No. 1 Autism Professor: How To Spot Autism In High-Masking Adults!

Dr. Luke Beardon is a leading autism researcher, author and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who has spent more than 30 years working alongside autistic people and their families. In this episode, Luke reveals what autism can actually feel like from the inside, from masking and rehearsing conversations to sensory overwhelm, burnout and the exhaustion of constantly trying to fit in. He explores why so many people go decades without realising they’re autistic, what happens when you mask for so long that you lose sight of who you really are, and why the parts of yourself you spent a lifetime hiding may never have needed fixing in the first place. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:23 Why Luke dedicated his life to understanding autism 02:46 How can someone be autistic for decades without knowing? 05:38 What high-masking autism actually looks like 08:06 How early does autistic masking begin? 10:21 The biggest misconception about autism in adults 16:10 The biggest signs you’re masking autism 17:37 Why autistic people rehearse conversations 23:50 Why small talk can be so exhausting 29:59 What sensory overwhelm actually feels like 36:40 Why autistic people stim 40:04 Tiimo advert 41:31 The autistic behaviours people are made to feel ashamed of 43:33 The hidden cost of masking autism 46:39 What autistic burnout actually feels like 49:58 Can you mask for so long that you lose yourself? 51:27 When the mask becomes your personality 57:54 Are you really an introvert, or could you be autistic? 01:00:05 The Washing Machine of Woes 01:03:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Buy Dr Luke’s books 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Luke-Beardon/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALuke%2BBeardon Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices