Em Rusciano has revealed one of the near-debilitating symptoms of her autism and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).
The 44-year-old, who was diagnosed with level one autism in November, said that she’s unable to eat during the day because of her sensory issues and the anxiety that stems from her disorders.
‘I don’t eat at all during the day, I only eat at night,’ she told her 230,000 followers.
‘At about 10 O’clock, it’s like my entire body unclenches from a day of masking and anxiety and worry and then I just lay in bed and I snack,’ she added.
‘Masking’ is also known as autism camouflaging, and is something that autistic people do in public to hide their symptoms from others.
Em Rusciano (pictured) is unable to eat during the day due to the severity of her ADHD and autism
The 44-year-old star said that she binges on junk food at night and can’t handle healthy snacks like celery due to her sensory issues
Em also said that she has a ‘chewing stim’ which causes her to crunch hard foods between her teeth during the day because she ‘finds it soothing’.
A ‘stim’, short for stimulation, is the repetitive performance of certain physical movements. Many people on the autism spectrum do this as it can help keep them calm when they’re overstimulated.
The Emsolation host admitted that she binge eats on unhealthy snacks and that she can’t handle eating celery because the food’s texture triggers her sensory issues.
‘I don’t know what to do,’ she said. ‘My diet is so bad. It’s so bad!’
Last week, Em revealed that she’d been left with ‘autistic burnout’ after a few busy days.
The TV and radio host shared a series of Instagram posts that showed her posing up a storm at a red carpet event for the musical & Juliet in Melbourne, as well as giving an International Women’s Day talk on stage with Accenture AUS & NZ.
‘At about 10 O’clock, it’s like my entire body unclenches from a day of masking and anxiety and worry and then I just lay in bed and I snack,’ she said
The mother of three, 43, later explained in a tearful video that she was unable to eat or sleep, and was frequently crying due to autistic burnout after being around too many people at the social outings.
Autistic burnout which refers exhaustion, loss of function, and reduced tolerance to stimulus as a result of autism.
‘I am in total sensory burnout right now. This is what happens to me. I had a few big days where I have been people-ing, and I crash,’ she said in the clip shared on Friday.
‘It’s like all my nerve endings are on the outside of my skin, I can’t sleep, I cry a lot, everything is bright and loud, I cant figure out what to eat,’ she went on.
‘I need to have weighted things on my legs. This is the stuff that I have always gone through but thought it was normal, and I found out it was autistic burnout.’
She added: ‘Today I have to just not do anything, basically, and it’s not because I am not a s**t person, I am an autistic person.’
Em recently said that she was suffering from ‘autistic burnout’ after a few busy press days, including attending the premiere of the Juliet musical
‘It’s like all my nerve endings are on the outside of my skin, I can’t sleep, I cry a lot, everything is bright and loud, I cant figure out what to eat,’ she said
Em then admitted she ‘cringes’ when discussing her autism, because ‘people think she’s faking it anyway’ after she was wrongly accused of inventing her diagnosis for attention.
‘Then you go through the whole cringe cycle, (thinking) that sounds a bit pathetic and p**s weak and no one will believe anyway’ she said.
‘Even saying “autism” or “I’m autistic”, I feel like this surge of panic, like I am gaslighting myself.’
Rusciano was formally diagnosed with autism in November, but had already self-diagnosed herself with it months earlier.
Last month, she entered in a war of words with fellow comedian and podcaster Meshel Laurie, after Laurie branded her a ‘c**t’ in a shocking tirade.
Em recently expressed her gratitude that Marvel Stadium had added a ‘sensory room’ for autistic people like herself to use during overwhelming concert events
Laurie, 49, accused Rusciano of ‘leaping on the bandwagon’ for clout, and refused to back down despite being called out by thousands on social media.
Laurie targeted the Emsolation host after she claimed she may need to use a ‘sensory room’ at the Harry Styles concert at Marvel Stadium due to her newly diagnosed autism.
The sensory room contains noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, and fidget tools so autistic people or those suffering from severe sensory issues have a safe space to go to.
‘I’m extremely sensitive to light and sound and textures. Sensory overload and burnout happen to me five or six times a week, that’s why when I saw that Marvel Stadium had a sensory room, I was excited,’ Em later explained on Facebook.
‘These are only a couple of examples of how my ASD shows up, but I shouldn’t have to explain myself. Yet this week I’ve found myself having to endure people debating if I’m autistic enough or even at all. How is that okay?’
The podcaster has become an outspoken advocate for the autism community in the last few months
