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Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels

One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels

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Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels

By: Sara Gibbs
Narrated by: Sara Gibbs
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Summary

 'It has taken me several years of exploration, but I am at a place now where I see autism as neither an affliction nor a superpower. It's just the blueprint for who I am. There is no cure, but that's absolutely fine by me. To cure me of my autism would be to cure me of myself.'

During the first thirty years of her life, comedy script writer Sara Gibbs had been labelled a lot of things - a cry baby, a scaredy cat, a spoiled brat, a weirdo, a show off - but more than anything else, she'd been called a Drama Queen. No one understood her behaviour, her meltdowns or her intense emotions. She felt like everyone else knew a social secret that she hadn't been let in on; as if life was a party she hadn't been invited to. Why was everything so damn hard? Little did Sara know that, at the age of thirty, she would be given one more label that would change her life's trajectory forever. That one day, sitting next to her husband in a clinical psychologist's office, she would learn that she had never been a drama queen, or a weirdo, or a cry baby, but she had always been autistic.

Drama Queen is both a tour inside one autistic brain and a declaration that a diagnosis on the spectrum, with the right support, accommodations and understanding, doesn't have to be a barrier to life full of love, laughter and success. It is the story of one woman trying to fit into a world that has often tried to reject her and, most importantly, it's about a life of labels, and the joy of ripping them off one by one.

(P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©2021 Sara Gibbs Children's Health Neurodiversity Relationships Health Autism Special need Feel-Good Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty
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Critic reviews

A moving read.
A touching and funny memoir.
Both funny and fascinating in equal measure.
All stars
Most relevant
A brilliant book that is in turn hilarious and heartbreaking. But most importantly, it is informative. Sara's story, delivered with humour and authenticity in the audiobook, smashes through harmful myths and stereotypes, while unflinchingly showing the simple humanity of autism. If you're autistic, you will recognise yourself in this book. If you're not autistic, you will have your eyes and mind opened. recommended reading for, well, everyone.

Stunning!

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This is just my initial, brief review, having just finished the audiobook. It took me 27 years longer than it did for Sara to realise the source of my "problems", or rather my "blueprint" (Sara's word). Sara's life is not my life, of course, but so many of her experiences resonated. Sadly, in my own case autism has led to a lifetime of bullying and abuse, both physical and emotional. I am just starting to make sense of myself at this late stage in life.

Essential reading/listening for female autists

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I've wept, sobbed, laughed aloud, chuckled and felt a cacophony of emotions. From a late diagnosed autistic woman; I am filled with gratitude and purpose.

Thank you, Sara. An exquisite yet raw memoir.

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Sara's biography is a wonderful engaging story. It rings so true with many late diagnosed autistic people, showing just some of the difficulties that they experience.

I couldn't possibly explain here how significant her experiences are when put in the context of autism. I do however think that anyone who deals with autistic people , whether professionally or socially, needs to understand autistic peoples' accounts of situations, Nd therefore I would recommend that they read or listen to this book.

Sara reading this book herself adds so much to this. it is clear and read at a good pace.

Undiagnosed autism in all its rawness

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This is the best book, on an autistic person's life, I've read in a long time. Forget about autism experts and their views or claimed knowledge.
Just learn from autistic people such as Sara Gibbs, because the given insights are way more valuable and compelling. Apart from the fact that she has a great sense of humour.

Sara Gibbs, from drama queen to autistic woman.

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