New Book On Asperger’s Empowers Women

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[wr_row width=”boxed” background=”none” solid_color_value=”#ffffff” row_bg_opacity=”100″ gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” repeat=”full” img_repeat=”full” video_mp4 video_url_mp4 autoplay=”yes” position=”center center” paralax=”no” border_width_value_=”0″ border_style=”solid” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ ][wr_column span=”span12″][wr_text el_title=”You can see more on the book here {cbt-quote}100 Lessons{cbt-quote}” text_margin_top=”15″ text_margin_left=”” text_margin_bottom=”0″ text_margin_right=”” enable_dropcap=”no” appearing_animation=”0″ css_suffix=”” id_wrapper=”” disabled_el=”no” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_color=”” wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” wrapper_bg_opacity=”100″ wrapper_border_top=”0″ wrapper_border_left=”0″ wrapper_border_bottom=”0″ wrapper_border_right=”0″ wrapper_border_style=”solid” wrapper_border_color=”” wrapper_rounded_topleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_topright=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomright=”0″ responsive_hide=”no” ]I was excited when I read about this lady, Tracey Cohen today. Tracey has bravely stepped out to share her own experiences with Asperger’s syndrome in her new book “100 Lessons to Understand and Support Girls and Women with Asperger’s”. You can see more on the book here “100 Lessons” Tracey lived most of her life wondering why she was different. Her mum had taken her to doctors and professionals from a young age asking for help, but they were never truly been able to give a helpful answer. If fact, many times Tracey’s mum, Joanie was made to feel that she was just overacting and that there was nothing really wrong.[/wr_text][/wr_column][/wr_row][wr_row width=”boxed” background=”none” solid_color_value=”#ffffff” row_bg_opacity=”100″ gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” repeat=”full” img_repeat=”full” video_mp4 video_url_mp4 autoplay=”yes” position=”center center” paralax=”no” border_width_value_=”0″ border_style=”solid” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ ][wr_column span=”span6″][wr_image el_title=”image 100 Lessons” image_file=”https://aspergerstest.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Tracey-Cohen-Book-100-Lessons.png” image_file_button=”” image_size_wrapper=”” image_size=”full” image_alt=”100 Lessons” link_type=”url” image_type_url=”https://aspergerstest.net/100Lessons” open_in=”new_browser” image_container_style=”no-styling” image_alignment=”inherit” image_margin_top=”” image_margin_left=”” image_margin_bottom=”15″ image_margin_right=”” appearing_animation=”0″ css_suffix=”” id_wrapper=”” disabled_el=”no” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_color=”” wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” wrapper_bg_opacity=”100″ wrapper_border_top=”0″ wrapper_border_left=”0″ wrapper_border_bottom=”0″ wrapper_border_right=”0″ wrapper_border_style=”solid” wrapper_border_color=”” wrapper_rounded_topleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_topright=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomright=”0″ responsive_hide=”no” ][/wr_image][/wr_column][wr_column span=”span6″][wr_text el_title=”” text_margin_top=”0″ text_margin_left=”” text_margin_bottom=”0″ text_margin_right=”” enable_dropcap=”no” appearing_animation=”0″ css_suffix=”” id_wrapper=”” disabled_el=”no” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_color=”” wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” wrapper_bg_opacity=”100″ wrapper_border_top=”0″ wrapper_border_left=”0″ wrapper_border_bottom=”0″ wrapper_border_right=”0″ wrapper_border_style=”solid” wrapper_border_color=”” wrapper_rounded_topleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_topright=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomright=”0″ responsive_hide=”no” ]Since often it is boys that seem to be more easily diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, Tracey has focused her book on girls and women. It was actually only at age 39, back in 2011, that Tracey was finally diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and more specifically Asperger’s syndrome. Since this point in time she has become more aware of the need for information on the topic for females as there is not a lot written specifically about autistic women or girls. I love Tracey’s passion to help make others more aware. Her desire is that her book will not only help those with Asperger’s, but that it will also assist their family members and friends in better understanding how this impacts life each day and the challenges that it may bring. [/wr_text][/wr_column][/wr_row][wr_row width=”boxed” background=”none” solid_color_value=”#ffffff” row_bg_opacity=”100″ gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” repeat=”full” img_repeat=”full” video_mp4 video_url_mp4 autoplay=”yes” position=”center center” paralax=”no” border_width_value_=”0″ border_style=”solid” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ ][wr_column span=”span12″][wr_sidebar el_title=”” sidebar_id=”adsense-widget” div_margin_top=”0″ div_margin_left=”0″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”0″ appearing_animation=”0″ css_suffix=”” id_wrapper=”” disabled_el=”no” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_color=”” wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” wrapper_bg_opacity=”100″ wrapper_border_top=”0″ wrapper_border_left=”0″ wrapper_border_bottom=”0″ wrapper_border_right=”0″ wrapper_border_style=”solid” wrapper_border_color=”” wrapper_rounded_topleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_topright=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomright=”0″ responsive_hide=”no” ][/wr_sidebar][/wr_column][/wr_row][wr_row width=”boxed” background=”none” solid_color_value=”#ffffff” row_bg_opacity=”100″ gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” repeat=”full” img_repeat=”full” video_mp4 video_url_mp4 autoplay=”yes” position=”center center” paralax=”no” border_width_value_=”0″ border_style=”solid” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ ][wr_column span=”span12″][wr_text el_title=”” text_margin_top=”0″ text_margin_left=”” text_margin_bottom=”0″ text_margin_right=”” enable_dropcap=”no” appearing_animation=”0″ css_suffix=”” id_wrapper=”” disabled_el=”no” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_color=”” wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” wrapper_bg_opacity=”100″ wrapper_border_top=”0″ wrapper_border_left=”0″ wrapper_border_bottom=”0″ wrapper_border_right=”0″ wrapper_border_style=”solid” wrapper_border_color=”” wrapper_rounded_topleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_topright=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomright=”0″ responsive_hide=”no” ]Receiving a diagnosis, as Tracey did some four years ago, does not remove the disability. Asperger’s syndrome and being on the autism spectrum are still there and still need to be dealt with each day, but having a professional diagnosis can help to provide validation, as it did for Tracey Cohen. This can validate and begin to give answers as to why you are different from others around you, even other family members. This in itself is a powerful thing and can help bring healing from years of wondering “What is wrong with me?” or “Why am I different?”
Hopefully Tracey’s book, written from a first-hand perspective, can also help make those professionals in the field of autism more aware of the effect that it has in the lives of females of all ages. My hope is that this will help in diagnosing girls and women with Asperger’s and to also support them and their families. What are your thoughts and experiences with autism or Asperger’s syndrome? Please leave your comments below. I will reply to you as well. Thanks. Remember that you can make a difference in the life of someone today just by being who you are! Many Blessings, Justine 🙂[/wr_text][/wr_column][/wr_row][wr_row width=”boxed” background=”none” solid_color_value=”#ffffff” row_bg_opacity=”100″ gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” repeat=”full” img_repeat=”full” video_mp4 video_url_mp4 autoplay=”yes” position=”center center” paralax=”no” border_width_value_=”0″ border_style=”solid” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ ][wr_column span=”span12″][wr_sidebar el_title=”” sidebar_id=”adsense-widget” div_margin_top=”0″ div_margin_left=”0″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”0″ appearing_animation=”0″ css_suffix=”” id_wrapper=”” disabled_el=”no” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_color=”” wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” wrapper_bg_opacity=”100″ wrapper_border_top=”0″ wrapper_border_left=”0″ wrapper_border_bottom=”0″ wrapper_border_right=”0″ wrapper_border_style=”solid” wrapper_border_color=”” wrapper_rounded_topleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_topright=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomleft=”0″ wrapper_rounded_bottomright=”0″ responsive_hide=”no” ][/wr_sidebar][/wr_column][/wr_row]

