Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome

Overview

Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger syndrome addresses the critical underdiagnosis and misunderstanding of Autism in females—a population historically overlooked because Diagnostic criteria were developed primarily from male presentations. Written by Rudy Simone and featuring interviews with dozens of women on the spectrum, the book explains why girls with Autism remain undiagnosed into adulthood, how their traits manifest differently than in boys, and provides comprehensive guidance for Aspergirls themselves, parents, and anyone supporting women on the spectrum. The book reframes Autism not as pathology but as Neurological difference—one that creates both profound challenges and remarkable gifts—and emphasizes that many of the “problems” attributed to Autism actually stem from non-acceptance, misunderstanding, and living in a Neurotypical world.

Understanding the Female Asperger Experience

The Crisis of Underdiagnosis in Females

Female Autism remains dramatically underdiagnosed, with research historically reporting a 3-4:1 male-to-female ratio that many leading experts, including Tony Attwood and Lorna Wing, believe significantly misrepresents reality. The reasons for this invisibility are multiple and intersecting:

Camouflaging Through “Normal” Interests: Girls’ Special interests often appear socially acceptable, creating effective camouflage. While boys with AS might obsess over unusual topics like airplane engines from 1940-1945, girls typically focus on “normal” girlhood interests—books, music, animals, horses—that don’t raise parental or clinical alarm bells. This masks the same obsessive intensity and hyperfocus that would be flagged as concerning in a boy.

Intellectual Maturity Masks Social Deficits: Many Aspergirls are Self-taught readers who learn to read fluently and unexpectedly, often experiencing hyperlexia (reading comprehension far above their years). This intellectual precocity creates the perception of emotional maturity and social competence they don’t actually possess, effectively hiding underlying social difficulties. When a kindergarten teacher praises a girl’s advanced reading while classmates mock her, the teacher’s positive feedback masks the bullying and isolation.

Superior Masking Abilities: Aspergirls develop sophisticated Masking strategies—learning social scripts, observing and imitating peers, suppressing stimming behaviors, and forcing themselves into social situations despite intense anxiety. This camouflage works well enough to fool teachers and clinicians but at tremendous emotional and physical cost, leading to anxiety, depression, and eventually burnout.

Clinician Bias and Diagnostic Criteria: Clinicians trained on Hans Asperger’s original descriptions—developed from observing boys—don’t recognize female presentations. They may dismiss girls’ struggles as shyness, social anxiety, or personality quirks rather than Autism.

Modern Stress Amplifies Differences: The author proposes an additional explanation: rising diagnoses in women reflect not just better recognition but genuinely increased symptom visibility. High-stress modern life and intensified social pressure have made spectrum differences feel more urgent and unsustainable, driving women to seek answers through internet research and self-diagnosis.

The consequences are severe: women remain undiagnosed into their 30s, 40s, or 50s—some only discovering their Autism when their children are diagnosed. This delayed Diagnosis requires reframing an entire life through a new Neurological lens, often bringing both relief (finally understanding lifelong struggles) and grief (recognizing missed opportunities and unnecessary suffering).

How Female Presentation Differs from Male

While both boys and girls with AS share core Autistic traits, the presentation and expression differ significantly, making girls less visible and more likely to be misunderstood.

Androgynous Identity and Expression: Aspergirls typically appear androgynous in mannerism and essence and often report not feeling particularly female or relating more to male identity. Many describe themselves as “half male and half female” or say they’ve “never felt female or able to be one of the girls.” This isn’t about sexual orientation (most Aspergirls interviewed were heterosexual) but about psychological balance and authentic self-expression. Many pursue traditionally masculine activities (fixing cars, building things, playing aggressive sports) and actively reject feminine expectations around grooming, makeup, and fashion focus. This androgynous presentation can lead to being mistaken for transgender or lesbian despite being heterosexual, simply because they don’t perform femininity.

Practical Independence Over Conformity: Aspergirls gravitate toward practical, functional interests—power tools, sports statistics, mechanics, design—rather than conforming to stereotyped girlhood interests. Both boys and girls with AS prefer comfortable clothing, but this manifests differently: AS men may shop at thrift stores for that broken-in feel; AS women dress like teenagers with minimal makeup and simple hairstyles. Both genders experience intense focus and obsessive interests, but girls’ passions are less likely to raise parental alarm because they’re framed as “normal.”

Higher Fluid Intelligence: Most Aspergirls interviewed were self-taught learners who became fluent readers early and extended this pattern to other domains. Beyond reading, they taught themselves music, mathematics, design, welding, embroidery, sewing, statistics, and chemistry—driven by both impatience with conventional instruction and the Autistic preference for self-directed learning using personal methods. This pattern reflects higher fluid intelligence (the ability to see order in confusion and understand relationships between seemingly unrelated things) than non-Autistic peers, though not necessarily higher crystallized intelligence (using acquired knowledge).

Gender Expectations Create Invisible Disability: Society measures women by multi-tasking ability, impulse regulation, conflict-smoothing, and emotional soothing of others—a standard Aspergirls consistently fail to meet. Many develop changeable personalities, adopting accents or mannerisms from current interests or role models, describing themselves as “chameleons” or empty vessels requiring experiences to build identity. Many feel deeply alien—not from their culture, family, or even species—finding solace in science fiction and fantasy (X-Men, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”) as escapism. This feeling of wrongness isn’t pathology but existential alienation.

Sensory Processing and the Intense World

The author subscribes to the “Intense World” theory: Autistic people are hyperfunctional rather than hypofunctional, experiencing Sensory input intensely and processing it differently. This framework rejects the notion of Sensory deficits and instead describes heightened perception that can be overwhelming.

Specific Sensory Triggers

Aspergirls report triggering sensations including:

• Fluorescent lights (which they perceive flickering that others cannot)
• Loud social situations and overwhelming background noise
• Perfume and strong scents
• Clothing labels and uncomfortable textures
• Unexpected sirens and sudden loud noises
• Wind and unpredictable environmental changes

Critically, control matters: an Aspergirl running a lawnmower accepts the noise because she controls it; a neighbor’s lawnmower drives her to distraction because it’s imposed and unpredictable. Sound sensitivity is particularly acute—many require earplugs and silence for sleep and cannot filter multiple simultaneous sounds (a ringing phone while TV plays causes genuine distress, not annoyance).

