"I’m finally getting the help I need, and I’m proud of myself for that,” the reality TV star tells
Tamra Judge is clapping back at the criticism she’s received since revealing that she’s “on the spectrum.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County star clarified her condition after sharing the personal news during the Oct. 15 episode of her Two Ts In A Pod podcast alongside cohost Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.
“I started therapy because this year has been really hard on me,” the 57-year-old says. “I started feeling really insecure, I was having intrusive thoughts, and I didn’t wanna leave my house unless I had to. I even considered just being admitted into a mental health facility.”
“In my conversations with my therapist, who I’ve known for years, we talked about a lot over the course of two hours,” she explains. “And she told me that many of the things about me — like how I process information, my sensory issues, my social anxiety, my aversion to eye contact with new people, my not wanting to be out of my routine, etc. — were all signs of being on the spectrum.”
The term being “on the spectrum” refers to Autism spectrum disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, this is a neurological and developmental condition that impacts a person’s behavioral, social and communication patterns, with a wide range of symptoms and severity.
Judge notes that “on the spectrum” is a broad term that she doesn’t fully understand. She says her therapist told her that she needs further evaluation and when she first spoke about her condition on the podcast, “my head was spinning” from the news.
“I had no time to process things, or even talk to my family — I was just back at work. And I was so emotional, I just blurted it out,” she admits.
“Afterwards, my instinct was to have it removed. But I’m used to being so open with everything in my life, I thought against it. Now, I wish I had,” she says. “I just want to take people through the journey with me as I’ve always done, but I realize now I spoke too soon publicly, and that processing this with such an onslaught of negative comments has been horrible.”
“If you know me, you know I don’t like to look weak or play the victim. I also hate labels, just as much as I hate excuses. But I’m working on myself — not a TV show; to be a better person for me and the people around me. This isn't some storyline. It's my real life,” the reality TV star adds. “I have past trauma that is deep and painful. This is something I’ve suppressed for 15 years. But I’m finally getting the help I need, and I’m proud of myself for that.”
Judge says that although she’s appreciative of those who have reached out, she thinks it’s best to be more private moving forward until she’s in a better mental space.
“My mental health is just not strong enough where I can be judged and hated on right now,” she tells. “Yes, I’m admitting I'm weak. And I’m okay with that right now.”
After revealing the health update on her podcast, Judge told Mellencamp that it’s going to be “a rough few months” as she makes “a lot of huge changes” in her life.
The Quran - Chapter Al - Insan : 11 - 12
So Allah will deliver them from the horror of that Day, and grant them radiance and joy,
and reward them for their perseverance with a Garden ˹in Paradise˺ and ˹garments of˺ silk.
