An episode that tosses and turns!

In Episode 112 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela dive into one of the most overlooked but critical issues in autistic life: sleep difficulties.

Here’s what’s in store for today’s episode:

* Why sleep disorders in autistic people are under-researched yet extremely common, including sleep apnea, insomnia, hypersomnia, and delayed sleep phase onset.

* How sensory sensitivities, interoception issues, and muscle tone differences can interfere with sleep quality and lead to long-term autistic burnout.

* The challenges of falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up, especially in a world built around neurotypical routines and early start times.

* Why transitions are hard for autistic people—and how that directly impacts both bedtime and morning routines.

* The importance of recognizing that sleep is not optional. Poor sleep = poor health, and autistic bodies need restorative, demand-free environments to recharge.

* Strategies to support autistic sleep needs:

* Embracing a low-demand lifestyle

* Honoring your natural sleep-wake cycle

* Reducing sensory overwhelm at night

* Creating autism-friendly routines that support rest instead of forcing sleep

“We autistic people have meat bodies that just fall apart. And without good, restorative sleep, our bodies don’t get the rest they need in order to rebuild. ” - Matt Lowry LPP

“Without good sleep, our bodies deteriorate, we might get fibromyalgia, it raises our cortisol levels, it can lead to epigenetic changes, it can be a factor that leads into POTS and lupus - a decreased immune response, or an increased immune response because we’re on high alert all the time.” - Matt Lowry LPP

“It’s not the kid’s fault. It’s not the parent’s fault for how you wake up. It’s society’s fault for waking you up when you should not biologically be awake.” - Matt Lowry LPP

“I could have gone to a doctor’s appointment every day for my narcolepsy, and they would have tried to find a cure. The cure was creating a low-demand lifestyle where I was unmasked and accepted that I am a part of a beautiful, rich tapestry of autistic culture. And then my narcolepsy went away, no drugs included.” - Dr Angela Kingdon

“God, the obsession with melatonin. How about a life that you don’t need melatonin from?” - Dr Angela Kingdon

Did you enjoy this episode? We explored how sleep challenges impact autistic individuals, from delayed sleep phases to sensory sensitivities and struggles with transitions. Tune in as we unpack why sleep issues are so common in autism and how they contribute to burnout. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your experiences!

Related Episodes:

Autism Affirming Social Skills

Aging and Executive Function

Moving Is An Autistic Hell

Ready for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!

Follow us on Instagram

Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com

Our Autism-affirming merch shop

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.