Clothing and Skin Sensitivity

Skin sensitivity drives clothing choices—fussy fabrics feel like torture; elastic bands cutting into flesh cause genuine pain; scratchy materials are intolerable. The author notes that 1950s-60s fashion (bouffant hairstyles, nylon, wool) would have been genuinely torturous for Aspergirls, though current options remain limited (pantyhose, high heels, scratchy fabrics, binding bras all present significant Sensory challenges).

Sensory Overload Vs. Phobia

A windy day overwhelms not because of fear but because trees sway unpredictably, wind sounds assault ears, hair gets pulled and whipped into the face—creating genuine physical Sensory assault. Sensory issues directly impact dating, employment, and social participation, keeping many Aspergirls home and socially isolated. Sensory Accommodations aren’t luxury preferences but necessary accessibility supports.

”psychic Sensitivity” and Heightened Perception

Some Aspergirls report sensing emotional states others hide, having premonitions, or experiencing what feels like sixth-sense awareness. While this may seem unscientific, the author notes that animals sense earthquakes despite lack of scientific proof, suggesting heightened perception exists but remains poorly understood. This phenomenon deserves investigation rather than dismissal.

Stimming: Self-Soothing Expression and Suppression Costs

Stimming (self-stimulatory behavior) should be reframed not as pathology but as a self-soothing mechanism used when anxious, overwhelmed, or in pain. Common stims include rocking, swaying, twirling, spinning, humming, flapping, tapping, clapping, and finger-flicking. Aspergirls stim from Sensory overload, anxiety, social stress, or boredom—and stimming patterns vary depending on emotional state.

Anxiety Vs. Happy Stims

Anxiety stims emerge from distress—the author hums tunelessly and runs through parking lots after stressful events. Adults stim when rent is due and money is short, when facing uncertainty, or anticipating social obligations. By contrast, stimming while happy looks distinctly different: flapping hands, clapping, dancing, laughing, jumping, and high-pitched vocalizations express joy and enthusiasm. However, these expressions are often misinterpreted as flirting, silliness, or immaturity, leading Aspergirls to suppress them in social contexts.

The Cost of Suppression

Suppressing stims creates serious problems: physical tics develop (eye twitching, mouth twitching), destructive habits emerge (smoking, skin-picking), or anxiety internalizes into chronic stress and depression. The author explicitly advocates allowing expression when possible because chronic suppression damages nerves, psyche, and happiness potential. For many Aspergirls, stimming is the difference between manageable anxiety and overwhelming overwhelm.

School Experiences: Achievement and Trauma

Aspergirls frequently excel academically—reading advanced texts, solving complex problems—while simultaneously experiencing severe bullying and social isolation. This paradox is deeply damaging because academic achievement masks social devastation.

The Transition from Tolerated to Targeted

Aspergirls often transition from being tolerated or even liked in early childhood to becoming bullying targets once conformity becomes socially paramount, typically during adolescence. The author details her own experience: kindergarten teacher praised her reading speed while classmates mocked her; she excelled academically but by middle school faced daily physical violence, developed ulcers by age 12, and experienced PTSD. Bullying is nearly universal in interviews: one girl describes being beaten daily, another endured years of ridicule, another was sexually assaulted during school years.

Teachers Often Fail to Intervene

Teachers frequently fail to recognize or stop bullying and sometimes side with more popular bullies. This institutional abandonment compounds the social trauma and teaches girls that adults won’t protect them, leading to lifelong hypervigilance and distrust.

Achievement Masks Crisis

Good grades mask depression, anxiety, PTSD, and social devastation. Parents and teachers see academic success and assume the girl is fine, missing signals of serious distress. Some gifted Aspergirls become high school or college dropouts, trading potential PhDs for escape from toxic environments—a choice that feels empowering temporarily but creates long-term regret and limited career prospects.

Lasting Trauma and Prevention

The bullying-academic achievement paradox means Aspergirls’ struggles remain invisible, and trauma compounds across years. Prevention requires proactive school changes, advocacy, and parental willingness to switch schools when bullying emerges—a difficult choice but one that protects mental health and prevents PTSD.

Selective Mutism: Neurological Shutdown

Puberty often triggers or worsens Autistic symptoms in girls who previously seemed merely “gifted” or eccentric. One of the most severe manifestations is selective mutism—a involuntary inability to speak that differs fundamentally from shyness or voluntary silence.

The Experience of Mutism

Selective mutism is a Neurological event where the brain’s translation system breaks down when upset or nervous. Thoughts exist but cannot be converted to words—the person experiences physical throat paralysis, metallic taste, and complete thought freezing. The author describes her brain as “frozen like a needle on a record, stuck on an unpleasant lyric.” Another woman describes the brain’s overloaded information highway, with language roads shutting down first while traffic clears. Once triggered, mutism doesn’t stop until the person leaves the situation, and recovery feels similar to recovering from physical exhaustion—physical sensations slowly normalize, leaving a “hangover” effect.

Triggers and Manifestations

Mutism strikes hardest during social gatherings lacking structure or purpose. The author’s vivid account describes physical freezing, jerky movements, inability to think beyond repeating “they don’t like me,” feeling like a searchlight pinned on her as visible beacon of social failure. When intimidated by someone, even comprehending their words becomes impossible—they sound “garbled and nonsensical”—creating a feedback loop where communication deteriorates further.

Duration and Underlying Neurology

Mutism episodes can last hours or extend into days and weeks. The author notes that about 1 in 4 spectrum children develop seizures at puberty onset; some research suggests subclinical (non-convulsive) seizures may underlie selective mutism. She experienced fainting spells alongside mutism, received a brain scan (showed nothing), and received no intervention. The condition typically lasts until early-to-mid 20s or requires intervention.

Mutism As “radar”

The author describes mutism as “the absolute worst aspect of childhood and growing up” and notes it remains her biggest ongoing problem. However, she’s developed a practical reframe: mutism serves as “radar”—if someone triggers it, they’re someone to avoid. Kind, non-judgmental people don’t trigger mutism; judgmental people do. The author describes this as having a “meanie detector”—an unpleasant but reliable system for identifying people to keep at distance.

Management and Recovery

Recovery involves increasing self-confidence and seeking out non-threatening people. The source is always social/emotional—lack of confidence and feeling intimidated or uncomfortable. Solutions are twofold: building personal confidence AND actively seeking the good in others, finding aspects of people to resonate with rather than against. Practice speaking is essential—in speech Therapy, clubs, special interest groups, phone calls, even with strangers in supermarkets. Most girls grow out of mutism before adulthood, or it diminishes in frequency, though some continue experiencing episodes into adulthood.

