Christine McGuinness has opened up about her life with autism.
The presenter and television personality delved into the world of autism and why women are being diagnosed much later in life than their male counterparts. Christine has been documenting her journey since discussing her son's autism to help shed light on the condition while meeting those who feel isolated and lonely.
Discussing her own experiences in the BBC One documentary, Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism, she said: "I was really nervous about doing a documentary based on autistic women and girls because there are boys and men out there who are autistic too and I didn't want it to come across as sexist.
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"But there are so many women being diagnosed later in life because it is misunderstood and they're masking or not showing it. It's so important that it changes because those women probably needed help and support when they were girls at school.
She added: "I remember it being the worst time of my life to the point where I didn't want to learn. There was just so much going on in my head. It's sad to think there are teenage girls who are feeling exactly the same."
During last year's National Diversity Awards, held in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, Christine admitted she was overwhelmed. Her hearing and smell were triggered throughout the evening and a last-minute change to script was branded as exhausting.
As a child, she found it difficult to manage her autism due to a universal lack of understanding of what the condition was. She said: "The thought of going to school every day was horrific. It was the worst place for me to go.
"When I had physical outbursts that was when I couldn't control it. I remember throwing chairs in the classroom, pushing tables over, screaming and shouting. Then at lunch the canteens were huge and loud with the lines going down the corridor... I only ever ate there once and then I never ate at school ever again from the age of 11."
Nearing the end of the programme, Christine said she remained in the relationship with her now ex-partner, Paddy McGuinness, because she didn't like change and "ultimately wanted to keep the family together."
Discussing her past relationships, she said: "My relationships before Patrick weren't good. They were pretty bad experiences." She took a moment to compose herself from crying before adding: "Before Patrick, I had been sexually abused. I used to pray, and it's sad now when I think about it, but I used to pray that I wouldn't wake up in the morning. It was so awful."
Christine claimed countless young women and girls are being let down due to the lack of information and misdiagnosis which she hopes a documentary like hers can change things.
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