We all know Tamra Judge has a way of exaggerating a story. The Real Housewives of Orange County star has been at the center of the drama thanks to her ability to stir the pot. But this week, viewers saw a different side to the blonde bombshell. While on her podcast, Tamra opened up about her recent autism diagnosis. But instead of receiving support, she was greeted with immense backlash. And frankly, that is not okay.
Tamra Judge shares she is on the spectrum
It takes a lot to work on yourself. But Tamra has been on her own health journey for some time now. She recently spoke to her friend and podcast host, Teddi Mellencamp, to share a major update. While filming Two Ts in a Pod, Tamra noted, “I just did my first therapy session … Let’s just say I found out something pretty big about myself that I didn’t know.” I don’t think viewers expected to hear what came next, but the revelation even shocked Teddi. The RHOC star stated, “I am on the spectrum.” For Tamra, the diagnosis was eye-opening as she noted, “My biggest problem is working through trauma that I had in my life.” The autism diagnosis has helped Tamra to understand why she reacts in such a hostile manner at times.
“I just thought that things were black and white to me that, you know, I grew up with a family that didn’t have a lot of empathy or love or whatever, so that just transpired that onto, you know, my adult life,” she shared. The realtor has learned that there has always been a reason behind her actions. While she didn’t go into great detail, she told Teddi they would talk privately. Followers learned that Tarmra has “a hard time with empathy and feeling other people’s feelings.”
Tamra Judge releases a statement about her diagnosis
According to the Mayo Clinic, Autism is “a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication.” Tamra was brave to share her story, but she was inundated with hateful comments that forced her to release a statement. Tamra wrote, “I started therapy because this year had been really hard on me. I started feeling really insecure, I was having intrusive thoughts, and I didn’t wanna leave my house unless I had to. I even considered just being admitted into a mental health facility.”
“In my conversations with my therapist, who I’ve known for years, we talked about a lot over the course of two hours. And she told me that many of the things about me — like how I process information, my sensory issues, my social anxiety, my aversion to eye contact with new people, my not wanting to be out of my routine, etc. — were all signs of being on the spectrum” she added. Tamra ended her post by writing, “So as much as I appreciate the amazing people who reached out, I think it’s best to move forward more privately until I get to a better mental space. My mental health is just not strong enough where I can be judged and hated on right now. Yes, I’m admitting I’m weak. And I’m okay with that right now.”
Tamra Judge needed fans’ support
Real Housewives of Orange County fans know that Tamra dislikes looking weak, so opening up about such a health revelation was big for her. After reading some of the comments left for her, I feel like fans let her down. For Tamra, announcing her diagnosis isn’t a storyline. It’s her real life. But instead of being able to process the news, she was forced to encounter the mean side of social media as trolls tried to tear her down. Tamra, who has allowed cameras to film her life for the last 15 years, deserved a little more common courtesy than what she was given.
By sharing her autism diagnosis, Tamra could have shed an even brighter light on the disorder and helped others. With a national platform like Bravo, there was no telling what Tamra could have done to help others trying to digest the same information. Just because she is a reality TV star doesn’t mean she doesn’t have feelings. I hope fans remember that the next time one of their favorite Bravolebs announces something so profoundly personal. I’m sorry, Tam, we let you down as a collective group. And you deserved better.
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