Autistic women’s experiences of diagnosis | Embrace Autism
In this article, Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP explores the positive and negative experiences of autistic women with an autism diagnosis.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP: It’s often hard to recognize co-occurring OCD in autism—let alone knowing what to do to recover from or treat it. In this article, I go into the challenges of recognizing your OCD, and what has helped me reduce it.| Embrace Autism
Claims have been made about a causal link between Tylenol and autism. Here we look at why they’re associated, and what actually increases the likelihood of an autistic child (hint: it’s not Tylenol).| Embrace Autism
Here is my conversation with Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes about the unique AuDHD strengths (e.g., focus, creativity) that often come with autistic and ADHD profiles.| Embrace Autism
Hi everybody, I was recently interviewed by NPR alongside Marian Schembari, author of a book I really loved and highly recommend, A Little Less Broken: How an Autism Diagnosis Finally Made Me Whole. Together, we discuss what an adult autism diagnosis means. Interview You can listen to the interview here: https://the1a.org/segments/what-it-means-to-be-diagnosed-with-autism-as-an-adult/ For me, conversations like […]| Embrace Autism
I reached out to Suzanne from AutismBC to give her an update that we have a clinical psychologist who is AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) themselves who is conducting assessments for adult autistics. You can read about Dr. Jennifer Arpink here, who does our autism/AuDHD assessments in BC: Meet our clinicians I love AutismBC and thought […]| Embrace Autism
You walk into the room and slide into character without thinking. Your smile is practiced. Your laugh lands at the right time. Your posture, tone, and even pauses are all intentional. By the time you leave, you are grumpy, but holding it in. And once you get home, you go into your room and lie […]| Embrace Autism
“I always did well in school. I have a university degree. I have a job. And yet I’ve spent my entire life feeling exhausted from social interactions—and then I wondered: what if it’s autism?” ~ Sarah C. (late diagnosed autistic adult) Mini Screener: “Could I Be Autistic?” – A 5-Question Self-Check Do you often […]| Embrace Autism
A link has been found between autism, high intelligence, and giftedness. Consequently, some came to call autism a “disorder of high intelligence”.| Embrace Autism
In this second part of Autism and addiction, we will continue to explore the dramatic shift to the narrative surrounding addiction in autistic populations. VIII. Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment Despite growing recognition of the intersection between autism and addiction, significant barriers remain in accurately diagnosing and effectively treating substance use disorders (SUD) in autistic […]| Embrace Autism
Recent research suggests that autistic people are nearly twice as likely to develop a substance use disorder, and are prone to addiction in general.| Embrace Autism
To remain regulated and functioning, we need to be able to dissipate stress. When this is not done effectively, it can have an explosive result, leading to a meltdown or a (consequent) shutdown.| Embrace Autism
The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) is a 24-item self-report measure of all three components of alexithymia across negative and positive emotions.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP: Do you—like myself—have an obsessive & compulsive preoccupation with being a good person? You might have moral scrupulosity OCD! Read the article to learn more.| Embrace Autism
We’re committed to providing autism assessments led by clinicians with lived experience. We’re excited to introduce 2 remarkable psychologists to our diagnostic team: Dr. Amy Marschall & Dr. Jennifer Arpink.| Embrace Autism
Hi, I’m Dr. Chris Dabbs PhD, one of the diagnosticians here at Embrace Autism. I’m an autistic psychologist with a passion for clinical work, research, and teaching. Read more about my background and interests here:| Embrace Autism
Hello, I’m Jaime Hoerricks (they/them)—one of Embrace Autism’s authors. I’m an autistic trans woman, a gestalt processor, and someone for whom language is not just a tool but a terrain.| Embrace Autism
Jade: I finally had a chance to read ‘The Ultimate Guide to Autistic Burnout’ by my colleagues. It’s reassuring to know that I now have a roadmap to recover from burnout.| Embrace Autism
As a typographer and type designer, I LOVE letters. And as it turns out, so do many autistic children; a significant percentage of them show an intense interest in letters & numbers! Maybe that explains why I love them.| Embrace Autism
Selective mutism is often misunderstood as a childhood disorder. But for many autistic adults—especially the gifted & AuDHDers—it remains a painful, invisible reality.| Embrace Autism
