If medication existed for autism, how would you feel about it?

[mysterionz]

Many mental disorders and neurodivergent conditions have treatments in the form of medication that can help reduce symptoms of said condition they’re meant to treat. How would you feel if a medication existed for treating the more dangerous effects from symptoms of autism like stimming? (I’m not saying stimming it’s dangerous, quite the opposite in fact. Stimming should be encouraged just as long as the stims don’t cause anyone/the individual in question harm or hurt anyone/their surroundings in the process)

 

[tree]

I think I'd need to see a list of these symptoms of autism that
have dangerous effects before I'd be able to respond to a
question of how I felt about medication for that.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I think the primary thing that may be perceived as "negative" or "dangerous" might be the depression and fearfulness component that many of us have, as it pervades into all aspects of our being and can, at the very least, cause us to think inward, overthink, ruminate, question, hesitate, self-sabotage, and at the worst, be overly emotionally sensitive, at a higher risk for PTSD, and even suicide (6X the general population).

Eliminate most of that, and for those of us that are ASD-1's and 2's, life becomes a lot more tolerable.

So, personally, with regards to autism, I would want a medication that maximizes the positives and minimizes the negatives. I would be vehemently against anything that would hypothetically "cure" or "eliminate" my autistic gifts.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I had transverse myelitis 50 years prior to my stroke my leg kicks side effect of overly tense muscle that releases
doctor prescribed a drug that started to atrophy my left leg. Now no longer on this drug recovering rapidly No more lets fix for me when no significant issue to begin with. My wife fixed the issue with a pillow and a couple of folded blankets.

 

[GrownupGirl]

Like most psychiatric drugs, the side effects would be worse than any of my so called symptoms of ASD.

 

[lunarious]

The question is:
If medication existed for autism, how would you feel about it?

I feel:
In my case, if The Nurse whom gives me medication (alternatively injection) is Godly which is an indication of competency, then i will yield. Then "my body" will accept the medical surgery on it.

If a Nurse or a Doctor use a Scapel, and she is unskilled aka unGodly, then she'll cause much dammage. And in my case get submitted to Ground.

Because everything from God is good. This is my feeling about this.

 

[lunarious]

I think I'd need to see a list of these symptoms of autism that
have dangerous effects before I'd be able to respond to a
question of how I felt about medication for that.

The doctor had me in belt-bed and had a conversation with me. In the Report she wrote that Mustafa views are very unscientific and in-accurate etc ..

I read it aloud to my mom, she exclaimed why do you need "informed scientific views"? Are you a Doctor?

 

[Xinyta]

I've always had a strong stance against medicating for no reason. Especially if it is something you can control yourself or overcome psychologically.

I only would consider medication for things out of my control. Like clinical depression, anxiety disorders, etc. Things medication are useful for. Not because I feel a little pain, or have the sniffles.

 

[Tired]

And in my case get submitted to Ground.

What does this mean?

 

[lunarious]

What does this mean?

Forced to Ground like Police does to stronger criminal, when they get hand-cuffs

 

[Judge]

I think I'd need to see a list of these symptoms of autism that
have dangerous effects before I'd be able to respond to a
question of how I felt about medication for that.

Agreed. To initially determine if such things are just public perception or media stereotypes. Or to determine other circumstances to focus on besides autism.

That odds may reflect that other comorbid conditions may possibly explain more risky exposures to be concerned about.

 

[Misty Avich]

I'd take it in a heartbeat. As autism isn't who I am, I wouldn't feel that medicating myself for the few symptoms I do have wouldn't change me much, just make me a better person (I'm not saying autism means you're not a good person but I'm just speaking for myself here, as ASD has made me do a lot of things I'm not proud of and feel embarrassed about). The Sertraline has erased one bad ASD symptom of mine - rage outbursts. Before I went on Sertraline I kept flying up in a rage, verbally attacking my family and just not being able to handle whatever triggered me to react like that. I was like a timebomb about to explode at any moment.
While I still have my moments, my rage is still easier to manage and if I am triggered I may react still but not where it upsets people around me or makes me unbearable to live with.
Sertraline doesn't stop me feeling intense emotions but it does help with keeping my behaviour under control. I've been on them for 10 years now and I'm scared to come off them in case I return to that angry, neurotic wreck I used to be.

So if there were medication that could help boost my social confidence and stop my ears from hurting from certain noises, then I'm all up for it.

 

[Seladon]

Like most psychiatric drugs, the side effects would be worse than any of my so called symptoms of ASD.

