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Prosper Health's Autism Resource Center
Featured Article
Neurodivergent vs. Autism: Understanding the Relationship and When to Seek Evaluation
“Neurodivergent” and “autistic” often get swapped for one another, in social captions, casual conversations, and sometimes even in settings where you might think people would know better.
Using the terms loosely isn't always a big deal. But it can matter more when you’re trying to figure out what these terms mean for you, especially if you’re wondering whether you might be autistic.
This is because the two terms really aren’t interchangeable, even though the mix-up can be common. Here’s how “neurodivergent” and “autism” relate, why the confusion happens in the first place, and what a next step might look like if you're seeking diagnosis.
Does Autism Qualify for Disability Benefits? A Practical Guide for Autistic Adults
If you've recently done an online search for the term “autism disability benefits”, you probably walked away with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, this happens because the search phrase “autism disability benefits” covers a very broad spectrum, and the resources your results pulled up may not even apply to your personal situation.
For example, one of the first results that usually comes up using this search term (as well as “Do you get disability for autism?”) is the Social Security Administration’s page for benefits for children with disabilities.
But if you made it to this page, you’re actually on the right path: “Autism disability benefits” almost always means Social Security. Yes, other types of government assistance exist, and we will cover those options, but let’s examine your potential Social Security benefits first.
After reading this article, you will understand how, as an autistic person, you may qualify for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We’ll also explore which pathway most likely fits your situation, what strengthens an application, what to expect if you are denied, and whether you can keep working while receiving support.
Autistic Burnout vs. Depression: How to Tell the Difference and When to Get Assessed
Profound exhaustion is impossible to ignore, even when you can’t even muster up the energy to take care of yourself. What’s even scarier is that sometimes, it’s equally impossible to figure out the root of this fatigue, because it’s a common symptom of both depression and autistic burnout.
If you’re currently navigating the confusing world of autistic burnout vs. depression — whether you just learned the term “autistic burnout” or are in the midst of self-reflection — you’re in the right place. Especially considering both conditions can co-occur.
After reading this article, you will have more clarity between autistic burnout and depression, know what to do if you think you have both conditions, and understand what a professional assessment involves.
Social Cues and Autism: Why the "Missed Signals" Narrative Gets It Wrong
Consider this: a coworker asks you to complete a task, “whenever you get the chance,” and you take it at face value. Two days later, you find out the request was urgent, and your coworker assumed their tone made that obvious. Or another example: you're mid-conversation with a friend, and something in their face shifts. You notice it, and you're also tracking their tone, their words, and your own response, all at once. By the time it's processed, the moment to say something has passed.
If either scene felt familiar, you’ve probably been told that you missed something obvious. Maybe you’ve been called hard to read, rude, oblivious, cold, or “bad at people.” But inside, you know that’s not really what happened.
These messages put the entire problem on one person in a conversation between two people. This article looks at autism and social cues, including why social cues can be harder to read for some autistic adults, why misunderstanding is often mutual, and what can help in situations where it matters most.
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Unmasking: What It Means for Autistic Adults and How to Do It Safely
For autistic people, masking—presenting yourself in a way, either consciously or unconsciously, to fit in better in a neurotypical world—can be both necessary and exhausting. That’s where the concept of “unmasking” comes in.
Unmasking is the process of making space for your autistic or neurodivergent traits to shine through in your day-to-day life. It's about working toward honoring your unique brain and what it needs, slowly letting go of the pressure to appear neurotypical.
“Unmasking, in the simplest terms, is about letting your nervous system participate in your life instead of fighting it all day,” says Stephanie Steele-Wren, PsyD, a licensed psychologist specializing in adult autism. “It isn’t about turning into a different person or suddenly being ‘your real self.’ Unmasking is the gradual decision to stop overriding your nervous system to appear ‘acceptable.’”
But it’s important to note that autistic masking exists for a reason, and unmasking is not mandatory. Like most things related to autism, it’s not black and white. That’s why we’re here to break down what you need to know about unmasking, why it can be beneficial (when done safely), what it looks like in practice, and what supports can help.
Sensory Processing Disorder in Adults: What It Feels Like
Let’s say you’re taking a walk, enjoying the bright sunshine and fresh air, when suddenly, a loud, smelly garbage truck speeds by. For most neurotypical people, it’s just a brief hiccup in their otherwise peaceful stroll.
But for adults with sensory processing disorder—or the more affirming, sensory processing differences—the truck’s fleeting noise and stench can cause sensory overload, thus destroying whatever pleasure they might’ve been getting from their morning walk.
