Autism Mind

01/19/2026

On Martin Luther King, Jr. day:

I always read or listen to one of his speeches.

This year, his speech was “I’ve Been to The Mountaintop”. Delivered April 3, 1968, Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters), Memphis, Tennessee.

Full text and of Martin Luther King's I've Been to the Mountaintop

01/19/2026

“It’s like I have a certain amount of words in a day… once those are used up, that’s it.”

For non-autistic people, socialising often includes informal small talk, especially as a starter or 'warm-up' to conversation. This quote from an autistic person reminds us that small talk can be draining for an autistic person due to the extra cognitive and sensory effort involved. Not engaging in small talk can be a way of conserving energy for other important goals during the day, and sometimes just to survive the day.

Want to learn more?
🎥 Join Maja Toudl, an autistic clinical psychologist, along with Tony and Michelle to learn Energy Accounting, a practical, easy-to-adopt system for identifying everyday stressors, understanding stress thresholds, and supporting wellbeing from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. This webinar offers clear tools you can apply immediately for your own wellbeing and in clinical practice with autistic adolescents and adults.

Link to the event in the comments.

01/16/2026

11/03/2025

11/03/2025

“I just felt as though everything I’d been keeping together, my coping, my masking, simply snapped. It was as though my autism broke.”

- Research participant in a seminal study* on menopause and autism

Many autistic people use camouflaging, that is suppressing their autistic and ADHD traits and imitating non-autistic ways of behaving, to survive. However, many find that when their estrogen levels start to drop, heralding the beginning of menopause (which can start in the early 40’s) they don’t have the energy or executive functioning capacity to mask or camouflage any longer. At the same time, they struggle with sleeping (due to increased anxiety and hot flushes) which leads to energy depletion and more ‘brain fog.’ Suddenly emotion regulation feels inaccessible and sensory sensitivities can be heightened. The sense of fear and lack of safety could escalate exponentially, especially if support sought is not attuned, invalidating or just not forthcoming. It is helpful to be forewarned about the changes that commonly occur for autistic people prior to these changes starting, and developing strategies to manage them, including being able to access the right kinds of support. In essence, it is important to know that you are not broken, your autism is not broken and you are not alone.

📚Learn more!
Want to learn more about the unique strengths, challenges, and lived experiences of autistic women?
Join the webcast Autistic Women webcast on 7 November 2025 - An afternoon session, 1:30 pm – 4:45 pm AEST to explore the experiences, strengths, and mental health of autistic women across adulthood.
🔗 https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/products/webcast-autistic-women-7th-november-2025

In the morning, we are hosting our Autistic Girls from 9:30 am – 12:45 pm AEST, Brisbane time - join to gain research-informed insights and practical strategies for supporting authenticity, wellbeing, and inclusion.
🔗 https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/products/webcast-autistic-girls-7th-november-2025

*Moseley, R. L., Druce, T., & Turner-Cobb, J. M. (2020). 'When my autism broke': A qualitative study spotlighting autistic voices on menopause. Autism, 24(6), 1423-1437.

11/03/2025

“Menopause is like going through puberty all over again.”
(Autistic woman, Brady et al., 2024, p. 1411)

Menopause represents a normative stage of ageing for people assigned female at birth, with approximately 90% of women experiencing the menopausal transition by the age of 56. However, emerging research suggests that autistic women may experience this life stage differently. Brady et al. (2024) found that menopause is often described by autistic participants as a period of heightened physiological, cognitive, and emotional change, echoing the developmental turbulence of puberty. Compared with non-autistic women, autistic women report a greater intensity of menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor disturbances (e.g., hot flushes), disrupted sleep, memory difficulties, and increased anxiety.

Importantly, menopause may also amplify autistic characteristics, with participants describing greater sensory sensitivity, reduced social tolerance or withdrawal, and increased difficulties with executive functioning and attentional regulation, features that overlap with ADHD traits such as cognitive “fog” and disorganisation. These compounded changes can contribute to elevated stress and a heightened vulnerability to autistic burnout. The interaction between hormonal fluctuations, neurodivergent processing, and accumulated life stressors underscores the need for neuroaffirming, tailored support for autistic women during the menopausal transition.

📚Learn more!
Want to learn more about the unique strengths, challenges, and lived experiences of autistic women?
Join the webcast Autistic Women webcast on 7 November 2025 - An afternoon session, 1:30 pm – 4:45 pm AEST to explore the experiences, strengths, and mental health of autistic women across adulthood.
🔗 https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/products/webcast-autistic-women-7th-november-2025

In the morning, we are hosting our Autistic Girls from 9:30 am – 12:45 pm AEST, Brisbane time - join to gain research-informed insights and practical strategies for supporting authenticity, wellbeing, and inclusion.
🔗 https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/products/webcast-autistic-girls-7th-november-2025

09/23/2025

To all my family, friends, clients, and neighbors. You are loved and prayed for!

09/16/2025

09/13/2025

Proposition: neurotypicals have a great theory of mind and are highly empathetic, and autistic people lack both. The reality may be quite the opposite!

09/13/2025

For many autistic individuals, the journey to self-discovery is not straightforward. This article outlines the stages and my personal experience navigating them.

08/25/2025

08/18/2025

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