The Nervous System Eats First: Autism Spectrum, Menopause & Beyond

Episode summary

Temple Grandin and Dr. Stacey Denise outline digital-hygiene rules for autistic adults: what the algorithm rabbit hole does to mental health, the one-hour screen rule, how to curate your feed, and simple swaps for real-world connection that lowers anxiety and improves sleep—vital during perimenopause/menopause.
 
EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY
1.Social media can lead to isolation for autistic individuals.
2.Real-life activities are essential for building connections.
3.Slow transitions are crucial for autistic individuals to adapt.
4.Shared interests can help form friendships among autistic individuals.
5.Real activities can help reduce anxiety and improve mental health.
6.Creating a safer digital environment is necessary for young people.


TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Social Media Isolation and Its Impact
02:35 — The Importance of Real-Life Connections
05:18 — Practical tools: Checklists and Independence
06:51 — Temple Grandin’s Anxiety Journey
08:14 — How parents balance Independence with safety
10:02 — How to build Lasting Friendships
11:37 — Risks, Mentorships and Community Repair
14:20 — Digital Isolation impact on mental health
15:40-    How to ensure young people Learn the skills they need
17:40 -   Parents Safety & Real Activities
23:22-    Creating a Safer Digital Environment
25:10-    Communities & Retirees
27:52-    Take Away
28:20 -   Nourish or Numb


RESOURCES
Temple Grandin : 
Website: https://www.templegrandin.com/
Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/drtemplegrandin/
X                :  https://x.com/DrTempleGrandin

WORK WITH ME / LINKS
▸ Start your Neuroaesthetic Reset Blueprint™ →https://drstaceydenise.com/menopause-burnout-quiz/
▸ Learn more about Autism & Menopause →https://drstaceydenise.com/audio-podcast/
▸ Join the Newsletter for tools + research →https://drstaceydenise.com/waitlist/ 
▸ Follow on Instagram & YouTube → drstaceydenise.com
DISCLAIMER Educational only; not medical advice.


#drstaceydenis #Autism #MentalHealth #SocialMedia
 
Credits
Host: Dr. Stacey Denise. Produced by TNSEF—The Nervous System Eats First.

What is The Nervous System Eats First: Autism Spectrum, Menopause & Beyond?

The Nervous System Eats First is a podcast about the midlife body—when masking stops working, menopause hits hard, and your nervous system demands more than just supplements and willpower.

Hosted by Dr. Stacey Denise, a board-certified physician and founder of the Neuroaesthetic MD™ method, this show invites listeners into a new kind of recovery: one where healing begins through the senses.

Each episode blends science, sensory ritual, and somatic insight to help women reclaim regulation—not as a reward, but as a requirement.

This is not “self-care.” This is nervous system nutrition for:

Autistic and ADHD women unmasking in midlife

Black women and women of color navigating medical gaslighting

Women in menopause who feel invisible, exhausted, and emotionally unmoored

Highly sensitive women trying to feel something without getting overwhelmed

If you’ve ever asked, “What is happening to my body?”—this podcast is your permission slip to find out, slowly and with grace.

🎧 The Nervous System Eats First
Where your body is the expert, and your senses are the medicine.