Motor City Hypnotist
Motor City Hypnotist
Autism Without The Myths (Part 2)
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Autism is one of those words that everyone thinks they understand until you start talking about how it actually feels day to day. We get into the lived reality of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including why sensory overload can turn ordinary sounds, lights, and textures into a wall of stress, and why that constant friction can feed anxiety, depression, and even OCD-like patterns as people try to create order in a noisy world.
We also tackle a question we hear all the time: “How do I get tested for autism?” The frustrating truth is there’s no single definitive blood test or simple checkbox that confirms it. Diagnosis often comes down to patterns, history, and honest conversation about symptoms and functioning. That subjectivity is exactly why stereotypes and TV portrayals can do damage. Autism can present in subtle ways, especially in adults who have spent years masking, compensating, and wondering why certain situations feel impossible.
From there, we focus on what actually helps: respect for boundaries, clear communication, predictable structure, and support that adapts to the person instead of forcing the person to adapt to everyone else. We talk about why autism is not “curable,” what therapy can realistically improve, when medication might be considered for related symptoms, and how important it is to find a therapist you truly connect with.
If this conversation helps you rethink autism, share it with someone who needs it, subscribe for more mental health talk with real humor, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one autism myth you want to see disappear?
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FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
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Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist
Cold Open And Welcome
SPEAKER_02In this episode of the Motor City Hypnotist Podcast, we're discussing autism. This is part two. If you've not listened to part one, you can jump back an episode and catch up with us. Or you can listen to this one and do that one after. You'll still get all the information you need. So check that out if you can. This is part two of autism. And as usual, we're giving away free stuff. Hang in there, folks. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_05This sounds like something for the authorities in Detroit.
SPEAKER_00Well, joke's on you. I'm living to 102. The men die at the city of Detroit.
SPEAKER_01Guys like this can't take over here out of Detroit. What is spawn in the hellfires of Motown?
SPEAKER_00Take him to Detroit.
SPEAKER_03No! No, not Detroit! No!
SPEAKER_04Stationed in Drambui, worse than Detroit. We did not have as a unit the confidence that we felt like we needed to beat Detroit.
SPEAKER_00Let's go to Detroit. Now you're talking, brother. I don't think so. He plays for Detroit now.
SPEAKER_04Do they have many farms in Detroit? Detroit to Michigan. I go to school, I know where Detroit is. Get ready for the motor city hypnotist, David R. Wright, originating from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. He has hypnotized thousands of people from all over the United States. David R. Wright has been featured on news outlets all across the country and is the clinical director of an outpatient mental health and hypnosis clinic located just south of Detroit, where he helps people daily using the power of hypnosis. Welcome to the Motor City Hypnotist, David R. Wright.
SPEAKER_02What is going on, my friends? It is David Wright, the Motor City Hypnotist. And we are back with another episode of the Motor City Hypnotist Podcast. Yes, you are. Yes, you are. That is Matt Fox, the other voice you hear. We're here in the palatial podcast, your voice, Southfield Studios. We have a guest in the studio. We do have a guest. Wayne is joining us. He's hanging out and just sitting in and enjoying the podcast. Two in a row. Two in a row. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_05Oh god.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. Well, you come back for the drinks and then you stay for the mental health. That's how it works. Yeah. We we drink and then we talk about our problems. That's how this show works.
SPEAKER_01Wayne, I'm so happy that you made it out here this evening. It's been it's been a hot season.
SPEAKER_02Thanks for joining us, Wayne. I appreciate it. Cheers. So yeah, where can we uh said we're here? Let me tell you where you can find me. My website is motorcityhypnotist.com. Right in the midst of prom season. Just got back from Iowa over the weekend, my third weekend driving 10 and a half hours one way. That's your fault. Coming back. That's your fault. I saw my chiropractor this morning because I was messed up. Oh, is that why you're walking taller? I had a knife right in my right in the back of my shoulder right here. That sounds painful. It was a knife. It felt like a knife. Yes. Yeah. Not a real knife. We're metaphorical knife. Metaphorical. But yeah, it it sitting in a car for 10 hours is not good for your body. Or 20 hours in in a in a weekend. That that's yeah. All right. You get messed up. So anyway.
