Mental Health & Autism

Betsy Spalla is a finance professional by day, and a perpetual student of humans’ emotions. Mom of two now-adult babies, one of whom is on the spectrum, she was diagnosed with ADHD after the birth of her second child. Her journey as a mom of a neurodivergent human, in light of her own neurospiciness, has given her a keen insight into human behavior. She is adept at helping her people identify their feelings and triggers to make positive change.

After Chelsea frames the episode with her three key takeaways about mental health and autism, Betsy brings both her lived experience and neurology to the discussion. She provides another perspective of a neurodiverse family as well as actionable tools for managing a balanced household with mixed neurotypes.

Research articles Chelsea refers to in the opening narrative:

• Ma, S. L., Chen, L. H., Lee, C. C., Lai, K. Y. C., Hung, S. F., Tang, C. P., Ho, T. P., Shea, C., Mo, F., Mak, T. S. H., Sham, P. C., & Leung, P. W. L. (2021). ”Genetic Overlap Between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder in SHANK2 Gene”. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15, 649588. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8111170/#B12 
• Pettersson, E., Lichtenstein, P., Larsson, H., Song, J., Agrawal, A., Børglum, A. D., Bulik, C. M., Daly, M. J., Davis, L. K., Demontis, D., Edenberg, H. J., Grove, J., Gelernter, J., Neale, B. M., Pardiñas, A. F., Stahl, E., Walters, J. T. R., Walters, R., Sullivan, P. F., … Polderman, T. J. C. (2019). “Genetic influences on eight psychiatric disorders based on family data of 4 408 646 full and half-siblings, and genetic data of 333 748 cases and controls”. Psychological Medicine, 49(7), 1166–1173. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6421104/ 

The following topics and terms, in order of their appearance in the podcast, might evoke some curiosity:

• phenotypic: The observable characteristics or traits in an individual based on the expression of their genes.
• apraxia (MedlinePlus)
• The DSM-5 establishes three levels of autism spectrum disorder per support needs, with level 3 being the most significant need.
• DSM-5: The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., 2013)
• Autism Wheel
• “Impact of Child Disability on the Family” Reichman, N. E., Corman, H., & Noonan, K. (2008). Maternal and Child Health Journal, 12(6), 679–683.
• box breathing
• Feelings are not facts.
• Disappointments are inevitable, but misery is optional.

Next episode: Dadding Autistic Humans

Podcast includes an introduction for episodes 6 and following at the beginning. Transition music, "Taking a Vocation", by Noey Budde.

Closing narration for episodes 6 and following.