Alternative Communication and Survival

During mutism episodes, writing becomes crucial—it validates thoughts, allows processing with a clear head later, and has “saved my sanity if not my life” for many Autistic women. Using one’s preferred medium—art, dance, music, writing—provides essential emotional outlet when speech fails. Self-criticism should be avoided; if in an uncomfortable place, leave if safely possible.

Romantic Attraction and Vulnerability

Aspergirls exhibit strong obsessive tendencies that extend dangerously into romantic attraction, creating patterns of intense fixation that often result in social rejection and misunderstanding.

Obsessive Romantic Patterns

Strong Sensory drives (attraction to hair, eyes, physical appearance) combine with obsessive traits, creating intense fixation on romantic interests. One girl describes being unable to stop staring at a boy’s hair and eyes—turning her head repeatedly despite being in front of others—and lacking the theory of mind to realize others could see her behavior. She believed if she loved him, he must love her. Months of obsessive pursuit resulted in angry rejection: “You’re not a girl, I don’t know what you are.” This was her first realization that her behavior could frighten people, though she couldn’t fathom what she’d done wrong.

Direct Pursuit and Social Script Misunderstanding

The pattern reflects fundamental misunderstanding about courtship: girls are “supposed to play hard to get,” but Aspergirls are direct and logical. Seeing someone attractive, they think “I want to go out with him; therefore I should ask him out”—leading to ridicule and rejection. Calling someone 12 times a night or every night doesn’t match social norms but feels logical to the Autistic mind: if I like this person, I should contact them regularly. Early rejection and fear of it can establish lifelong patterns of romantic avoidance.

Emotional Naiveté and Abuse Vulnerability

Emotional naiveté creates profound vulnerability. Many Autistic women don’t recognize when someone is treating them badly or mistake it as “coming with the territory.” Younger Autistic girls may settle for anyone willing to date them, surprised and flattered someone wants them. They often let first partners choose them rather than discriminating carefully. Partners who sense malleability may become Svengali-type controllers or abusers. Some Autistic women have stayed in “somewhat controlling and sexually abusive relationships” because they didn’t know how to stand up for themselves and were made to feel their own thoughts were “automatically wrong.”

The consequences are severe: early pregnancy, STDs, single parenthood, emotional and sexual unfulfillment. Many don’t realize they’re unfulfilled because they have nothing to compare it with. The paradox is striking: intelligent women make “bad choices when it comes to relationships” because of emotional inexperience rather than intellectual deficit.

Unrealistic Romantic Expectations

Some Aspergirls have “a very Walt Disney view of romance” filled with idealistic stories that don’t reflect reality. Without discrimination, idealism leads to frequent hurt and disappointment. One woman describes starting relationships giving “the guy the benefit of the doubt, treating him as if he could be ‘the one’“—resulting in “frequent disappointment and depression.” Therapists advise “interviewing” the guy, making him prove himself over time.

The belief that “the One” won’t trigger Autistic shutdown is erroneous—it essentially assumes the right partner will “cure us of Autism.” Even with the right person, the “stimulated amygdala” will make some want to flee sometimes. Expecting constant contact or daily calls reflects literal thinking and need for reassurance but is not realistic: “It is normal when newly dating for him not to call you every day. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you or that he’s not thinking of you.”

Physical Attraction and Sensory Factors

Young Aspergirls are attracted to Sensory features: hair, eyes, appearance. With maturity, the search expands to encompassing all needs—but Sensory attraction remains paramount. A man’s smell is “absolutely crucial to attraction for most Aspergirls.” One woman describes needing both intellectual compatibility AND the right smell: “A sniff at the neck of the right person and I’m lost—if we are on the same intellectual level. But these components are rarely found in the same man, so I have had only two men in my life.”

Sexual activity is “strongly affected if not determined by Sensory issues.” Some Aspergirls find sex intensely pleasurable due to heightened senses. However, the majority find it too painful or annoying due to Sensory sensitivities—many are celibate by choice, others have sex primarily because partners want it. Experiences range from “I enjoy sex very much, more than my friends” to “Sex hurts too much; no partner for a long time” to “I haven’t had sex in seven years. I’ve always had this push/pull thing. I may want a guy, but I’m scared to have them actually touch me.”

Dating Challenges and Rejection Sensitivity

Social withdrawal, selective mutism, Meltdowns, bluntness, monologuing, awkwardness, and tics all limit romantic opportunities. Public panic attacks render someone “un-dateable.” Close relationships require trusting that a partner won’t be offended by Autistic traits (needing to leave parties before melting down, for example). Society prizes confidence and appearance, and Aspergirls often appear uncertain and neglect grooming. Hair may be “frizzily out of fashion,” and avoidance of antiperspirants and chemicals means potential odor issues—none of which attract others.

Yet “it really takes one person to ‘get us’“—another Autistic person or someone eccentric who knows we’re quirky and likes us because of it, not despite it. Someone we can trust not to hold our traits against us.

Practical Relationship Guidance

The book provides concrete, pragmatic advice for Aspergirls navigating romance.

Authenticity and Compatibility

If a potential partner can’t handle your interests (quantum physics, manga, D&D), doesn’t get your jokes, or gets embarrassed by your bluntness, he’s likely not compatible. Don’t dumb yourself down or try to mimic “the kind of girl that guys will like”—work on yourself but be authentically you. Celebrate geek power and intelligence; “smarts are sexy” and uniqueness eventually translates into personal style. Even if not the most popular girl in school, being genuine and pursuing your own interests attracts soul mates. Instead of spending energy making someone you’re attracted to like you, “go out with someone who already does like you. That will save time and heartache.”

Early Disclosure and Accommodation Needs

Early disclosure may be optimal when meeting someone you both like. If a partner knew from your work or social context that you have Asperger’s, they may self-educate and read about it, taking information on board if committing to you. This removes the burden of “trying to be normal.” Even without full disclosure, stating your needs helps—saying you’d prefer a quieter first date location to talk and get to know each other. If that raises his eyebrows, he’s not right for you at that time. Aspergirls must figure out what their needs are before they can have them met.