Sensory processing disorder presents a tricky situation for adults, because while it is a very real condition, it is not a formal diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5-TR). But this grey area doesn’t diminish how difficult and potentially isolating sensory overwhelm can be as an adult.
In this article, we’ll explain what sensory processing disorder is, why it’s not a formal diagnosis, how it can present in adults, how it relates to autism, and what supports exist for those who experience sensory overload.
Why Do I Get Overstimulated So Easily?
As an author, much of my life is spent at crowded bookstores, meeting readers and signing books. Sometimes I go to conventions, where sensory input is dialed up to eleven: cue buzzing lights, loud crowds, music, and bright colors.
Without fail, after any stressful author event, as an autistic person, I hit a point of overstimulation, where I reach a maximum capacity for sensory input. Often, I become overwhelmed and incapacitated, sometimes shutting down. It can take time to reduce overstimulation, but I’ve learned to anticipate my sensory needs, so I avoid it as much as possible.
Overstimulation is something that many people experience—especially those who are neurodivergent. In this article, we’ll cover why some people get more overstimulated than others, and how to take steps to support your unique brain the next time sensory input becomes overwhelming.
Autism and Eating Disorders: Understanding the Overlap in Adults
When my daughter was diagnosed with autism and ADHD a couple of years ago, suddenly, her lifelong eating challenges started to make sense: Her constant refusal to try new foods and her insistence on a “safe foods”-only diet was due to her neurodivergent brain.
While this is something we’re working on every day, and her nutrient intake is improving, I know she will still have to manage these eating differences in adulthood.
Autism can undoubtedly affect one’s eating habits or behaviors, and autistic people are at a higher risk of developing eating disorders. However, even though there are some overlaps, it’s important to recognize that eating differences in autistic adults aren’t necessarily a gateway to an eating disorder.
In this article, we’ll explain not only the overlap between autism and eating disorders but also clarify the deviations. Plus, we’ll discuss how to identify eating differences, as well as outline autism-informed eating disorder care.
Alexithymia Explained: How It Works, How It Feels, and How to Get Support
Most people have likely had moments when they struggled to put emotions to words, or couldn't quite put their finger on how they were feeling internally, but when is it more than just a moment?
If feeling detached from your emotions is common for you, you could have alexithymia.
Alexithymia is defined as the challenge of naming, recognizing, and expressing emotions, at some point in one's life. Alexithymia may also manifest as difficulty or differences in identifying emotions vs. bodily sensations, such as thirst, instead construing it as anger or irritability.
I am autistic, and I often struggle with difficulty identifying my emotions and bodily states. For example, it is very difficult for me to identify when I’m hungry. If I wait too long to eat or fail to recognize the signs, I can grow frustrated and foggy, and often need the help of a checklist to identify the issue.
Many autistic individuals struggle with alexithymia. But autistic people aren’t the only ones who tangle with emotional difficulty: individuals with depression can struggle with recognizing their emotions, as can people with anxiety. Those with trauma–both physical and emotional–can also exhibit alexithymia. Alexithymia is also common among those with other neurodivergences, like ADHD.
In this article, we will explain what alexithymia is, its common characteristics, and how to develop strategies to both identify and ameliorate the condition.
Who Can Diagnose Autism in Adults? A Clear, Supportive Guide
Like many other people diagnosed with autism as an adult, Christal was first misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression as a child. “Although I feel anxious, it’s more of a neurodivergent overwhelm, and although some symptoms are similar to depression, I often cycle through neurodivergent burnout,” she explains.
As an adult, Christal became a clinical psychologist who focuses on adult autism evaluation, which led her to recognize the signs of adult autism in herself. “I was very cautious about who and where I went for an assessment because, being in the field, I know that it is a specialized training and many adults are incorrectly diagnosed,” she says. She chose a clinical psychologist to conduct her assessment, based on a recommendation from a trusted colleague and was officially diagnosed with autism earlier this year, at age 30.
So, with so many clinicians getting it wrong, who is best qualified to diagnose autism in adults?
According to Kelly Whaling, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and research lead at Prosper Health: Clinical, counseling, school, or clinical neuropsychologists with PhD and PsyD degrees are the best choice for autism diagnosis because psychological assessment is the core of their training.
“They spend years learning case conceptualization, how to use and interpret assessment tools properly, differential diagnosis, integrating multiple data sources, and more unique skills,” Whaling explains. “Even with autism-specific training, you need those foundational assessment skills.”
And that’s just the beginning. To help you choose a clinician that’s right for you, here’s a clear, neurodivergent-affirming guide to which providers are qualified, what qualifications matter, how to vet a clinician, and how to navigate the diagnostic process.
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