Autism & Menopause

In our new series, we will be spilling the tea on topics that affect our health and well-being from the extra-ordinary women that are raising their voices for positive change. This week we have a very special guest, our very own Jinty Sheerin.Most autistic girls, women and people assigned female at birth, are either, never diagnosed or diagnosed later than boys and men. Some much later in life.The NHS revealed that the number of new suspected autism referrals for people over 18 has tripled since 2019 and the ADHD Foundation says that the number of adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis has increased by 400% since 2020For women in their 50s, discovering their neurodivergence while also navigating menopause can bring both clarity and complexity. Menopause itself introduces significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes, which, when coupled with an autism diagnosis, can intensify or alter how these experiences are processed. This stage of life offers an opportunity for greater self-understanding, yet it also raises challenges in managing both neurological differences and menopausal symptoms.  Jinty was diagnosed with autism in December 2023, after a devastating couple of years emotionally - she is also still in peri menopause. In the Book Collective we discuss the first 6 chapters of our book for this series, All Fours by Miranda July. We meet the main characters and find out that all is not quite what it seems in this mid 40 year olds life as she hits the road in search of herself.You can join in with our Book Club, send us a DM or voice note with your thoughts on the book. It’s another episode brimming with chat and all the usual sweary shenanigans! There’s comments, a WI (weekly invitation) and a thought for the week.So, go and get the kettle on and settle in for our weekly collective chat while we spill the tea! Resources mentioned Bionic reader https://bionic-reading.com/WebsitesNational Autistic society https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/menopauseAutistic girls network https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/BooksUnmasking Autism Dr Devon Price -Strong female character by Fern BradyOdd girl out by Laura JamesUntypical by Pete WharmbyThe Autists by Clara TornvallAutists guide to the galaxy Clara TornvallGirl Unmasked by Emily KatyMenopause booksMake Menopause Matter - Diane DanzebrinkThe m Word Dr Ginni Mansberg If you’ve enjoyed our Podcast you may like to consider buying us a Ko-Fi at https://ko-fi.com/womenkindcollectivepodcastHere you can find updates, photos and some inclusive content we won’t post anywhere else and your donation will help us ensure we continue to bring you great quality of content and sound.☕ SUBSCRIBE for honest chats on women’s health, feminist issues, sisterhood & smashing the patriarchy, one cuppa at a time.💛 Enjoying the podcast? Please share, leave us a review or comment!If you would like to you can Buy us a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/womenkindcollectivepodcast💬 We love hearing from you, email us your ideas here Jinty & Lou @ [email protected]👀 Join us on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/womenkindcollective?igsh=ZmxmbGs2d3BjcXA1&utm_source=qr🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/womenkind-collective/id1557937820🎧 Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/42KniEtc5WGQhNvREsN1WP?si=e14a83c93a304bb3And all your favourite Podcast PlatformsThank you for Listening Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.