#Not to mention PTSD is a mental illness while Autism is a developmental disability

[askaceattorney]

Dear Firegloom,

I actually do have a diagnosis and no I do not have Autism. I have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), so it’s understandable why you’d mistaken the two. However, there is a difference. By the by I am taking some knowledge from the Chief Mod answering this who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and has done research on it and PTSD.

With PTSD, it is a mental illness caused by a traumatic experience. In my case, it was DL-6. Me getting into law books and not making many friends at a young age had nothing to do with any disability whatsoever. That’s because I’m an introvert by nature, meaning I’ve always been one to keep to myself and get tired from too much socializing. There are many people like that without the other symptoms you’ve described.

My trouble with socializing is mostly due to my purposefully distancing myself from family and friends due to my anxiety. Those with Autism have anxieties too, but those with PTSD get them from being overly alert. It’s often triggered by their past traumatic experience. It puts them at a fight or flight scenario in situations where most would never have it. I often overthink what people are thinking, how they look at me and assuming they must hate me. It happens more often than you think. I often panic over Detective Gumshoe being five minutes late for work and will assume the worst, even if it’s unlikely to happen.

Reading other people’s emotions like a math equation is mostly to keep my sanity than anything else. After DL-6, I considered building relationships almost the same as a life or death situation. If I was to love and care for someone, I could  lose them like I lost Father. It was why I avoided ever spending time with Wright and Larry after DL-6 and often secluded myself from the current loved ones. You could say I kept my heart guarded at all times in lock and chains. 

From what the Chief Mod has told me, their experience with Autism has similar symptoms to mine, but for far different reasons. From what they’ve told me, it’s a Developmental Disability that has no connection to past trauma, but having trouble with developing skills that most people would learn faster or naturally such as speech, reading the atmosphere, multitasking and the like. I wouldn’t say I talk formally for that reason. In fact, I’ve never had issues with developing or learning a new skill and I can multitask quite well. 

I’d do more research on the matter, but I hope this answers your question.

- Miles Edgeworth