Late Bloomer: How an Autism Diagnosis Changed My Life - Clem Bastow

Category: Autobiography & Biographies, Education
Language: English
Keywords: Anxiety Australian Autism Diagnosis Disability Gender Diversity Mental Health Neurodiversity Psychology Women

Written by Clem Bastow
Read by Clem Bastow
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

EPUB INCLUDED
Chapterized
Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
Release date: 07-07-2021
Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Clem Bastow grew up feeling like she’d missed a key memo on human behaviour. She found the unspoken rules of social engagement confusing, arbitrary and often stressful. Friendships were hard, relationships harder and the office was a fluorescent-lit nightmare of anxiety. It wasn’t until Clem was diagnosed as autistic, at age 36, that things clicked into focus.

The obsession with sparkly things and dinosaurs. The encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music. The meltdowns that would come on like a hurricane. The ability to write eloquently while conquering basic maths was like trying to understand ancient Greek. These weren’t just ‘personality quirks’ but autistic traits that shaped Clem’s life in powerful ways.

With wit and warmth, Clem reflects as an autistic adult on her formative experiences as an undiagnosed young person, from the asphalt playground of St Joseph’s Primary School in Melbourne to working as an entertainment journalist in Hollywood. Along the way she challenges the broader cultural implications and ideas around autism, especially for women and gender-diverse people.