Autism, anxiety, and finding your place: Ben’s story

In this episode, Lauren speaks with Ben, 16, about his experiences growing up with autism and the challenges of navigating social anxiety. From overthinking how to ask a girl to go bowling to starting his first job, Ben shares honest reflections on everyday situations that feel much bigger when you’re neurodivergent. As Ben puts it: “You look at me and there’s no disability sign. I wouldn’t know how to speak to someone about it — it’s just overall social anxiety.” Stella Li, Clinical Psychologist at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, joins the conversation to unpack the importance of personalised mental health support for young people with autism, and how recognising and managing social anxiety can make a real difference. 

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