Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge has tearfully revealed that she is 'on the spectrum' - and is sharing exactly how she found out the news.
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The reality TV personality, 57, opened up about her diagnosis during a new episode of her Two T's In a Pod podcast on iHeart, which she hosts alongside former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp.
'Well, I just did my first therapy session, and let's just say I found out something pretty big about myself that I didn't know,' Judge began.
In response, Mellencamp asked Judge what was going on, to which she explained what her therapist had told her.
'I am on the spectrum,' Judge claimed, as tears streamed down her face.
Being 'on the spectrum' often refers to Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is cited as a spectrum because it can have wide-ranging symptoms and affect people in different ways.
It is a 'condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication,' according to the Mayo Clinic.
Judge went on to share that she has a 'hard time processing things' and has sensory issues, especially as it relates to sound and light.
'My biggest problem is working through trauma, trauma that I had in my life,' Judge continued telling Mellencamp.
'I have a hard time with empathy in feeling other people's feelings,' the Real Housewives veteran explained.
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip star seemed to be shocked by her diagnosis, but Mellencamp was there to comfort her.
'Well, I think it means a lot that you are taking those steps to figure out,' Mellencamp said.
Judge furthered her thoughts, sharing that it was something she had never noticed in herself before.
'I'm just a person and I just thought 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, I just transpired that on to my adult life,' Judge said during the episode.
'But after talking and going through everything and my emotions, I have a hard time with empathy and feeling other people's feelings,' she continued. 'There's a reason why, and I'll share it with you off [camera].'
Mellencamp reassured Judge, telling her that it was 'huge' that she had this information, because it's something that she can be 'aware' of.
'It's not a bad thing, you can continue using this to elevate yourself in such a positive way and also know it's not that you don't have empathy, you're just seeing things in a certain way, and that's how you're responding to them,' Mellencamp told her good friend.
In the comments section of a video clip they posted of Judge sharing her diagnosis to Instagram, many of their fellow Real Housewives stars shared their support for the star.
'Love your vulnerability,' Real Housewives of New Jersey star Rachel Fuda wrote.
Taleen Marie, who is a new member of Real Housewives of Dubai, penned, 'Love you ladies.'
