Ep. 4 | A Double Edged Sword: Adoption, Asperger's, and OCD with Zhuhua Ni

Zhuhua Ni is a Chinese adoptee who has Asperger Syndrome (now considered part of autism spectrum disorders or ASD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Zhuhua describes herself as a “square peg trying to fit into a round hole” because of both her adoptee identity and her neurodivergent one. In this episode, Annie and Zhuhua discuss finding meaningful connections, understanding the loss of adoption, and managing mental health.    Aspberger Syndrome (now ASD):  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32491480/ https://www.autismspeaks.org/types-autism-what-asperger-syndrome  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Asperger-syndrome&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel   https://www.massgeneral.org/children/autism/lurie-center/restricted-interests    In this episode, Zhuhua references Dr. Tony Attwood, a British psychologist who has done extensive research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Some advocacy groups, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, have criticized Dr. Attwood for associating with groups they claim discriminate against individuals with ASD (see https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/AttwoodHenault  & https://autisticadvocacy.org/2009/06/asans-response-to-dr-tony-attwood/). Dr. Attwood’s views do not reflect the views of Misfits.    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd  China’s One-Child Policy:  https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/china/   https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/the-one-child-policy-legacy-on-women-and-relationships-in-china/   https://www.npr.org/2016/02/01/465124337/how-chinas-one-child-policy-led-to-forced-abortions-30-million-bachelors   My other podcast – Not Abandoned or Alone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chinese-adoptees-not-abandoned-or-alone/id1576259428    Zhuhua’s Story: http://www.ourchinastories.com/collections/show/43    Zhuhua asks you to keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to search for her birth parents.    Follow Misfits on Instagram @acxpmisfits  Support the show: https://anchor.fm/annie-prafcke/support