Social Anxiety vs Autism

With the growth of mental health awareness, people are more curious to  better understand the difference between various disorders. Some psychological issues and even personality traits could manifest very similar symptoms, causing a diagnistuc challenge for specialists. That’s why it’s crucial to not self-medicate but firstly consult an experienced therapist. An accurate diagnosis will help to select the most relevant treatment and lifestyle changes.

Differentiating difficulties are very true for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD). They have some similar aspects, which may confuse patients and even doctors. Still, these mental issues have different natures, causes, pathophysiology, and treatment. What else is important is that some symptoms of autism and social anxiety are similar to the normal variations of human personality. For example, social anxiety disorder or social phobia, as it’s also called, could be mistaken for shyness or introversion. [1]

Autism spectrum disorder has a neurological nature and unknown genesis. Still, there is a blend of genetic, cognitive, and neural reasons which impact the severity of the ASD symptoms. It can be diagnosed in adults, but the signs usually appear from an early age. The manifestations may vary, but commonly, they include difficulties in communicating, repetitive actions, eye contact problems, and oversensitivity. [2]

Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition with fear of social interactions. Struggling people can be scared of talking or having dinner in public, or simply walking in a shop. This psychological issue starts developing in adolescence or young adulthood because of specific triggers. As with ASD, social phobia also manifests as communication issues, a tendency to avoid eye contact, etc. It complicates the distinction between these two disorders. [1]

How are social anxiety and autism similar?

There is an overlap of some symptoms of these disorders. It can cause lots if stress in patients trying to understand the reason for their state and even lead to a wrong diagnosis from a specialist. We should comprehend these similarities to avoid falling into the trap of misdiagnosis. So, the resemblances of social anxiety vs autism are the following:

• Social problems. Both these disorders cause serious communication difficulties, leading to feelings of loneliness and abandonment. Patients struggle even when solving simple social tasks, either with verbal or nonverbal communication. People who suffer from these conditions have problems understanding correctly indirect speech, such as intonations, body language, etc.
• Emotional struggles. Both ASD and SAD experience substantial emotional distress during communication that results in the appearance of anxiety. On the physical level, sweating, trembling, and blushing are common. Negative experiences of interactions may imprint on patients’ minds devastation and despair, as well as fear of further social contacts.
• Sensory hyperresponsiveness. Autism and social anxiety sufferers can’t stand external solid stressors like loud noise, intense physical contact, and bright light. These factors distract patients and worsen social skills even more.
• Relaxation break after speaking. Even simple social interactions require a lot of effort for both groups. So, they need time to recover and be ready for another contact. It’s particularly relevant for autistic people because of their hypersensitivity. [3]

Autism spectrum and SAD have a lot in common that can be confusing. But these are separate mental disorders with different albeit overlapping symptomatology and respective treatment. It should be kept in mind to avoid diagnosis blunders.

Difference between social anxiety and autism

Just as pneumonia and the flu can share similar symptoms, being completely different illnesses, ASD and social disorder should be examined better to differentiate between them. They are not the same on so many levels. Among their discrepancies are:

• Origin and manifesting. Socio-phobia is a mental health condition that most commonly shows up as shame and fear of being judged by other people and consequently in constant anxiety. And this sentiment is very strong. It makes a sufferer try to avoid any social interactions. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It influences the behavior and communication skills.
• Time of first clinical signs and diagnosis. Social anxiety usually occurs in adolescence or early adulthood as a result of failed interactions with other people, which leads to mental traumas. ASD is typically diagnosed around the age of three without specific triggers. After that, individuals’ development is under observation and monitoring.
• Social dynamic and motivation. SAD persons can read social cues correctly but find it hard to respond to them adequately because of their fears. They want to speak with other people and have social links while having a lot of psychological struggles with it. Autistic persons have big problems with communication nuances. They can have no desire for social connections and interactions whatsoever.
• Physical manifestations. Social anxiety persons can sweat, tremble, have rapid heartbeat, and other nervous symptoms during or before conversations. Autistic ones may have hypersensitivity reactions to intense external stimuli. [4]

We can observe the difference between social anxiety and autism on many levels. It includes a lot of factors that help a specialist make an accurate diagnosis and avoid getting confused by similar symptoms of a different disorder.

How to tell whether it is social anxiety or autism?

These two are distinct conditions, though they have much in common. It causes wrong diagnoses and improper treatment from time to time. It also should be understood that neither ASD is a form of social phobia nor vice versa. The disorders can be distinguished by the differences we listed before. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) by the American Psychiatric Association provides specific diagnostic criteria for therapists. They can clearly discern whether it is autism, social anxiety, or something else. [5]

Diagnosis

Mental diseases differ from those caused by biological agents like viruses, bacteria, or fungi. You can’t take a probe and clarify the picture of the diagnosis, thanks to identifying the probe content. Because of the human psyche’s complexity, diagnosing disorders is a more time-consuming process. It’s based on evaluations of specialists, interviews with parents or caregivers, and observations of a person’s behavior patterns in private and public life.

Diagnosis of social anxiety disorder vs autism will differ. There are no definitive tests for these disorders. So, professionals pay attention to their distinct manifestations. For example, autistic sufferers show repetitive habits, strictly focusing on specific topics and lining up their stuff. Another clue is the onset of their revealing. ASD can manifest itself from the age of three in comparison with social anxiety, occurring since adolescence. [6]

Treating autism and social anxiety

ASD as a neurodevelopmental disorder is untreatable by its nature. SAD, as many other psychological disorders, can be cured but a treatment may take lots of time and eforts, However, there are many ways to facilitate the life of patients and reduce the most acute symptoms. They include medical methods, different types of therapies, and supporting families. Altogether, they create an environment contributing to patients’ maximum involvement in independent and high-quality life. Let’s look at social anxiety and autism treatment options:

• The drugs aren’t aimed at full recovery, as it’s impossible so far. However, the appropriate medical treatment decreases the level of anxiety, irritability, or hyperactivity. That helps SAD and ASD people cope with intense emotions and build their social life. Besides this, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a first-line treatment for persons with social anxiety.
• Different forms of psychotherapy help patients control their emotions and improve their social skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common option.
• Support groups. They’re intended for patients and members of their families. Attendance of groups for autistic and SAD ones, besides support, allows the exchange of successful experiences of coping strategies. [7][8]

Autism spectrum and social anxiety disorders are some of the most prevalent mental health problems, especially SAD. It contributes to their comprehensive study and rich diagnostic criteria. However, non-specialists and even professionals sometimes mistake one for the other. It happens because of overlapping symptoms and obstacles of mental illness diagnosis in general. Still, a licensed therapist will figure out the exact condition here. After all, these disorders have different natures and various peculiarities. You’ll find such specialists in URP Behavioral Health. They’d make sure you get the correct diagnosis and recommend the complex treatment plan allowing for a fulfilling life.

References:

1. National Institutes of Health. Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness. Link: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness#:~:text=Social%20anxiety%20disorder%20is%20an,to%20make%20and%20keep%20friends. Access date: 2022.
2. National Institutes of Health. Autism Spectrum Disorder. Link: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20is,first%202%20years%20of%20life. Access date: Feb. 2024
3. Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc. Differences Between Social Anxiety and Autism. Link: https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-anxiety-vs-autism.html. Access date: Dec. 6, 2023
4. Sonic Learning. Social anxiety vs autism: how to tell the difference. Link: https://soniclearning.com.au/social-anxiety-vs-autism/. Access date: Apr. 12, 2023
5. Beth Ann Mayer. How to Tell the Difference Between Social Anxiety and Autism. Link: https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/social-anxiety-vs-autism. Access date: Nov. 3, 2021
6. Golden-user. Social Anxiety vs Autism. Link: https://goldencaretherapy.com/social-anxiety-vs-autism/. Access date: May 28, 2023
7. Mayo Clinic Staff. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia): Diagnosis&Treatment. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353567. Access date: Jun. 19, 2021
8. Autism Speaks. Autism therapy and intervention. Link: https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-therapies.