RFK Jr.’s recent statements about autism are not only inaccurate—they are profoundly dehumanizing. In this letter, I want to address its impact on our community.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht RP ND: In this article, I want to celebrate some of the diversity of autistic talents and celebrities who made it big—not despite their autism, but because of it.| Embrace Autism
Black autistic individuals have shaped history, culture, and advocacy, yet remain underrecognized due to systemic erasure, racial bias, and digital segregation. This article explores their contributions, challenges exclusionary narratives, and calls for true representation and equity.| Embrace Autism
Eva: I realized I have a need to talk about my grief at the loss of our sweet Pluto, and to explore the research literature on how autistics grieve differently—perhaps to better contextualize my experience with loss.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht: The ways in which autistics grieve often diverge from societal expectations in ways that are misunderstood or even invalidated. In this article, I explore autistic grief.| Embrace Autism
In honour of International Women’s Day 2025, I wanted to shine a light on the women throughout history who may have been autistic—women whose brilliance, creativity, and resilience shaped the world.| Embrace Autism
Navigating higher education as an autistic person comes with unique challenges, including accessing appropriate support. In this article, I reflect on my and my daughter’s experience.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP: For many autistic individuals, the journey to self-discovery is not straightforward; it often unfolds in stages—influenced by personal experiences, societal expectations, and available information. This article outlines those stages, and my personal experience navigating them.| Embrace Autism
Historically, autism has been underdiagnosed—especially in women, non-binary, and BIPOC people. This post explores the increasing identification of autism in adults, the role of self-assessment, and the challenges that come with self-diagnosis.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP: In recent years, more adults are recognizing their autistic traits and pursuing autism diagnoses. In this article, I explore the rise in late autism diagnoses.| Embrace Autism
Eva: I find building with Lego both stimulating and relaxing. So I figured I would look into the research on the benefits of using Lego for (autistic/AuDHD) adults.| Embrace Autism
Columbus Tal: Navigating life with AuDHD has shaped my education, just as my education has shaped my understanding of it. This is my journey of challenges, acceptance, and self-discovery.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Debra Bercovici PhD: As a new therapist, I know how difficult it can be to find an autism-affirming therapist. In this article, I explore some of my thoughts and experiences, and offer practical tips for vetting your therapist.| Embrace Autism
The Ultimate Guide to Autistic Burnout summarizes the most current research, and provides you with the tools to identify & recover from autistic burnout safely.| Embrace Autism
The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) is a burnout measure consisting of 3 subscales: personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout.| Embrace Autism
The Autistic Burnout construct (ABO) is a self-report questionnaire that measures traits such as fatigue, exhaustion, and related symptoms to identify autistic burnout in autistic adults.| Embrace Autism
Do you think you might be asexual, or are you unsure? The Asexuality Identification Scale (AIS-12) is a self-report questionnaire to assess asexuality—independently of whether you self-identify as asexual.| Embrace Autism
Do autistic people experience a deeper connection with animals? In this article, I look at the research on pet ownership, our emotional bonds with animals, anthropomorphism, and species bias.| Embrace Autism
Eva: I transitioned in 2021—but back in 2018, I feared being rejected for being trans. Here is a discussion between Natalie and myself about gender presentation, transitioning, and acceptance.| Embrace Autism
In this article, I will explore what workplace accommodations you can request for autism & AuDHD, the likelihood of receiving these accommodations, and the benefits and potential consequences of disclosing your autism.| Embrace Autism
In this article, we’ll discuss how autistic and ADHD camouflaging compare, and whether AuDHD-ers camouflage more frequently than people of just one identity.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht: In this article, I will explore social demands as a cause of autistic burnout, and I will share the lived experience of five autistics including myself.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Engelbrecht ND RP: Autistic burnout is distinct from classical burnout, with different causes and symptoms. In this article, I will explain the differences between the two.| Embrace Autism
If you’re new to AuDHD, this article answers frequently asked questions about the common co-occurrence of autism and ADHD.| Embrace Autism
Eva: A mother asked me for advice on how she could best help her young child with gender dysphoria navigate their gender. Here is my advice to her based on my childhood experiences and needs as a trans person.| Embrace Autism
