Autism and Related Conditions Resources: Connections, Challenges, and Care

Autism often exists alongside other conditions, known as co-occurring conditions, which can affect physical health, mental well-being, and daily functioning. Understanding the relationship between autism and these conditions is essential for providing comprehensive care and support. This resource page delves into the most common co-occurring conditions, such as social anxiety, ADHD, OCD, and more. Here, you’ll find insights into how these conditions interact with autism, strategies for management, and resources to help individuals and families navigate these complex challenges with confidence and compassion.

Neurodivergent brain illustration

Recent Articles

Autistic woman with PMDD experiencing stomach pain

PMDD and Autism: Understanding Their Intersection and Getting Support

Written by
Helena Keown
Mar 26, 2025

No one loves getting their period––but for people with PMDD, periods can be debilitating. PMDD affects up to 10% of people who menstruate, and for autistic individuals, that rate is even higher. PMDD presents unique challenges for autistic people, but there are several options for treatment and support that can help them reduce and cope with PMDD symptoms.

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Illustration of woman dealing with flashbacks of trauma

CPTSD vs Autism: Similarities, Differences, and How to Get Support

Written by
Helena Keown
Mar 4, 2025

Complex PTSD, or CPTSD, is a mental health condition people can develop after prolonged exposure to trauma. CPTSD is fairly common among autistic individuals, and shares a number of features with autism, like sensory sensitivity and emotional dysregulation. However, they are distinct diagnoses, differing in key areas like how and when they emerge during a person’s life and goals for treatment.

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Illustration of young man suffering from psychosis

Autism and Psychosis: Overlap, Differences and Co-occurrence

Written by
Helena Keown
Feb 16, 2025

When most people think of psychosis, they think of schizophrenia—not autism. However, psychosis can be associated with several different diagnoses. Although psychosis is not a symptom of autism, it’s more common for autistic individuals to experience psychosis at some point during their lives than it is for neurotypicals.

Psychosis often involves hallucinations and delusions, where an individual perceives things that are not there or believes things that are untrue, respectively.  These experiences can feel very real and quite frightening. However, many forms of support can help people thrive while reducing, managing or eliminating symptoms of psychosis.

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