Christine McGuinness Opens Up About Her Autism Diagnosis & Debunks Sexist Stereotypes | Lorraine

Christine McGuinness wants to use her experience of being diagnosed with autism later in life to highlight how many young women and girls also miss out on a correct diagnosis, or worse - suffer in silence. She joins us live in the studio to talk about how her life has changed since her autism diagnosis, and why it has allowed her to make sense of a lot of things in her early years.
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Broadcast on 28/03/23
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[@ErzaHastings]

So much of this hits home

[@emmamackt]

there are so many undiagnosed women with ADHD and autism. This impacts their mental health (they are often misdiagnosed with 'anxiety' 'depression' when these are the result of unrecognised ASD. This also impacts their ability to hold conventional full time jobs down whilst dealing with chronic autistic burnout, as well as impacting their children's mental health. Further, women were not legally required to be included in clinical medical trials until 1993. This means all medical evidence and trials completely ignores how traits present differently in women. Adding in how women are socialised to people please, be liked and look a certain way. Generations upon generations of women have been left to struggle in silence. THIS IS A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS.

[@otterIy]

Yes 1000% 👏👏👏

[@cheeesysandwich]

absolutely!!

[@brookeleannekearton1729]

So true I'm aged 42 and a half diagnosed with Autisim.2 to 3 months ago

[@zoebutton2887]

i don't know how she's able to have the job she does with autism. it'd be WAY too overwhelming for me

[@malenaie]

maybe it’s one of her special interests? it’s hard but the joy it gives her probably outweighs it

[@a.b.n.5447]

It's called autism spectrum because there's a wide spectrum with autistic traits as different as the individual autistic person. I can talk to 100 people relatively easily if it's about a topic I am knowledgeable about. As Christine is, and especially on the subject of autism, being autistic, being a female autistic and being a late diagnosed autistic (at going on 62 in my case) as it is something we know first hand and most of us have been studying. To you, Zoe, it is overwhelming and that's part of your autism, and that's fine, too.

[@puremustang732]

Is different for everyone.

[@user-yz6ju6hi5h]

It is ok for me to watch this video because i have autism and this reminds me that I am not the only one that has autism out there

[@louieablett9650]

Of course it is, every body has slightly different autism, so if it helps you to understand yourself more that’s brilliant :)

[@OffGridInvestor]

There's MILLIONS of us.

[@corrigana1]

My autism wasn't diagnosed until 2018

[@corrigana1]

My autism wasnot diagnosis until 2018

[@jakeriese4862]

Lovely

[@EvalutionMedia]

I'd totally buy these clothes - especially if they look as nice as what Christine is wearing and they are also comfortable and soft.

[@annehislop2449]

Why did C and P have to split? Genuine question.

[@louise6119]

I can taste flavours to an extreme which makes me love food even more, vegetables especially I taste them to a different degree which makes me love food in a different way

[@mrwoody1413]

How do you know it’s a different way from any other human being? Have you lived the life of someone else/experienced life through the brain of someone else?

[@louise6119]

@@mrwoody1413 have you? I can gather it off the reports and observation of what others day. I don’t know what point you’re trying to make but it seems pointless

[@mrwoody1413]

@@louise6119 just a question.. I’m just curious.. wasn’t trying to make any point

[@corrigana1]

I don't get no help with my learning disability and autism

[@otterIy]