About Justine

9 Responses to “New Book On Asperger’s Empowers Women”

  1. Helen

    Thanks for the postings. That’s amazing that Tracey Cohen wrote a book, congrats–after only 4 years of being diagnosed, too. I got 40 on the test. I’m middle-aged, and I’m a recluse. I was bullied really badly as a child. Part of the reason was my appearance. and partly because I was so uncoordinated. I was also bullied because I was so withdrawn. I was also abused at home. As an adult, I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD, social phobia, OCD, and a connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I was also told I have a problem with proprioception.

    I feel I might have Aspergers/ASD and Sensory Processing Disorder. I know how to behave like other people, but it’s like I learned a second language. I know how to copy them, and I’m used to it. It’s like following a formula for eye contact, smiling, etc. It’s draining and unfulfilling for me. I usually just feel like people are in my way, but I try to pretend I’m happy to see them. I do care about people, but I would prefer to only text or interact on the Net. I hate shaking hands or touching people for any reason. Touching feels like little nails in my skin. I also hate light, odors, and noises. Sunlight hurts my eyes. I can’t see or hear very well, but I can smell very intensely. The phone ringing scares me. I have to be prepared before listening to music or watching any sort of videos. I love to read though. I read for hours every day. I don’t have a TV. When I come across a TV out in public, it just sounds like a lot of senseless screaming to me. The most stressful thing for me about socializing is that people are unpredictable. Some people want to make eye contact and smile, and some don’t.

    I’ve been told I don’t have Aspergers, but I think this might be because women come across differently than men. Thanks for bringing attention to the topic of women with ASD.

    Reply
    • Justine

      Hi Helen 🙂
      Thank you for your openness and comment.

      Yes. It is a great book. A good read with helpful information.
      Glad you enjoyed it too.

      Take care,
      Justine 🙂

      Reply
  2. Leslie

    I just took your test (score 32) and posted a comment there.
    Its interesting the next page I clicked on took me to this book.
    Just before I found your website, I was reading how it is difficult for girls and women to receive an Aspergers diagnosis. Two main reasons are girls tend to internalize their frustrations (which can mask as anxiety/depression), whereas boys act-out (which makes diagnosis easier), and girls are encouraged to focus on social relationships and boys on academics and sports. This narrow focus on social interactions forces us women to learn how to adapt and push past our Aspergers traits.

