💫 From Stigma to Self-Acceptance: What the Trump-Paracetamol and Autism Claim Really Teaches Us
- Becky Priest
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
Every now and then, something pops up in the news that makes my stomach twist a bit — the latest one came from Donald Trump, claiming that taking paracetamol (Tylenol) during pregnancy could cause autism.
Scientists have already pushed back hard, and rightly so — the evidence just doesn’t support the link between paracetamol and autism. But honestly, what hits me most isn’t the dodgy science — it’s the message underneath: that autism is something scary, something we should be trying to prevent.
For those of us who are actually autistic, that lands differently. Especially if, like me, you were late diagnosed autistic and ADHD and spent years thinking you were just “too much”, “too emotional”, “too sensitive”, or “bad at coping”.
These claims reopen those old wounds. They reinforce that idea that something about us is wrong — something someone could’ve — or should’ve — been prevented. And that hurts, because we’ve spent so long unlearning that story.
🌱 From Stigma to Self-Acceptance
When I finally got my diagnosis, everything clicked into place. I’ve written before about the mix of grief and relief that comes with understanding your brain properly for the first time — that ohhh, that’s why I am like this moment.
And I’ve also written about how pole dancing and pole fitness became part of that healing. Because when I’m moving, spinning, flowing — I’m not thinking about how I “should” be. I’m just being. There’s no mask, no pretending. My ADHD hyperfocus becomes creativity. My autistic need for structure becomes flow. My sensitivity turns into expression.
So when I see people in power spreading fear about autism — reducing it to a scary diagnosis to avoid — it makes me want to shout louder about the truth:🖤 Autistic people aren’t tragedies. ADHD isn’t a flaw. Neurodivergence isn’t a problem.
We’re just wired differently. And honestly? That difference is where so much beauty, insight, and kindness lives.
💃 Movement as Medicine
Pole fitness and pole dancing have been huge tools for reclaiming my identity. It’s one of the few spaces where I feel completely allowed to be exactly who I am — brain, body, feelings and all.
In the studio, I don’t have to apologise for needing time to process, or for moving differently, or for feeling things deeply. I can stim, fidget, hyperfocus, spin, or laugh through a trick — and it’s all okay. It’s actually more than okay — it’s celebrated.
Every spin, every wobble, every tiny win on the pole feels like an act of self-acceptance. Movement becomes medicine, not because it fixes me, but because it lets me come home to myself.
And I see it happen for my students too. People walk in carrying all sorts of stories about not being strong enough, flexible enough, confident enough — or just “too much” — and they start to realise they’ve been enough all along.
If you’re searching for pole classes near me, I hope you find a space that feels this safe, supportive, and empowering — because that’s what we all deserve.
🖤 A Closing Spin
So, while politicians are out there using autism for headlines, I’ll keep spinning — literally. Pole dancing and pole fitness have taught me that acceptance isn’t just a mindset; it’s something you can feel in your body. It’s strength and softness all at once.
Every time I see a student smile mid-spin, or laugh at a slip, or just breathe a bit easier in their body — I’m reminded that this is the antidote to stigma. Spaces where you’re safe to move, to feel, to be you.
We don’t need to be fixed. We just need to be understood, supported, and celebrated — on the pole, in life, and everywhere in between.
✨ If you’d love to explore pole dancing in a space where you’re accepted exactly as you are, check out my upcoming pole classes near me — no experience needed, just curiosity and an open heart.
Book your class here: https://bookwhen.com/beckypriestpole#focus=ev-s5v3-20250928093000
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