🧠 Why Blanket Rejection of Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, etc) Harms Autistic People
I’m Kara Nash, RN — The Autistic Autism Consultant, a nurse and autistic professional bridging the gap between medical understanding and neurodivergent reality.
This blog explores the physiology behind behavior, the biology of burnout, and the systems that fail to see autistic bodies as whole.
Here, we talk about regulation, hormones, medication effects, trauma, and the nervous system — all through a lens of compassion, precision, and respect for lived experience.
It’s not about pathologizing autism.
It’s about translating the science of the body into the language of support — for clinicians, caregivers, and autistic adults seeking to understand themselves in physiological terms.
WNC Autism Related Resources Guide
As The Autistic Autism Consultant, I support autistic individuals, families, and professionals in navigating services with clarity, confidence, and respect for neurodiverse needs. This resource list was created to highlight local providers—prescribers, therapists, OTs, speech therapists, hairdressers, supported employment programs, group homes, and more—who come recommended by members of our community as being knowledgeable, compassionate, and effective in working with autistic people. My hope is that this guide makes it easier to find support that truly understands and honors autistic experience.
Suntheanine (L-Theanine) for Stress Reduction and Anxiety
Suntheanine® (a purified form of L-Theanine from green tea) is a chewable supplement that may support relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and promote better sleep without causing drowsiness. I recommend it because it’s allergen-friendly, high quality, and easy to take. While not a treatment for autism, some people find it a helpful, affordable tool for managing mild anxiety, end-of-day stimulant crashes, or general stress.
Autism and Video Games aka To Medicate or Not to Medicate
Dopamine deficiency neurodivergence and what happens when dopamine isn’t balanced
6/4/24 Neurodiversity Training at Keystone Camp, Brevard
Yesterday, I gave a two-hour presentation to about 100 counselors there. It was incredibly well received. I enjoyed connecting with the counselors who came up after the talk to share with me. It was a great bunch of people. It’s heartening to see the mainstream making room for autistic voices.
Things are changing. I hope that the next generation of autistic kids will grow up in a world where they'll be heard and valued for who they are.
My Favorite Sensory Tools: What I Use for Self-Regulation at Home and in Practice
As an autistic adult and a mental health professional specializing in neurodivergent care, sensory regulation isn’t just a clinical concept—it’s a vital part of my daily life.
3A Magnesia for Constipation
Constipation is the most common gut symptom for people on the autism spectrum…
