Talk to her

"Juran que esa paloma

No es otra cosa más que su alma

Que todavía la espera

A que regrese la desdichada..."

Caetano Veloso, in Cucurrucucú Paloma

From Spain, neither good winds nor good marriages! That's what they say. But what is certain is that Almodóvar's films never disappoint. And why should I remember that he came to write a text about autism? Some are wondering. And why should Almodóvar try to talk about friendship, loneliness, illness and communication between people by putting a ballerina and a bullfighter in a coma in the hospital while a nurse and the bullfighter's friend meet during the course of the film? Maybe it's time to check Hable con ella. And if you have never seen him before, don't miss the opportunity. In addition, it is an epic opportunity to see Pina Bausch and Caetano Veloso in the same movie.

Interestingly, I also remembered the movie because you very often leave Almodóvar's films with the feeling that you didn't understand the story well. And what role women play in their films. Certainly it will be enough material for a deeper analysis that Almodóvar is worthy of. But I thought that the same misunderstanding reminds me of what happens to the perceived quality of life of autistic women. That's right, it's not a mistake in the same sentence to be quality of life and autistic women. But then why talk about perceived quality of life? Fast, because people's perception of their quality of life seems to be a whole series of their reactions to their health. This means that people with poorer perceptions of their quality of life seem to have a higher number of physical and mental health problems.

And that means it doesn't seem very difficult to believe that it is autistic people if there is a group that perceives their quality of life as negative. And perhaps one can think that women could have a more negative perception, on the one hand because of the expectations they can have and partly because they have a greater tendency to social interaction.

In autism, the female phenotype is characterised by greater internalisation and camouflage of social behaviours than in men, who usually show less awareness of their own characteristics. This often leads to a delay in the diagnosis of ASD for women and increases the susceptibility of autistic women to psychopathological comorbidities or health problems at the same time, such as mood disorders, self-harm behaviour or suicide behaviour, as well as problems related to self-care and nutrition. In addition to internalisation, the desire to please, the social development of remuneration mechanisms through copying, imitation and self-training. In addition to late access or lack of access to mental health services, they have a direct impact on the mental health and well-being of women.

In addition, it will be important to take into account that the difficulties that some autistic people have to be flexible may have to do with not adjusting their perception or behaviour in the same way until they maintain a positive perception of their well-being.

Like Benigno, the nurse in the movie, who keeps talking to Ballerina Alicia, even though she is in a coma. To the point where journalist Marco thought he would be crazy. Perhaps it is important to continue Hablar con ella (talk to her), with the autistic woman and especially in terms of her perceived quality of life. Try to understand the efforts it makes or undertakes in order to be able to respond lovingly and appropriately to the challenges and wishes in your life.