Bruce Willis’ daughter Tallulah, 30, is ‘still exploring’ her recent autism diagnosis

I cannot form an opinion as I am just an artificial intelligence and don’t have the ability to experience life or emotions firsthand. However, I can share my perspective based on the information provided in the text.

In her own words, Tallulah Willis, the youngest child of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, shares that she’s still working through the process of understanding her autism diagnosis.

About a year after receiving her diagnosis for a developmental disorder, the actress, who has previously spoken about her struggles with eating disorders and borderline personality disorder, continues to discover how this condition influences her daily life.

Before being diagnosed, I observed that my unusually strong responses through my five senses – I’ve had a keen sense of taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing since my childhood – didn’t seem to be the case for most people, shared the 30-year-old with People.

After going undiagnosed with autism for almost 30 years, Tallulah shared her desire to increase awareness and comprehension about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as much as possible.

She, specifically, hopes to support ‘women who are more commonly misdiagnosed.’

Women over the age of 18 with autism might not be identified as having autism until much later in life or may even never receive a diagnosis. (Source: A Center for Mental Wellness)

On their site, it is listed that ‘80% of females remain undiagnosed by the age of 18.’ 

It’s proposed by researchers that females are often diagnosed with autism later than males due to subtler manifestations of symptoms in women.

Women are often observed to excel at masking their symptoms due to their early ability to learn and mimic behaviors, making it harder for others to identify their hardships.

At the Autism Speaks gala in October, taking place in Los Angeles, Tallulah will receive recognition for her efforts in raising awareness about autism through her platform.

According to People, the list of previous awardees features names such as Dave Grohl, J.K. Simmons, Sarah McLachlan, Alyssa Milano, Jeannie Mai, and Kristin Chenoweth, in addition to Naomi Campbell.

Georgianna Junco-Kelman, a member of Autism Speaks’ board, expressed her gratitude for the advocacy work of individuals like Tallulhana, stating it as an honor to join forces with them in bringing attention to the most significant concerns within the autistic community.

“Although we’re proud of our progress towards inclusivity at previous Autism Speaks Los Angeles Galas, it’s important to remember that more efforts are required, especially in the entertainment industry, to provide greater opportunities for people with autism to thrive and realize their full potential,” Junco-Kelman added.

In March 2024, Tallulah revealed for the first time that she’s been diagnosed with autism. 

Tallulah shared an old video on social media, featuring her and her father (who has frontotemporal dementia and aphasia) at the film premiere of “The Whole Ten Yards” from 2004. In this movie, they both acted, with Tallulah being only 10 years old back then.

With the post, she wrote: ‘Tell me [you’re] autistic without telling me [you’re] autistic.’

In the video, a young girl named Tallulah, standing next to Bruce, appears to be playing with Bruce’s ears and running her hands over his bald head frequently as he responds to questions from a journalist.

Her post prompted a follower to ask about her diagnosis.

The actress admitted, for the first time in public, that she was diagnosed with a health condition this past summer. This revelation has significantly impacted her life.

Scout LaRue, Her sister, mentioned “she’s stimming,” to which Tallulah responded, “I really wish we had better audio, man, like with that ear curl.”

Cleveland Clinic)

I personally believe that having a method to manage my emotions is crucial. This technique isn’t exclusively used by those with autism spectrum disorder or neurodevelopmental conditions, but it’s frequently linked to these populations.

Recent studies suggest that approximately 80% of female cases of autism go undiagnosed by the age of 18, contrary to previous reports indicating that boys are about four times more likely than girls to have the condition. (UCLA Health)

In the past, I’ve shared my personal struggles with body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and ADHD. These challenges have shaped my experiences in profound ways.

Over the past four years, I’ve been battling anorexia nervosa, a struggle I’ve kept hidden due to its being the final unhealthy habit I’ve clung to since overcoming addiction at age 20. (Vogue, May 2023 – Tallulah’s essay)

At the age of 25, she checked into a Malibu residential treatment center to address her long-standing struggles with an eating disorder and depression.

She shared that the experience was primarily healing for her; it was the first moment she truly mourned for the awkward and unpopular fifteen-year-old version of herself.

‘I was also diagnosed with ADHD and started on stimulant medication, which was transformative. 

For the first time, I experienced a sense of intelligence within me, yet I found myself enjoying the weight-loss benefit of my medication. I discovered an opportunity to replace my clumsy teenage self with a playful, whimsical fairy-like figure.

Tallulah said that ‘like so many people with eating disorders, [her] sense of myself went haywire.’

She said that ‘the beginning of losing weight rapidly’ led to a sense of ‘unhealthy deliciousness.’

Tallulah expressed, “Wow, people are impressed! But soon enough, they express concern with, ‘Are you alright?’ My loved ones were frightened, yet I downplayed it. They asked, ‘Is this a new ADHD mediation?'”

She expressed great care over her medications, justifying this mindfully by reflecting on how they enhanced her concentration.

As I sat in the therapist’s office, struggling with my eating disorder, she explained to me in a gentle yet firm voice, “The smaller you become, the more overwhelming your feelings of being large will be.” I couldn’t believe it – how could that be? It seemed so counterintuitive. But as I reflected on her words and began to understand the complex nature of my condition, I realized just how twisted this paradox truly was.

By the spring of 2022, she weighed only 84 pounds and faced severe health issues due to this weight loss.

She expressed that she felt constantly cold, “I was always shivering,” she added. She found herself frequently requesting mobile IV services at home, and her anxiety prevented her from navigating the streets of Los Angeles for fear of collapsing without a seat to rest.

I’ve been following the life of Tallulah’s family closely for over two years now. Emma Heming, who is 45 and Tallulah’s stepmother, made an announcement on their Instagram account alongside Demi Moore, Willis’ ex-wife, and their daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. They shared that the actor was taking a break from acting due to his aphasia diagnosis.

In their announcement on March 30, 2022, they mentioned that Willis has been dealing with some health problems and was more recently diagnosed with aphasia, affecting his thinking skills.

I can understand how difficult it must be for Bruce to come to this decision after dedicating so much of his life to his career. It takes a great deal of introspection and courage to step away, especially when that career holds such significance. This is an emotional time for him and his family, and I want to express my deepest appreciation for the love, compassion, and support you have shown during this challenging period.

I’ve been through some tough times with my family recently, but we’re sticking together like a rock. We wanted to involve Bruce’s fans in our journey because we know how deeply connected you all are to him, and he feels the same about you. As Bruce often says, “Live it up,” and that’s exactly what we plan to do – live every moment to the fullest as a united family.

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2024-07-24 17:36