Managing Obsessive Behavior and Controlling Impulses

The Autistic need for control can carry into relationships. If liking someone, Aspergirls may call them, ask them out, etc.—but unless he’s Autistic or “extremely liberated,” this may not work long-term and can turn him off. Society remains more traditional than it admits; men are “still ‘supposed’ to be the ones to call” (regardless of logical protests about gender roles). Aspergirls might get upset if he doesn’t call back immediately, leading to obsessive re-calling and bad reputation. Young Autistic girls should let a boy know they like him with a smile and friendly words occasionally, but if he doesn’t “get” you, he isn’t right—no matter how good he smells or how blue his eyes. If sailing into obsessive behavior, “turn that boat around. That is okay when dealing with inanimate objects, books, or knowledge, but when dealing with another human being, it is dangerous and could be both frightening and disturbing to them.”

Understanding Relationship Reality Vs. Fantasy

Love might not be as “lovey-dovey” as fantasized. Some will still want to flee, dislike hand-holding, or prefer seeing someone once or twice weekly—conflicting with expectations of “the One.” This doesn’t signal something wrong; it’s reality even with the right person. Partners should provide clear communication: one partner gave crucial advice—“You have a lot to offer someone but that will not happen if you give them a small window of time to perform to your expectations.” The “window” visual helps prevent worrying about what others think and spiraling thoughts. From a partner’s perspective, Autistic fear equals isolation and “going down the rabbit hole”—unlike non-Autistic people, Autistic individuals have difficulty stopping themselves from “hitting the bottom.” Clear lines and predictable plans are essential; if any plan is waived, “Autistic people tend to weave off the road. It’s like a small fire that needs immediate attention or it will become a bigger one.”

Self-Assessment Before Pursuing Relationships

Ask pragmatically: Are you happy within yourself? Does he ADD to or detract from that happiness? Can you be yourself around him? Does he have something to offer that enhances your life and well-being? Have you worked on style and appearance to reflect who you are? Regarding sex, your choice should be your choice, not society’s. As long as consenting adults are involved, “live and let live.” If unsatisfied with sex and wanting more, therapists, books, and videos offer exploration. Don’t rush into sex because it “feels like time”—first experiences leave indelible marks and should be with the right person who knows and understands you, ideally someone who knows you have AS. You need and want to feel safe. Pleasant sex with the right person is “infinitely different and more fulfilling” than unpleasant experiences.

Recognizing When Being Single Is Better

Being single and content is valid; not all Aspergirls want relationships. Many are happily alone and shouldn’t be pressured by societal expectations. Loneliness and resignation to never having relationships are different—some choose solitude, others gave up after repeated failures. One woman notes: “if you are truly happy alone, then you are lucky, for it is peaceful and you definitely have more time to engage in your passions” versus another who realized she’d “given up” and laid down saying “I quit!” The distinction between chosen solitude and resigned isolation is critical.

Misunderstanding, Guilt, and Chronic Invalidation

A profound theme underlying much of Aspergirl experience: without Diagnosis, families and teachers assume girls deliberately act “weird,” are attention-seeking, or choosing Meltdowns. This creates lifelong guilt complexes and internalized shame that may be more damaging than core Autism symptoms.

The Guilt of Being Blamed for Neurology

Aspergirls internalize enormous guilt for behaviors they don’t understand or can’t control. The author describes being told “you know what you did!” repeatedly while genuinely not knowing. Without Diagnosis, the assumption is that girls should “just handle” situations Neurotypical peers manage easily, creating internal conflict: I should be able to just deal with this. Families may blame themselves, blame the child, or blame poor parenting. Skepticism persists even after Diagnosis—relatives suggest stricter discipline rather than understanding. The author compares it to telling someone in a wheelchair to take the stairs.

Gendered Pressure and Invisible Disability

Women face particular pressure because society expects them to be capable multi-taskers, masters of etiquette, and emotionally intelligent—invisible Autism violates these expectations while remaining invisible as legitimate difference. This creates unique shame: I look normal, I’m smart, so I should be able to do this. The psychological toll of this expectation mismatch cannot be overstated.

Chronic Misunderstanding and Consequences

Nearly all Aspergirls interviewed reported being frequently misunderstood—their words and intentions misread, behaviors misinterpreted as intentional offense. Social withdrawal is interpreted as hiding something; lack of Eye contact means lying; friendliness is mistaken for flirting; attempts to organize situations appear manipulative; anxiety looks like controlling behavior or being “bitchy.”

The consequences are severe: lost jobs, lost homes, lost friendships, damaged reputations. One woman was evicted because her landlady interpreted her “spacey behavior” as a drug problem. Another nearly failed nursing placement because people thought she was arrogant and egotistical when she was actually confused and trying to understand social dynamics. This lifelong pattern of misunderstanding—starting in childhood—creates cumulative emotional damage that, unchecked, leads to bitterness, withdrawal from the world, and giving up on friendships and employment.

The Author’s Assessment

The author explicitly states: “Most of the psychological problems that seem to come with AS have more to do with non-acceptance, bullying, and blaming than anything else.” This is a critical reframing: the depression, anxiety, and trauma Aspergirls experience aren’t inherent to Autism but stem from living in a world that doesn’t understand or accept them.

Emotional Dysregulation and Meltdowns

Two distinct types of Autistic Meltdowns exist, each with different triggers, duration, and recovery patterns. Understanding this distinction is critical for Aspergirls and those supporting them.

Depression Meltdowns: the Paralyzing Collapse

Depression Meltdowns last days or weeks and are intensely crippling. They begin with a cloudy feeling around the brain edges and forehead tightness, often triggered by a comment, change of plan, social/Sensory overload, breakups, or being the object of scorn or misunderstanding. The person feels hit by a baseball bat, experiences dizziness like fainting, and describes it as “a black hole in my stomach sucking my entire body in.” Sufferers cry to the point of hyperventilation and choking, despair that nothing will ever be right, feel paralyzed by grief, and can be incapacitated for hours or days. Physical symptoms accompany: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, dizziness, and headaches. Recovery feels similar to recovering from mutism—physical sensations slowly normalize, like emerging from underwater into air.

Temper Meltdowns: the Explosive Rage

Temper Meltdowns are briefer but explosive, involving yelling, swearing, viciousness, and destructiveness. They’re triggered by injustice, unfair treatment, hunger, Sensory overload, confusion, unwanted touch, or false accusations. During temper Meltdowns, Aspergians may say things they don’t mean, and the physical expression can appear violent and terrifying. The rage is brief but the aftermath is devastating—embarrassment, damaged relationships, potential legal consequences (some have been arrested). Both types cause physical symptoms beyond emotional distress.

