This episode gets into the concept of stress perception and resilience, the intersection of autism and gender dysphoria, and the lack of informed consent in medical interventions for trans identified individuals.
I was diagnosed with autistic tendencies as a child and didn't talk till I was 5. Both of my kids have an autism diagnosis. And it's challenging for me because in both online spaces with other autistics and other narratives of autism I don't recognize my own experience, perhaps because I knew what was going on with me and my parents put a positive framework on it. I have never been medicated or hospitalized for mental health reasons. I don't do well in groups but I make strong one on one friendships.
One thing I've noticed, being in the southern US where there are a lot of conservative Protestant religions influenced by Calvinism is that a lot of people struggle with stigma around autism and learning disabilities. I have a friend who is also a counselor who is very smart, but two of her children are obviously autistic (severe speech delays, difficulties with emotional regulation, etc) and she refuses to hear about the possibility of autism. She has even kept them out of public schools to avoid recommendations they get tested. She is in severe denial, and what I've observed is that in the context of their belief system they seem to feel that disability shows they are not right with God. And I worry for her children who are obviously struggling and what unconscious messages they are receiving from her. Sadly, I can think of many other families like this, and some kids, after they get diagnosed in their teens after their parents refused to get them assessed at a younger age, talk about having been diagnosed with autism as though it's the end of their potential even though they are bright. They internalized their parents' stigma about it and created a self fulfilling prophecy rather than seeing it as something that you can learn to live with.
Contrast that with the trans narrative these kids hear where they believe that if they get affirmation and surgeries they can have a wonderful life. Unfortunately it does not help autistic people who identify as trans socially. It's sold them a false bill of goods when they realize that other people aren't interested in playing along. Further, it does nothing around the shame and stigma of having a disability.
Rather than solving anything the trans train has derailed doing anything that would help these kids.
I like Colin even more than I did before.
Christina is doing great work, so glad I got to hear her talk about it in Denver.
I was diagnosed with autistic tendencies as a child and didn't talk till I was 5. Both of my kids have an autism diagnosis. And it's challenging for me because in both online spaces with other autistics and other narratives of autism I don't recognize my own experience, perhaps because I knew what was going on with me and my parents put a positive framework on it. I have never been medicated or hospitalized for mental health reasons. I don't do well in groups but I make strong one on one friendships.
One thing I've noticed, being in the southern US where there are a lot of conservative Protestant religions influenced by Calvinism is that a lot of people struggle with stigma around autism and learning disabilities. I have a friend who is also a counselor who is very smart, but two of her children are obviously autistic (severe speech delays, difficulties with emotional regulation, etc) and she refuses to hear about the possibility of autism. She has even kept them out of public schools to avoid recommendations they get tested. She is in severe denial, and what I've observed is that in the context of their belief system they seem to feel that disability shows they are not right with God. And I worry for her children who are obviously struggling and what unconscious messages they are receiving from her. Sadly, I can think of many other families like this, and some kids, after they get diagnosed in their teens after their parents refused to get them assessed at a younger age, talk about having been diagnosed with autism as though it's the end of their potential even though they are bright. They internalized their parents' stigma about it and created a self fulfilling prophecy rather than seeing it as something that you can learn to live with.
Contrast that with the trans narrative these kids hear where they believe that if they get affirmation and surgeries they can have a wonderful life. Unfortunately it does not help autistic people who identify as trans socially. It's sold them a false bill of goods when they realize that other people aren't interested in playing along. Further, it does nothing around the shame and stigma of having a disability.
Rather than solving anything the trans train has derailed doing anything that would help these kids.
Christina's talk in Denver was eye-opening, and I will look forward to hearing more in Lisbon.