that there is so much bigotry, but again, I'm upset at the bigotry, not that my condition is confused with or grouped in with other conditions.

Probably because of our meltdowns and emotional immaturity and how we handle things.

My speech therapist in 6th grade tried to convince the school staff I had signs of schizophrenia just because my mom's sister did and my mom used my exact words when I said "There were too many voices" to mean too many people were talking all at once and it was overwhelming for me. My speech therapist took that out of context and thought I was hearing fake voices in my head. Then she decided to watch out for more signs in me and convinced the other staff that. The fact I had my own perspective on how I was being treated at school may have made me look like a schizophrenic because I acted like there was a conspiracy against me in school. I wasn't really that off with my perspective because my mom saw the double standards too and so did my therapist and she was mad and said this was not a me issue but a issue with their system.

Moral of the story, don't enforce rules on one child and ignore what the NT kids do or else the kid will just think you are picking on them and bullying them and singling them out and then you wonder why that kid is having behavior issues.

They see you as being inferior or think you will be difficult to cope with.

Personally, and this not meant in a nasty way at all, I have to wonder if neurotypicallity is a mental illness in and of it's own right.

Ie Their constant paranoid accusations that you are doing something deliberately just to be difficult when you are not (such as accusing a 3 year old with mild tourettes of pulling faces at the other children on purpose and refusing to believe them when they say they can't help it).

Their constant need for social attention and admiration

Their obsession with ego, to the point of being so removed from reality, it leads them to entertain and focus on the wrong priorities (ie ego over financial or physical health).

Their unreaslitic expectations in general.

Their lack of understanding (not understanding that something causes you physical pain, such as a particular material, because they don't think it should or making you eat cornflakes which you have just vomitted into because they wouldn't accept you had a sore throat, did not feel well and didn't want them in the first place...).

And so on and so forth.

Prejudice and discrimination based on various health conditions is never acceptable to the humanitarian in me, however I can also understand from growing up around people with mental illness (ASD is not a mental illness or personality disorder to me) how difficult they can be to cope with.

The world is becoming increasingly irrational and unstable, more violent and aggressive...people don't always know how to deal with it, myself included.

Whilst I am ok with people on the spectrum, coping with individuals with certain mental health problems has caused me to have a break down more than a few times. I can't deal with their delusions...

And no ASDs should not be placed in the same category as Bipolar and Shizophrenia but the planet is suffering from an extreme case of ignorance right now.