Christine McGuinness

And I think I was maybe like 18.

It was quite a big photo shoot in Liverpool.

I was modelling.

I wasn't diagnosed, but I always felt different.

And I had to wear this jumper that was quite a fluffy...

like a yeah yeah and it was high neck I don't like things around my neck I don't like polo necks because I don't like that tight feeling yeah and I remember saying to one of the assistants on the shoot do you know when when I'm changing into the next outfit because I'm finding this a little bit uncomfortable and I remember the lady just saying to me look you're you're on a photo shoot you're paid to be here just to wear the clothes like you're a blank canvas like basically just be quiet

Yeah.

And it's only now that I understand that I just couldn't I couldn't deal with that fabric to me felt itchy.

So some people it might have felt really soft, but to me it felt really, really itchy.

And it felt claustrophobic.

So I'm just always now always feeling stuff if I go shopping, I won't just buy something online unless I know it's it's smooth.

Yeah, all three of them are autistic and they've all got sensory issues the same as me with the skin.

Do you find that because you've been diagnosed, it's now easier to deal with the children?

Definitely.

Honestly, it's been my biggest blessing.

I think my diagnosis was, it was more for them than for me.

First of all, it was so that when I was telling them that they were autistic, that I could say to them, look, mummy's autistic too, like you're not on your own.

Yeah.

Mummy's okay.

Mummy has had a gorgeous relationship.