The Emotional Toll of Sensory Sensitivities: What Autistic & ADHD Kids Feel That Adults Often Miss
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
Holly Blanc Moses
4.9 • 686 Ratings
🗓️ 11 December 2025
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
https://www.youtube.com/@autismadhdtvwithhollySensory experiences shape how neurodivergent kids feel, think, and show up in the world — and when those experiences are overwhelming, confusing, or dismissed, the emotional toll can be enormous.
In today's rebroadcast, Holly Blanc Moses (AuDHD therapist, evaluator, and mom) gets deeply personal, sharing powerful stories from her own childhood and adulthood that reveal what sensory differences really feel like from the inside. From the "sock struggle" to being pushed into a pool, to finally standing under a waterfall at 50 years old—Holly opens the door to understanding sensory experiences in a way that is validating, compassionate, and unforgettable.
Whether you're a parent, therapist, or educator, this episode will help you see big reactions, meltdowns, refusals, or "sensitivities" through an entirely new lens:
✨ One rooted in sensory distress, not misbehavior.
✨ One grounded in emotional safety, not compliance.
✨ One that teaches us to believe kids—even when we don't fully understand.
Because when we understand sensory needs, we understand the child.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
What sensory overload actually feels like for many autistic and ADHD individuals
Why sensory distress often leads to emotional dysregulation or meltdowns
How invalidation ("You're being dramatic") impacts long-term emotional wellbeing
Why believing kids' sensory experiences improves trust, attachment, and regulation
Holly's personal sensory stories (you may see your child or client in them!)
Who This Episode Is For:
✔ Parents of autistic & ADHD children
✔ Mental health therapists
✔ Educators, school staff, and support professionals
✔ Anyone who wants to better understand sensory differences and emotional regulation
If you've ever wondered, "Why does this tiny thing create such a big reaction?" — this episode will give you the clarity and compassion you've been searching for.
🥁🥁🥁🥁 MORE Great information for you!
The 135 School Accommodations for Autistic & ADHD Students Guide is now available, including three detailed cases with accommodations for ONLY $27.95
What's Inside:
📚 Academic Supports (45 accommodations)
From pre-teaching strategies to assistive technology, the tools students need to access the curriculum without barriers
🎨 Sensory & Environmental Supports (22 accommodations)
Create a learning environment where your child can focus, regulate, and engage—not just survive
🧠 Executive Functioning & Self-Advocacy (24 accommodations)
Build the skills that will serve them for life—organization, time management, and speaking up for their needs
🤝 Social Supports (21 accommodations)
Turn recess and group work from nightmare to opportunity with structured, supportive approaches
💚 Mental Health & Emotional Regulation (23 accommodations)
Because learning can't happen when a child is overwhelmed, anxious, or in crisis
Plus:
✅ An example of each accommodation
✅ 3 detailed cases along with accommodations
✅ Tips on how to identify areas of need
✅ Free helpful education resources
Don't miss this opportunity to access 135 neurodiversity-affirming accommodations for only $27.95
You are going to LOVE this guide!
Thank you for your advocacy!
After you get your guide, you can also access these free resources below:) ⬇️
🌟 Get your FREE "Get To Know My Child Snapshot"
Parents click here, Therapists click here, Educators click here
⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION
Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC.
⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A
Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled.
Parents, click here for your masterclasses
❤️ You're invited to my FACEBOOK GROUPS. Can't wait to see you there:)
Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents
Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals
Subscribe, Support & Share
📱 Follow: @theautismadhdpodcast on Instagram and Facebook
📺 Come on over to YouTube and check out Autism ADHD TV with Holly
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About Holly Blanc Moses
Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider, and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV, and parent masterclasses.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Autism-AdHD podcast. |
| 0:06.2 | It's the place to be for nerd diversity affirming parents and professionals. |
| 0:11.8 | I'm your host, Holly Blanc Moses, the mom nerd aversion therapist. |
| 0:16.4 | Here we chat about emotional regulation, mental health, social support, executive functioning, learning, and more, all aimed at empowering us to support kids and teens with compassion and understanding. |
| 0:31.7 | I'm thrilled that you join me today and I've got some pretty exciting news to share with you. |
| 0:37.7 | For those rock star therapists listening right now, |
| 0:41.6 | I've created continuing education training that is tailor-made for you. |
| 0:47.7 | Take a deep dive into cutting-edge strategies that you can start using today. |
| 0:54.4 | The CEs you've wanted for so long are finally here. |
| 0:59.6 | Go to hollyblankmosis.com forward slash CE training and sign up. |
| 1:07.0 | You are going to love it. |
| 1:09.6 | The link is also available in the show notes. |
| 1:13.0 | Now, if you are a parent or educator listening |
| 1:15.9 | and you know a therapist or a psychologist |
| 1:19.0 | that is passionate about supporting kids and teens, |
| 1:22.6 | I greatly appreciate it if you could pass on this great news. |
| 1:27.1 | Thanks so much again for your support. |
| 1:29.5 | And let's get started. |
| 1:41.8 | Welcome back to the Autism, ADHD podcast. |
| 1:46.4 | If you are familiar with my last few episodes, you'll know that I recently celebrated my 50th birthday. |
| 1:56.7 | Yes, the big 5-0. |
| 1:59.2 | And it really had me thinking about the lessons that I've learned, |
... |
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