Social and economic integration are not experienced equally by all. For autistic people in particular, there are barriers that actively inhibit our ability to prosper at what aligns with our mental health. If an autistic person persistently feels that they are running out of time with regards to their socioeconomic development, there is evidence that suggests a connection that is associated with chronophobia.
This theory will explain how phobia symptoms may present themselves so that they can be identified, evaluated, and proactively addressed.
Autistic Chronophobia Theory (ACT) states that an autistic person, particularly if not self-aware of their autism, will experience escalating symptoms of chronophobia if a prolonged lack of socioeconomic integration occurs. Without a sufficient resolution, the autistic person’s mental health will suffer an increasing amount of strain, depending on their life circumstances. Their stress tolerance also depends on having stable housing, food, and quality social interaction.
Introduction
Chronophobia is the persistent fear of time or the passage of time. Typically, symptoms of a diagnosable phobia are treated clinically through what is referred to as exposure therapy. However, symptoms of chronophobia have occurred in my life for reasons I found untreatable through modern mental healthcare. In fact, generalized counseling has only provided minimal comfort. Not practical support, such as with employment. The stress from masking the impact of chronophobia on my mental health became so great that I was forced to find out why.
When I started scrutinizing my past history of traumatic anxiety attacks and suicide, I found a connection to Dr. Damian Milton’s double empathy problem theory. Prejudicial neglect of my socioeconomic integration needs over time has been the source of my chronophobia. This was in September 2023, just before I turned 42. Now I am better able to comprehend the clues of chronophobia that led to my discovery and can help others identify it in their lives.
Chronophobia in the context of autistic demographics
In my time advocating for autism, I have observed that autistic people come from a wide range of demographics. Thus, it is important for me to recognize this and tailor my theory to them because their demographics present a challenge. Not all will have the same experiences with chronophobia, but all are crucial to identify. It is also important to ensure that those of marginalized demographics are not only recognized but prioritized by any health professionals, administrators, or corporate executives who may contend with my findings.
I am lucky to still be here. My parents had a stable and healthy marriage, as well as the fortunate ability to provide food and shelter while I still lived with them. Many others are not so fortunate. I recognize my privilege in terms of the opportunities, supports, and benefits I have had in my life and must be wise to the circumstances of others. Additionally, not everyone who is actually autistic knows that they are, can afford an evaluation, or has the fortune to find an evaluator who takes autism seriously. As a voice for their needs, their priority is my priority.
Speaking from experience — not knowing I was autistic and not having supports that met my needs — I have coped with trauma caused by a late autism diagnosis. Therefore, I must also encourage caution among autistic people before proceeding. While I have, so far, weathered the stresses of coping with my trauma, this theory may require reflection on stressful experiences of your own. Please proceed with care and rely on a counselor or trauma specialist should you uncover repressed trauma that is too stressful and difficult to handle.
The best steps toward chronophobia awareness
While keeping the variations of experiences in mind, the easiest way to identify stress from chronophobia is to look at when the passage of time is commonly celebrated. The most stressful time for me has always been New Years’ Eve. Since 2002, the year before my suicide attempt, every New Year’s has been increasingly stressful. The second most stressful day has often been my birthday, in October, which also happens to be rather close to New Years’.
Although they do not specifically symbolize time passage, in the last several years, both Thanksgiving and Christmas have triggered chronophobia. This is because they represent times when social gatherings are encouraged and celebrated. These involve reminders of social status, which can be challenging for autistic people to attain. Outside of these four dates, certain months of the year have triggered chronophobia as well. For me, two coincide with spring and fall: April and September. Seeing them as a current date on a calendar can make me cringe.
The next step is recognizing what you may be feeling that aligns with this theory. Most of my experience comes from before I even knew what autism was in 2019. I can recall feeling insecure and increasingly depressed as time progressed. I knew there was a widening social and economic gap because I saw my high school classmates and cousins get married, have kids, or excel at careers. This made me anxious that I was running out of time to recover this widening gap of lost progress. The more that I drifted apart from society, the easier it was for me to see it.
Now, reminders of not having attained enough social and economic progress in my life are impossible to avoid. Both friend and family pictures, wedding engagement announcements, and wedding pictures — anything pertaining to childbirth and raising kids that were born after me. While most are centered on social media, the prospect of family visits and going out in public triggers chronophobia too. Anywhere I go invokes reminders of the passage of time because of who and what I see. It truly is a chilling personification of being on the outside, looking in.
At age 42, I still live with my parents. Each day is spent living in the same house for so many years. Waking up and going to bed and seeing the same bedroom walls are themselves strong symbols of the passage of time. The fact that every day is a constant reminder of my lack of integration makes daily life incredibly difficult. Like a vice slowly tightening its grip on my mind. It is important to recognize that this may happen in different living situations than mine. And there is one central reason for this fear of not integrating over time with regards to autism.
Socioeconomic integration and the double empathy problem
The reason that these are triggers of chronophobia in my life is due to having not attained sufficient integration into society, both socially and economically. This lack of integration is largely a result of the double empathy problem. Dr. Damian Milton correctly recognized that non-autistic people have difficulty working out what autistic people are thinking and feeling. Communication difficulties are a shared problem and not solely due to the autistic person. Dr. Milton’s theory helps explain why we face prejudice for our communication differences.
Because of this, our legitimate social and economic support needs have been neglected. As a result, our mental health is affected by the stress. Those who are not yet self-aware are particularly vulnerable. Until you know or suspect that you are autistic and then fully understand it without masking or prejudice, you will lack the vital awareness needed to adapt to your true mental health needs. For example, the stress could peak while deciding on a career in college or build up over time and peak when being close to finalizing a time-sensitive retirement plan.
Consider social media and depression. You might think having seen a high school friend of your age post Facebook memories of their kids growing up would not have anything to do with autism or chronophobia. The underlying cause of your lack of integration is the double empathy problem. Seeing someone else be fortunate enough to experience what you lack causes depression. The longer you go without that fulfillment in life, the more you fear time is running out for you to attain it. The lower the stress tolerance is, the worse the reaction can be to it.
The most serious adverse reactions I have observed include an increase in suicide susceptibility and/or the accumulation of enough trauma to trigger post-traumatic stress disorder. If either or both of these were to occur, suicide stress itself represents an end-of-life risk that only takes one time to be critical. If an autistic person is found to be a suicide attempt survivor with chronophobia symptoms or finds themselves in crisis-level stress, the need for intervention is vital to their survival. I know. I am a survivor still facing these issues here and now.
Conclusion
Across the life span, autistic people are susceptible to chronophobia if they have not attained enough socioeconomic integration according to their mental health needs. Dr. Damian Milton’s double empathy problem theory provides the reasons why this lack of integration is still occurring. Understanding this has allowed me to add valuable context so that theories such as the double empathy problem, monotropism, and autistic masking can be taken more seriously. This includes any health or mental healthcare providers, employment agencies, and employers.
Many of us depend on supports being created in healthcare and accommodations with employment because our mental health has been struggling without them. Any marginalized demographics or at-risk groups, such as late-diagnosed adults, are at particular risk. Yet, major governing bodies and agencies, such as the CDC, still do not count adults, even though diagnoses have been done by professionals. The reason why is clear: prejudicial neglect. Where before there was repressed trauma, there is now a clearer picture of what our lives are actually like.
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