In this article, Dr. Debra Bercovici PhD explores what the research says about stimulant medication for AuDHDers.| Embrace Autism
In this article, Dr. Debra Bercovici PhD will cover the double empathy problem and the triple empathy problem, and examine how they impact autistics.| Embrace Autism
As someone who has experienced psychosis, I can tell you that the experience can be very subtle. In this article, I will describe my experience of psychosis, from back in 2011.| Embrace Autism
What if autistic traits are being confused with psychosis—a break from reality? In this article, we will go into how psychosis can be misattributed to autism.| Embrace Autism
Psychosis constitutes some loss of contact with reality. In this article, we explore what the research has to say about the overlap between autism and psychosis.| Embrace Autism
Hikikomori is a condition of prolonged social isolation. In this article, we will explain how it affects autistic people, and what characterizes this form of extreme social withdrawal.| Embrace Autism
Myself and 4 other autistics answer questions I often get asked about the period after an autism diagnosis; what can you expect to experience once you get diagnosed?| Embrace Autism
In this article, we’ll discuss the similar mechanisms behind autistic and hoarding behaviours, key differences, reasons for hoarding, and treatment.| Embrace Autism
Autistics are often praised for their abilities in logical thinking, but what about our creativity and imagination?| Embrace Autism
In this article, I will describe what asexuality entails, what identities are part of the ace spectrum, and how common asexuality in autism actually is.| Embrace Autism
Eva: Hi! I’m autistic and trans. In this second part of ‘Autism, transness & gender identity’, I will continue to talk about my experience of being trans and how my gender identity evolved over the years.| Embrace Autism
Hi! I’m autistic and trans, and I started my transition in 2021. In this article, I will explore how my gender evolved over the years and post-transition.| Embrace Autism
In this article, we will explore some ways we can improve outcomes for autistic people and AuDHDers (autism + ADHD) who experience anxiety and depression.| Embrace Autism
In this article, I will discuss how AuDHD (autism + ADHD) increases the risk of experiencing anxiety and depression, as well as how to mitigate those risks.| Embrace Autism
In this article, I go into the problems blue light can cause (e.g., headaches, sleep problems, fatigue, decreased eyesight), and how blue light-absorbing glasses could resolve these issues.| Embrace Autism
Monotropism is a tendency to focus one’s attention on a small number of interests at any time (an attention tunnel). Read more about what that entails here.| Embrace Autism
For autistics with ADHD, burnout isn’t always preventable in a neurotypical-paced world. Here, I share my own top two strategies for dealing with AuDHD burnout.| Embrace Autism
Burnout often looks different for autistics and people with ADHD. In this article, we discuss strategies to prevent burnout in people with AuDHD.| Embrace Autism
The Extreme Demand Avoidance 8-item measure (EDA-8) is a parent-administered questionnaire that measures traits and behaviours related to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in children (ages 5–17).| Embrace Autism
In recent years, evidence emerged of a significant overlap between autism and gender dysphoria. Based on new research, we now know how significant that overlap is! Read about it here:| Embrace Autism
When I came across a paper on the experiences of autistic doctors, I was fascinated to read the accounts of other autistic medical professionals, which I will share here.| Embrace Autism
The idea of headroom is similar to spoon theory in its goals—except, headroom is about managing your energy/resources in the long term.| Embrace Autism
In this article, we share how some of us at Embrace Autism identify with and relate to the concept of disability.| Embrace Autism
I used to take things quite literally. I still do. But I used to, too (sorry for the Mitch Hedberg-derivative joke). But yeah, in this article, I want to talk a bit about my experiences of taking things literally.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Debra Bercovici PhD shares her thoughts about what sorts of accommodations may be useful for people with AuDHD (autism + ADHD) at work or at school, based on her experience as an AuDHD student, professor, and employee.| Embrace Autism
In Part II of AuDHD & relationships, we talk about how fellow AuDHDers and their partners navigate relationships; and some of us at Embrace Autism share our AuDHD relationship experiences.| Embrace Autism
Since research shows that anywhere between 50–70% of autistic people also have ADHD, it’s important to explore how AuDHD (autism + ADHD) impacts relationships differently than autism alone.| Embrace Autism
In this article, Dr. Bercovici PhD explores how our verbal and nonverbal communication patterns may be different from those of neurotypicals—but not deficient.| Embrace Autism
