^ A really good read! Very relatable for me, too, surprisingly! I'd like to share a few key points from the article in case one doesn't have the energy or means to read it in its entirety. OP, please let me know if you would rather have me do this in a post in itself instead of in a reblog, as I know seeing such a big wall of information in your reblogs might be a bit overwhelming! :)
Above is a Venn diagram of the overlap between OCPD and autism. As one can see, the main overlap is the need for structure and the resistance to change.
The main differences are the core nature of said need for structure and resistance to change. In OCPD, it is tied to a pwOCPD's brain protecting the pwOCPD "against vulnerability" and does so "with perfectionism, control, and fear of losing control," as the Venn diagram states. Autism, as opposed to that, is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and thus affects the person in a different way; the need for structure is a result of "a distinct neurology, with a distinct way of processing and perceiving the world," and provides comfort rather than protection from vulnerability, as seen in folks with OCPD.
A key difference I personally found quite interesting, though, is the way autistic people experience deep focus on a particular topic, while pwOCPD often find it very difficult not to be productive, and that relaxing is oftentimes very hard. For an autistic person, hyperfocus on one's special interest(s) and/or hyperfixation(s) may be a way of calming oneself down after, for example, an overwhelming day, but for a pwOCPD, being productive is most likely fuelled by anxiety about not doing enough.
So perhaps (and bear with me here, as this is simply food for thought that popped into my mind) an autistic person who also has OCPD may experience anxiety-driven hyperfocus on a special interest and/or hyperfixation, understood in the way that they believe they have to know everything about the topic/thing they are interested in to truly be able to call it their hyperfixation/special interest? <- If someone knows anything about this, please share what you know; I would love to hear about it!
I also found this very interesting:
A major factor in the development of PDs is trauma. So, the fear of imperfection and need for control that OCPD behaviours are driven by most likely ties back to trauma that the pwOCPD has experienced, which is different from autism, as autistic behaviours (as stated above and in the article) are driven by a unique cognitive style.
The article goes on to detail the differences between OCPD and autism behaviours, and one can summarise it simply: a pwOCPD's need for everything to be structured, obsession with things being right or wrong, obsession with rules, etc., all come from not wanting to make the wrong choice. A pwOCPD may fear the consequences of making the wrong choice and may not like giving up control, either. Due to this, maintaining control through rules and obsessions is very important to them. The picture below explains it simply and compares it to the rule-following in autism:
Like I've mentioned a bit further up, the routine and structure in autism can bring an autistic person comfort, but for those with OCPD, it is driven by anxiety. This anxiety most likely stems from trauma, perhaps trauma pertaining to losing control, and therefore impacts a pwOCPD's need for control after the traumatic event(s).
The following 2 images explain the difference well!
All very interesting stuff! To finish, I would like to share another thing I found quite fascinating:
It is, to me, very interesting to note that particular difference between autistic people and pwOCPD. It seems that pwOCPD are, in general, quite anxious, and their morals, values, and similar things are all rooted in an anxiety about making the wrong choice and feeling the need to be in control. Yes, autistic people may also have a need for control, but it is usually not tied to the anxiety that a pwOCPD's need for control is! Autistic people can be very insistent, and, as the quote says, "we are our values and passions," as our interests, passions, values, etc., oftentimes become part of us rather than simply something we are interested in. That is probably the key difference between autistic people and pwOCPD!
These were just points that stood out to me, and I have mainly just repeated and slightly simplified what the article states, but if anyone has any additions, feel free to add them!
