In this episode of Adult Autism: My Autistic World, Matt dives into the fascinating world of special interests- those unique and intense passions that bring so much joy and purpose to many autistic and neurodivergent individuals. He shares some of the special interests that have shaped his life, from ancient civilizations to cults, and his obsession with Tori Amos. He also shares his latest and dominant special interest- neurodivergence, which has consumed his focus for the past two years.

Matt also discusses the struggle of suppressing and hiding special interests for years, feeling pressure to “leave childish things behind,” and the trauma of misdiagnosis and mapping special interests to signs of mania. He reflects on how this suppression and shaming made him feel diminished joy and connection to self. Rediscovering special interests has been a journey of self-acceptance and authenticity for him.

He also highlights the importance of special interests, explaining how these passions provide a sense of purpose, a means of self-expression, and a pathway to mental and emotional well-being.

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In this episode of Adult Autism: My Autistic World, Matt takes a reflective journey through their employment history, shedding light on how undiagnosed autism impacted his career. Despite often being recognized as a strong employee, he frequently experienced burnout, often leaving jobs due to feelings of overwhelm or becoming stuck in issues related to a strong sense of justice. He also discusses how autism contributed to difficulties in managing basic self-care, finances, relationships, and other aspects of life outside of work. Taking classes to become a life coach improved not only his professional abilities but also his home life. Systemization became a key strength, allowing him to excel at work by seeing the path from point A to point B more clearly. These newfound skills also helped him manage his personal life more effectively, leading to better self-care. He touches on the topic of employment disclosure and the process of seeking disability accomodations, highlighting the power of understanding and advocating for one's own needs.

At the end of this episode, Matt discusses his plans for his future and the future of the podcast, including a second season focused on hearing other autistic people's experiences.

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In this episode of Adult Autism:My Autistic World, Matt takes a deep dive into the world of sensory differences experienced by autistic individuals. With a focus on the eight sensory systems—visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive—he explores the complex relationship between sensory overload and sensory-seeking behaviors, known as "stimming." This episode is perfect for those looking to better understand the intricacies of sensory processing in autism and learn about practical coping strategies.

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