Misinterpretation As Behavioral or Manipulative

Both meltdown types are genuine Neurological events, not character flaws or manipulative behavior, and require understanding rather than punishment. Yet they’re often interpreted as intentional loss of control or attention-seeking. This misinterpretation compounds trauma and shame. Parents and partners who understand Meltdowns as Neurological can respond with Support rather than punishment, fundamentally changing their impact.

Substance Abuse and Autistic Sensitivity

Autistic girls may attempt drugs or alcohol in adolescence hoping to “free the mind” or blend in socially. This strategy fails completely and backfires. Substances actually worsen mutism episodes and can trigger fainting spells. Autistic individuals are “far too sensitive mentally and physically” to tolerate recreational drugs—they are “very deleterious to our health and well-being.” The approach reflects desperation to manage social awkwardness but creates additional physical and Neurological complications rather than solutions. For many Aspergirls, this realization comes too late, after negative experiences or experimentation has caused harm.

Empathy in Asperger’s: Conditional and Misunderstood

The claim that people with Asperger’s lack empathy is fundamentally wrong and represents one of the most damaging misconceptions about Autism.

Empathy Is Present but Expression Is Complex

When Aspergian empathy is functional, it’s often overwhelming rather than deficient. The issue is expression: Aspergians feel empathy but don’t know how to express it, or they can’t relate to situations they haven’t experienced, or they shut down empathetically when feeling attacked. One woman described never crying for her uncle’s suicide despite understanding his suffering, leading her mother to call her “cold” and “dead inside.” This wounded her deeply, not because the Assessment was accurate but because she couldn’t articulate her internal experience.

Conditional Empathy and Protective Shutdown

Aspergian empathy is often conditional and transactional: they extend significant empathy to those who show them compassion, but if reciprocal care isn’t shown, empathy can completely disappear—described as feeling like the person becomes “a walking, talking shadow” or “non-existent.” The author theorizes that Aspergians start life very sensitive but gradually shut empathy off as they’re repeatedly hurt and misread, developing protective numbness over time. This shutdown isn’t heartlessness but self-preservation.

Diagnosis, Misdiagnosis, and Medication Complications

Formal Diagnosis of Asperger’s in women is complicated by several factors: high cost, lack of insurance coverage, the subjective nature of Diagnosis (no blood test), and clinician lack of knowledge about female presentation. Hans Asperger described symptoms in boys, so doctors don’t know what to look for in girls.

Multiple Misdiagnoses Across the Lifespan

Many women receive multiple misdiagnoses throughout their lives—schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, multiple personalities, OCD, ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depression—each only covering part of the picture. These incorrect diagnoses lead to inappropriate medication that can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

Medication Harm and Sensitivity

One woman was prescribed Paxil after a 15-minute university health center visit, and within four days experienced uncontrollable urges to cut herself. She was then given anti-psychotics, SSRIs, anticonvulsants, and mood stabilizers, which caused her to hallucinate and hear voices commanding self-harm. She attempted suicide and was hospitalized with a schizo-affective disorder Diagnosis. Only after getting off all medications two years later did the voices and cutting urges disappear.

The core problem: doctors prescribe one-size-fits-all doses when Aspergians need 1/3 to 1/2 the normal starter dose—their bodies are too sensitive. One woman on Adderall went “nuts”; another medicated at age 8 couldn’t feel anything and lost control over her brain.

Self-Diagnosis and Delayed Formal Confirmation

Several women were self-diagnosed first because they couldn’t afford formal Diagnosis, and later received official confirmation. This speaks to both the accessibility crisis in Autism Diagnosis and the validity of self-Diagnosis when formal Diagnosis is economically impossible.

Trauma of Family Interviews for Diagnosis

Getting diagnosed often requires family interviews, which is traumatic for women who were abused by family members. This creates a barrier to Diagnosis for many trauma survivors.

Antidepressants As Misguided Treatment

Antidepressants are frequently overprescribed and often harmful to Aspergians. The problem is that antidepressants treat symptoms, not sources. Depression stems from powerlessness—losing love, money, friends, health, understanding—which can be addressed through lifestyle changes, environmental modification, and Support, not chemicals alone. The author advocates for Temple Grandin’s approach: very low doses of SSRIs used carefully, in tandem with cognitive behavioral Therapy, rather than medication as primary intervention.

The Gut-Autism Connection and Digestive Health

Most Autism researchers now believe Autism involves a compromised digestive system that allows toxins into the bloodstream during crucial brain development stages. Gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) and specific carbohydrate (SCD) diets operate on the premise of a “leaky gut.” Authors Donna Gates and Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride argue that Autism stems from lack of healthy digestive flora, passed maternally and damaged by poor diet, antibiotics, and not breastfeeding.

The Prevalence of Digestive Issues in Aspergirls

Research for the book found 9 out of 10 people on the spectrum had digestive problems; for this book, all but two had significant stomach/intestinal issues. Common problems include: chronic nausea, food allergies (wheat, dairy), migraines, guttate psoriasis, hypothyroidism, IBS, hiatal hernia, constipation, ulcers, heartburn, sensitive skin, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, leaky gut Diagnosis, and extreme sugar/salt cravings. Many have accepted daily pain as normal—this is not inevitable and represents a treatable condition.

Dietary Intervention and Supplementation

The author’s trial with Amrit supplements showed that healing digestive health improved Autism symptoms: more even mood, decreased anxiety, fewer Meltdowns, better social tolerance, and reduced stimming needs. Natural alternatives to antidepressants that have helped include 5-HTP, St. John’s wort, ginkgo biloba, Valor, and powerful antioxidants like Amrit, though all require dose adjustment for Autistic sensitivity. A two-month trial with 12 women using Amrit at reduced doses showed almost immediate mood evening, cessation of anxiety, and decreased Meltdowns, though initial digestive side effects required dose adjustment.

Transition to Whole Foods As Foundation

Recommendation: gradually transition from processed foods to organic, whole-food, plant-based diet as a foundation before attempting restrictive Autism diets like GFCF or SCD. This foundational work can significantly improve digestive health and, consequently, Autism symptoms and Emotional regulation.

