The ethical problem of distress

In an era that understands the body/brain/nervous system complexity more than ever before (through a colonised lens of course), and which has largely rejected the concept of behavioural based observations as assessment, it becomes sneakily obvious that experiences of distress have become tantamount to diagnostic criteria.

Regardless of neurotype, when we experience distress we are more likely to pathologise ourselves because we are more likely to mirror current diagnostic criteria.

Lets take current autistic understandings/diagnostics/characteristics for example -

(WARNING, expect the usual outdated and offensive language and conceptualising of human diversity below….)

• Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity

• Reduced sharing of interests, emotions or affect

• Failure to initiate or respond to social interactions

• Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction

• Poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication

• Abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures

• Total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.

• Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships

• Difficulties adjusting behaviours to suit various social contexts

• Difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends

• Absence of interest in peers

• Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects or speech

• Insistence on sameness

• Inflexible adherence to routines

• Ritualised patterns or verbal nonverbal behaviour

• Difficulties with transitions

• Rigid thinking patterns

• Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus

• Hyper or hypoactivity to sensory input

• Unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment

AND NOW LETS RE READ THE LIST AND DISCUSS ANY THAT CAN’T BE DESCRIBED BY DISTRESS!!!…

This isn’t to say that people living with this level of distress aren’t autistic, or that autism is over-diagnosed, that everyone should just go and address their stress levels and calm the fuck down.

But what about all of the autistic characteristics not mentioned here that are consistent with actualised, empowered, autistic experiences, accommodated needs and meaningful and connected support networks???