(Update July 2024 - I had taken this post down for a bit but decided to revive it.)
(Disclaimer: I try to avoid words that trigger internet algorithms that may censor my blog. I also want to be clear that anything I write is about what used to be known as Asperger's Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism or similar kinds of autism, and not the kind of truly life-altering disabilities that some families deal with everyday. Unfortunately the industry is now using the same word for all of it.)
This blog entry is going to be on reasons why I think there are more autism diagnoses today, specifically reasons that are not "jabs." (Even though I agree these are dangerous, I just don't view people with autism as some sort of mistake made by the pharmaceutical industry. Jab injury may be misdiagnosed as autism, surely, and ALL toxins make the condition worse.)
Reason No. 1
Parents are addicted to their iPhone/computers/tablets and not talking to their children, leaving their children to their own electronic devices, thus, rewiring their brains, decreasing the social skills usually obtained from natural family interaction, and making it harder for them to learn to connect with others. (These kids would be misdiagnosed with autism, when it's really neglect. And of course, too much tech use at a young age will exacerbate existing autism.)
Reason No 2.
Bright lights did not exists in the 1800s, so who could have complained about them. Thomas Edison, commonly attributed with the invention of the light bulb died in 193l. Other things that did not exist: colored flashing lights, speakers, loud dance clubs, and a lot of other newer inventions that produce loud sounds and bright lights etc.
Reason No. 3.
It was rare for people to even have cars prior to the 1930s. It has been less than 100 years that people have been required to operate large metal machines to take them from place to place. I don't know the exact date, but probably women didn't even drive frequently, and probably not even very far, until the 1950s or 1960s. The automobile, then airplane, then the internet, led to a more, complicated, inter-connected globalized world where it became harder to lead a simple life, which is more suitable to people with autism. Prior to these times, someone with mild autism could simply go to school, watch 1950s etiquette videos, get a job, keep living with their parents or get married, keep the job for most of their life, go to the church down the street for most of their life, and that would be it. It was simply easier for people with mild autism to not know they had it, or if they just felt a bit different, fall into a life that accommodated it.
Reason No. 4.
It seemed common in the past for women to have lived at home until marriage. In simpler times, a women with mild autism might have had adequate support her entire life between extended family, neighbors, church and then going from that right into getting married. Having a healthy, stable family and living at home until marriage is now far more rare which leads to Reason No. 5.
Reason No. 5.
I believe the general loss of Christianity has contributed to the increase in autism diagnoses. The loss of Christianity has contributed to the destruction of the nuclear family, which going on three or so generations since the Sexual Revolution, has led to more dysfunction being passed on from family to family and fewer Biblical values. (The autism is not the dysfunction but undiagnosed autism can lead to poor coping skills being exhibited, and exhibited more frequently now in the home because of a more modern, stressful world, and especially more if people are not connected to Christian values.)
Reason No. 6.
Less people are taking the Sacraments in general because of the loss of Christianity. The Holy Sacraments give everyone a boon in fighting all sin and fallenness in whatever form in comes. Not that the condition will go away, but the Sacraments from the Orthodox Church work together to heal all infirmities and, with the vast majority of people in the West, not partaking in these things, not learning how to fight sin and fallenness and not wanting to, the dysfunction that can comes from undiagnosed autism not being addressed, without with help of God's Word, especially if it has existed in a family for multiple generations, people are going to be hurting for a diagnosis. Again, part of autism is a challenge like dyslexia. It is important to know that you have a brain that has to work a bit harder and be a bit more intentional when conversing, or reacting. You have to be mindful and take an extra step before you speak. There is no free pass on this if God gave you a brain that can understand the deficit. It's not easy all the time though. This is not called "masking," this is called love and asceticism. (Do we tell people with dyslexia to "stop trying to read because you have dyslexia"?) This new concept online that people with autism need "to unmask," in other words "give in to their passions" (in the Orthodox sense) is a result of atheism, not of progress. (Of course, I am referring to people that have the ability to control these things...)
Reason No. 7
Widespread computer technology did not exist until the 1990s. This career field allowed men with undiagnosed Aspergers/autism to become financially stable, and thus, settle down and become family men. I actually read a book about this phenomenon. Since autism is thought to be genetic, more men with autism were having children who probably went to work in the tech industry (or as engineers, etc.), and then these children went on to have children, thus leading to an increased need for autism supports to exist. Especially, because it seems, that men with Aspergers/autism sometimes marry women with it, and then their children have it sometimes more profoundly. (The rate of autism in Silicon Valley is something you can actually study...)
Reason No. 8.
Early in the 20th century, children that had more severe autism were diagnosed as being schizophrenics and set off to institutions, so you just never heard about it.
Reason No. 9.
Women were not diagnosed with autism at all until pretty recently. It was thought to only be a male condition, or for a women to qualify as having the condition, she had to have the same symptoms as a male. What this means is that there could be 1 or 2 million* women living in America right now that could benefit from an autism diagnosis, and that you probably know one with undiagnosed autism. That is a lot of people that could benefit! Because there are so many people that could benefit, and information is spreading, it sometimes seems like it has become a bit "trendy" in some circles. I don't blame young women in their 20s for wanting a reason to explain why they don't fit in this world, even if they don't have the condition actually. We live in a really messed up place. It is so sad what is happening in the world today. The constant depravity, vanity, selfies, iPhone, demonic music, etc and other things that is the environment of many young women is going to lead many of them to think they might have this condition. I have no idea on that, but I don't blame them. Everyone on the spectrum, or not on the spectrum, needs Christ, ultimately. All that to say, there are some women that may be faking it, some women that are honestly confused, and a lot of women that really do have the condition, so either way, be supportive. (*This number is just a quick guess based on current diagnostic rates and the number of women alive.)
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