EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

221 | why your hormonal health matters more than you think

EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

Show Notes

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is a little different... but if you're parenting an autistic child, it may be one of the more important conversations we can have. your health is part of the foundation that supports your family, and that includes your hormonal health. using her own health journey as a starting point, dr. tay explores why understanding your cycle, hormones, and overall health may be one of the most overlooked parts of supporting yourself as a parent. this episode is an invitation to get curious about your body, recognize patterns in your mood, energy, and regulation, and advocate for yourself when something feels off—because your health deserves the same attention and compassion you so often give everyone else. in this episode, you'll hear: why understanding your cycle can improve self-awareness and regulation how hormonal health can influence mood, energy, and parenting capacity the overlap between hormonal health and neurodivergence why tracking your cycle can help you recognize meaningful patterns how Dr. Tay's own health journey inspired her to better understand her body why trusting your instincts and advocating for your own health matters

timestamps 00:00 why hormonal health matters for parents of autistic kids 03:05 advocating for yourself when something feels off 06:18 understanding your cycle and recognizing your patterns 10:00 why your health is part of your parenting foundation 15:37 the overlap between hormones and neurodivergence 18:03 trusting your instincts and getting curious about your body 21:18 your health matters too resources ⚡️ explore Dr. Tay's clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ follow me on Instagram and share your thoughts about this episode @the.dr.tay

More from EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

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about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode wraps up our three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay is joined by amanda diekman, author of The Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout, to talk about what burnout recovery can actually look like over time and why healing is rarely linear. amanda breaks down the phases of burnout, how support needs change across each phase, what “deep rest” can look like for kids, and why parents may need to continually recalibrate between accommodation, capacity-building, safety, and trust.

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about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is part 2 of our autistic burnout series. dr. tay is joined by patrick casale, a neurodivergent therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur, and group practice owner, for a conversation about what autistic burnout can feel like . patrick shares his lived experience with burnout, the overlap between autistic burnout and chronic illness, the impact of societal demands, and why recovery is rarely as simple as “just reduce demands” or “take a break.” this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for parents who are trying to better understand their child’s burnout, support recovery, and recognize early warning signs before the nervous system fully crashes.

Oct 7, 2026

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode kicks off a three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay shares what she sees clinically when autistic kids are in burnout, why it can be so confusing for parents, and why traditional approaches to depression, behavior, or school refusal may not fully capture what is happening. this is a primer episode to help you understand what autistic burnout can look like, what makes it different, and why recovery often requires time, nervous system repair, reduced demands, and support for the whole family.

Sep 30, 2026

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if your child is melting down, resisting, avoiding, running, crashing, or seeming impossible to support, sensory may be part of the story. in this episode, dr. tay welcomes laura petix, occupational therapist and author of The Sensory Code, back to the podcast to talk about sensory regulation, sensory profiles, meltdowns, and how parents can start building sensory support into daily life in a way that actually fits their child.

Sep 17, 2026

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is for the moms who feel like some weeks they can do it all… and other weeks everything feels harder. dr. tay shares a vulnerable, real-time reflection from the depths of her luteal phase and explains why cycle tracking can be such a powerful tool for understanding mood, energy, capacity, productivity, and parenting. because your hormonal health is not separate from your autism parenting journey. your body, your nervous system, your capacity, and your regulation are all part of the ecosystem your child is living in. you’ll hear about: why the luteal phase can impact mood, energy, and capacity how cycle tracking can help reduce shame and increase self-understanding the connection between hormones, mental health, and neurodivergence why parenting often requires so much “output” energy how to adjust expectations, support, and routines around your cycle why your capacity matters in the whole-family support picture

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