Aspergian Motherhood: Strengths and Challenges

Aspergian mothers tend to be “unconventional yet conservative”—strict, safe, logical, protective, and intellectually stimulating parents. Their need for control, Sensory sensitivities, and love of learning often result in children who read extensively, eat nutritiously with minimal junk food, get exercise and fresh air, and receive strong intellectual stimulation. Many Aspergirls homeschool their children due to distrust of school systems and desire for intellectual challenge.

Emotional Immaturity Alongside Intellectual Competence

However, undiagnosed Aspergian mothers often struggle with the realization they weren’t meeting their children’s emotional needs—missing social milestones, failing to understand unspoken expectations (like attending a daughter’s prom dress viewing or helping move into a dorm), and appearing emotionally immature while intellectually sound. The emotional immaturity can create a “playmate” dynamic where children grow up but the Aspergian parent remains emotionally at the same level. Many Aspergirls lack natural maternal instinct for babies but develop deep love and friendship with their children as they grow.

Single Motherhood and Catastrophic Loss

For single Aspergian mothers, especially after divorce, the loss is catastrophic: losing the family’s sole breadwinner, the social buffer, and the person managing all the things they cannot. Multiple stories detail devastating spirals—one woman became a single mother of five with no job experience after two men left her, spending 16 years trying to rebuild her life and describing herself as “a fabulous mother in a vacuum, but really suck in real life.” Children can become emotionally dependent on the Aspergian mother’s Special interests (their shared “playmate” relationship), making empty nest particularly devastating.

Misunderstanding by Authorities

The dichotomy of being emotionally immature yet intellectually competent creates serious misunderstandings with social workers and family courts—at least two women interviewed had their children temporarily removed based on suspicion of inadequate parenting despite being exonerated. This further traumatizes mothers already struggling with confidence and creates lasting damage to parent-child relationships.

Rituals, Routines, and Literal Thinking

Aspergians have rigid adherence to ritual and routine as a security mechanism—a way of controlling an otherwise precarious world. This isn’t a psychological neurosis but a Neurological need for predictability.

Routine As Protective, Not Controlling

The DSM-IV’s label of “control issues” misrepresents this as a psychological problem that can be eliminated through effort, when in reality it can only be lessened, never eliminated. Routine is actually protective—it creates reliability and stability for families and workplaces. However, rigidity can prevent taking jobs, trips, attending functions, and maintaining relationships.

Literal Thinking and Communication Challenges

Aspergians struggle with metaphor, sarcasm, and implied meaning. One woman ordered exactly 12 kalamata olives at a deli counter because a recipe called for 12, not understanding she could simply eat extras. Another answered a taxi driver’s “Where are you?” with “I’m right here” from the back seat. This literal interpretation can make them appear unintelligent despite high intelligence, or seem intentionally obtuse when they’re simply processing language differently. Blunt, honest speech without tact gets Aspergians into significant trouble—their directness is often perceived as rudeness, manipulation, or arrogance, though no malice is intended.

Bridge-Burning: the Cycle of Abrupt Departure

Nearly all Aspergirls interviewed (all but one) identified bridge-burning as a defining characteristic. When situations become unbearable, they abruptly leave—relationships, jobs, homes, cities, countries—often without notice or gracious exit.

Roots and Patterns

This stems from the DSM criterion of “failure to develop peer relationships” (brief relationships followed by termination). Bridge-burning feels empowering in the moment, creating a sense of control: “I’m the one with power; I don’t need them.” However, it’s usually done in meltdown heat and is often regretted. The pattern reflects both depression Meltdowns (seeking new horizons to escape persistent depression) and temper Meltdowns (permanent severance after perceived injustice or mistreatment). Root causes include repeated misunderstandings, feeling taken for granted, not receiving love/appreciation felt deserved, and cumulative hurt.

Pre-Emptive Strikes

Related pattern: pre-emptive strikes (quit before fired, dump before being dumped, leave before things get messy) reflecting Aspergian ability to sense trouble ahead. One woman describes herself as a “bridge burner” who circumnavigated the globe twice and is still burning bridges in middle age, using the phoenix rising from ashes as her personal symbol.

Consequences and Karma Theory

The cycle repeats: new location, new job, new relationship, similar problems arise, bridge burns again. Consequences include: damaged reputation, lost references, lost recommendations, inability to return to jobs/stores/friendships. The author theorizes this tendency to self-imposed change may cause doctors to miss the Asperger’s Diagnosis, since Aspergians normally hate change—burning bridges represents the opposite. According to the author’s philosophy, karma-based repetition means similar situations arise elsewhere unless underlying patterns are understood and addressed.

Aging on the Spectrum: Relief and Challenges

Many women aren’t diagnosed until middle age, and this often brings relief and settling into their skin for the first time. The Diagnosis explains the “why” behind lifelong struggles. Combined with self-knowledge from aging, many Aspergirls report being happier in their 40s and 50s than ever before.

Benefits of Aging and Reduced Social Pressure

Benefits of aging include: less hyper energy, less self-centeredness, shedding emotional baggage, developing wisdom, freedom from beauty standards (femininity is less of a goal), relief from menstruation and hormonal cycles (menopause as welcome), loss of sexual attractiveness (experienced as relief), and freedom from performing normalcy—they stop hiding quirks and eccentricities. Aspergrannies (diagnosed grandmothers) enjoy deep engagement with grandchildren, getting on the floor and playing rather than just buying presents. This represents genuine freedom from decades of Masking.

Major Challenges in Later Years

However, major challenges emerge: poverty (from unemployment/underemployment), loneliness (children grow up and leave; harder to meet people when older, eccentric, and without money), and cumulative health issues (untreated stress, PTSD, lack of health insurance, inability to afford dental care or good food). Nursing homes present particular nightmares due to noise, smells, and staff unfamiliar with Autism triggers. Many older Aspergirls face declining functional ability despite appearing high-functioning, creating misunderstandings with practitioners who see no obvious disability.

Recommendations for Proactive Planning

Recommendations for older Aspergirls: maintain health proactively, avoid total reclusiveness, consider relationship benefits for aging together, increase income dramatically, and plan for financial security in later years. One older Aspergirl expressed relief at no longer being attractive to others, yet also anxiety about aging alone, wanting financial security and possibly companionship to grow old with.

The Belief-Acceptance-Love-Like-Support Framework for Parents

For parents of Aspergirls, this framework provides concrete structure for Support that prevents comorbid psychological damage and builds self-worth.

