As persons with ASD get older mental illness becomes a significant issue .Indeed mental illness is more common for people with autism than the general population .
Mental illness tends to present itself in people with ASD as difficulties such as Anxiety,Obsessive Compulsive Disorders ( OCD ) and depression .
Nearly 50% of people on the spectrum have symptoms of at least one anxiety disorder at any given time compared with up to 15% in the general population .
Many people on the autism spectrum have huge difficulties in describing they symptoms they experience
On the other hand OCD is an anxiety disorder where by a person suffering from OCD experience repetitive thoughts and behaviours that are upsetting to them .OCD is distressing ,exhausting and can get in the way of everyday life for the person who has it and their families .However it can be treated through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and medication .
Nearly 20% of the population will experience a period of depression at some time in their lives however depression is much more common in people with autism and it can be especially hard for depressed people on the autistic spectrum to seek help as they worry that they will be blamed or feel unsure about how to describe their symptoms .
Because people with autism have difficulty sharing their feelings and thoughts it can be very hard to communicate their concerns .It is vital that people on the spectrum tell someone they trust, a family member or friend and get help from a professional .