Tamra Judge Reveals She’s “On the Spectrum” Amid Harsh Backlash

Tamra’s Surprising Diagnosis

In a heartfelt moment on the show, Tamra shared the life-changing news with her co-host, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.

“I just did my first therapy session … Let’s just say I found out something pretty big about myself that I didn’t know,” Tamra revealed.

Teddi, eager to know more, asked, “Now I need to know. Like, what?” Tamra’s response: “I am on the spectrum.”

“Oh my gosh, Tam,” Teddi responded, clearly emotional. Tamra, also visibly moved, began tearing up and added, “Don’t make me cry. My biggest problem is working through trauma that I had in my life.”

Understanding What It Means to Be “On the Spectrum”

The term “on the spectrum” refers to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental and neurological condition that affects a person’s behavior, social interactions, and communication. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, autism symptoms can vary widely in terms of severity, impacting how individuals perceive and interact with the world.

Tamra went on to explain how this diagnosis has given her clarity on her behavior and reactions in certain situations.

“I just thought that things were black and white to me, that, you know, I grew up with a family that didn’t have a lot of empathy or love or whatever, so that just transpired into my adult life,” she explained.

Through therapy, she’s come to understand that her difficulty with empathy and emotions stems from her diagnosis. “I have a hard time with empathy and feeling other people’s feelings … there’s a reason why,” she said, sharing that she would elaborate further with Teddi off-camera.

Coming to Terms with the Diagnosis

Tamra also revealed that at the time of recording, she hadn’t yet shared the diagnosis with her husband, Eddie Judge. “Certain things. Like, [my therapist] asked me, ‘You have really bad social anxiety, and you are very much like, I just wanna be at home,’” she shared. Tamra went on to explain that her social anxiety often leads her to drink in order to manage her anxiety during social events, especially while filming The Real Housewives of Orange County.

As Tamra reflected on how the diagnosis will affect her life moving forward, she admitted that the next few months could be challenging. “There’s gonna have to be a lot of huge changes,” she said. “It’s going to be a rough few months.”

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Tamra’s Health Journey

This isn’t the first time Tamra has opened up about her health struggles. Over the years, she’s shared several updates about her physical well-being and surgeries with fans.

In September 2023, Tamra posted a video on Instagram discussing her recent brow lift and reflecting on her facelift from seven years prior. The following month, she revealed she had been hospitalized for an intestinal obstruction after experiencing severe stomach pain. “Praying I won’t need surgery,” she said at the time.

Tamra also underwent an emergency operation in 2012 to remove a strangulated hernia, which was affecting a portion of her intestines. The surgery was life-saving, and Tamra has been candid about how these health scares have shaped her outlook on life.

Moving Forward

With her recent diagnosis, Tamra is preparing for a period of self-discovery and adjustment. As she continues to navigate her personal life and public career, the *RHOC* star is determined to work through the challenges ahead.

As always, fans of The Real Housewives of Orange County will be eagerly watching to see how Tamra manages these life changes, both on and off the screen.

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Olivia Davis

Olivia Davis is a Staff Writer at All About The Tea. Olivia’s hobbies include binging Netflix series, and watching Housewives on Bravo. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in History.