SPEAKER_01So I'm gonna ask you a quick question. Yes. You're in a car for 10 and a half hours. Yes. What does David R Wright listen to in the car for 10 and a half hours? Listen to a book. Really? Yep. Stephen King?
SPEAKER_02Stephen King. Good man. I'm I'm so here's the thing uh sidebar. We do sidebars here quite often because we're geeks, but I I am I am going through Stephen King beginning to end in chronological order right now. Including the Bachman books? Yes. In fact, I just finished Thinner, and the next chronological is Misery. Okay. So I'm on to misery right now. So on my drive, I listen to Thinner, then different seasons. Okay. And then now I'm on to misery. Misery. Yes.
SPEAKER_01So when does the Bachman books come into that?
SPEAKER_02Well, Bach Thinner is a Bachman book.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_02Yes, thinner is also is back, it's back a ways. I think I've I think I've covered all the Bachmans.
SPEAKER_01So you covered Rage. You covered a lot.
SPEAKER_02Rage is not available on Audible. It wouldn't because of the subject matter. Correct. Right. Yes. So that one, that one I have read and I have it at home somewhere in a box, but it's not in print anymore. So you can't get it. Because of the subject. Because of the subject matter. And those of you who don't know, it's about a school shooting. Yeah. That that's and and so you know, as an author, he just said, We're we're just just pull it off. We're just not gonna sell that one anymore. But anyway, smart move. I listen to books as I travel.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
Prom Shows And Free Hypnosis Guide
SPEAKER_02So good job. So let me tell you folks, first of all, where you can find me. My website is motorcityhypnotist.com. And speaking of prom and grad seasons, it's right, we're right in the middle of it. Uh grad prom season for me just ended, unless I get another show in the next week and a half. But then grad season starts, and I have probably I'm gonna say 22 shows scheduled from May 17th to the second week in June. And these are starting at like these are starting late at night. 1 a.m. and it could be 1 a.m., 2 a.m. 3 a.m. Yep. Some of them do even 5 a.m. holy and they end there all nighter. Now, schools, this has changed over the years. Over the last probably 15 years, I've been doing shows. Uh-huh. The start times have drastically come earlier. Sure. Because a couple of those schools, when I did 5 a.m. shows, these kids were just just done. They were just already half. There were just and they ended up just there were okay shows, but at that point, there's just no energy. It's just dead. There's there's sleep deprivation, and then there's done. Yeah. Yeah. So honestly, last week for the for the prom I did last last weekend in Gowrie, India, which India. Iowa. Not in India. I didn't travel there. But in Gowrie, Iowa, I've which I've never done that venue before, they started at 1 a.m. Okay. No, they started at midnight. So I was done at 1 a.m. and on the road by 1 30. Wow. To come home. Yep. Jesus. So so anyway, if you're looking for a prom or or grad night, grad night's probably more applicable in this area because Detroit area typically does grad night all all nighters, not prom all nighters. But but I still have some openings. So if you need a hypnotist for your grad night, motorcityhypnotist.com slash shows. You can have a quote in minutes and book within minutes as well. Yep. My social media, Facebook, YouTube, both Motor City Hypnotist, and Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, Motor City Hypno. That's H Y P N O. And as we've done every episode going back to number one, text the word hypnosis to 313-800-8510. And within a few moments, you'll get a text with a free PDF hypnosis guide that I've written. It's yours to keep. It just describes generally what hypnosis is, how it works, dispel some miss and misconceptions. And it'll also give you a link to my Google page, which I appreciate if you would leave a review there. That's the reason for the link being in that text message. And whatever platform you're on, Stitcher, Spotify, iTunes, whatever it is, leave a review there as well so that we can increase our listenership. Yep. In fact, we just and I know I talked about this probably about maybe it's been a couple of months now, but we we just hit 10,000 downloads. So let's keep that momentum moving. It's a milestone. It is a milestone. Move it on to the next one. So we we want to grow that to be bigger. Alrighty. It's time, Matt. Here we go.