    Reply
  3. Sammi

    Hi,
    I am a 48 year old mom of 5, and I believe I may have aspergers. The thing is that I have a congenital hearing loss mostly in the frequencies of speech. I have been confused about whether my experience is due to hearing loss or ASD. Everything in my life has been blamed on my poor hearing, but I think it is more than that; moreover, I have not felt the same “why don’t I fit in” feelings that others mention I think, in part, because I didn’t even realize I didn’t fit in even as I was bullied as a child. I don’t think I heard most of the ugly comments or thought the kids were laughing with me and not at me. This makes me very sad, yet it may have been a good thing as I have only really experienced anxiety in the last 7 years or so because I can’t seem to manage my life well or at least I don’t feel like I do. It is all I can do to be social with my kids and husband and three close friends (mostly through texting as they have large families too). I am totally exhausted by socializing with my kids (whom I love to socialize with:) and talking to myself all day long (in order to process information) that I don’t have energy for anyone/anything else, and I am perceived as selfish. Have you run across AS people who have not even “noticed” they were outcasts until recognizing the AS? It seems unusual. My AQ score was 45. Thanks for listening. Oh, and I suspect 3 of my 5 kids, who are diagnosed ADHD and anxiety at least have many of the traits, if not the syndrome. Sorry for rambling:)

    Reply
    • Justine

      Hi Sammi
      Great to have you on our site. 🙂

      Stress in life from social situations and relating to others (even family) does indeed seem to place an emotional (and even physical) drain on many people. I am not sure why that is and I wish that there was an easy way to ‘fix’ it or to stop this drain. But I don’t know of any.

      What works for me is the have some alone time where I can ‘recharge’ and relax for a while. For the most part then I can be better ready for the next social scenario. 🙂

      In relation to your question, I honestly do not have an answer for you. I know that I have felt ‘different’ and that I did not ‘fit in’ as far back as I can remember.

      But saying that there may certainly be those around the world who were not overly aware of this until after receiving their diagnosis.

      I pray for blessings over your precious family and for wisdom and direction as well. All the very best.

      Justine

      Reply
  4. Kate

    My counsellor complained I didn’t make eye contact or small talk and that I was immature in my responses. As a result of this, I focused on developing these skills. I now make a conscious effort to make eye contact, but never sure about the appropriate length of time to do so. I still find small talk very difficult. One of my fears is bumping into people unexpectedly, not nessarily into people I do not know. It gives me hope that I can develop these skills further.

    My counsellor asked me how long I had trouble with anxiety and depression. She didn’t believe me or understand when I told her I had always felt like this from a small child and couldn’t remember a time I didn’t. Just made me feel worse and reinforced my feeling that I didn’t understand what was happening in the world.

    Nobody thinks I can have Aspergers because I am a social worker! I have tried to explain that I studied sociology and psychology to try to work out what I am missing. I still don’t get it!

    Through my job I worked with people with Aspergers on a professional basis and got on better with them than ny colleagues. They seemed so much more straight forward and what they said made sense to me. Through this work I started researching Aspergers and had a slow realisation that I had all the symptoms. I am going through the process of getting diagnosis and it’s hard waiting.

    Reply
    • Justine

      Hi Kate
      Thank you too for taking the time to share your comment.

      From my experience too, it does seem that often people on the autism spectrum can relate to others on the spectrum more easily than to those who do not have an ASD. Some how there seems to be less overall pressure in those interactions.

      Understanding ourselves seems to be a life-long process, at least that has been my experience.

      I hope you stop by and comment again. I would love to hear of any incites.

      Many Blessings,
      Justine 🙂

      Reply
  5. Michele

    I believe many older people with Asperger’s have learned to “pass” in the NT world. We have learned how to make small talk with others, how to smile at strangers, and navigate our way through crowded places comfortably. This lets us function, but not be particularly happy, in a world that we find frightening and/or boring. I have had problems with therapy because I don’t show the checklist symptoms of Asperger’s. The therapist doesn’t believe I have it because I can make eye contact with her or just smile and chat before a session. It has taken me years to develop these skills, which come so easily to the NT world. Your thoughts on “passing”?

    Reply
    • Justine

      Hi friend 🙂
      I agree that from my own experiences and what I have observed in others, I too believe that many on the autism spectrum do learn skills and forms of behaviour to help us survive in this world.

      Personally I find that I am exhausted and drained after coming home from a social setting where I needed to ‘act’ or ‘pretend’ that I was like everyone else in order to fit in. Even family gatherings can be tiring as my family of origin do not get me at all. They always keep saying the joke to me that the word gullible has been removed from the dictionary and they think it is funny. It just confuses me!

      So in answer to your question, yes I do believe that many of us do learn how to ‘pass’ as ‘normal’ in this Neurotypical world.

      Take care,
      Justine 🙂

      Reply

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