Learning What Autism Really Is

I was recently diagnosed as Autistic (Level 1). If you know me your first reaction would be, “No you don’t, you’re super smart and are one of the most capable people I know!”. Because that was also my reaction when my psychiatrist floated the idea that my anxiety and panic attacks (staring at age 7) were a symptom of Autism instead of merely existing on their own. And boy was she right.

Most people’s associations with Autism are visions of non-verbal children rocking intensely in a corner or Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of “Rain Man.” But those are only singular versions of some of the ways Autism can show up. Turns out a lot of the time, especially for women, signs go unnoticed because they aren’t very visible or overt. And women, like myself, have learned to camouflage or mask their entire lives.

The release of this doc on Netflix was serendipitously timed with my process of understanding how Austism plays a role in both my inner and outer world. And I’m so thankful Jenn was open and brave bough to offer her journey as a lesson for all of us to understand each other a little better.

If you want to learn more I highly recommend these 2 books:

UNMASKING AUTISM

IS IT AUTISM?