SPEAKER_06That's how winning is done.
SPEAKER_01All right. So I see a picture of a lot of people. I see purple in the picture. You do see purple. Yes.
SPEAKER_02So, Matt, I I pulled this story and I thought of you and Jamie. Oh, you'll know why as soon as I read the first sentence. I say purple, he thinks me and Jamie. Okay. A spunky video captured the popular entertainer leading a day rave inside a London senior centre on a mission to combat loneliness. Okay. The DJ named A. G. A.
SPEAKER_01G.
SPEAKER_02DJ who has performed alongside stars like Ed Sheeran and Idris Elba.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_02Idris led one of his signature karaoke style sing-along sessions as part of a UK program to ease isolation among elderly patients. There's so much fun happening across the pond. I know. The rowdy session evolved into anthems and antics with a dance tutor guiding participants through energetic moves as attendees sang along to a mix of crowd-pleasing hits organized by Age UK Barnett, one of 100 local branches in Age UK's network. The London-based DJ lit up the Ann Owens Senior Center with enthusiasm, giving his time for free. I performed on streets all over the world, but walking into that room was something really special. These guys were right up there with the best crowds I've ever played to, giving it absolutely everything. Music brings people together, whatever your age, and the OGs at the center proved that 10 times over. Seeing everyone jumping around and singing along made it unforgettable. Among those showing off their dance moves, 84-year-old Helen said it was her first time ever on a dance floor. It was well worth the wait, she said. Another participant, Lenny, 84. 84 years old. It's just Lenny.
SPEAKER_03Her name is Zen.
SPEAKER_02That's Leonard. All right. Still, though, it's funny. It's Lenny. 84. Anytime I hear Lenny, I think of uh the novel.
SPEAKER_05Flowers for Algerna.
SPEAKER_02No, no, no, no. Um why can't I? I just it's totally flipped out of my head. Lenny. He shoots them when he's looking at the flowers. Oh my god. Whoa. The novel. The novel? It'll come back. Flowers in the attic.
SPEAKER_01No, no, no, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02I don't know why. I just threw a blank. I have a total blank on that. We'll come back to it. No worries. No worries. Lenny 84 from Mill Hill said I wasn't sure what to expect when they told us a DJ was coming in, especially when they said it would be live streamed, but it turned out to be an amazing afternoon. Age UK is using funds from a$7 million donation raised through a sweepstakes company called Omays, which held a lottery-type drawing in 2024. Seeing everyone singing, dancing, and joining together was fantastic, said Honora Lee, the fundraising director for Age UK. Okay, mice and men. I don't know why that drew a point on that.
SPEAKER_01This is why Wayne is a good idea.
SPEAKER_02Thank you, Wayne, for looking that up as I spoke ignorantly about that novel.
SPEAKER_05Because what this show needs is a producer.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Ouch!
SPEAKER_01Wow. But um bum.
SPEAKER_00What kind of radio show is this?
SPEAKER_02Well done. So yeah, I'm just gonna senior dance rave. Who what what can be what can be more positive than that? Well, I'm gonna go drink my chicken cock and find out.
SPEAKER_01Okay, so great Odin Raven. So you mentioned Idris Elba, the DJ AG, DJ A G. DJ A G. I I have no idea what a connection to Idris Elba is because he's an actor, but so one of my favorite DJs, performers, artists is Fat Boy Slim. Nice, yep. And Norman Cook is his is his real name. He did a show at the Sydney Meyer Music Bowl in Australia. And Fat Boy Slim and Idris Elba are very good friends. Oh, okay. That makes sense then. And there is a drop of Idris Elba in the whole mix that Fat Boy Slim is doing during the show. It's phenomenal.
SPEAKER_02Oh, nice.
