Aspies For Freedom

Curious here…
Does anyone here see a link/association between depression and regression?

I know nothing about regression. I’ve heard it mentioned in the same sentence regarding autistic individuals who withdraw and become not able to communicate.

I know depression… A couple of major ones for me, which left me nearly catatonic (Unable to communicate). Depression is present in our family heredity, which left one family member in a state of catatonia until ECT treatments were administered (I’m never going there… I here it erases memory).

It definitely makes sense to me that depression could cause regression, regardless of whether the person is autistic or NT.

It also saves lives, I spoken to three people who have had it. One said it was the only thing that works and another said if it wasn't for ECT she would dead.
I suppose it is a matter of weighing up the risks and the benefits.
My thought is that people with depression would tend to withdraw from the world, physically and mentally.

I am going through depression/regression as we speak.  My social skills have regressed as a result of withdrawing from people, I am a lot "slower" in conversations and can't keep much dialogue in my short term memory (I quickly lose the point of what is being said), yes I think these are linked... I have had the the same cycle of depression/regression happen before, gotten through it, and now here it is again.

I should state it is not a severe depression, more like a social anxiety/social withdrawal kind of thing, but it does have some elements of depression--I suppose.  Not the kind of thing that would need ECT thankfully, not whatsoever.

I have found that when I am depressed I become tired, less social, unable to think as quickly (and therefore slower in social situations), unable to draw up my memories as well, and unable to remember new information.  Whereas, when I'm severely stressed out, my tollerance for sensation goes to hell in a handbasket, so that the slightest touch causes me to jerk away, sounds that normally wouldn't bother me are painfull,  etc.  Also when I'm stressed or anxious, my memory worsens drastically, I react even more badly to changes in my schedule, I stim more and make less eye contact, and my executive dysfunction gets significantly worse (for example, I normally manage to shower once or more a week, but when really stressed, only once every two weeks or less, sometimes only once a month).  I wouldn't call it "regression" per se, although I'm sure from an NT perspective it looks exactly like regression, which is probably how we got that term in the first place.  You see, if you get rid of the stressors, I go right back to my normal state.  To me, it's just "how I react to stress".  And yeah, I think that stress and anxiety cause it a lot worse than depression.

I think that Batman and Luai_lashire put it very well - regression is what depression looks like to someone else.

'Acting NT' is ridiculously hard work, and when I'm depressed (it runs in the family ) I do not have the resources to spare to put on the act.

Luai_lashire, what's up with you not responding to any of my PMs?  I don't think I am stalking you, I have sent you only 3 PMs in the last month or so, and you haven't replied to any.

Are you too busy to bother with the PM system, or is there some other reason?

please let me know,
Batman

True for our extended family member too... who was sitting in a mental hospital, drooling, unable to speak, eat. After ECT, is now very 'normal' , back to the spunky soul we knew. (I really didn't want to use the word normal... What's normal?).

Yes, a very good summasion...

And this is a very good description of what it is like for me sometimes. I don’t have a choice to ‘recede’ though, as there are others dependent on me for support. And I think I have an easier time ‘fitting in’ than some, taxing as it can be.

Do those with AS have a higher prevalence for episodes of Depression?

Batman, please do not bring up personal stuff like PMs in the main forums, I will send you a PM explaining as best I can.
Sorry for upsetting you.

Eh, my fault.

I think so.