Dr. Luke Beardon is a leading autism researcher, author and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who has spent more than 30 years working alongside autistic people and their families.
In this episode, Luke reveals what autism can actually feel like from the inside, from masking and rehearsing conversations to sensory overwhelm, burnout and the exhaustion of constantly trying to fit in.
He explores why so many people go decades without realising they’re autistic, what happens when you mask for so long that you lose sight of who you really are, and why the parts of yourself you spent a lifetime hiding may never have needed fixing in the first place.
Chapters:
00:00 Trailer
01:23 Why Luke dedicated his life to understanding autism
02:46 How can someone be autistic for decades without knowing?
05:38 What high-masking autism actually looks like
08:06 How early does autistic masking begin?
10:21 The biggest misconception about autism in adults
16:10 The biggest signs you’re masking autism
17:37 Why autistic people rehearse conversations
23:50 Why small talk can be so exhausting
29:59 What sensory overwhelm actually feels like
36:40 Why autistic people stim
40:04 Tiimo advert
41:31 The autistic behaviours people are made to feel ashamed of
43:33 The hidden cost of masking autism
46:39 What autistic burnout actually feels like
49:58 Can you mask for so long that you lose yourself?
51:27 When the mask becomes your personality
57:54 Are you really an introvert, or could you be autistic?
01:00:05 The Washing Machine of Woes
01:03:17 A Letter to My Younger Self
Buy Dr Luke’s books 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Luke-Beardon/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALuke%2BBeardon
Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter
Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817
Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e
Producer: Timon Woodward
Recorded by: Hamlin Studios
Trailer editor: Ryan Faber
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
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