On ENERGY, A Framework for Supporting Emotional and Physiological Regulation, with Dr. Amy Laurent and Dr. Jacquelyn Fede

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Uniquely Human: The Podcast 1h 0m 2 speakers 6 chapters transcribed 8 hours ago

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What is the purpose of Uniquely Human the Podcast and who are the hosts?

Unknown 0:00

The primary purpose of Uniquely Human the Podcast is to educate and inform. The views expressed during all episodes are solely those of the individuals involved and do not constitute educational or medical advice. Listeners should consult with professionals familiar with each individual or family for specific guidance. Uniquely Human, the podcast, is produced by Elevated Studio. Music is graciously provided by Matt Savage of Savage Records.

Barry Prazant 0:39

Hi, I'm Dr. Barry Prezant, clinical scholar, researcher, and consultant on autism and neurodiversity, and a Brooklyn boy raised in the big city. And I'm Dave.

Unknown 0:50

I'm none of those things, and I grew up on a farm in Illinois. But being on the spectrum myself, I have plenty of personal insight to lend.

Barry Prazant 0:59

And

Unknown 0:59

this is

Barry Prazant 1:00

It's uniquely human the podcast, a show that illuminates and celebrates autism and neurodiversity.

Barry Prazant 1:13

And today we are welcoming back two wonderful people who are doing pretty amazing work that we're gonna talk about. And that is my colleague and longtime friend, Dr. Amy Laurent. And her colleague and dear friend, Dr. Jacqueline Fadie. Welcome to Uniquely Human the Podcast.

Dr. Amy Laurent 1:35

Thank you so much for having us and having us back a second time,

Dave 1:38

Brave Souls. Fort fortunate souls.

How did Dr. Amy Laurent and Dr. Jacquelyn Fede first meet and begin their research on autism?

Dave 1:43

We're very fortunate to be able to spend time with you today and uh I'm I'm really stoked that you're back too.

Barry Prazant 1:49

Yes, and you and you're joining a very small elite of second timers. I we have to say that.

Dave 1:54

Yes,

Barry Prazant 1:55

yes. You've you've risen to to the next tier.

Dr. Amy Laurent 1:59

We're leveling up, Barry.

Barry Prazant 2:01

If you could let our listeners know who maybe who don't know you amongst your what forty thousand followers or so, um, or did not listen to our previous episode, which by the way was more than two years ago with you. Yeah, it's hard to believe. Um, please discuss, um so our listeners know Um how this all began, autism level up and uh the amazing work that you're doing in your friendship and partnership.

Dr. Amy Laurent 2:29

Yeah, so we are two developmental psychologists and we met in graduate school. And Jacqueline was a Research assistant on my doctoral dissertation looking at the development of self-regulation in um the r relation for autistic young children in relationship to kind of their parent behaviors. And um Jacqueline would go with me on my home visits and you would videotape the interactions between the parents and the children and kind of like orchestrate all the all the operational pieces for me and we'd drive away from every home and Jacqueline B like, these are the best kids ever. They're amazing. And I would say, well, you know, you're a bit of a sensory mess yourself in the most loving possible way. Um, which you didn't really

Dr. Jacquelyn Fede 3:19

know or understand at that point. So then years later, to make a long story a little bit shorter, um, when I entered my first full-time job, it's kind of the first time I found myself in an environment. uh that really did not match up with my profile. And within two weeks I went from, I would say, functioning and loving life to coming home every single day or not even making it home, getting into my car and smashing things, breaking things, kicking through doors, walls, what have you, melting down essentially, which I didn't even know that term at the time. Or um needing to shut everything off, be in complete darkness, and I'd sleep like 18 to 26 hours at a time. Um so it was, you know, a f this was a full on autistic burnout.

Dr. Jacquelyn Fede 4:17

And I went on like that for months and months, not telling anyone, wondering if I was depressed, if I had anxiety, if I was suicidal. Um and I Would check in with myself regularly and I I would ask, am I suicidal? And I would say, it's not that I want to die, but it's like I can't figure out how to live anymore. And At some point, after seriously months of thinking the best of my life was over and this is my fate now, and I've made a terrible mistake. I don't belong in this place. I should go home and like live with my mother and do some kind of predictable manual labor job. So I had some insights about things, uh, but not a name like autism to explain what was happening.