Episode 133: Embracing the Beautiful Beast - Anxiety, Autism, and the Art of Transformation

“Today’s episode features a book review and personal essay reflecting on Sarah Wilson’s First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, which reframes anxiety not as a disorder to be cured, but as an inherent aspect of human experience. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, an autistic individual, connects Wilson's perspective to their own experience of anxiety and gestalt processing, illustrating how their unique cognitive style shapes their perception of and response to anxiety. The essay further explores Dr. Hoerricks’ journey of self-discovery through writing, hormone replacement therapy, and the transformative power of giving voice to their internal experiences. Ultimately, they advocate for self-acceptance and finding creative ways to express and manage anxiety, rather than suppressing it.”Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/embracing-the-beautiful-beast-anxietyLet me know what you think.The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe