Being a mother is all about learning strengths you never knew you had and dealing with fears you didn’t even know existed.

When Lauren was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 17 years old, I have to admit, it didn’t come as a surprise. Lauren was always different. She would much rather play on her own or with an adult in her early years. When she started school she was unable to talk whilst there except for a few special people, so I guess that’s when her selective mutism began. I dislike the title selective autism though, it suggests that being unable to talk is a choice, which it absolutely isn’t. Lauren was physically unable, due to her anxiety being so severe. As the years went on she became very rigid with her thinking and would get extremely upset if things didn’t go to plan or, people turned up at the house unexpectedly.

When Lauren started secondary school she struggled. She didn’t like change and would cry most days going into school. She was always keen to do well and would study so hard in the evenings, mainly because when she was at school she would switch off because her anxiety was so bad. Lauren would come home and study until the early hours of the morning so she can teach herself everything that she missed during lessons.

Unfortunately the stress of school was too much for Lauren, the noise, the hustle and bustle and the desire to achieve her own expectations led Lauren to start self harming. By this time OCD had kicked in and taken over her life. Lauren was unable to go to school or leave the house on her own. Her bedtime routine took 3-4 hours, the checking of switches, the unlocking and locking of doors, lining shoes up, checking for trip hazards, cleaning herself over and over again. It was heartbreaking to watch. Despite Lauren not being able to go to school she excelled in her GCSES scoring top marks for everything. She was accepted into sixth form and had chosen all chemistry, physics and biology and Religious education as her A levels.