Odd Girl Out-A Woman On The Autistic Spectrum

“What do you do when you wake up in your mid-forties and realize you’ve been living a lie your whole life? Do you tell? Or do you keep it to yourself?” Laura James, Odd Girl Out.

I was recently invited along to the offices of Bluebird Books (Macmillan), for the release of Laura James’ book. The Macmillan marketing team reached out to influencers to help promote Laura’s new book about her late autism diagnosis, and asked if I would film a series of short YouTube videos with her. They can be viewed here.

Laura’s wonderful book reveals a life lived with undiagnosed autism. She discusses the many specific challenges faced by women on the autistic spectrum.

At school, Laura learned how to mask, or hide, her social differences. This was often achieved by copying the communication style of the girls she wanted to become friends with. This is a tactic common with many women I’ve interviewed for AdultsWithAutism.org.uk.

To the casual onlooker, Laura has everything. She is a mother of four, has a successful career in journalism, and is a published author. Yet Laura always knew she was different, but could not explain why. Her autism diagnosis shed light on the social and communication challenges she had faced throughout her life, and why she never felt as though she “fitted in” with the social norms expected of her.

Laura’s experience is one that is shared by thousands of women on the autistic spectrum. Her book describes how females often display their autistic symptoms differently from males. And why, ironically, due to their skill in masking their social and communication differences, achieving a diagnosis as a female has been much more difficult. This has undoubtedly led to females being less likely to achieve an autism diagnosis.

Laura’s book is helping to create the current tidal wave of autism awareness.

She will be seen as a role model for younger women on the spectrum, while giving hope to parents of autistic children.

I see Laura as one of a “new breed of high-functioning autistics.” We have good jobs, long-term relationships, children and mortgages. Yet we struggle in our social lives, and to really feel connected to our surroundings. We live in a state of constant anxiety, and suffer the same sensory overload as our fellow autistics that are judged to be less able.