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Adult Autism and Masking: Why Diagnosis Matters and How to Recognize What’s Beneath the Surface

Dr. Michael Lenz interviews clinical psychologist Donna Henderson, co-author with Sarah Wayland and Jamel White of “Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else” and a companion diagnostic guide, about why autism in adults is often missed, especially in people who camouflage. Henderson describes realizing autism in a client with many prior diagnoses and how the field’s training focused on stereotyped, observable behaviors rather than internal experience. They discuss how diagnosis can support self-understanding, self-advocacy, and self-compassion; the difference between social motivation and social energy; why autism in girls often becomes evident around middle school; and how neurocrash, burnout, sensory overload, and misinterpretations of affect can lead to dismissal in healthcare. Henderson argues for clinician education, careful interviewing over test scores, broader access to diagnosis, and considering autism before personality disorder labels.

00:00 Late Autism Discovery
00:27 Meet The Expert
02:40 From Training To Insight
06:42 Why Diagnosis Matters
11:17 Beyond Observable Traits
16:07 Social Energy Vs Interest
20:11 Girls And Middle School Shift
24:43 State Of Autism Today
30:18 Clinicians Need Training
37:45 Misdiagnosed As Personality
39:37 Hoarding And Pink Flags
41:57 Strengths And Sensory Overload
44:39 Strengths Need Context
45:37 Medical Care and Misread Signals
47:35 Pain Expression and Masking
50:35 Social Mislabels and Directness
53:07 Neurocrash vs Burnout
57:42 Reframing Kids and Parenting
01:02:19 Cross Neurotype Communic

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International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers.

Joy Lenz

Fibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start. 

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When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope.  If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD.

Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...