Sarah Clarke, 蜜桃AV MSc Student, recently completed聽the July 20km Jurassic Coastal Challenge, raising money for the National Autistic Society.聽
Sarah, aged 37,聽was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Having gone through significant challenges in her life, Sarah鈥檚 late聽diagnosis has shed some light on the difficulties she鈥檚 faced.聽Sarah鈥檚 first-hand account:
鈥淚鈥檓 currently studying MSc Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology at 蜜桃AV and my MSc Programme Leader, Dr Rachel Moseley, has a particular research interest in 鈥榣ate diagnosis of autism in girls and women鈥�,鈥� explains Sarah.聽鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 until I聽heard her lectures that I realised ASD could explain many of my difficulties and so I arranged an assessment聽and was diagnosed. Her articles from the British Holistic Medical Association Newsletter and the University Psychology Department Newsletter have been published聽in the BMJ and she has spoken on BBC Radio Solent and South Today both about floating and EDS.鈥�
What this Challenge means to Sarah
鈥淚n 2018 when my EDS was still undiagnosed and unmanaged, I was housebound for four months as my chronic pain was so severe,鈥� she says.聽鈥淟ast year I became very poorly with malnutrition due to Median arcuate ligament syndrome [compression of the celiac artery, with two聽cases in every 100,000 people].聽Surgery is generally the only recognised treatment, however I delved deep into researching how to help myself and six months later I'm back eating a normal diet and thriving!聽May was EDS and HSD Awareness Month and during the month, I walked or ran a total of 250 km in one month for the聽Walk N Roll Challenge!鈥�
鈥淎聽year聽and a half ago I came out of a聽coma. After this, coupled with my recent diagnoses, I really am trying to make the best of my life and opportunities and聽significantly improve聽my physical health through聽self-management,鈥� Sarah continues.聽鈥淚 am making huge, huge progress in my life despite all the challenges I've faced, and I hope to inspire others that it is possible to overcome very dark and desperate struggles.聽I am even considering聽doing a PhD next but I certainly want to find a way to bridge my lived experience as a patient with my research interests.鈥�
