The Other Autism

You've probably heard about the rising rates of both autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Is there any truth to all the talk about an overlap between the two? You can probably tell by the title that, yes, there is! 

Topics discussed also include:

• The three presentations or subtypes of ADHD
• Differences between ADHD in kids versus ADHD in adults
• Some of the main differences and similari...

Recent research indicates that many autistic people might have co-occurring substance use disorder. Let's talk about what this entails and reasons for autistic folks turning to substances in the first place. 

Topics discussed also include:

• Substance use disorder according to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
• How those with ADHD + autism may be at an even greater risk for developing subs...

Hear Nicola Rowan-Brooks's story about being diagnosed by Sarah Hendrickx at the age of 55. Nicola shares the impact of her autism diagnosis and what life was like growing up undiagnosed in the UK.

Nicola runs an online business restoring teddy bears. Her website is called Ambrosia Bears.

If you'd like to know more about this topic, check out:

"Girls and Women and Autism: What’s the differe...

Ciara Harte is a neurodivergent counsellor based in Victoria, British Columbia. In this episode, Kristen and Ciara chat about Ciara's critical discourse analysis of ABA. Ciara has firsthand experience working with applied behaviour analysis principles and practices, and was heavily involved in ABA for a few years. 

Topics discussed also include:

• A brief history of ABA
• The interactional and discursive view of violenc...

Hear Leslie's story about stumbling upon autism later in life, and the series of aha moments that ensued.

Leslie previously worked in animation on feature films such as FernGully: The Last Rainforest, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, and Space Jam. She is now a freelance graphic designer crafting bespoke graphics and brand development for rogues, disruptors, and obsessives in California.

Have you ever heard that autistic people often have adverse or unexpected reactions (or total lack of response) to prescription and over-the-counter medications? Well, it could be genetics, pharmacogenetics, that is!

Topics discussed also include:

• Ultra-rapid and very slow drug metabolizers
• How medication sensitivity is not hypochondria
• Mast cell activation syndrome and medication fillers
• Autistic folks' reactions to ...

What's the difference between the medical and social models of autism? And what gave rise to the social model of autism?

Topics discussed also include:

• "Mad pride's" influence on the neurodiversity movement
• How autism may have a similar fate as homosexuality
• The neurodiversity movement's stance towards applied behaviour analysis (ABA)
• The new academic field of Critical Autism Studies

If you&apo...

I discuss the physical and mental health conditions that often exist alongside autism.

Topics discussed also include:

• The overlap between autism and ADHD
• The overlap between autism and being trans
• The reasons why it's important to discuss co-occurring conditions and autism
• Co-occurring conditions in autistic children

If you'd like to know more about this topic, check out:

"Umbrella systematic re...

Dr. Elaine Aron and her husband coined the term highly sensitive person (HSP) in the 1990s. Since then, her books and online content on the subject have become widely read and discussed. I'm not the first to see an overlap between the HSP trait and autism, and I won't be the last! 

Topics discussed also include:

• An overview of the HSP checklist
• Getting into some details about Dr. Aron's now-deleted FAQ web...

Did you know that most, if not all, autistic people have sensory processing differences and that many have some combination of hyper-reactivity and hypo-reactivity to different types of sensory stimuli? In this episode, I talk about sensory processing differences and how they could be THE core feature of autism.  

Topics discussed also include:

• How sensory differences impact adaptive functioning
• Answering a listener ques...

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 music: "Wa...

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 know more about thi...

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 and the proposed theories...

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. 

Topics discussed also includ...

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 personality disorder
• What some of ...

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 (or MCAS), the symptoms experienced b...