At a Glance
This article looks at the complex link between anxiety and autism in women, as we cover why women are often misdiagnosed due to gender bias, masking, and overlapping symptoms. In addition to this, we’ll discuss the role of diagnostic overshadowing and how it affects women seeking answers.
The Nuances of Female Autism and Its Impact on Diagnosis
Autism has traditionally been viewed through a male lens, due to the prominence of male cohort studies and gender stereotypes. Autism is generally more overt and observable in males and is presented more subtly in females. This has historically led to a distorted perspective on female autism.
As a result, autistic women are, even today, still overlooked or misdiagnosed. The lack of nuanced gender-sensitive tools means that many women with autistic traits see them misattributed as anxiety, depression, and other mental or stress-related disorders.
Autistic women can use masking techniques to hide their struggles in social settings. If you do this, you may end up dealing with anxiety, autistic burnout, and social withdrawal as a result. This can also lead to an overlap of symptoms between autism and anxiety, which makes it even more complicated to receive an accurate diagnosis. Consequently, many women receive a late autism diagnosis.
If you’re currently asking, “Do I have autism or anxiety?”, there are ways to reach an answer with support. Receiving an autism diagnosis as a woman helps the larger cause of breaking autism stereotypes, as well as supporting your self-awareness and understanding of autism.
Here, we discuss why women experience misdiagnosis and the role of autism and anxiety treatment.
1. Why is Autism in Women So Often Mistaken for Anxiety
Experiencing a sensory overload is a commonality that’s shared by both genders with autism. This often results in anxiety, which is a common co-occurring condition. Anxiety in these cases is not a separate mental health disorder, but a part of living with neurodiversity. This is backed by research studies that suggest 47% of autistic people experience severe anxiety, with 59% saying it affects their daily life.
Autistic women in particular experience anxiety more intensely than their male counterparts due to the increased use of masking, camouflaging, and performing. The chronic stress of constantly performing and appearing to be “normal” leads to a continual state of anxiety, bringing about significant burnout.
This subtler presentation of autism in women is frequently misdiagnosed as anxiety. But an experienced clinician like Anne Marie, at Connect To Autism, can help you gain clarity through a comprehensive and inclusive diagnostic assessment. This can guide you to accessing the right support required for autism and anxiety management. To learn more, get in touch today.
2. Common Misdiagnoses and the Problem of Diagnostic Overshadowing
Many autistic people also experience other conditions alongside autism. To get the right diagnosis, clinicians will look at your personal history, autistic traits, and detailed evaluations to reach an accurate diagnosis.
Without a nuanced understanding of autism, it’s easy for clinicians to misdiagnose autistic traits as symptoms of a more familiar condition. This phenomenon is called diagnostic overshadowing.
For example, if you’re struggling in social settings due to masking or fears linked to visible stims, you might be diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) by a clinician who doesn’t consider autism. Autistic women have also been commonly misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) before an autism diagnosis. This underscores the need for inclusive and accurate diagnostic assessments for women.
3. How Masking and Gender Bias Delay Autism Diagnosis in Women
If you’re a woman asking yourself, “Do I have autism or just anxiety?”, the answer may not be straightforward. This is because autism and anxiety often overlap. To receive an accurate diagnosis, you’ll need to find an experienced clinician who specialises in autism and anxiety treatments.
A combination of gender stereotypes, bias, and masking has made it difficult to observe autistic traits in women. For clinicians who are trained to view autism through a male phenotype, the nuances of female autism may seem like unfamiliar territory.
Unfortunately, many diagnostic tools still rely on male-centric criteria, which may make you, as a woman, feel unseen and unsupported. It might also mean you end up with a delayed diagnosis, postponing your access to the right support.
4. The Emotional Toll of Misdiagnosis, Anxiety, Burnout, and Late Recognition
While being diagnosed with autism late in life has its advantages, the interim period without a diagnosis or a misdiagnosis can feel burdensome. This is especially true if you were misdiagnosed with some other condition and underwent years of therapy while the core issues were not addressed.
When your symptoms of underlying neurodivergence go unrecognised, you’re more likely to experience social isolation or depression. Navigating a neurotypical world as an autistic woman can be challenging, causing you to feel burnt out and chronically fatigued.
A professional diagnosis from Connect To Autism can validate your experiences and provide closure around your past struggles. More importantly, it can help you answer the deeply personal question of whether you have autism or just anxiety.
5. What to Do If You Think You Might Be Autistic
If you think you might be autistic, consider creating an autism log or document where you record or write about suspected autistic traits. You could also use free online screening tools to build up a case for a diagnostic referral from your GP to the NHS.
If you identify with autistic traits, experience anxiety, or are seeking to understand neurodiversity better, a formal autism assessment can be a great starting point. If you’re autistic, an assessment can bring you relief and help you with coping strategies. This can also bring you the right support needed to manage autism and anxiety.
The best thing you can do if you think you’re autistic is to familiarise yourself with the subject. Read books written by experts or autistic authors, or listen to podcasts. By watching documentaries or YouTube videos created by autistic content creators, you gain a deeper insight into lived experiences.
For Gender-Sensitive, Inclusive Autism Assessments, Contact Connect To Autism
Now that you have a better understanding of the link between autism and anxiety management, you might be keen to learn more about a formal autism assessment as the next step.
At Connect To Autism, I provide online autism diagnostic and ADHD screening assessments for adults aged 16 and over. I have over 25 years of experience in autism assessments, and my private online services have helped countless people with ASD in the UK.
My assessments consider your unique history, factoring in personal experiences, mental health, anxiety, and more. Your results should help you better understand specific issues that you’re facing and improve your ability to develop effective coping strategies for your emotional and psychological well-being.
To learn more about my autism diagnosis and assessment services or to book a free 30-minute consultation, get in touch today.