The Legacy House Counseling Center

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Diagnosing autism in girls is often delayed or missed entirely because they typically present with subtler, "quieter" symptoms and are highly skilled at masking or mimicking neurotypical social behaviors.

The Masking Effect...Girls often have a stronger desire to fit in, leading them to "camouflage" their social difficulties by copying the facial expressions, speech patterns, and mannerisms of peers. This constant performative behavior is mentally exhausting and frequently results in severe anxiety, depression, or burnout.

How Symptoms Differ...Historically, autism was studied and diagnosed primarily in boys. While boys may display highly obvious, restricted interests (e.g., memorizing train schedules), girls' fixations often blend into socially acceptable "girly" interests but are consumed at an intense, obsessive level (e.g., horses, celebrities, or a specific fictional universe).

Common, often overlooked presentations in girls include:

*Social "Camouflaging": Rehearsing conversations, forcing smiles, or carefully scripting how to act in social situations.
*Advanced but Scripted Language: Speaking fluently but relying on rehearsed phrases or struggling with the natural, back-and-forth flow of conversation.
*Perfectionism: Utilizing flawless grades, tidy handwriting, or strict adherence to rules as a way to control an overwhelming environment and mask distress.
*"Quiet" Repetitive Behaviors: Instead of obvious physical stimming (like hand-flapping), girls may engage in less noticeable habits like hair twirling, skin picking, or intense day-dreaming.
*Delayed Meltdowns: Withholding emotional distress and sensory overload while at school or in public, followed by intense meltdowns or withdrawal once they are safely at home. Child Mind Institute ❤️

Image .ie ❤️

06/18/2026

🌟 Young adults with autism (18–28): Join us to build social skills, practice real life interactions, and connect with peers! Open to those registered with FSU CARD. 💬💙

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Love these encouraging words ❤️❤️❤️

06/12/2026

What an amazing man and role model. He will be missed for who he was and all that he represents. Being able to learn from him was the most significant turning point in my career. I will treasure the knowledge, experience, memories and my autographed book forever.

06/11/2026

“Children don’t leap from meltdown to calm on their own. They first need the steady presence of a caring adult to co-regulate, before learning the skills of self-regulation. And when things go wrong, repair is the bridge that restores connection and trust.”

See visual for download instructions - A Bitesize Guide to Emotional Regulation.

06/11/2026

DBT Skills. Module 4. Distress Tolerance. Skill. Identifying & understanding triggers. nb : The way to address triggers is not to always avoid them. DBT helps us increase our window of tolerance and practice moving through them.

06/11/2026

1 in 45 adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While society is much more aware of autism today than ever before thanks to improved public health outreach and increased screening, advocacy and awareness efforts, there are likely many adults with autism who never received a diagnosis or were misdiagnosed.

You may have spent your entire life not recognizing the signs of autism or not realizing that some of the issues and feelings you have dealt with were related to autism. If you suspect you may be autistic or you know an adult who may be on the spectrum, learning about the common signs of autism is the first step to understanding whether you or your loved one may have undiagnosed ASD.