<p>It is agreed that Autism Spectrum disorders / Aspergers etc cannot be 'cured'; they can be managed with coping strategies, and suppressed with medicines, but not solved at the root level.<br>
<em>[Source: <a href="https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asd.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be cured"]
</a></em></p>

<p>There are amazing positive changes available to people through Neuro Linguistic Programming or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (and many others)...<br>
<em>[Source: <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the NHS</a>, plus do I really have to supply proof that talking - without drugs - can help some people make behavioural changes?!]</em><br>
...but I worry that certain autistic traits are so embedded in the brain that large changes would not be accessible to those on the spectrum.  </p>

<p>So how do those with autism know <strong>how hard to push themselves</strong> to improve skills that the rest of the population find easier? E.G. Someone might find that endless hours of effort can help them overcome a pedantic obsession of control/detail... but any time spent trying to halt their adherence to routine is a wasted effort.</p>

<p>Is there a way to tell which traits are worth battling, and which are unsolvable?</p>

<p>And what about people on the borderline (self-diagnosed, or appearing very autistic in some areas but not in others). Are their unwanted traits more easily solvable just because they do not have the full set of symptoms?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-05T21:40:23.070Z
Your post contains many questions, and your title does not fit the questions in the body. Please see the help, especially the "don't ask" section that discusses common pitfalls: https://psychology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-06T09:31:54.750Z
I agree with @BryanKrause.  To be a little more specific, you asked about those who are autistic and those who are borderline autistic.  The 2 parts would be better served in separate questions.  Apart from that, it is a good question.
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-21T13:56:58.990Z
I think this question has some merit, but it would probably be better to just formulate it as: which autistic traits are more amenable to treatment.
got trolled too much this week
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T23:53:49.790Z
This question has already received 4 close votes, so I am closing it now.  It still contains a number of issues as noted, such as multiple questions being asked, questions in body not matching title, source not supporting claim made, and having a self-help element.
Arnon Weinberg
<autism><neuro-linguistic-prog><cbt>
Can a borderline-autistic adult force themselves to improve?
Magnus Smith
# Can a borderline-autistic adult force themselves to improve?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-05)

It is agreed that Autism Spectrum disorders / Aspergers etc cannot be 'cured'; they can be managed with coping strategies, and suppressed with medicines, but not solved at the root level.  
*[Source: ["autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be cured"]](https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asd.aspx)*

There are amazing positive changes available to people through Neuro Linguistic Programming or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (and many others)...  
*[Source: [the NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/), plus do I really have to supply proof that talking - without drugs - can help some people make behavioural changes?!]*  
...but I worry that certain autistic traits are so embedded in the brain that large changes would not be accessible to those on the spectrum.

So how do those with autism know **how hard to push themselves** to improve skills that the rest of the population find easier? E.G. Someone might find that endless hours of effort can help them overcome a pedantic obsession of control/detail... but any time spent trying to halt their adherence to routine is a wasted effort.

Is there a way to tell which traits are worth battling, and which are unsolvable?

And what about people on the borderline (self-diagnosed, or appearing very autistic in some areas but not in others). Are their unwanted traits more easily solvable just because they do not have the full set of symptoms?

**Tags:** autism, neuro-linguistic-prog, cbt

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Your post contains many questions, and your title does not fit the questions in the body. Please see the help, especially the "don't ask" section that discusses common pitfalls: https://psychology.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask  
> **username_2**: I agree with @BryanKrause.  To be a little more specific, you asked about those who are autistic and those who are borderline autistic.  The 2 parts would be better served in separate questions.  Apart from that, it is a good question.  
> **username_3**: I think this question has some merit, but it would probably be better to just formulate it as: which autistic traits are more amenable to treatment.  
> **username_4**: This question has already received 4 close votes, so I am closing it now.  It still contains a number of issues as noted, such as multiple questions being asked, questions in body not matching title, source not supporting claim made, and having a self-help element.  

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## 0 answers

