Highly sensitive and autistic women - Often a hidden world.

Therapist Julie Bjelland says "the reason we call it hidden is because many of the things that we experience as autistic women are in fact things that are internal, that are not actually seen by other people.

"So I want to share some of those things. One of the things is this high intelligence and diverse interests. It's almost like having a supercomputer brain.

“We can really process enormous amounts of information quickly and we have an interest in a broad range of topics."

This audio is an excerpt from Episode 190-The Hidden World of Autistic Women of the HSP and Neurodivergent Podcast.

From the Episode Summary on the podcast page:

"In this episode of the HSP and Neurodivergent podcast, psychotherapist Julie Bjelland delves deep into the hidden world of autistic women, aiming to illuminate the unique challenges and strengths that have not been well understood until now.

"A significant focus is placed on the reality that many autistic women remain undiagnosed, often due to the subtle and internalized nature of their experiences.

"Julie shares profound insights from her personal journey and professional assessments, emphasizing how these experiences can profoundly impact personal identity and societal interaction.

"The discussion explores the concept of the "supercomputer brain" that many autistic women possess, which allows them to rapidly process enormous amounts of information and maintain an intense focus on subjects of interest.

"This capability, however, is often accompanied by a challenging mismatch between their intellectual ambitions and physical energy levels, a disparity that can lead to significant frustration and burnout."

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⏩ See list of Autism Resources - includes:

* Understanding Autism in Women: Comprehensive Guide

* Autism Education, * Support Group for Autistic Women,

* Autism Quiz, * Research: HSPs & Autism Similarities & Differences,

and more by Julie Bjelland, LMFT.

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See more neurodivergent posts and podcast episodes.

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Photo: Astrid Nielsen is a criminal records archivist and consultant to a Paris police department in the Frech tv series. (Learn more at the imdb page.)

From my query "is astrid french series a good depiction of autism." on search engine Perplexity :

"Yes, the French crime drama series "Astrid et Raphaëlle" (known as "Astrid: Murder in Paris" in English) is widely praised for its authentic and thoughtful depiction of autism through the character of Astrid Nielsen, played by Sara Mortensen.

Here are some key points about how the show portrays autism:

Astrid is openly identified as being on the autism spectrum from the very beginning. Her autism is treated as an integral part of her character rather than just a quirk or plot device.

Mortensen's performance as Astrid is lauded for capturing the nuances of autism, such as stimming behaviors, difficulty with eye contact, need for routine, and challenges with social interactions.

The show doesn't sensationalize or mock Astrid's autism. Instead, it highlights her exceptional memory, pattern recognition skills, and different way of perceiving the world as assets for solving crimes.

Storylines explore the discrimination and misunderstanding Astrid faces due to neurotypical society not accommodating her needs. For example, she attends an "Autistic Adults Anonymous" support group.

Autistic viewers have praised the show for its realistic and compassionate representation, with one commenter stating "I am autistic and I really appreciate how thoughtfully Astrid is portrayed."

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