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The Wide Awake Parenting PodcastMindful Parenting with Dr. Kirsten Kuzirian Author: Wide Awake Media
Join psychologist Dr. Kirsten Kuzirian for research-backed insights that help you understand what's really happening in those challenging parenting momentsand respond from wisdom rather than worry. Every other week, we explore child development, brain science, and practical strategies through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. From tantrums to teen struggles, from ADHD to anxiety, we dive into the real stuff with warmth, honesty, and zero judgment. This isn't about perfect parenting scripts or one-size-fits-all solutions. 20 minutes of insight that honors your instincts and the science. For parents ready to stay awake to what matters most. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and listening does not establish a therapist-client relationship. For personal mental health support, please consult a licensed professional in your area. New episodes every other week at wideawakeparenting.com Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Mental Health, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Autistic Masking, Burnout, and Late Diagnosis: The Cost of Holding It Together
Episode 18
Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
You made it through the day — the meeting, the small talk, the eye contact you remembered to make. Everyone would say you seemed fine. And now you're sitting in the parked car, not quite ready to go inside, tired in a way sleep doesn't reach. If that's familiar — or if you're raising a child or a teenager who holds it together at school and comes apart at home — this episode is for you.Child psychologist Dr. Kirsten Kuzirian opens the Missed Generation series with masking and camouflaging — the continuous, effortful work of appearing neurotypical, and what two decades of research now show it costs. The episode speaks to three listeners at once: autistic adults who were recognized late, parents of children and teens who mask, and clinicians whose caseloads include the adults the system missed.In this episode:- What masking actually is — the three strategies autistic adults describe from the inside, and how it differs from ordinary social effort- The cost, measured — real-time stress research, twin studies, and autistic burnout as the collapse of a system run past its design- Who got missed and why — the lost generation, autistic women and girls, and the double empathy research that places the communication difficulty on both sides of the neurotype border- The recognition moment — relief and grief held at once, and the identity work that follows a late diagnosis- What the research does and does not support about unmasking — safety and environment before willpower- For parents: why "fine at school, falling apart at home" can be a form of trust — and how the deposits can start tonight, whether your child is seven or seventeenMentioned in this episode:- Free resource library — wideawakeparenting.com/freebiesThis episode discusses research on masking and suicide risk. If you or someone you love is in crisis, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, any time.Wide Awake Parenting is educational content distributed by Wide Awake Media, LLC. It is not therapy, not assessment, and does not establish a therapeutic relationship.
