It’s no secret that women are expected to conform to a set of unwritten social norms. But, what happens when you weren’t given a copy of the rule book? This is a reality that many women with autism face as they try to navigate a neurotypical social world. Unfortunately struggling to conform and fit in leads to many challenging situations such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and even trauma.
Autism Acceptance Month: Notes for Neurotypical Individuals
As you may already know the month of April is when we celebrate autism. Some used to refer to this month as “Autism Awareness Month.” But, now there is a growing movement to refer to it as “Autism Acceptance Month.” Because, it is one thing to be aware that autism exists, and it’s another to truly accept and validate autism traits.…
Autism in Women: Embracing Your Autistic Identity
The month of March is Women’s History Month. Women with autism face many challenges, but they also have so many gifts to offer others if they’re able to embrace their neurodiversity. Today, I want to talk about ways you can embrace your autism and honor your unique skills and perspective to change the world around you.…
Autism in Women: Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
In previous blogs, we discussed some of the reasons why women with high-functioning autism are commonly misdiagnosed or diagnosed later in life. Unfortunately, it can be quite challenging to find a competent mental health care provider to diagnose and provide quality therapy and support. Last week we talked about how autistic burnout and meltdowns often lead to a neuropsychological evaluation and an autism diagnosis.…
Being Single On Valentine’s Day When You’re on the Autism Spectrum
Being single on Valentine’s Day is hard, rather you are neurodiverse or neurotypical. Many individuals with high-functioning autism want to find love and be in a relationship. So, being single on Valentine’s Day serves as a painful reminder of their loneliness. However, this holiday doesn’t have to be depressing and sad.…
I Was Diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism, Now What?
*August 2023 Update:*
When this blog was initially written, we used the term “high-functioning autism” since this was commonly used at the time. As time has changed, this term is now understood to be outdated, misleading, and harmful. This was previously used to describe individuals with autism who displayed relatively strong verbal and cognitive abilities.…
Understanding High-Functioning Autism
As an autism expert, I was recently asked to define high-functioning autism. However, that term is more nuanced than you may expect. So today, I will offer some insight into neurodiversity and the terms associated with autism.
High-functioning Autism vs. Low-functioning Autism
Society and the medical community’s understanding of autism have evolved over the last 50 years.…
Women with Autism and Depression
Welcome back to our two-part blog series on autism and depression. Women on the autism spectrum frequently experience depression. This is largely due to the loneliness that comes from feeling like they don’t fit in or belong with other girls or women their age. After a while, they internalize this pain and begin to think that there’s something wrong with them and that’s why they don’t fit in. …
Dating on the Autism Spectrum: Tips for Neurodiverse Women
Welcome to the latest installment of my blog series: Dating on the Autism Spectrum. I have shared dating tips for autistic individuals, talked about how to handle conflict, and offered tips for neurotypical partners. Today, I want to talk about the unique challenges neurodiverse women have when dating on the autism spectrum. …
Loneliness and Autism: Neurodivergent Women
A common emotion that most of my autistic clients share is loneliness. This is an especially challenging emotion to live with. Today, I wanted to take some time to discuss why women on the autism spectrum are predisposed to loneliness. Then, I will share how my Neurodiverse Women’s Group provides a community of support. …