I'm a late diagnosed autistic woman like Christine, diagnosed this year at 32.. I have never understood why most other people DONT experience irritation and discomfort with seams, rougher clothing fabrics, tags and the like.. how they can just ignore that constant input on their skin and bodies, block it out as if automatic. Not just this but also scents, sounds.. even the energy or moods of others (many autistic people experience hyperempathy). Didnt understand how they could work for 7-8 hours a day under what to me seems like harsh, aggressive, almost "medical" lighting - like being in an operating room - or intense "staging" lighting - like they are fine working underneath a spotlight on a stage or a brightly lit tv set all day nearly every day. that is how I viscerally experience office and store lighting too - as hostile, overwhelming. I could also never understand why most other people would never seem to notice or give any real time to really taking in and cognitively processing the little details around them (like christine said, the pattern on the wall, colours around her). They seemed to have to work so hard to actually become aware of it; their brain already discarded it so quickly and automatically. Asking them to go back and notice was like asking them to go back through the garbage for something they had thrown out without any real consideration. It made me angry. I thought others were just being insulated, had blinders on and didnt care to connect more deeply with the world around them. Never understood why I personally could never fully block things out, no matter what strategy or support I tried. I was always getting anxious/overwhelmed in basic common environments like the grocery store, public transit but pushing that anxiety and fatigue of continually forcing myself through these environments DEEP deep down to some place inside me I willfully tried NOT to recognize. Which kept me blind to my own experience. Autistic trauma. Even after diagnosis I still struggle to understand just how this (my) rich sensory experience could be so "fascinating"?? to others. What is so fascinating about having skin and eyeballs that sense things, like yours do, but stronger and more fully? I felt like others were 'choosing' to ignore this input just because they could (after all it was implied to me by my parents and most others in my life that all my sensory issues came down to choice as well - i could 'choose' not to experience certain things). "can't you just dexide not to notice? why does it bother you so much?" I had internalized the messages of others and my anger at constant invalidation turned back around on them. Because I felt like, "why am *I* so wrong? Isnt that what skin, eyes, noses, ears are for? to sense the world around me?" All my life I was told I was the same, no different, than others. But I was different. To be autistic is to be chronically misunderstood. and involves struggling to make sense of yourself in a world that doesnt get you. And you dont 'ger' the world. Of course I would struggle to understand. Of course others would too. Yet its still hard to process. I guess it takes time. Glad we have Christine and others helping to educate the neurotypical majority about this as well. There is a lot of learning to be done. I am just so tired of having to constantly 'qualify' or 'validate' my experience to others.. the world constantly expressing surprise, confusion, fascination and demanding explanation which they are not prepared to accept. worse yet, i am tired of pretending I dont experience the realities that I do, or the being that I am (masking) and abandoning myself repeatedly when faced with my own legitimate (autistic) needs.

[@corrigana1]

So was I but I have got a learning disability aswell

[@mrwoody1413]

Who’s gonna win the Victim Olympics?

[@CJBrophy-qq7lr]

Christine my love… I have walked an biked from Huyton today the coastal way… all to come tell you I love you, I have been talking to you all day all the way, im stayin around here until Tuesday… then I’m going somewere I don’t no we’re yet but I need to keep moving, if you want to see me before I go I’m in formby just being a tourist, I’m watching the footy in the 🍇, your voice has kept me goin all day… I have duck all on me except a full heart… ❤❤❤ I hope your ok, I hope to see you soon, if I don’t then… 😢

[@jayneryan6395]

u sound like a nutter

[@louise6119]

😳

[@hassnatahmad5339]

👏

[@phillylarkin.s1930]

There's no medication so why get a label .? To talk about it 24/ 7 and create more attention. Makes no sense .

[@hmmm2564]

Hater

[@stellagyan6593]

To create awareness for younger girls going through this who feel like they’re weird or abnormal. Undiagnosed autistic girls are more likely to develop anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation

[@emilywilliams363]

To learn coping mechanisms and strategies

[@OffGridInvestor]

There's no cure for terminal cancer either! So why talk about it. Just close the door on them and let nature take its course. How heartless are you? There actually ARE one laser therapy recently developed in Australia and now in use that has got non verbal autistics speaking for the first time after only about 10 days of use. They talk about it so people can understand WHY autistic people act strange and not shun them completely like has been the case for so many kids in school with autism.

[@LouiseIngram-hd5yc]

I like Christine, I’m a new fan.