I am female, 47 years. It is only a year ago a therapist suggested I was autistic. I have always had symptoms/traits and was different than other people, but autism was never mentioned. After age 40, things got incredibly much worse, my sensory sensitivities, my ability to tolerate stress/change, my social abilities. I have read several papers claiming that estrogen has a protective effect on the brain, reducing autistic traits. This is the reason autistic traits worsen when one approaches menopause, as estrogen levels decline. I have not had an easy life, and to be honest, I am feeling desperate realizing that the future will be even worse. I can barely take a bus ride due to the insane amount of smell and noise (despite headphones and other ways of protecting myself). I cannot eat in a restaurant or go to the cinema. I cannot work anymore, the interaction with others at the work place became unbearable. I have problems eating, because I am insanely focused on the details of the food, and I refuse to eat anything that looks/feels/tastes/smells slightly different than expectations. I am only approaching menopause, not even in it. I am terrified how much worse I will get. I wonder if others have any experiences to share.