SPEAKER_01But Idris Elba, he is he he befriends DJs in the area, and it's in the UK. Really? Idris Elba is Australian.
SPEAKER_02Yep, yep.
SPEAKER_01But just the fact that Idris is still looking to collaborate and work with DJs, other than the well-known ones, right?
SPEAKER_02Sure, yeah. Uh thank you. Yeah, awesome. But a senior rave? Yeah, senior rave. My hip just probably winner of the week.
SPEAKER_06That's how winner is done.
SPEAKER_01To the left, to the left, to the hospital.
SPEAKER_06So back to it.
SPEAKER_02So yes, we're here. To the bed, to the bed, to the I I I I just feel like a senior rave. Uh I I shouldn't even bring this up. No, you it's your podcast. Do whatever you want. I'm debating. Put your hands up if you can. There's there's an extremely high number of STDs in retirement homes. Oh, and throw a rave in there? And then you throw the rave in. Oh, fuck yeah. Yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Don't don't you see that?
SPEAKER_01Don't you know? Don't you know that's that that that's my retirement plan? That that that's how I that's how I plan on living the rest of my life. I I would hope so, yes. With glow sticks and yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_02That's all I I I mean. I guess if you have to retire and do a home, you would look forward to that.
SPEAKER_01That's why I work out. That's why I work out right now. And doing pull-ups. I do pull-ups all the time. Do you know why? No. So I can pull myself over the fence as I'm escaping the old folks home my kids put me in. What in places are you talking about?
Autism Part Two Quick Recap
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So anyway, that is our that is our winner of the week. So we're here. Part two of autism. So if you didn't listen to part one, you can jump back after this episode catch up and get all the information you need. So we're talking about just really honestly the last last what's what is autism. We kind of define that. Uh we talked about stereotypes, and then we also have sensory experiences. So and again, a lot of times we talked about, you know, just even going into a room is very challenging for some autistic people as far as sound sensitivity, light, texture.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And I shared my my story about my my issue with tags, which again, my shirts don't have tags on right now on your back, on your butt crack.
SPEAKER_01Yes, we got that.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. So so again, and we talked about associated mental health difficulties when with people that who have autism, and we talked about anxiety, depression. And again, it's it's not about the person themselves, it's about them having to navigate this very how do I put it? Non, what's what's the word? Chaotic world. Chaotic is probably the best way to describe it.
Why Autism Diagnosis Is Subjective
SPEAKER_01Someone with autism, the everything is chaos. Yep. With with someone with autism, everything is chaos. Yep, but it's how they are taught to work through it, and it's how they are how how how they get themselves through it in their own heads, right? Yes, I know I have this challenge. Yep. And folks that are able to realize the challenge that they have, they're better off long term.
SPEAKER_02Yes, and and that's an important point, Matt. And that's that's actually what I was gonna come up with next is that a lot of times people with autism are not diagnosed, they're they're just struggling to find their way through the world, and and you know, they they they do a job and they feel overwhelmed and they can't do it, or they have relationship issues, or or or they have excuse me, again, for autism things mental health issues like OCD are huge. Well, yeah, because they because they like order and and and specific structure to help them function well. There there are different variations of structure, sure, right? Well, and just just like with autism, again, it can be mild or it can be severe. So, again, there's a spectrum. So, so that that fluctuates to the right.
SPEAKER_01And you said in the last episode, it's tough to diagnose where they are on said spectrum. Correct. They could be the very far left, very far right, or they could be right down the flip and right down.
SPEAKER_02Yes, exactly. And and the important thing to know is it it it's it doesn't matter if you're on the low end or the high end as far as as far as diagnosis goes, because a lot of people will come to me, clients will come to me and say, I think I'm on the spectrum, I need to be tested. And I'm like, Well, there's really not there's no, there's really no way to kind of verify that there's no blood test, there's no specific things. We have to look at symptomology.
SPEAKER_01When they say they want to be tested, though, are they thinking there are questions that they could be asked and answered?
