Autism in Women: TikTok Diagnosis or Self-Correction?

"Four years ago, I saw 'Sara' for a therapy intake. She tearfully recounted that she had been using social media to watch videos about her interests, and videos started filtering in content related to being a late-diagnosed autistic adult. Wondering why these videos were showing up in her feed, she watched a few and realized that she was likely autistic."

"I personally fall into the latter category. When I researched how neurodivergence presents differently in females and began to realize that I was likely autistic, I was embarrassed. How could I have worked with autistic people for over 20 years and not know?"

"Most of the research was less than 5 years old. Historical research on autism previously focused on males, which is why I was researching autistic women/girls in the first place. Now, I was seeing the impacts of this missing information, not just in my therapy practice, but in my own life."

There is a notable rise in late-diagnosed autism among high masking women, prompting discussions in the mental health community. This increase may be influenced by social media or greater awareness of autism traits. The historical context of autism diagnosis, particularly the focus on males, has contributed to this phenomenon. Personal experiences reveal that many women, like Sara, discover their autism through social media or after their children are diagnosed. The evolving understanding of the female autism phenotype is crucial for accurate diagnosis and support.

Read at Psychology Today