Belief

• Communicate belief in daughter’s potential verbally and through actions
• Educate skeptical family members rather than letting daughter spend energy convincing them
• If self-diagnosed, treat it seriously—an Aspergirl’s self-recognition is often genuine insight
• Support her dreams even if unconventional

Acceptance

• Accept the impact of Asperger’s on her life
• When she says she can’t handle certain conditions, respect those limitations—she’s not seeking attention but stating reality
• Use small, supported steps rather than “throwing her in the deep end”
• Accept who she is to minimize comorbid psychological conditions

LOVE

• Provide unconditional love without conditions attached
• Avoid “I love you, but…” constructions that signal conditional love
• Know that without parental love, Aspergirls often seek to fill that void through harmful relationships, drugs, or unhealthy partnerships

LIKE

• Genuinely like your daughter and see things from her perspective
• Understand that solitude is a need for regulation, not rejection of you
• Don’t try to mold her into an extension of yourself
• Don’t take lack of physical affection personally—it’s neurology, not emotional distance

Support

• Extend Support beyond typical independence milestones
• Recognize that emotional maturity lags behind intellectual development
• Provide moral, emotional, and sometimes financial Support into adulthood
• Move at the child’s pace, not at standard developmental timelines

Practical Strategies for Daily Living

Strategy 1: Managing Sensory Overload Through Environmental Control

Creating spaces and routines that minimize Sensory assault is foundational to functioning.

Implementation steps:

1. Identify personal triggers: Keep a Sensory diary for one week noting specific triggers (fluorescent lights, background noise, fabric textures, smells, visual complexity)
2. Create sanctuary spaces: Establish at least one room or area with controlled lighting (natural light or specific bulbs), silence or white noise, minimal visual clutter, and comfortable seating
3. Develop transition rituals: Use 5-10 minutes between Sensory-heavy situations and rest (change clothes, take a shower, sit in silence, listen to preferred music)
4. Communicate needs early: Tell employers, partners, family: “I need [specific accommodation] to function well” rather than apologizing or over-explaining
5. Use technology: Blue light filters on screens, noise-canceling headphones, tinted glasses for fluorescent light sensitivity
6. Build in recovery time: After Sensory-heavy events (shopping, socializing, work), schedule 30 minutes to 2 hours of Sensory rest before additional demands

Expected outcomes: Reduced Meltdowns, better Emotional regulation, increased tolerance for necessary social/work situations, improved sleep quality, decreased anxiety.

Strategy 2: Written Communication As Bypass for Selective Mutism

When speech fails, alternative communication maintains connection and processes experience.

Implementation steps:

1. Identify preferred medium: Art, music, dance, writing, typing—whatever feels most accessible when verbal speech shuts down
2. Practice using medium before crisis: Don’t wait for mutism to learn your tools; use them regularly so they’re automatic when needed
3. Create communication cards: Simple index cards with common phrases (“I need space,” “I’m overwhelmed,” “I need to leave”) for moments when speech won’t come
4. Use text/email: In relationships and work, offer written communication as supplement to verbal (“Can I email you my thoughts after I process?”)
5. Write without editing: Let thoughts flow without worrying about grammar or coherence—the goal is expression, not perfection
6. Revisit later: Review what you wrote during mutism with a clear head to extract insights and address issues

Expected outcomes: Maintenance of relationships despite mutism, emotional processing rather than bottling up, better understanding of triggers, reduced shame about communication differences, recovery from mutism episodes feeling less isolating.

Strategy 3: Practical Dating and Relationship Screening

Before investing emotional energy in relationships, develop clear criteria for partner viability.

Implementation steps:

1. Define your non-negotiables: What do you absolutely need? (Acceptance of Autism traits, intellectual compatibility, specific Sensory preferences)
2. Create interview questions: Ask potential partners about their values, how they handle conflict, whether they respect Neurodiversity, what they expect from relationships
3. Observe compatibility in low-stakes situations: Does he get your jokes? Can you be yourself? Does he criticize or Support your interests?
4. Make early disclosure: If comfortable, mention having Asperger’s early so he can self-educate if interested in continuing
5. Test emotional safety: Does he respond with curiosity or judgment to your needs? Does he become defensive if you disagree?
6. Notice obsessive patterns early: Are you calling more than he’s calling? Thinking about him more than pursuing your interests? Address this immediately with honesty
7. Ask trusted people outside the relationship: Have a friend observe your dynamic and give feedback—outsiders often notice red flags internal attraction obscures

Expected outcomes: Fewer relationships with fundamentally incompatible partners, earlier identification of abuse patterns, less time wasted on unsuitable matches, relationships built on genuine compatibility rather than desperation, reduced relationship-related depression and trauma.

Strategy 4: Dietary Intervention for Mood and Symptom Management

Gradual transition to whole foods and potential supplementation can significantly improve Emotional regulation and reduce Autistic symptoms.

Implementation steps:

1. Start with foundation, not restriction: Begin with adding whole, organic foods rather than eliminating foods—ADD vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains
2. Replace processed foods gradually: Each week, substitute one processed food item with a whole food equivalent (processed cereal → oatmeal; packaged snacks → nuts and dried fruit)
3. Eliminate obvious triggers: If you notice certain foods increase anxiety/Meltdowns, remove them (many Aspergirls identify sugar, caffeine, or specific additives as triggers)
4. Introduce supplementation carefully: Start with lowest doses of any supplement (1/3 to 1/2 normal starter dose) given Autistic sensitivity; options include 5-HTP, St. John’s wort, ginkgo biloba, or concentrated antioxidants
5. Give changes 2-3 months: Digestive changes take time; track mood and symptoms to notice shifts
6. Consult practitioners familiar with Autism: Regular doctors often don’t understand Autistic sensitivity to normal medication/supplement doses

Expected outcomes: More stable mood, decreased anxiety and Meltdowns, better social tolerance, reduced need to stim, improved digestive health, decreased dependence on psychiatric medications (if combined with other supports), more energy and capacity for daily tasks.

Key Insights and Transformative Perspectives

1. Internalized Guilt May Be More Damaging Than Core Autism Symptoms

Without Diagnosis, families blame girls for “choosing” Meltdowns or “deliberately” acting weird. Even with Diagnosis, skepticism persists. This creates lifelong guilt complexes where Aspergirls believe they should simply “handle” situations others manage, leading to depression, PTSD, and self-isolation. The author explicitly states: “Most of the psychological problems that seem to come with AS have more to do with non-acceptance, bullying, and blaming than anything else.”

