When people talk about autism being linked to autoimmune conditions, one fact is often left out:

Social/cultural circumstances and stress can significantly increase the risk of developing an autoimmune disease.

Autistic people are often chronically stressed. That matters.

Countless studies have proven that psychological stress increases the activity of the immune system, and can lead to a chronic state of inflammation.

People say autism is an “autoimmune disease.”

But no-one talks about how society is making us sick, because we’re autistic.

To be clear, autism is a genetic, neurodevelopmental condition, not an autoimmune disease.

But many of us have hyperactive immune systems. And instead of asking *why*, too often scientists simply blame the antibodies for making us autistic.

But that’s a big logical leap.

Studies have found that bullying and social stress makes pre-existing autoimmune conditions much worse.

Studies have also found that PTSD and other stress-related mental illnesses are significantly correlated with the development of autoimmune diseases.

So why does all of this go out the window when talking about autistic people?

We’re 3x more likely to be victims of bullying. We’re 3x more likely to be sexually abused. We’re 3x more likely to develop anxiety disorders.

Obviously that’s going to affect our physical health.

The same goes for studies that look at autoimmune conditions in the mothers of autistic kids.

How many of them are undiagnosed autistics? How many of them are otherwise neurodivergent? And how many are chronically stressed as a result?

We have to start looking at society.

People need to stop being so myopic in their view of autistic people. Human bodies and minds don’t exist in a vacuum.

We all exist in a larger social context, which significantly impacts our mental & physical health.

Researchers can’t ignore that any longer.