British actress Stephanie Davis comes out HFA

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Stephanie Davis has revealed that she has autism in a frank video blog.

The Hollyoaks actress has high-functioning autism (HFA), a term for people with the developmental disorder autism who do not have an intellectual disability.

The mother-of-one has told fans about her diagnosis in a video posted on YouTube and has been applauded for her honesty.

She explained: "So, I’ve started a new blog on YouTube to talk about one of my recent diagnoses.

"I feel really nervous about this, I’m at the moment trying to get to know myself for the first time ever. It’s like the jigsaw pieces have finally fitted together.

"For all my life I’ve never felt like I’ve fitted in.

People say to me 'why share everything?' but I feel like, what’s the point in going through everything I have if I can’t share it when I KNOW it will help others?

"I’ve already helped so many with my experiences in life and I feel like that’s my calling."

In her first video on the subject she talked about her diagnosis into the camera and went through a list of characteristics.

"I have high functioning autism," she said.

It explains a lot to me. I've struggled my whole life with it, it's actually quite sad.

"I am learning about myself and I'm doing this to help others but also so I can get help and tips from people who've got it."

Steph, who used to go out in Manchester, says she's suffered 'social exhaustion', suffered bad anxiety in social situations and has never felt like she fitted in.

The actress explained: "When I used to go out in Manchester when I was younger the thought of going to a bar or somewhere Ive never been before, absolutely horrific.

"I'd have to drink a bottle of wine before I went out. I do believe I've self medicated.

"I'd sweat and I'd have a tantrum.

It'd be like a three-year-old tantrum. I'd be like 'I can't do it.'

"I'd throw myself on the bed, cry my eyes out and then eventually try and get myself ready and I'd drink a bottle of wine on the way to calm my nerves.

"It still really wouldn't do much because it would be that bad."

Describing what it was like when she arrived on a night out, she said: "I'd map it all out and relax a tiny bit but still find it horrific.

"I do believe that's why I drank a lot more because I found it exhausting."

Steph, who also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), said she would then have an 'emotional hangover' the next day.

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"It was just all too much," she added.

Stephanie, who plays Sinead O'Connor in the Channel Four soap, has also found that she dislikes group situations.

She says she's struggled since she was a child and has 'learned from other humans to conform and be a human.'

She recently visited a coffee shop with a friend and had to leave because the background noises were too loud.

And speaking about another characteristic of 'lacking empathy', she said: "I find it hard. Someone can be crying in front of me, it's not that I don't care.

"Someone can cry in front of me and I won't bat an eyelid."

Steph, who has a two-year-old son, Cabne-Albi, has been praised for speaking out and raising awareness.

Is it just me finding it highly unlikely?

Stephanie Davis - just your everyday person with High Functioning Autism:



Unless "High Functioning Autism" is the new label for being neurotypical, of course.

It's great that more and more people are feeling comfortable enough to come out autistic, that proves we're slowly on the road to acceptance. But I'm geting sick and bloody tired of this "battle with autism" nonsense that keeps appearing in these articles! We're not noble warriors fighting off some hidden enemy that only we can see, we're just people trying live our best lives like everyone else!

Agreed.
It should be noted that usually it is the headline writers and editors that add the “battle” and inspiration porn angles to the story not the autistics being profiled.