213 | "could I be autistic too?" what many parents realize after their child’s diagnosis
EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kidsShow Notes
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 for a lot of parents, the autism journey doesn’t stop with their child’s diagnosis. at some point… it starts to feel personal.
you hear the questions during an evaluation, you start learning more about autism, and suddenly you’re thinking: “this sounds like me…”
in this episode, dr. tay walks through what this process actually looks like — why it’s so common, why it can feel complicated, and how it can impact not just you, but your relationship and your entire family dynamic.
because this isn’t just about understanding your child. it’s about understanding yourself and what that means for how you move forward. resources ⚡️ other episodes referenced in this episode: 180, 189, 208 ⚡️ autism traits guide — a resource to help you understand diagnostic criteria and recognize patterns across ages and presentations ⚡️ neurodiverse communication masterclass with Dr. Ali — tools and strategies to support communication and connection in your relationship ⚡️ learn more about dr. tay’s whole family approach + clinical services, including booking a free consult call for our adult evaluations in this episode, you’ll hear: why so many parents begin questioning their own neurotype after their child’s diagnosis how this realization often unfolds (and why it doesn’t always happen right away) the likelihood of parents being neurodivergent and why this matters the grief that can come with realizing you weren’t supported or accommodated in the same way how self-exploration can feel both clarifying and overwhelming where to start if you’re exploring your own neurotype (including self-identification vs evaluation) why understanding diagnostic criteria is key — not just relying on social media why loved ones may resist or struggle to understand this process how this shift can impact your relationship dynamic and communication why many couples feel more disconnected during this stage and what’s actually happening underneath the importance of understanding patterns in communication, not just surface-level conflict how learning new communication tools can support your entire family system
timestamps 00:00 when the autism journey starts to feel personal 03:12 are parents of autistic kids more likely to be neurodivergent? 05:28 how parents begin exploring their own neurotype 09:25 should you consider an adult autism evaluation? 10:40 what happens when others don’t understand 16:00 why relationships can feel harder after a diagnosis 20:45 how to start improving communication as a couple
More from EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids
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.
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.
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.
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.
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