In a candid revelation, The Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge has publicly discussed her recent mental health journey, including a therapist’s suggestion that she might be “on the spectrum.” This news emerged after Judge began therapy to address feeling insecure, experiencing intrusive thoughts, and struggling with social anxiety.
Judge initially shared this personal information on her podcast, Two Ts in a Pod, and subsequently elaborated on social media. She explained, “I started therapy because this year had been really hard on me… 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.”
During her therapy sessions, Judge’s therapist noted several characteristics that align with traits of being on the autism spectrum. These included “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.”
Judge acknowledged the broad nature of the term “on the spectrum” and emphasized that further evaluation is necessary for a comprehensive understanding. She admitted to feeling overwhelmed after the initial therapy session, stating, “when I sat down at the mic to record my podcast 15 minutes later and my head was spinning from what she had said, 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.”
Following the public disclosure of her possible Tamra Judge Diagnosis, she faced a wave of reactions. While some were supportive, others were critical, leading Judge to reflect on the timing and public nature of her announcement. “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,” she shared.
Judge expressed vulnerability, admitting, “My mental health is just not strong enough where I can be judged and hated on right now. Yes, I’m admitting I’m weak. And I’m okay with that right now.” She highlighted that her focus is now on personal growth and healing, independent of her reality TV persona. “I’m working on myself — not a TV show; to be a better person for me and the people around me,” she affirmed. Judge also mentioned dealing with “past trauma” that she has “suppressed for 15 years,” and therapy is helping her address these deep-seated issues.
Details from Judge’s podcast conversation with Teddi Mellencamp further illuminate her experience. She recounted her therapist’s insights: “I just did my first therapy session. Let’s just say I found out something pretty big about myself that I didn’t know… I am on the spectrum.” When Mellencamp inquired about the implications, Judge responded, “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 — but [my therapist] says that’s not my biggest problem. My biggest problem is working through trauma, trauma that I had in my life.”
Judge also reflected on her lifelong perspective and emotional processing. “I grew up with a family that didn’t have a lot of empathy or love or whatever, so I just transpired [sic] that on to my adult life,” she explained. “After talking and going through everything, my emotions, I have a hard time with empathy and feeling other people’s feelings.” This exploration of her emotional landscape is a significant part of her therapeutic journey.
While Tamra Judge’s diagnosis is still in the preliminary stages, her openness has brought attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorder is a “neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.” The term “on the spectrum” encompasses a wide range of experiences and characteristics, highlighting the need for further evaluation and understanding, which Tamra Judge is currently pursuing. Her willingness to share her personal journey contributes to a broader conversation about mental health and neurodiversity.