SPEAKER_02A lot of times, I I think a lot of times with clients, and this is not their fault, they just feel like, oh, if I go to see a therapist, they can diagnose my autism, which is a fair assumption. Just I'll give them that. It's a fair assumption. But when somebody comes to me and they feel like, oh, I think I'm on the spectrum, and then of course it becomes a conversation. And I say, Why do you think that?
SPEAKER_03Why?
SPEAKER_02What what are the things that make you think you're autistic? And and it and it it is a give and take as far as conversation and diagnosis because you know, a lot of people because some people have severe OCD, that doesn't mean they're autistic. Okay, so so it's kind of a it's not an exact science, and and and it is challenging at times because I can say to somebody, well, let's talk about what you're feeling, what your experiences are, and I can say, Yes, I believe that you're on the spectrum. Do you have any sexual problems?
SPEAKER_01Oh, great Odin Draven. That but that goes to it, right? It's a good background.
SPEAKER_00What the fuck is it with you, right?
SPEAKER_01But but that goes to it, you know. I I feel I'm on the spectrum. Well, what spectrum are we talking about? Yeah, the rainbow.
SPEAKER_02But then if somebody came to me and said, Yeah, I feel like I might be autistic, how do I know? Then I then I we start a conversation that that's how you kind of diagnose it. And I hate to here's the thing, and and and this might be disappointing for some people, but but it's not very, it's very, very vague. Yeah, that the the the diagnosis is vague, it is because we're we're just going off of what you're telling me with the amount of technology that we have today.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, don't you feel that we should have a more better understanding of where we are on the spectrum as individuals? Yes, you would think so.
Insurance Chaos And The Cost
SPEAKER_02However, because there's no specific test for this. And here's the thing, and I'm gonna fall back, and I and I hate to hate to do this because it sounds like a cop out, but it's not. But we have to fall back to how do we diagnose autism? Yeah, we have to look at the symptomology, the data, the data, the symptomology. What are you experiencing? What are you feeling? How does this affect you? That all goes into saying, yes, I believe that you're probably on the spectrum. Hey, Siri, am I autistic? Well, I mean, and that and that's what's happening, right? Yeah, that well, people, I mean, online searches are huge as far as autism spectrum disorder. It it it it it that there are tons of research up or or people looking this up. So, yes, it it it is challenging because there's never a definitive, but but we can say this about all mental disorders because it's all subjective. I don't you come to me, you I meet you for the first time, Matt or Wayne, and we we talk, I don't know what you're going through. You have to tell me, and then I kind of decipher what you're giving me to come up with a diagnosis, right? And again, as I've said on the show, I hate diagnoses, I I hate having to label anyone, but because of insurance companies, you have to have a fucking diagnosis. And he said the out and on a sidebar, on a sidebar, where are you at where are you at with your with with everything going on? Okay, so Wayne doesn't know this, so I'm I'm just gonna do a quick sidebar. So one of our major insurance companies, probably a third of our business, Molina Healthcare, it's a Medicaid sponsored plan. They recouped recalled when I say recouped all of our claims from the last quarter of 24 and all of 25. Recalled over a thousand claims to over a hundred thousand dollars. That's crazy, and we are still this happened in November. We are still dicking around with them trying to get this resolved. I have a phone, and let me tell you what I did. In Molina Healthcare, I'm calling you out in public to everybody who listens to this. Because your system is fucked up. You can't a year and a quarter after the fact say your your coding was incorrect. We're taking all this money back. A year and a quarter. Yes. 18 months. Yes. And then since November, every client we've seen that has that insurance, we're not getting paid on because it goes toward paying the balance. So, in essence, we're talking about a year and a half of claims that have not been paid. Did I say 18 months? I think I did. Yes, that's about that. That is. So what I did today, just again, just for those of you like justice, I went online, I spent the whole day today just researching Molina Insurance Company executives.
SPEAKER_01This isn't the first time they've done this, is it?
