The Other Autism

In this episode, I answer a listener question about autism's impact on my education and learning experiences.  Topics discussed include: The challenges AND benefits of being autistic in the context of school and learning Aspects of my autistic brain that made learning easy, and the subject I struggled with most Contributing factors leading to a long interruption during undergrad Episode intro...

What are some traits that autistic adults might experience, especially those with late-diagnosed autism? And what does the female autism phenotype have to do with all of this?  Topics discussed also include: Some of my own autistic traits, starting from infancy till now The impetus for seeking an adult autism diagnosis Looking for a psychologist for adult autism diagnosis If you'd like to kno...

Autism and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) — are they a good match? Recent findings suggest that EMDR might be particularly helpful for autistic individuals in relieving PTSD symptoms and addressing multiple mental health concerns. Topics discussed also include: An imaginary autism island and what this has to do with diagnostic overshadowing What EMDR therapy entails a...

Autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often co-occurring — in other words, they're often seen together. In fact, many autistic people on their diagnosis journey often wonder if they're autistic or living with complex PTSD. For this reason, it's important to have a good understanding of PTSD symptoms and why being autistic might increase chances of developing PTSD.  To...

Why are autistic people especially prone to being abused and exploited by narcissists and other toxic individuals? What traits tend to leave those on the spectrum vulnerable to predatory types?  Topics discussed also include:  Identifying financial and economic abuse — and the difference between these Why couples therapy is not helpful when one person in the relationship has narcissistic personali...

Mast cell activation syndrome and autism. Is there an overlap? In this episode, I talk about the percentage of autistic people who have some kind of allergy or allergic condition, the difference between allergy and food intolerance, and what could potentially underlie some of the food issues and intolerances seen so often in autism. I also go into some detail about mast cell activation syndrome (o...