Tamra Judge Claps Back at Critics After Being Told She’s 'on the Spectrum': 'This Isn’t Some Storyline' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Randy Shrophsire/Peacock via Getty

Randy Shrophsire/Peacock via Getty

Tamra Judgeis clapping back at the criticism she’s received since revealing that she’s “on the spectrum.”

The Real Housewives of Orange Countystar spoke to PEOPLE and clarified her condition after sharing the personal news during the Oct. 15 episode of herTwo Ts In A Podpodcast alongside cohostTeddi 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.”

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The term being “on the spectrum” refers to Autism spectrum disorder. According to theNational 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.

Two Ts In A Pod/Instagram

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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 PEOPLE. “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.

source: people.com