74. S6, Ep7: Finding the right fit: autism, health and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

Elizabeth Williams is an acupuncturist from South Carolina, USA. She is 43 and was diagnosed autistic just a few months ago, in February this year. Like me, she started out her career as a teacher, before switching to acupuncture, which she says is a much better fit for her. Since her career change she has been on a journey of self discovery, exploring everything she could find about personality theories and physical and mental health. But she says that it wasn't until she figured out she's autistic that all the pieces fell in to place.  In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Reframing childhood experiences ➡ Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and masking, and its impact on relationships ➡ Choosing work that has the perfect sensory environment ➡ Advocating for our own health, autism and digestive and autoimmune issues, the gut-brain connection, and acupuncture and taking an holistic approach to our health. I HAVE NEWS!!I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that I've been nominated for a British Podcast Award for Squarepeg - in the Rising Star category. There's also a Listeners' Choice award, so if you're enjoying the podcast I'd love it if you could vote for me. It would be amazing if Squarepeg could win something, as it will help spread the word and allow more people who need it to find the podcast.  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: Elizabeth's website: https://www.drelizabethwilliams.com/  Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drevwilliams/  Vote for Squarepeg in the British Podcast Awards 2022: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote 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: Abi Hunter, Amy Adler, Amy-Beth Mellor, Abigail J Moore, Ben Davies, Benita Borchard-Thierbach, Caroline, Cat Preston, Catrin Green, Cindy Bailey, Corinne Cariad, Danielle Warby, Dawn Trevellion, Elizabeth Williams, Elise, Jackie Allen, Jeff Goldman, Kate Faust, Katharine Richards, Katherine Lynch, Lea Li, Leo Ricketts, Lilli Simmons, Lyb, Mandy Allen, Pete Burke, Rebecca Kemp, Sarah Cottrell, Sarah Jeffery, Sarah Swanton, Sioned Wynn, Suzanna Chen, Suzanne, Tree Hall, Una Walkenhorst, Vera Cady, Vicki Temple, Victoria Routledge and Zephyrine Craster. 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