46. S4, Ep3: Hormones, reproductive and mental health and stepping into our sensory selves

Becky Beasley is an award winning visual artist, receiving the highest UK award for Visual Arts in the country, a Paul Hamlyn Artists Award, in 2018, and also teaches Fine Art part time at Goldsmiths College. But alongside her career success she has battled with mental health and hormonal problems, prompting her to go on a research journey that ultimately lead to her autism diagnosis in February this year. Becky is in her mid 40s, lives and works in Hastings in the UK and describes herself as a women's health gap warrior. In our conversation we talk about  ➡ Hormones, female reproductive health and the gender health gap - and how these impact autistic people who menstruate ➡ Mental health and its impact on life and work ➡ Becoming attuned to ourselves, meeting our sensory needs and giving ourselves permission to stim ➡ Gender identity, friendship and finding your tribe   TRIGGER WARNING: Please be aware that there is mention of suicide and suicidal ideation, miscarriage and eating disorders from the start of this episode, so if you don't want to hear about these topics you might want to give this one a miss. Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I'm Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I'm now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn't quite fit.   EPISODE LINKS: Becky's website: www.beckybeasley.com/ Her award: https://www.phf.org.uk/artist/becky-beasley/ More about her art: https://www.plan-b.ro/artist/becky-beasley/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckybeasleyuk/ https://www.instagram.com/autist_perimenopause_diary/  https://www.instagram.com/theseaweedshophastings/  Maisie Hill (hormones): https://www.maisiehill.com/  Towards a Profile of Adult Autistic women: https://taniaannmarshall.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/moving-towards-a-female-profile-the-unique-characteristics-abilities-and-talents-of-asperwomen-adult-women-with-asperger-syndrome/    If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website: https://squarepeg.community/    THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abigail J Moore, Caroline, Cat Preston, Corinne Cariad, Elise, Karawynn Long, Kate Faust, Katharine Richards, Katherine Lynch, Laurie Green, Lea Li, Lilli Simmons, Pete Burke, Sarah Hardy and Vera Cady. If you're enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from just £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast