My brain isn’t broken | Tashi Baiguerra | TEDxLondon

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Published 2019-06-13

In March 2018, 21 year old Tashi Baiguerra received a diagnosis that would finally allow her to understand why she wasn’t always able to make sense of things that everyone else seemed to find straightforward. Symptoms and characteristics that she had previously thought of as ‘failures’, were actually traits of her Asperger’s Syndrome. At first, Tashi believes her diagnosis, along with feelings of fear, loneliness and shame often projected onto people with Autism, would dictate her career and life choices. However, through her own powerful journey, she encourages us to see and understand individuals with neurodiversity and other disabilities radically differently. As an actress with Asperger's Syndrome, Tashi Baiguerra is proud to be a voice for the Autism community through her work. A dreamer, with accolades for both Autistic and non-Autistic roles, Tashi moved to work in the thriving London theatre scene after graduating from the Howard Fine Acting Studio in Melbourne, Australia in 2017. In London, she trained with Frantic Assembly Theatre Company and currently works as a physical theatre performer and folk musician. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@esk8jaimes 4 years ago

5:55 "Most Autistic people don't actually suffer from our Autism, we suffer from the way the world sees and treats our Autism." "To the world, my brain is broken. And when the world treats someone like they're broken that person will slowly come to accept that brokenness as fact."
@JanciDespainXD 5 years ago

Diagnosed at age 37. It was life-changing. When you find out WHY you are "the way that you are," you want to shout it from the rooftops so nobody else has to spend a portion of their life questioning their identity. Feeling like an alien on Earth.
@cheyennepetersen3417 2 years ago

"you only experience me mildly" THESE ARE THE WORDS I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR I love this
@NinaKlos 5 years ago

Diagnosed at 19, figured it out on my own and asked for it. If I had not, I doubt anyone would have noticed. I cannot pretend to be normal any longer at the cost of my energy and mental health. We must all strive to be ourselves.
@pauagh 2 years ago

I was pretty sure I was autistic like 20 years ago. I brought it up and was laugh at by mental health professionals, you can imagine by other people. I wasn't "autistic enough", I was "too smart", "too functional", whatever that means. I increasingly felt I was going crazy. After a life of depression, among other things, and many misdiagnosis (like bipolar and similar), now that I'm almost 40 I tried again, with all new studies about female ASD on hand, and got diagnosed: ASD, who would have known... me!? Underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis are way higher for women. I'm happy things change, and hope, like Tashi, for the day people with autism really don't know the road was bumpy to begin with.
@dalealongsr7085 3 years ago

If you experience your life as an ILLNESS, You remain in the hospital. If you experience your life as an IDENTITY, You become liberated and That Identity becomes the source of your power.
@riahray 4 years ago

I’m not crying. I promise I’m not crying.
@NJGuy1973 3 years ago

10:45 "It's my responsibility to pave the roads that she will walk on, so future children will not know the road is bumpy" Tashi FTW
@McBlammy 3 years ago

"I can't separate my Aspergers from myself...and I don't think I want to...not anymore" Preach it sister!
@sari6522 4 years ago

You're not broken, you're brave.
@TheAmaraHorton 4 years ago

39 years... today I received the keys to understanding myself
@DarkNova69 5 years ago

I got diagnosed early on because I had a teacher that cared why I was failing tests that I shouldn't have.
@suechapman7616 5 years ago

Nobody saw the real me for 60 years. Just coming out now.
@sarabrenna5525 5 years ago

I was only diagnosed with aspergers at 31, I am one of those who "slipped through the cracks". Thank you for this ❤️
@gaynorhennessy9954 2 years ago

Just diagnosed today ,aged 50! I feel relieved in a way but also deep in thought of everything that's happened and how I struggled to stay here . Time for self learning and acceptance ❤️
@dancewithmyshadows 3 years ago

“You may say I have mild autism, but that’s only because you experience me mildly. I don’t experience my autism mildly.”
@Babaelow 3 years ago

"... remaining non-functional for hours afterwards..." I'm an asperger and this is the worst. I can relate so much! Especially at work this is awful. After even light disagreements, I can't forget about it, and can't concentrate anymore. Then, my brain is all chaotic.
@marc-andreotis2104 1 year ago

As a neurodivergent (ADHD) I relate so much to this. Thank you for helping me understand I’m not broken❤
@janmorgan7435 3 years ago

My grandson has Autism and he’s extremely sensitive to what others say. He’s 11 years of age and l’m concerned at the way the world see this beautiful wee boy . Some people judge and don’t understand. This is what hurts the most.
@chuchay_7 4 years ago

I'm 20 years old studying nursing and I just found out I have Asperger. And bcoz of that I love myself even harder.