Prosper Health's Autism Resource Center

It’s normal to feel anxious sometimes—but what if anxiety gets in the way of your day-to-day life? For nearly half of autistic people, severe anxiety disorders are a reality. Anxiety disorders come with psychological and physical symptoms that can be distressing and even make it difficult to function every day. For an autistic person, they can make common stressors like sensory and social stress even harder to manage. Understanding the relationship between autism and anxiety can help an autistic adult better understand themself and get support that makes a difference.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by communication and social differences, strict adherence to routine and intense, narrow interests. No two autistic individuals are exactly alike, and autistic traits and severity vary from person to person. 

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Diagnosis of ASD is clinical, based on standardized criteria that require persistent differences in social communication and at least two types of restricted behaviors. No blood test or neurological imaging can detect or diagnose autism. Instead, developmental history and behavioral observations are part of the assessment. 

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ASD is usually identified in early childhood, but many autistic individuals aren’t diagnosed until adulthood. This doesn’t mean that autistic traits weren’t present during their childhood. Rather, it means they didn’t have access to the appropriate diagnostic care or didn’t fit in with outdated stereotypes of autistic behavior. 

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As our understanding of autism spectrum disorder changes and deepens, practitioners are getting better at accurately diagnosing those who would’ve previously gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in the past. As both knowledge and diagnostic criteria expand, the number of autistic individuals in the world naturally increases.

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This increase has led to renewed conversations around autism. What causes it? Why is everyone autistic all of a sudden? How can we prevent it? (Although prevention should never be the goal.) 

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But, perhaps we’re asking the wrong questions. Maybe we should start here instead: Is there actually a rise in autism?

Eating is a routine activity for most people, but for autistic individuals, it can be deeply tied to sensory experiences, autonomy and emotional well-being. Autistic people commonly face food-related challenges including sensory sensitivities, interoception differences and restricted diets.

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Rather than focusing on compliance or normalizing food habits, supporting autistic people means respecting their individual relationships with food, embracing sensory needs and upholding autonomy. At the same time, it is important to consider any physical health impacts of dietary differences and discuss these with your physician in order to make an informed decision about whether you want to consider changes in order to maintain your health or prevent future health problems. You should always involve a doctor or nutritionist in any plans to make significant dietary changes, and any tips provided below have not been reviewed by a physician and are not intended to serve as medical advice.

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Read on for affirming support strategies rooted in respect and self-understanding.

Making friends while having autism spectrum disorder can feel complicated, exhausting or even discouraging—especially when social rules seem unclear or your way of connecting doesn’t always match what others expect. Many autistic people grow up being told they’re “too much,” “too quiet” or “too blunt,” which can make reaching out feel risky. You might have been burned before or feel unsure about how to move from casual interactions to deeper connections.

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But friendship doesn’t have to follow a neurotypical script to be meaningful. When you understand your own social needs, boundaries and communication style, it becomes easier to build relationships that feel safe and authentic. While every person’s experience is different, there are some common challenges autistic individuals can face when it comes to friendship. Thankfully, there are also practical, affirming strategies for forming connections in ways that honor who you are.

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Whether you’re looking to make one solid friend or expand your community a little at a time, friendship is possible—and you deserve it.

For many people living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), exploring gender identity can feel especially complex. Research and community experience consistently show that autistic individuals are more likely to identify as transgender, nonbinary or outside the traditional gender binary than the general population.

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That doesn’t mean being autistic causes someone to be transgender or vice versa. Instead, this should be a wake-up call to understanding how neurodivergence can shape people's experience and expression. For example, this can lead to an autistic person questioning social norms more often and feeling less pressure to conform to the traditional gender role for their assigned gender or sex.

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Understanding this intersection is crucial. Gender dysphoria is often just one part of a broader autistic identity that deserves affirmation, respect and support. Recognizing how autism and gender diversity interact helps reduce stigma, improve mental health outcomes and empower autistic individuals to live more fully as their authentic selves.

Navigating the job market can be difficult for anyone, but it’s especially hard for autistic individuals. Compared to neurotypical adults, autistic adults often face higher rates of unemployment or underemployment. Studies suggest that nearly 40% of autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed in general, and that number may be as high as 85% when considering specifically autistic adults with college degrees.

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Therefore, it’s not only important to understand the role that autism spectrum disorder plays in the workforce, but it’s also important to know which jobs may be best suited for autistic employees.