Is there a difference between an autistic deep dive on a medical condition vs. a health anxiety deep dive by a neurotypical?
An NT with health anxiety will literally spend hours pouring over any information they can find on the disease they think they might have (ALS, MS, imminent heart attack from PVCs, an organ cancer, a brain tumor, to name just some).
The neurotypical with severe health anxiety will rapidly become an expert in said medical disorder.
In autism, a special interest refers to an intense fascination on a topic that breaches the boundary between passionate and hyperfixated/obsessed.
The Autistic will read up all they can on their special interest of, say, neural tube defects, until there’s nothing left to read. Talking about it, they’ll sound like an expert.
Though the end result is the same – both Autistic and neurotypical will amass great knowledge on the disease – there’s actually a BIG difference between “health anxiety obsession” and “Autistic special interest.”
I’m autistic and have had health anxiety over several conditions, quickly learned a ton about them, but – they weren’t special interests.
However, I’ve had special interests in comas, seizures from head trauma, facial deformities and schizophrenia – even wishing I could experience a coma and schizophrenia, and never worrying I might one day suffer head trauma or a facial disfigurement.
Neurotypical with Health Anxiety Over a Specific Condition
An NT fears they might have laryngeal cancer because they’ve had a mild cough lately and periodically awaken overnight gasping for breath.
They will spend hours online researching laryngeal cancer symptoms, risks, treatments, life expectancy for various stages of disease, the whole nine yards.
They’ll learn that frequent consumption of hot liquids is a small risk factor, sending them into a tailspin because they’ve been frequently drinking hot beverages for years.
They’ll join forums for laryngeal cancer as their fear intensifies, reading thread after thread.
They eventually can practically write a book on this disease.
The difference when compared to an autistic special interest: The NT’s research comes with significant anxiety – which may induce heart palpitations, a racing heart, headaches and a persistent feeling of a fight or flight response.
None of the deep dive is enjoyable. It’s downright dreadful. But the neurotypical can’t stop reading about laryngeal cancer, even visiting the same sites multiple times.
The fear consumes them and has impaired their quality of living. The worry disrupts their sleep and has rocked their concentration while on the job. This is no way to live. It’s just awful.
They’re scared out of their wits to see a doctor other than their GP for an anti-anxiety drug.
This person is 23, has never used tobacco, never drinks (two huge risk factors), and has no family history of laryngeal cancer; their fear is unjustified.
Autistic Special Interest in a Specific Medical Condition
An Autist just happens upon an article about a survivor of laryngeal cancer as they peruse the Internet in their spare time.
The article captivates the Autist, who has never known anyone with this disease.
They want to know more about it. Before long, they’re hyperfixated on this uncommon condition which has a poor prognosis.
For reasons they can’t explain, they want to know as much as possible about this cancer and end up spending hours researching it.
They’re so transfixed that they manage to bring it up in many social settings when the collective topic isn’t even related.
Every day they check in on the laryngeal cancer forum as a lurker, mesmerized by patient experiences.
They’ve now taken to viewing videos on laryngeal cancer surgeries, watching each several times, freezing the films at various points to closely inspect the imagery.
Despite this intense deep dive, this autistic individual has no fear of acquiring this malady, despite having a moderate risk factor: chronic acid reflux.
Deep diving into this disease doesn’t bring dread or fear; it brings enjoyment and fascination.
Summary
The deep dive of health anxiety in an NT, over a particular form of illness, brings terror, dread, poor mental health and often, physical symptoms of anxiety. The sufferer often keeps this terror to themselves.
The deep dive of an autistic special interest in a disease brings enjoyment, intrigue, captivation and excitement, wanting to share the fixation with anyone who’ll listen.
A health anxious neurotypical’s hyperfixation is nothing like an Autist’s special interest. The experience is brutal for the former, while pursuing a special interest is very fulfilling for the Autistic.
When an Autistic Has Health Anxiety
We’ve reached a whole new level here of research. A person on the Spectrum with fear they may have a particular medical condition will conduct a deep dive with exceptional research skills and a remarkable memory, absorbing and retaining details by the minute.
They will learn an impressive amount of information over a very short period of time.
Their Autistry will give them superior analytical skills as well, including a knack for making visual comparisons.
If they’re skilled with Internet searches, they will find EVERYTHING possible on what they’re seeking. No stone will be unturned.
