Rach

We asked #autistic people for ideas to help reduce the number of people dying by #suicide. Now we need your help to prioritise those ideas. If you’re autistic, with or without a formal diagnosis, please take part in our #survey here: bit.ly/3O2Fnle #Autism #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #AskingAutistics #Neurodiversity #Neurodiverse #MentalHealth #UnderstandingAutism #SuicidePrevention #Charity #AutismResearch #Research

@theACEcharity @Autism @PAPYRUS_Charity @tellmi_helps @samaritans @YoungMindsUK @Gov Proud to be able to contribute to this crucial cause. 🧡💙

Today, following the inquest of Caitlyn Scott-Lee we joined @Autism @PAPYRUS_Charity @tellmi_helps @samaritans & @YoungMindsUK to write an open letter to @Gov to highlight the increased risk of suicide that autistic people face and call for urgent action: bit.ly/44pqy3J

@drlouisenewson Delighted to see this paper - congrats! 😊We find a very similar thing in relation to autism, and are actually studying it further (study poster attached in case readers are interested - I hope this is OK!). Would love to connect with you about it sometime 😊

Many women notice that ADHD worsens throughout their menstrual cycle. In my clinical practice, I also speak to many women whose ADHD has worsened during their perimenopause, or they have recently been diagnosed with ADHD around the same time they reached perimenopause or menopause. . This paper discusses the evidence and discusses mechanisms that may trigger or exacerbate symptoms of ADHD at different phases of the cycle related to hormone changes having effects on the brain. These changes include: 1) heightened irritability, more anger and anxiety, and more sensitive to different sensations, often due to reduction of progesterone levels in the second half of the cycle 2) changes in cognitive functioning, depression, inability to feel pleasure and anxiety, due to low oestradiol levels (which occurs before periods) 3) increases in reward-seeking behaviour, such as substance abuse and proactive aggression, driven by sudden increases in oestradiol levels that occur during ovulation. Many women find their symptoms related to ADHD improve with the right dose and type of hormones, often a combination of oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone. Clearly more research needs to be done in this area.

@MenoScandal @bournemouthuni Thank you so much for posting our project😊 We'd so appreciate participants - autistic AND non-autistic! #autistic #menopause

From researchers at @bournemouthuni “Looking for autistic and non-autistic people to help us understand difficulties during menopause. If you are aged 40-60, AND going through menopause OR have already gone through it, we would love to hear from you!” tinyurl.com/2f2fs574

@RocksandThor @NortherlyRose Thank you so much for passing on this feedback, Rose - and @RocksandThor , I'm so sorry you found this part of the survey overcomplicated :( Thank you SO much for completing it neverthelss! We are so grateful for your help!

@NortherlyRose I completed, but found the system for unique password utterly confusing and somewhat overcomplicated.

Call for participants Looking for #autistic & #nonautistic people to help us understand difficulties during #menopause. If you are aged 40-60, AND are either currently going through menopause OR have already gone through it, we would love to hear from you! tinyurl.com/2f2fs574

Privileged to attend launch of the Buckland Review, but sad it doesn't ask Gov. to commit funding and resources to this issue. Many autistic people feel abandoned in an unaccepting society; I query whether the BR does enough to hold Gov to account on their behalf. #BucklandReview

@RachelCDailey I attended the launch event and made just this point - that the report isn't asking, or demanding, that the Government invest real funding and resources into making change happen for autistic people. Response from Sir Buckley was unconvincing; CEO of Autistica was pragmatic.

Proud of my amazing PhD student who is expanding our work on #autistic #menopause, hoping to help those who struggle in later life. Participate at tinyurl.com/2f2fs574 :) #AutisticElders, #ActuallyAutistic , #AutisticResearch

twitter.com/Sarahhdbristol… It is true... my fumbling website-designing skills are now visible to all! 😅 But this site is for the purpose of making my research accessible to diverse audiences, and towards this goal I hope it helps 😊🧠♾

@Sarahhdbristol I am speechless, Sarah - thank you so much. 🥹❤️I am absolutely honoured. Thank you.

@Sarahhdbristol Thank you so much, Sarah! 😊💖

@bodywhys @CharliPsych @Sharleen_RD @bullivant_fi @PSIAutismSIG @PSiged Thank you so much for inviting me to speak - it was a real pleasure and honour :) Could you please tag me in these, please? (Rachel here!)

This year, @beatED are focusing on binge eating disorder, a heavily stigmatised condition. As someone who has lived with different manifestations of ED since childhood, proud to back the #YouMightKnowMe campaign. #EDAW2021 #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek

@autismage @AspieOrphan @Bournemouth_Psy Thank you so much, Cos... am so honoured by your post. We know how important this topic is and feel so happy to have been able to work with our amazing participants to create this. I hope so much that we can take it further! 😊

@BBry22 @AspieOrphan @AnnMemmott @autismage @ekverstania One of the things that really stood out to us in the study was the importance of hearing narratives that make you feel less alone in your experience. It stands alongside the importance of representation, really. 🙂 I'm so sorry you have had such a rough ride. 😔

@AspieOrphan @AnnMemmott @autismage @ekverstania I'm glad to see this finally happening. My experience is never like anyone's I talk to. I had a complete hysterectomy at 31 due to cancer, and couldn't take hormones, so it was some of worst times of my life. But other cancer patients don't seem to have had my experience either.

@harmoniousher @AspieOrphan @Menopause_Cafe @autismage @AnnMemmott @ekverstania Thank you so very much 🥰 This is actually the second paper that we published on this - you can see us refer to the first paper in this article, and you can find it on google scholar! 😀

@AspieOrphan @Menopause_Cafe @autismage @AnnMemmott @ekverstania Pleased to see a study that acknowledges autistic women and their experience of menopause. More study’s like this need to happen. Congratulations to all involved.

@AspieOrphan @autismage @AnnMemmott @ekverstania Thank you so much - I am so honoured by your interest in our work and appreciation for this topic 😊 I really want to do more in this field to try address the invisibility of autistic people as they age. 🙂 I'm truly grateful for your appreciation and that of your followers! 🥰

#ActuallyAutistic #eatingdisorders #eatingdisorder #eatingdisordertreatment

@Jenn__Layton @autismage I understand. Forewarned is always forearmed. :) Just please do not come away from reading our paper with extra fears. We only have a tiny sample, and in the follow up (with 17 participants), a good number of them did not have a bad time at all. :)