The Hidden Link Between Autism and Addiction
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2023
- Why are Autistic people more prone to addiction? What is the difference between substance addiction and process addiction? How can you recover from addiction?
Patrick Casale (@allthingsprivatepractice) is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and addiction specialist in Asheville North Carolina (USA), diagnosed Autistic at the age of 35 years old. Patrick runs group psychotherapy sessions and retreats for LGBTQIA+ and Autism individuals but also coaches mental health practitioners on how to grow their businesses.
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Thomas start's the conversation fanboying about the recent Divergent Conversations podcast episode they recorded with Dr. Megan Neff from @neurodivergent_insights where they talked about Thomas' favourite topic... Autistic alexithymia!
Patrick soon goes into the basics behind understanding addiction through a bio-psycho-social lens, highlighting that addiction is caused by a loop of obsessions and compulsions. He provides some clarity by distinguishing between the mechanisms behind process addiction VS substance addiction, and addiction VS dependency.
Thomas speaks on his experience with nicotine addiction and alcoholism which took place during his university years, as well as his rabbit hole of research into the recreational substances that were taken by those around his dormitory. Nicotine and caffeine are perhaps some of the most readily available and addictive substances, being particularly enjoyable at first before becoming an expensive and boring habit.
Many people who become addicted often have a naive illusion of control, hiding their dependency from others due to feelings of shame and making deals with themselves that will soon be broken during the height of addiction. Thomas highlights that motivation is often idolised, but tends to be inherently fleeting in nature... humans are, after all, creatures of habit!
Patrick opens up to Thomas about the destructive nature of his gambling addiction, illuminating that the process or lead-up before placing the bet was the most addictive part for him. The level of shame and depression he felt leaving the casino early in the morning is a common feeling for most addicts and leads to a high rate of suicidality.
Lies, financial destruction, personality changes, impulsive action, desperation, and extreme lows... are all the parts of addiction that ravage the lives of addicts and those around them.
Thomas and Patrick contemplate and discuss the reasons why Autistic people may be more prone to addiction in any form. Some use it as a form of reliable regulation, some seek those good feelings to replace their need for connection, and others lack self-care due to the overlap between Autism and mental illness.
When it comes to quitting addictive processes or substances, our natural need for regulation in this difficult world, lack of social connections, and the ritualistic routine-like aspect of addiction can be very difficult hurdles to overcome.
In a more positive or constructive end to the episode, they speak on the difference between impulsive behaviors and delayed gratification, and how our modern times can reinforce impulsive acts. Life is not a movie, it can be boring, meh, or sometimes quite monotonous and depressing.
Finding an internal meaning to life and seeking help is a long and complex journey, but it's so worth it.
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I'm autistic with ADHD, diagnosed this year at age 53. 😶
Alcohol and cannabis was a huge part of my masking and self soothing when I was a teen. I gave up cannabis, but alcohol remains a favorite way to control my mood. Learning about the autism helped reduce my cravings by 75%, immediately. The strain of masking (unknown to me) was an intense driver of these cravings. I found that coming home from work to a room with a closed door and listening to white noise and my favorite YT videos was enough for me to recover without the alcohol. That being said, I still love it and I want to learn more about the autism/addiction connection.
This! When I learned I had bipolar 1 disorder, it helped to reduce the craving for substances and helped me learn other strategies for coping with the symptoms. When I learned I have autism, even more so! I’m not 100% sure if both diagnoses are accurate, but I’m pretty convinced that they are. I don’t know another autistic person who is prone to spending sprees, particularly when they cannot afford it. 🖐️ (present). I have to be careful not to substitute one addiction for another, as do many with Substance Use Disorder, so maybe I am just autistic, with SUD in full remission. Regarding process addictions , I still want to get healthier. I hope you find health and happiness, in your continued recovery. Harm reduction efforts, such as reducing alcohol intake, ARE a form of recovery. Studies have shown that people who practice harm reduction frequently take further steps in recovery, including periods of trial abstinence and sustained abstinence.
Thank you so much for this! I’m autistic, recovering from Substance Use Disorder, and formally studying these, often, co-occurring disorders (as well as disorders that co-occur with SUDs). I plan to cite this video in the project. It’s the first group project I have, actually, enjoyed. We got to choose our groups. Mine has another person with autism and two with ADHD. 100% neuro-atypical! I appreciate you, for sharing your knowledge and experience! ❤
I love this podcast. I use drugs recreationally I am AuDHD and even my therapist thought I had a really militant view on alcohol and drug use because I erected very important rules to my use like a mandatory break from every every year, not drinking or doing drugs when I'm sad, stress etc, I don't drink after a stressful day at work or when I'm overwhelmed, if my mindset isn't happy or celebratory I'm not drinking or doing drugs. My therapist was like it's OK as long as you do not develop a persistent compulsory need to keep drinking and such. And I told her: no, I am not even trying to get into the compulsory part. I'm trying to stop it before it gets there. I need to watch more things like I love spicy chips and when I lost my job I was eating them everyday for 2 weeks until I realized I'm starting to get dependent on them and took a break.
Addiction and Dependency can come so quick and when you are going through something it can sneak up and hit you over the head.
Also, if I am in a mood where I really wanna drink I delay it by a day or two. To make sure I am not tying the need to want to drink with my mood.
I use, and not as a justification, but I can't get a prescription because employment issues. But my quality of life is so much improved for it's use. Everything anyone can take can be a slippery slope without putting some framework in place. It's been on and off for 30 years and have no issues just stopping if I see a problem begin to overshadow the benefit.
@@xr2kid. Great strategy, whether you have a substance use disorder, or are just trying to remain healthy. I have OUD and Suboxone was effective for me, because the naltrexone in it has this effect built in, for Opioid Use Disorder. I cannot feel the effects of opioids, when I am taking Suboxone, or for about 3 days after taking Suboxone. I only tested this claim once, because it has a very nasty precipitated withdrawal! Naltrexone doesn’t do this for alcohol, although it is, often, effective in reducing cravings. Antabuse is more comparable to naltrexone, in that you have to delay drinking alcohol, until the Antabuse is out of your system. However, it has a deterrent effect, but does not reduce cravings. I’m not saying, or assuming, you don’t know these facts This is jjust my natural autistic report speech style. I appreciate that it’s not often misinterpreted, in these comments. Correction: A person cannot feel MOST opiates, unless I don’t take Suboxone for 3 days, prior, I have not researched which opioids you can feel while taking Suboxone, for a reason! ❤.
Sounds like you have developed some effective strategies. It’s great that you are working to stop using substances, as well. With our risk of developing Substance Use Disorders, you are very wise, forward thinking and brave, to do what you are doing! Studies have shown that spicy chips and Cheetos, etc. are a legitimate addiction, because they can, potentially lead to very real and significant adverse gastrointestinal issues (for some), when consumed to great excess. Anything that produces dopamine, done without moderation, can become an addiction. When it adversely affects your life, across several domains, addiction can be diagnosed. I’ve never known anyone who sold their kids holiday presents for Cheetos, so there is that, at least. lol. Thanks for sharing your experience and insights!
Hi, Thomas! 👋 Thank you for this episode. It's a very important (taboo) topic that needs to be addressed. I have been unemployed for 6 months because I quit my last job from bullying, sexual harassment, and retaliation. Since then, I have been pretty much isolating and addicted to my phone watching CZcams. I justify it by saying that I am doing autism research, which I am, but it has become excessive. I am also addicted to sweets and carbs. I definitely see the link between addiction and social isolation. I hope you are healing and getting better each day! Keep up the good work! ❤
I feel like hyperfocus on an interest is like one addiction.
But I just love learning and it feels so good. And gets me away from sugars alcolhols drugs gambling and sex addicition. Also fast food😊
@@turtleanton6539 I see. I guess learning isn't so bad as other addictions. I know gym rats working out all the time, but they are not harming themselves or others for the most part. Though the activity is enjoyable, I wonder what I am avoiding or what pain I am trying to numb. I think for me, being an AuDHD and struggling with socializing, I tend to seek out cerebral activities because I understand them. I don't have to analyze social cues and try to figure out other people's ulterior motives. It is very taxing on me. For the most part, my interactions with other autistic individuals have been straightforward and I am grateful for that.
Me tooooooo
I find myself opposite of this.
I can drop things that others find addictive, quite easily. However, with things like caffeine in soda, my family often was without enough money to buy it on a regular basis, so when we would go without, I would suffer through massive headaches as withdrawl symptoms. I eventually just stopped drinking caffeinated soda entirely to avoid that problem, as a young teenager.
Today, I can drink coffee at midnight, and immediately go to sleep.
I am not the least bit alcoholic, and I find I have quite a high tolerance to it, keeping my mental faculties very clear, while my friend would often become clearly drunk (and it's not just body size/weight/ratio stuff).
This impacts medications for me as well, with some things not working in their intended fashion when I use them as directed. (When one does not know that they're autistic, and they already feel very different from other people for other reasons, the whole "feeling like an alien among human" thing really gets reinforced by something like this.)
I listened to this on Spotify, as with all episodes. I’m recently discovering my autism at 23 ( about 4 months ago at this time ) and I come from a childhood where I was forced to suppress any aspect of it in order to survive, as much of it involved pretty intense abuse, and appearing reserved and “normal” was the best way to protect myself
After discovering I actually am autistic, I began trying to unmask, and because my entire childhood and trauma had a new context now, I needed to reprocess everything all over again. It’s been tumultuous, and intense.
But I found ur podcast, and began ingesting as much information as I could to help me understand better. Ur most impactful on me was the one with Dr. Neff, relating to C-PTSD. That was such a big step in feeling like I finally had a reason to continue pushing on, I wasn’t lost, there was just more to discover and learn about me. I even shared it with my sister, who is also coming into her autistic realization, and shared some of the CPTSD info from that episode, and it helped her as well.
Now, I’m going through another mix of overwhelming life events, along with the cost of living putting insane pressure on so many, I’ve been unknowingly detached, and engaged in any activity that would keep me disassociated. From Xbox, to smoking weed all day, each day, TV, Movies, online dating apps. All while keeping myself isolated, having not actually hung out with anyone in almost 2 years. So afraid of feeling, so overwhelmed by how intense of emotions I’m feeling that I force myself to feel nothing at all, or take a purely brain centered approach by experiencing the world purely through logic, and not feeling.
This episode just made such an intense impact on me now too, and I’ve realized how much time has passed, and how I haven’t taken care of myself in the most important ways ( doctors, physical routine/activity, not partaking in a single interest of mine that isn’t video games or smoking. I am a writer, and haven’t written significantly in so long, or taught myself anything.
I needed to hear this, from both such relatable perspectives, and understanding and caring people. You both are amazing, and I appreciate you so much. I feel like I’ve had a breakthrough today, and I have hope that I will be able to feel human again.
Although I am not trying to quit nicotine, I can commiserate with how hard it is to get it's grip released. Keep trying brother, I believe in you :)
Should have asked him about the cost of addiction recovery. I tried to help someone find help in Asheville.
I’m so sorry you’re going through a burn out. I pray you rest and find your way back soon. I love your podcast
I can relate to you with the burnout man been rough lately
I'm on the spectrum, and I have a pretty fierce soda habit that I'm being forced to kick. The main source of shame for me is having this addiction while claiming that I'm religious and conflating addiction with idolatry. Can I really call myself a Christian when I "worship" soda?
I was a heroin addict for 17 years, ended up homeless, in and out of prison ect . Terrible experience. 20 years clean now.
That sounds awful, I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that. Congratulations though honestly, that’s an amazing achievement… you should be really proud of yourself 💪🏻
@@ThomasHenley thanks. And I’ve enjoyed finding your videos. I listened to the one about suicide and we had some similar experiences, though im 55, so, my experiences were from years ago. It’s a great podcast, thanks again.
Going thru it now🥵 Congratulations❣️🙌
I just found your podcast and I am hooked.
Great video! 😎
I've been addicted to anything i could get my hands on really. Alcohol, opioids, weed, caffeine, id probably be addicted to meth and other stuff too if i could get it. Unfortunately, the only two choices afforded to autistic people in this society are suicide or addiction, because society refuses to accommodate our needs
Yes.
Very powerful
Where is a link to his channel, podcast oreghen?
❤