Orion Kelly, Autistic advocate, discusses fawning in Autism, exploring its impact on individuals, toxic relationships, and trauma response. The episode delves into how fawning affects mental health and relationships, offering strategies for navigating this behavior.
Fawning is a survival response used by autistic individuals to avoid conflict and please others.
Repeated trauma and societal stigmatization are root causes of fawning in autistic individuals, leading to internal exhaustion and loss of self-identity.
Deep dives
Understanding Fawning and its Impact on Autistic Individuals
Fawning, a survival response triggered by the amygdala in the brain to avoid danger, is a key topic discussed. Orion Kelly sheds light on how fawning, the fourth survival response alongside fight, flight, freeze, is utilized by autistic individuals as a coping mechanism. Fawning involves pleasing others to avoid conflict, leading to decreased self-worth and mental health conditions. The podcast delves into how fawning can be misinterpreted positively by others, leading to toxic relationships and increased risk of mistreatment.
Root Causes of Fawning Among Autistic Individuals
Repeated trauma, particularly in the form of daily criticism and negative reactions, is identified as a root cause of fawning among autistic individuals. The stigmatization of authentic autistic traits and behaviors, which are not accepted by society, also plays a significant role in triggering fawning responses. Additionally, the podcast highlights how the prevalence of misreading fawning as a safe state further perpetuates this damaging survival response.
Impact of Fawning and Strategies for Support
Fawning, while externally perceived as positive behavior, internally leads to exhaustion and a sense of loss of self-identity among autistic individuals. The podcast emphasizes the need for strategies to support autistic individuals in navigating fawning, including avoiding criticism of non-harmful behaviors, encouraging self-advocacy, and empowering them to set boundaries and prioritize their own needs. By actively discouraging fawning and promoting self-validation, individuals can combat the detrimental effects of this trauma response.
Fostering Self-Advocacy and Empowerment in Autistic Individuals
Orion Kelly's podcast advocates for fostering self-advocacy and empowerment in autistic individuals to combat fawning responses. Encouraging individuals to express preferences, set boundaries, and identify their own feelings plays a crucial role in promoting self-identity and reducing the reliance on people-pleasing behaviors. By modeling self-care and self-validation, and actively discouraging fawning triggers, autistic individuals can reclaim their autonomy and mental well-being.
1.
Exploring Fawning and its Impact on Autistic Individuals
On this episode of 'My Friend Autism', Orion Kelly explores the topic of Fawning and Autism. Orion Kelly is an Autistic YouTuber, podcaster, author, actor and Autistic advocate. Find out more and check out his podcasts & YouTube videos at Orion's website: https://orionkelly.com.au
All rights reserved.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode