I think I’ve seen all the episodes of Radio Enfer. To this day I still remember the sovereignty of Maria Lopez, the financial manager of student radio. She was proud, beautiful and rebellious. What I didn’t know was that their interpreter suffered in silence…
Posted at 9:00 am
Rachel Fontaine posted seven short videos on social media this week. In this series, she reveals herself to be on the autism spectrum, thanks to the good advice of the character she played from 1995 to 2001, Maria Lopez. A step that is difficult to guess.
“When I was diagnosed, we were talking about high-functioning autism or stage 1 autism (Asperger’s),” Rachel Fontaine told me. Today, the term “spray” is split and tending to disappear because it derives from the name of a psychiatrist who was believed to have had Nazi followings. Rachel Fontaine therefore speaks more of invisible autism. She also describes herself as a “top gun chameleon”.
“High-functioning autistic people have an easier time adjusting and hiding their difficulties,” she explains. It doesn’t show. We are invisible! »
It doesn’t seem that Rachel has long wondered what she’s suffering from… Doctors suspected bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. When the mother of the family fell into severe depression at 40, it was an amazing coincidence that finally saved her.
What kept me on this planet was my boy. I couldn’t give up… But I was exhausted and my senses were heightened. I felt and heard everything to the power of a thousand! I told myself that I was crazy, that I was done and that there was no solution for me anymore.
Rachel Fontaine
Then one night, she stumbled across a man’s highly functional autism testimonial online. She recognized herself immediately… What shocked her: “I didn’t understand, I realized that I didn’t match my picture of autism! »
If she had to follow this lead, she would do so with an established expert in female screening. After doing some research, she turned to Dr. Isabelle Henault. “I didn’t believe it so much that I wanted to have an unequivocal diagnosis. »
She received it.
Then the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together. Rachel Fontaine has learned that even the best childhood “chameleons” exhibit certain traits. In particular, think about anxiety that leads to a breakdown, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a routine that is very difficult to break.
Little Rachel had to count to 10 before entering a room, never walked a line and was so passionate about dogs that she was convinced she was one.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Rachel Fontaine
I felt I was out of step. I didn’t understand how people work… They often lied, they were in gray areas, they were nice, but they didn’t really like me!
Rachel Fontaine
“It was hard to follow,” she explains, but I felt sure that if I could look people in the eye, I could understand more things about her. Since it was intimidating, I practiced a lot by staring into the animals’ eyes. »
Not only did Rachel learn to look people in the eye, but she quickly became good at imitating them. Basically, she played a character long before she played Maria Lopez on Radio Enfer. Appropriating the demeanors, facial expressions, and postures of the majority was his only recourse to avoid rejection…
PHOTO PROVIDED OF THE PRODUCTION
Rachel Fontaine with Michel Charette, who played Jean-Lou Duval on Radio Enfer and is taking part in one of the Autism Month capsules.
The game came naturally to Rachel Fontaine when, at 18, she landed the role of beautiful Maria in Canal Famille’s youth series. Radio Hell, it was six seasons of pure happiness for the actress: “Maria doesn’t look like me at all! It overflows, it cares nothing, it is self-centered. My god, this personality tasted good! She taught me to have courage and to communicate. She gave me a lot of courage. »
So it was Maria that Rachel had in mind when she decided to speak out this Autism Month. She was afraid to talk about herself… “The only one who would give me the courage was Maria. »
In the series of capsules that will be broadcast this week on various social networks, we can therefore hear the character who encourages Rachel Fontaine to reveal her diagnosis in order to raise awareness of both the public and the medical profession…
Because high-functioning autism is more difficult to detect — particularly in female “chameleons” — Rachel wishes primary care physicians were more likely to consider it when they encounter patients with characteristics reminiscent of the disorder, borderline personality, or bipolar disorder.
She also wishes for more tools in the public system to support people who suffer like her for years before gaining access to the keys that will allow them to understand themselves: “You often have to turn to the private, but I have friends who can’t afford it. We have to make the appropriate resources available… For example, I would like to set up workshops or self-help groups. »
She passionately adds that she wonders how to get university students interested. Those who will soon be able to screen for autism spectrum disorders and guide tomorrow’s Rachel Fontaines to some peace of mind…
Or better yet, a celebration of who they are.
“The best thing about us is honesty,” says Rachel Fontaine. When you connect with an autistic person, that’s extraordinary! it is pure We don’t make lace, so it’s very ‘crap in the teeth’ at times… But it’s clean! »
Tell me about a childhood idol who knows how to keep admiration for him full.