Originally appeared on E! Online
Tamra Judge is learning more about herself.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star shared that she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during her first therapy session.
“I am on the spectrum,” an emotional Tamra said during the Oct. 15 episode of her and Teddi Mellencamp’s Two Ts In A Pod podcast. “We’re trying to work through that. I have a really hard time processing stuff. I have a lot of sensory issues—sound, light, touch.”
She noted that her diagnosis helped her understand why she felt and behaved the way she did during different times in her life.
“I’m a person that just thought that things were black and white,” the 57-year-old admitted. “I grew up with a family that didn’t have a lot of empathy or love, so I just transpired that into my adult life. But after talking and going through everything and my emotions, I have a hard time with empathy and feeling other people’s feelings.”
Teddi emphasized that she doesn’t believe Tamra lacks empathy. “You’re just seeing things in a certain way,” she added. “That’s how you’re responding to them.”
Tamra, who has been on the Bravo show since 2007, also reflected on her unhealthy coping mechanisms when tensions were high onscreen.
“How I make it through the show is drinking,” she explained. “I’ll drink and then all this suppressed s–t that’s going on within me comes out because my guard is down.”
Often, an autism diagnosis makes other experiences in life make far more sense. Tullulah Willis shared earlier this year that she didn’t learn she was autistic until well into her adult life, which is a common occurrence for women.
“This is the first time I’ve ever publicly shared my diagnosis,” the youngest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis shared on Instagram in March. “Found out this summer and it’s changed my life.”
Meanwhile, Holly Madison was also diagnosed later in life at 43, even though she had long suspected something was different about her.
“I’ve been suspicious of it for a while because my mom told me that she was always suspicious that that was a thing,” she said on the Talking to Death podcast in December. “I always had trouble socially, not recognizing social cues, not picking up on things the same way other people did.”
“But I just made excuses for it,” the Girls Next Door alum said. “I thought it was because I grew up in Alaska, and then around middle school, moved to Oregon and I thought, ‘Well, that was just a big social change.’ So I’m just very introverted. Like, that’s always how I wrote it off. But I went and got diagnosed earlier this year, so now I know.”
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“RHOC”’s Tamra Judge Wants to ‘Push Through’ to Milestone 20th Season: It’s Going to be ‘Spectacular’ (Exclusive)
Judge has starred in 14 of “The Real Housewives of Orange County’s” 18 seasons
Tamra Judge attends 2023 Variety’s Women Of Reality TV at Spago on November 29, 2023
Tamra Judge wants to hold on to her orange for as long as she can.
The Real Housewives of Orange County star, 57, has been a part of the Bravo series since season 3 . Judge departed the series after season 14 and returned for season 17. She’s appeared in 14 of the show’s 18 seasons.
In a recent sit-down with PEOPLE, Judge confirmed that she’d love to remain a part of the reality show for the next few years.
“I definitely want to push through to season 20,” says Judge about RHOC, which is currently airing its season 18. It first premiered in March 2006.
Tamra Judge
Related: RHOC‘s Tamra Judge Says Kicking Alexis Bellino Out of Dinner in Season 8 Was ‘Amazing TV, That’s For Sure’ (Exclusive)
“I think that 20 is going to be just spectacular. I could see, like, the trip being over the top. I mean, I think it’s definitely going to be a season of celebration,” she says.
In addition to Judge, season 18 saw the return of Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and newcomer Katie Ginella.
Speaking about whether fans can also expect Ginella to come back for another season, she tells PEOPLE, “You know, I obviously don’t make those decisions, but it’s really hard to judge a one-season cast member, because there’s girls that come in and they just give it their all, and there’s girls that maybe are a little bit more quiet.”
Heather Dubrow and Tamra Judge in ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ season 18
Related: Tamra Judge Shows Off Her Latest Plastic Surgery Procedure: ‘Never Felt Prettier’
“I think that [by the] second season if they can’t get it and it doesn’t work, then, you know… reality TV is not for everybody,” she adds.
One thing to look forward to is Judge’s youngest daughter, Sophia Barney — who surprised fans by appearing in earlier episodes of season 18 after not appearing on the show since season 5 — will appear in more episodes.
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‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ cast
“You get to see Sophia singing. So she produces music and sings, and so I’m very excited about that,” says Judge, who is also a mom to kids Spencer Barney, 23, and Sidney Barney, 24, with ex-husband Simon Barney. She is also mom to eldest son Ryan Vieth, 38, from a previous relationship.
“That’s one reason why she really wanted to come on the show is to show that musical side of herself,” she adds. “She just turned 19 and started community college, and then she’s trying to figure out where she wants to go. I’m pushing for New York, doing singing or anything musical, is where she’s going to shine.”
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With the season 18 reunion filming complete, Judge tells PEOPLE she’s looking forward to her next project: the upcoming TwoTsCon live podcast show cohosted by The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays on Bravo.
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Read the original article on People.
