“I’m autistic again”… What are real autistic people like?

In recent years, young people like to use joking ways to ridicule their negative emotions. "I am autistic" has become a catchphrase for some people.

However, in real life, autistic people do not necessarily make fun of themselves in such a light-hearted way.

Autism is a type of pervasive developmental disorder that mostly occurs in males and begins in infancy.

A mental illness characterized by abnormal social skills, communication skills, and stereotyped interests and behavior patterns.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, the number of children with autism in mainland China is approximately 600,000 to 1.8 million.
Some scholars believe that the actual number may reach 2.6 to 8 million, and about 75% of autistic patients will have obvious mental retardation.

The social disorders of children with autism are mainly manifested as: inability to engage in social interaction; inability to establish partnerships; lack of attachment relationships; and difficulties in emotional and social interaction.

Children with autism are unable to receive information from other people's facial expressions and dare not speak loudly in public. They can be described as "socially phobic".

The onset of autism is usually within three years of age. The time periods before, during or shortly after birth are critical periods of growth and development for young children.

Generally speaking, by the time children are about 5 years old, they have begun to form an internal theoretical system of interconnected concepts about emotions, desires, beliefs, and perceptions.

However, the most significant difference between autistic children and normal children is that autistic children are unable to guess, think from other people's perspectives, or perceive other people's emotional experiences and mood changes.
As a result, they are unable to form a correct attachment with their parents, which leads to autistic children developing behaviors such as social disorders.

Autism is a chronic disease. About 2/3 of children with the disease are unable to live independently as adults and require lifelong care and maintenance, so they have a strong sense of dependence on their parents or guardians.

Abnormal early brain development in children may be a direct cause of autism. Neurotoxic substances, nutrients, chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations may all be causes of autism. Xenobiotics such as metals and pesticides will cause harm to the human body when they enter the body.

Current research shows that the risk factors for autism can be summarized as: genetics, infection and immunity, and physical and chemical stimulation during pregnancy.

Common methods for treating autism include behavioral intervention, special education, drug therapy, biomedical intervention, and psychological intervention.

Currently, there is no specific drug for autism. The drugs currently used are mainly antipsychotic drugs used to treat anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Compared with other therapies, dietary therapy is easier to master, with relatively fewer risks and side effects. A proper diet can help patients relieve pain and improve psychological and gastrointestinal symptoms. People have found that reducing or eliminating foods containing gluten and casein can alleviate autism symptoms.

In psychological and behavioral therapy, there are mainly language training, sensory integration training and sand tray psychotherapy.

Most autistic children have language barriers. Using a sand tray can build a bridge of communication with autistic children and understand their inner thoughts.

Psychologists in our country believe that games are the most easily accepted method for children and the best form of activity to promote the psychological development of young children.

In the eyes of parents of children with autism, in addition to hoping for guaranteed school places, compulsory education, and professional teaching staff, they also look forward to a more inclusive and free social environment.

Compared with the communication disorders and abnormal behavior symptoms of autism, social interaction is exactly what autistic children lack the most and is the most important. It is also the first step for them to enter school life and alleviate their condition.

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