I’m not coming for your Autism- if you truly have it..
As a society, we have made significant strides in raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. However, a recent incident I encountered, highlights a concerning trend of cyberbullying and its detrimental impact on mental health professionals. It is crucial that we address this issue and foster a safe environment for constructive dialogue and understanding.
I, myself a psychologist, who regularly performs psychological testing, dedicated my business social media platforms to educating the young public, who are seemingly now more influenced by “credentialless-cupiepie248” (my apologies if this is an actual username), then actual science or research. However, within a few hours of posting a video about diagnostic criteria and rule outs of Autism- found myself on the wrong end of the Autism debate within a matter of hours when one of my videos became viral in all the wrong ways.
This content immediately became a target for cyberbullying, with hurtful labels being thrown around such as “Dr. Barbie,” “white and privileged,” “ableist,” and “misogynist.” Thousands of hateful messages flooded my personal voicemail, business page on social platforms, and hateful emails, spreading a toxic wave of animosity.
It is disheartening to witness a movement that claims to champion marginalized individuals turning into a pitchfork- mob mentality, ready to attack anyone who does not align with their views. Racism and hate have no place in our society, regardless of the color of one’s skin. A psychologist who is simply sharing her expertise (which may itself be a divergence from popular opinion- but not the current science), should not be subjected to baseless accusations, threats against one’s livelihood and personal attacks.
What’s ironic is that those who claim to be marginalized and silenced are now wielding their own form of cyberbullying, silencing any other person who has a difference of opinion. So much so, I had to deactivate all public accounts to wait out the 72 hour news cycle.
It is vital to recognize that individuals with genuine Autism often struggle to advocate for themselves. However, this very vocal online community, spewing hostility and vitriol, running under the banner of being “woke folk,” seem to have no issue quickly and effectively advocating for their interests, leveraging and building their “personal brand,” by the thousands, engaging in sophisticated and manipulative arguments, and perpetuating the very toxic pack mentality they claim to have been victim of in years past.
In one egregious case, a former client, influenced by their self-study on TikTok, filed a complaint with the licensing board against me, because she did not agree that she did not meet full criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Though the complaint was ultimately dismissed, it raises concerns about the potential harm caused by individuals with personality disorders weaponizing their collective ignorance at psychologist’s financial jugulars.
We must reflect on the implications of this behavior in other domains. Imagine a heart surgeon explaining to a patient that no surgery is needed based on thorough examination and diagnostic processes. If the patient, without medical knowledge or training, insists on self-operating due to an unsubstantiated belief, the consequences could be dire. Similarly, mental health professionals require the autonomy to make informed decisions based on their expertise and established diagnostic guidelines.
There are tik tok videos stating that things such as disliking velvet, hating big spoons, or bumping into walls could be signs you have autism. One video is captioned “We all have that one friend that is low-key autistic.”
When I am diagnosing someone with Autism, it’s a very long process. However, the so-called “marginalized,” want so many variables to now be included there will be no margins. So ultimately, one day in the very near future, you might just hear “your child is low-key autistic,” from a provider.
The introduction of terms like “masking” and “spectrum,” have allowed individuals who do not meet full criteria for Autism to still claim the diagnosis. When professionals attempt to set boundaries or engage in constructive dialogue, they are accused of being “ableist,” “racist,” or “neuro-unaffirming.”
The person with genuine Autism shows global and pervasive difficulties in social interaction. The concept of “masking,” is tantamount to saying “I have Bipolar Disorder, but I only have a manic spell when I’m at home, because I mask.” Terms like “spectrum,” and “masking,” can soon become a caveat for any self-diagnosed person, not meeting full criteria for any diagnosis.
Critics argue that I am “gatekeeping” Autism, but establishing boundaries based on standardized criteria is essential for accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. Otherwise, pollution by dilution occurs- making it difficult to get the right treatment to the right people. Just like healthcare professionals gate kept the early vaccines for only the most vulnerable- we too, as diagnosticians must have a professional spine that does not bend each time someone pulls the racism card.
Oftentimes, people self-diagnosing with Autism will display signs more aligned with various aspects of personality disorders. It is crucial to differentiate between the two to ensure individuals receive the appropriate support and interventions. One of the hallmark features of Borderline Personality Disorder is “identity diffusion,” which today can be quickly renamed “masking.”
People with Borderline Personality Disorder also have significant difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. In therapy, they must learn how to take ownership of their role as common denominator of the “drama,” they so often perceive as just following them around. However, being diagnosed with Autism often gives one a psychological “hall pass” to say “well, not my fault.”
A facet of Antisocial personality disorder is rationalizing social transgressions as retribution for past perceived injustices, which is often the battle cry among those that flood my comments.
Genuine Autism is characterized by pervasive difficulties in social interaction, extending beyond mere moments of “masking.” Self-diagnosed individuals who do not meet the full diagnostic criteria often display symptoms more aligned with personality disorders. By embracing misinformed self-diagnoses, we risk hindering the progress of mental health research and treatment.
Most importantly- the question that must be asked here is why all the fear? If you truly have Autism- why is there such hostility and caustic comments being thrown around when one simply states the current diagnostic criteria? If one wants an Autism diagnosis bad enough, there is a doctor willing to give it away (just do a simple cursory search on reddit forums to find your local Oprah and cars in her season finale “you get a diagnosis! You get a diagnosis!”).
How did we get here? It was the perfect storm. We had a pandemic that caused a seismic shift in our ability to inhabit a planet our brains weren’t yet built to live in. We all experienced a bit of social anxiety, that meta cognition that steps in and says “weirdo why are you saying that? No wonder no one asks you out, you have no social skills, etc. etc.” Then combine this with zoom school, generation funemployed, the fact a large percentage of us figured out how to live life in complete isolation (slack, zoom, uber eats, streaming movies, social media platforms so you don’t even need to pick up the phone to see what Susie down the street did last weekend), and throw in a few contamination fears- and now everyone has Autism.
The argument that the notorious lack of access to mental health care is what has caused the sudden rise in people seeking an Autism diagnosis would hold true for all mental health issues; depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder- but it is Autism alone, this nebulous, ever changing, “spectrum,” disorder that is the one most coveted. It is the new ADHD of ten years ago and making a psychologist’s job a living nightmare.
To foster a supportive and inclusive mental health community, we must address cyberbullying and promote open, respectful dialogue from all sides of scientific thought. Disagreements should be approached with empathy and understanding, rather than resorting to personal attacks, mocking stitches, and duets. Let us foster an environment where professionals can share their expertise without fear, ensuring that those in need receive accurate diagnoses and appropriate care.
By denouncing cyberbullying and embracing compassion and knowledge, we can create a mental health community that benefits all individuals, both personally and professionally.