A nuanced and compassionate exploration of emotional experience in autism, offering insight into why feelings can be deeply intense, delayed, or difficult to identify for many autistic children and adults.
In Episode 10 of The William Gomes Podcast, “Autism and Emotion – Why Feelings Can Be Intense or Hard to Name,”William Gomes examines how autistic emotional experience is often misunderstood. The episode explores emotional intensity, delayed emotional processing, interoception, and shutdowns, and explains how these processes interact to shape how emotions are felt, recognised, and expressed.
Understanding Autistic Emotional Experience
The discussion highlights why emotions may not always be immediately identifiable for autistic individuals. Gomes explains how internal bodily signals can be harder to interpret, how emotions may surface after a delay, and how complex or demanding social situations can intensify emotional load.
Crucially, these differences are not a lack of feeling, but reflect a different way of processing emotional information.
Misinterpretation and Emotional Load
A central theme of the episode is how misunderstanding autistic emotional expression can lead to inappropriate responses from others. Gomes explains how emotional reactions are often misread as indifference, overreaction, or withdrawal, when in fact they reflect a nervous system working hard to manage intensity and overload.
By understanding these underlying processes, adults can respond with greater empathy and reduce unnecessary pressure.
Supporting Regulation With Empathy
Gentle and insightful in tone, the episode is intended for parents, educators, and professionals seeking a deeper understanding of autistic emotional life. It invites listeners to support regulation in ways that respect individual differences, rather than judging emotional responses against typical timelines or expressions.
Part of a Wider Autism Series
As part of the wider autism series on The William Gomes Podcast, this episode contributes to a more informed and compassionate understanding of emotion, wellbeing, and regulation in autism.
Listen to Episode 10
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-william-gomes-podcast/id1582677051?i=1000742434490
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/57O6EZdUDySlk6qmRKrHFP?si=f62c95e4da9b4d4f
YouTube
https://youtu.be/XRqlAFSEgFM?si=o9R4RRqK1c1EZlvZ
The William Gomes Podcast is an independent podcast series focused on autism, child development, and neurodiversity, offering evidence-informed and accessible discussions designed to support understanding across families, education, and professional practice.
