Understanding Sensory Systems in Autism: A Conversation with Lisa Poole, Neurodiversity Coach - Part Two

This week's blog is part two of my conversation with Lisa Poole, a Neurodiversity Coach and Trainer from Perspective Coaching, this time we focus on the experiences of women in midlife who may be grappling with autism, especially in relation to societal understanding, personal awareness, and the challenges surrounding identification. Here's a clearer breakdown of the main points Lisa discusses:

1. Autistic Women and Masking:
- Women with autism often excel at masking, or hiding their autistic traits to fit social norms. This can lead to the misinterpretation of their behaviour by others, and even by themselves. They may not realise that they've been masking their struggles for much of their life, leading to challenges in receiving proper support or diagnosis.

2. Cognitive Differences and Social Imagination:
- One key cognitive difference in autistic individuals is a difficulty with "social imagination" — understanding how others experience the world. This can manifest as challenges in recognising and interpreting emotions, facial expressions, or social cues. For example, an autistic person might struggle to pick up on non-verbal cues from their partner and need direct communication to understand what’s going on.

3. Struggles with Change, Routine, and Social Interactions:
- Routine can be very comforting for autistic people, while unexpected changes can cause distress. Uncertainty in social interactions, such as unpredictable conversations, can heighten anxiety, often leading to avoidance or intense stress. This is linked to a higher intolerance of uncertainty, which can trigger a range of fight-or-flight responses, from avoiding social situations to experiencing heightened anxiety when forced to engage.

4. Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety:
- Many autistic individuals find ways to cope with anxiety-inducing situations, whether through routine, planning ahead, or avoiding unpredictability. Schools and workplaces can help by offering predictability in environments where unpredictability is the norm. For example, letting an autistic child know in advance if their teacher is absent can make a significant difference in managing their anxiety.

5. Reactions to Stress:
- Stress and anxiety can manifest in meltdowns, shutdowns, or even burnout. This can be overwhelming for autistic individuals, whether it results in outward reactions (anger, panic) or inward ones (withdrawal, isolation). Masking these reactions often leads to burnout, where the body and mind shut down due to exhaustion from continual stress management.

6. Links Between Autism, Gut Health, and Stress:
- There are clear connections between chronic stress, the nervous system, and gut health in autistic individuals. Living with chronic anxiety, common in autistic individuals due to unpredictability and social stress, affects the digestive system and overall health. The brain-gut connection is significant in autism, with many experiencing digestive issues alongside their neurological differences.

7. Raising Self-Awareness:
- Building self-awareness is crucial for autistic people to understand their triggers and responses. By identifying the specific challenges they face—such as uncertainty or sensory overload—they can develop strategies to mitigate these situations. Rather than forcing a change in thinking, the goal is to recognise how their brain processes information and how to work with it.

8. Empowerment Through Diagnosis and Acceptance:
- Diagnoses can be empowering if they offer a sense of understanding and validation. They provide language and frameworks for individuals to grasp why they behave the way they do. Rather than feeling disempowered by a label, understanding one's autism can lead to improved self-awareness and strategies for navigating life. This sense of understanding, particularly when discovered in midlife, often brings a sense of calm and relief. 

9. Addressing Societal Systems and Injustice:
- Current societal systems—whether in healthcare, education, or workplaces—often fail to adequately understand or support neurodivergent individuals. There’s a significant need for broader education and understanding about neurodiversity in general, as much of the research and knowledge available has not yet been implemented into mainstream systems. Professionals like GPs, teachers, and employers often lack sufficient training, which further marginalises neurodivergent individuals, leading to frustration and a sense of injustice.

In summary, the discussion emphasises the need for understanding and support for autistic women, especially those in midlife. It highlights the importance of self-awareness, acceptance, and creating systems that better accommodate neurodivergent individuals, rather than forcing them to fit into a neurotypical mould.

Again thank you to Lisa Poole, Neurodiversity Coach and Trainer at Perspective Coaching, for sharing her invaluable insights on sensory systems and autism. You can learn more about her work at Perspective Coaching and connect with her for further guidance on supporting neurodivergent individuals.

Understanding these aspects can be transformative, and Lisa’s approach provides a refreshing perspective that many families, educators, and employers will find incredibly valuable.

If you want to dive deeper into these topics, you can listen to our full podcast episode here, where Lisa expands on these ideas and offers practical tips for managing sensory input and improving well-being.