Agreed, from the perspective of someone who’s experienced the horrors of medical malpractice and misprescription first-hand.

This entire discussion has me thinking back to one of my all-time favourite mainstream/popcorn films, the now-sadly maligned X-Men 2 and its so-bad-it’s-good sequel X3. The subplots concerned a ‘Cure’ for mutant genes, that became socially-mandated because the government sowed fear and distrust amongst the popu for mutant powers & behaviours, though prior to the Cure release & development there had been no such angst. N.b. the film and in the animated series, mutancy sometimes stands as a clumsy allegory for nonconformist sexuality, race, trauma or disablement, and the Cure among other things for birth control/sterilisation, lobotomy, or some kind of extreme medication such as AZT.

One can’t help but wonder whether any medical intervention meant to address ASD would be likewise misappropriated for political gain, or used as a weapon of control against us.

Perhaps that’s just paranoia taking, though. And honestly, I can see the temptation of wanting and using such a medication, if it meant freedom from stigma, punishment, exile, limits etc.

 

[Au Naturel]

What does it treat? What are the side effects? The only aspect of autism I desperately want to be rid of is the social disability. Get rid of that and everything else becomes so much easier to accept. I can go from someone who is perceived as antisocial and weird to someone who is likable and eccentric.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I have lived my life to retirement already. I like the way I perceive the world. I like my ability to find patterns and connections. I like my special interests. I don't like taking medication unless I really need it. I don't need to be a socialite. I have a few friends, and that's enough.
So I would tell them to give the medication to someone who could benefit from it.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I have lived my life to retirement already. I like the way I perceive the world. I like my ability to find patterns and connections. I like my special interests. I don't like taking medication unless I really need it. I don't need to be a socialite. I have a few friends, and that's enough.
So I would tell them to give the medication to someone who could benefit from it.

Your right too many gifts to give up.

 

[Shamar]

Many mental disorders and neurodivergent conditions have treatments in the form of medication that can help reduce symptoms of said condition they’re meant to treat. How would you feel if a medication existed for treating the more dangerous effects from symptoms of autism like stimming? (I’m not saying stimming it’s dangerous, quite the opposite in fact. Stimming should be encouraged just as long as the stims don’t cause anyone/the individual in question harm or hurt anyone/their surroundings in the process)

As others have said, there are no really dangerous aspects of autism specifically. Those aspects which are dangerous to the individual are present in much of the population, and there are medications to treat them (with varying results some to really nasty side effects). Again, as others have said, the thing most of us want to "cure" is the problem of social interaction. I don't see anything that will treat this directly, merely some side aspects, such as anxiety. There are so many differences among us manifesting as a similar problem, I suspect a different drug might need to be developed for each of us individually.

If a drug for this could be demonstrated to be safe, effective, and no nasty side effects, I might try it. The old song Love Potion Number Nine might be a good example of a drug that "fixes" this problem, but the side effects are worse than the problem.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Right now, I wouldn't because I'm just getting to know my autistic self and exploring everything that comes with being unmasked. There are unpleasant sides (like sensory overwhelm, meltdowns and heightened anxiety), but I am still curious about getting to know them.

Maybe there would be some things I would be open to treat with medication. For example, if I suffered from debilitating anxiety for years, I might think about it. But it would depend on the medication's individual profile, it's targeted effects and side effects.

 

[stevens]

I think I'd need to see a list of these symptoms of autism that
have dangerous effects before I'd be able to respond to a
question of how I felt about medication for that.

That's a great point. I like some of the things that autism does for me. I wouldn't want those things to be "cured." And then there are some very painful things that come with autism I'd take a low-harm drug to improve (alcohol was great for some of these but it causes lots of harm so I stopped). Another good example is SSRI drugs for clinical depression. For many treatment-resistant depressed people they work very well. But the side effects of lethargy and other emotive side effects plus the physical ones like muscle problems make them worthy of caution before trying.

 

[vergil96]

I wouldn't, I would change society instead. There is nothing inherentlly wrong with even extreme introvertism, sensory issues, prosopagnosia etc. For me autism is definitely a part of something else and I wouldn't trade the positives such as intellectual abilities for fitting in. If someone has a problem with my facial expression or the fact that I hate certain stimuli, that is their problem, not mine. I have encountered people who have a problem that I have intellectual talents as well, low self esteem projected on others as spite can make some people unbearable. So just to give an example, not every opinion is justified and constructive, just because someone expresses it.