2. Intellectual Giftedness Can Mask Social Devastation

The book challenges the assumption that intellectual ability predicts life success or happiness for Aspergirls. Many Aspergirls are intellectually advanced—reading at college level by age 8, understanding complex systems, remembering vast amounts of information—yet experience severe social isolation, bullying, and academic failure. The book presents detailed examples of gifted Aspergirls becoming high school dropouts, not because they lacked capability but because toxic school environments made attendance psychologically intolerable.

3. Empathy Exists but Expression Is Misunderstood

The dominant narrative claims Autistic people lack empathy. The book directly contradicts this, presenting evidence that Aspergirls often have overwhelming empathy that they struggle to express appropriately. One woman didn’t cry at her uncle’s suicide but understood his suffering deeply; her mother interpreted the lack of tears as coldness, not recognizing that empathy exists separately from tear response. This is not absence of empathy but conditional empathy—extended fully to those who show reciprocal care, but withdrawn entirely from those who don’t, creating an all-or-nothing dynamic rather than the graduated empathy Neurotypical people use.

4. Sensory Overload Is Neurological Assault, Not Preference

Aspergirls describe Sensory overload in terms typically reserved for physical injury: being “hit by a baseball bat,” fever-like symptoms, brain attempting to “purge toxins,” genuine physical pain. The book distinguishes this sharply from mere sensitivity or preference. A person who prefers quiet is not the same as an Aspergirl in Sensory overload—she experiences Neurological distress, physical pain, and shutdown that is involuntary and not within her control. One woman spent a day in Boston and experienced fever and kaleidoscopic visual playback for 1-2 hours as her brain “purged” the Sensory invasion like a virus. This isn’t preference; it’s pathophysiology.

5. Bridge-Burning Reflects Boundary Strength Expressed Destructively

Nearly all Aspergirls interviewed identified bridge-burning as a defining pattern—abruptly leaving relationships, jobs, homes. This is typically framed as failure or pathology. The book reframes it: Aspergirls have strong boundary-sensing abilities and can detect when situations are unsustainable or unjust; they respond by withdrawing (a valid boundary response). The problem isn’t the boundary-setting but the method—abrupt departure without notice or negotiation, usually during meltdown, often regretted. The insight is that Aspergirls aren’t broken in their boundary-sensing; they’re underdeveloped in graceful boundary communication.

6. Medication Sensitivity Creates Systemic Harm

Many psychiatric medications cause severe adverse effects in Aspergirls at standard doses. If medication is prescribed, it should start at 1/3 to 1/2 normal starter dose, with close monitoring for adverse effects. The book documents that correct Diagnosis of Asperger’s is often delayed because Aspergirls receive incorrect diagnoses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD) leading to inappropriate medication. One woman on Paxil developed uncontrollable urges to cut herself within 4 days; anti-psychotics caused hallucinations and voices commanding self-harm; only after discontinuing all medications did the voices and cutting urges completely disappear.

7. Parental Unconditional Love Is Reparative and Protective

The book emphasizes that Aspergirls without secure parental attachment often end up in abusive relationships, struggling with depression and self-harm, and cycling through trauma. Parental unconditional love—belief in capability, acceptance of difference, genuine liking of the person (not just tolerance), and extended Support—functions as genuine trauma prevention and healing in ways Therapy alone cannot. This challenges the narrative that Therapy is the primary intervention for psychological healing; for Aspergirls, secure attachment is primary intervention, and Therapy is secondary Support.

Critical Warnings and Important Notes

Mental Health and Self-Harm Risk

The book documents severe mental health crises in Aspergirls, including PTSD from bullying, depression leading to suicidal ideation, selective mutism preventing help-seeking, and self-harm. Several women recounted suicide attempts, hospitalization, and years of recovery. Parents and Aspergirls themselves should recognize that invisible Autism creates invisible crises—good grades and apparent high functioning mask serious psychological distress.

When to seek professional help:

• Persistent depression lasting weeks despite Support
• Any mention of suicide or self-harm
• Severe social withdrawal or isolation
• Unexplained changes in eating, sleep, or self-care
• Substance use as coping mechanism
• Meltdowns increasing in severity or frequency

Bullying and Trauma Prevention

Bullying is nearly universal in Aspergirls’ school experiences and creates lasting PTSD. Parents should actively monitor for bullying and be willing to switch schools if bullying emerges. The costs of remaining in bullying environments (PTSD, eating disorders, academic dropout, suicidal ideation) far exceed the costs of school changes.

Sexual Vulnerability

Aspergirls’ emotional naiveté, theory-of-mind challenges, and desire for intimate connection make them vulnerable to sexual abuse, exploitation, and predatory relationships. Parents should educate explicitly about healthy vs. Abusive relationships, Support open communication about romantic interest and concerns, teach assertiveness and right to bodily autonomy, and monitor for signs of grooming or abuse.

Aging and Long-Term Planning

Aspergirls face particular risks in aging related to poverty, isolation, and institutional care challenges. Proactive planning in middle years is essential: develop stable income or financial security before retirement, build social connections intentionally before children leave, create advance directives specifying Sensory Accommodations and Autism-informed care preferences, investigate housing options allowing environmental control, and ensure medical providers understand Autism and its presentation in older women.

Resources and References

Key Experts and Researchers

• Tony Attwood (Author/Researcher) - Leading Asperger’s expert who questions the 3-4:1 male-to-female ratio
• Lorna Wing (Researcher) - Leading Autism researcher questioning underdiagnosis in females
• Hans Asperger (Historical figure) - Original describer of Asperger syndrome; Diagnostic criteria based primarily on male presentations
• Temple Grandin - Autistic scholar; recommended approach: very low-dose SSRIs combined with cognitive behavioral Therapy

Books and Publications

• Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome (Rudy Simone)
• DSM (Current psychiatric Diagnostic manual)
• GAPS Diet literature (Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride)
• Body Ecology approach (Donna Gates)

External Resources

• Autism Self Advocacy Network - Autistic-led advocacy and resources
• AANE (Autism & Asperger’s Network) - Resources for Autism spectrum Support
• Understood - Learning differences and Neurodiversity Support
• ADDitude Magazine - Resources for ADHD and co-occurring conditions

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