The International Trauma Questionnaire is a self-report measure of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD).| Embrace Autism
In this article, Dr. Debra Bercovici PhD explores the main focuses of autism research today; where they originate from, and how different research practices help or harm the autistic community. She also highlights the positive directions in which autism research is headed.| Embrace Autism
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure childhood maltreatment and adverse rearing and their impact.| Embrace Autism
Almost all of us have experienced bullying in school. While bullying is a common experience for any child, it is particularly common in autistic children. In this article we explore bullying from an autism lens.| Embrace Autism
The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale is a 24-item self-rated scale that measures social phobia’s role in your life across various situations—in terms of fear and avoidance.| Embrace Autism
The common understanding of autism says that autistics have an "impaired" theory of mind, but is that true? Can the double empathy problem offer a different perspective?| Embrace Autism
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is a common ADHD trait, but what causes RSD and how can it be differentiated from similar conditions?| Embrace Autism
An exploration of the relationship between autism and selective mutism.| Embrace Autism
To distinguish autism and ADHD, we need to look at the ‘why’ behind psychometric test answers. Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht and Kendall discuss their answers to an ADHD quiz.| Embrace Autism
A new study by Buch et al. uses fMRI data to categorize autistic brains into four subgroups.| Embrace Autism
Eye contact is difficult for many autistic people, but why? Do autistic people avoid all eye contact, or is there more nuance to autistic eye contact?| Embrace Autism
In this article, we will explore what pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is—often referred to as Persistent Drive/Desire for Autonomy (PDA) by autistic people—and some reasons PDA may occur.| Embrace Autism
Dr. Engelbrecht ND RP: When I started Embrace Autism, I never imagined that I would have the honor to speak at the United Nations. I am excited to share my keynote speech from World Autism Day!| Embrace Autism
Relationships may be hard for autistic people. How does that relate to living in a neurotypical-dominated world, and how do we think about relationship compatibility from an autistic perspective?| Embrace Autism
New evidence shows that autistic people are more likely to develop substance use disorders. Why does this happen and what can we do about autistic addiction?| Embrace Autism
Here is a selection of our recommended book resources to learn more about what autism entails, and the myriad of ways it can manifest itself—both in women and in general.| Embrace Autism
I recently learned three important things related to codependency and emotional sobriety, and I would like to share those in case it helps others. It may just benefit you.| Embrace Autism
The circadian rhythm refers to our body’s innate ability to follow a 24-hour clock. In this article, we explore the circadian rhythm and sleep in autistic people.| Embrace Autism
The Humans, a book by autistic author Matt Haig, might be particularly relatable for autistic people.| Embrace Autism
What is codependency? An autistic review of the book "The New Codependency" by Melody Beattie.| Embrace Autism
Can autistic people lie? Sure, but why do we tend to be truthful even when it undermines us? Here is an interview between two autistic people, about lying from an autistic perspective.| Embrace Autism
It is common for late diagnosed autistics to have received an earlier misdiagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this article, we summarize the diagnostic relationship between autism and BPD and theorize about why misdiagnoses occur.| Embrace Autism
Kevin Erickson: Here are things I learned on how to optimize your sensory environment (e.g. your home) to help you feel calm, in control, and productive.| Embrace Autism
For autistic people, camouflaging is not just about acting confident. Many of us need to actively suppress who we are to avoid rejection and social exclusion. Naturally, this has consequences.| Embrace Autism
What is the prevalence of autism in men and women? And why does autism still seem more prevalent in men? In the article below, we explore the latest research on the sex ratio in autism, and look at the different factors contributing to the male bias.| Embrace Autism
For many autistics, autistic burnout is the cost we pay for forcing success in a neurotypical world and adhering to neurotypical standards. But what is autistic burnout, and what can you do about it?| Embrace Autism
In this article, Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP explores the positive and negative experiences of autistic women with an autism diagnosis.| Embrace Autism
Embrace Autism is THE place to find research & experience-based autism content for personal elucidation & empowerment. By autistic people, for autistic people.| Embrace Autism
