The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers Why are so many autistic people depressed and suicidal?
May 11, 2026
A frank look at why autistic people face much higher rates of depression, burnout, and suicidal thinking. Covers sensory overload, masking and the extra cognitive costs of navigating unpredictable social rules. Explores alexithymia and interoception differences that make emotion and self-care harder. Argues that an often-hostile environment, not a person’s worth, drives much of the harm.
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Modern Environment Is Sensory Hostile
- Many parts of modern life are inherently hostile to autistic sensory processing and cause chronic overstimulation.
- Dr. Scott Eilers points to louder stores, screens, and constant visual/auditory inputs as examples that feel like torture to many autistic people.
Social Rules Are Inconsistent And Implicit
- Social rules are inconsistent and often implicit, making them especially confusing for autistic people who can't intuit shifting expectations.
- Eilers compares this to unpredictable English spelling and to conflicting norms across social contexts.
Alexithymia Makes Unspoken Emotion Costly
- Many autistic people have alexithymia, making it harder to read others' emotions and rely on unspoken cues that society assumes.
- Eilers notes society often doesn't name feelings, expecting body language and tone to communicate them instead.
