Signs of Autism in Adult Women, and Why It Gets Missed
The signs of autism in adult women, why decades of masking hide them, and why so many are given anxiety, depression or personality disorder diagnoses first.
August 10, 2026
Affirming, plain-language writing on autism, from lived experience and current research. Browse the latest below, or jump to a topic.
PDA is a profile of autism where everyday demands trigger extreme, anxiety-driven avoidance. Learn the signs and the low-demand approach that helps.
The signs of autism in adult women, why decades of masking hide them, and why so many are given anxiety, depression or personality disorder diagnoses first.
Hitting, biting and throwing are distress signals rather than defiance. The five things they usually mean, why punishment fails, and what reduces them over time.
Interoception is the sense of your inner body state. Many autistic people read it differently, which affects hunger, self care and emotions.
Autism, introversion, social anxiety, ADHD and complex trauma overlap and get confused. How they actually differ, and why the honest answer is often more than one.
How autism assessment works in Ireland, for children and adults, public and private routes, waiting lists, and what you can do while you wait.
What actually helps calm an autistic child: cut the sensory input, stop talking, drop every demand and regulate yourself first. A practical guide for during and after.