SPEAKER_02No. And I sent a mass email to probably 30 people that I could find emails for. Probably a quarter of those were rejected as invalid emails. But all of a sudden, this afternoon at about 2:30, 3 o'clock, I get an email from someone I've never heard from Melina Insurance Company saying, Are you available tomorrow for a phone call? Good. And I'm like, Yes, I am. What time? So fingers crossed, we'll we'll get this done. My God, man. I'm so sorry that your your practice. But see, but that this is not, but this this is what happens. And I'm calling out all insurance companies. They're they're they're for profit, they're not for their clients.
SPEAKER_03You're for your clients.
SPEAKER_02Because here's here's what here's what could happen, and and and we are close to this. If if if if this doesn't get adjusted or something starts to happen in the next month, we're out of business, right? We're done. Yeah, we don't have the cash flow. Uh it's been three two and a half months since I paid my therapists, which is just in in mental health field, that's all they go, they leave. Yeah, they go, they go somewhere else. Now and I tell therapists this insurance companies, I hate to say it this way, you're gonna get fucked over eventually by an insurance company. That's what happens, yeah. And I and I tell people, you're not gonna get paid on every single session you do because of insurance companies.
SPEAKER_01But this is a this this this is an extreme example of insurance is just not caring about their clients, their patients, or their providers, and I and I really pray that it that that they are calling you with good intentions and not calling you with a cease and displace. I am hoping so.
How To Support Autistic People
SPEAKER_02That is my hope because it's a challenge. Now, I could but here's the thing: I own this business, I started this in 2011. We've been around for 15 years. I could just get a job at another clinic and be a therapist, that would be fine with me. But but I I've spent 15 years building this and just to be shut down because one insurance company is being ridiculous. That that really is what it comes down to. And that's fair. That so back to autism, as I'm fixated on this one thing. Soapbox?
SPEAKER_01You stepped off.
SPEAKER_02If I stepped off the soapbox, so here's a way to kind of of kind of address autism. How can we do better as far as treating people with autism?
SPEAKER_01Are there people in your family that uh that have been diagnosed with autism?
SPEAKER_02I would suspect, and and I don't know if my son or my wife is listening. I would suspect my son is probably on the spectrum. Okay, he he is so rigid in his thinking, like anything that veers off of what he expects just sets him off. So, so I do have a feeling he is on there. And and again, I acknowledged it in the beginning of last episode. I feel like I'm I'm on there somewhere. I I'm autistic on my parenting style, right? So here's the way we can help avoid assumptions about autism because people hear autism and they automatically go to media portrayals, rain man, yeah, I am Sam. How many how many movies or TV shows have we seen? This this this TV show with this doctor who's supposedly autistic.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, I I I've never watched it, I don't know it, but but but I've heard of it. It's a CBS show. Okay, he was the kid that was in the the new version of Charlie and Chocolate Factory.
SPEAKER_02Is that him? That that that's the actor. Are you serious? I never put that together, never made that connection. Yeah, same kid. Fantastic. Okay, but again, the these portrayals kind of kind of mold people's perceptions, but but avoid assumptions because autism can look very different, and and it's it's not I'm not saying that can't exist, but that's rare. Respect boundaries and communication styles. And the and the big thing is if somebody is autistic, you have to be patient and flexible because they can't go with the flow most of the time. They can't just say, Oh, yeah, whatever, it's good. They need a structure, they need something specific to latch on to. So it's important that you give them that space.
SPEAKER_01The good doctor is the name of that show.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I like I said, I've never seen it, I don't know it, but it's fine. Yeah, Freddie Hymore is the buttons, but the portrayal, and I'm not saying it's bad, I've never watched the show, but but I don't know that it's realistic.
SPEAKER_01House, house MD, yeah, Hugh Laurie. Yeah, that doctor, yeah, he was egotistical, but there was a lot of autism going on with that character.
SPEAKER_02That could be, sure. Yes, right. Sorry. So here's the thing with autism that this is you don't fix it, it it's not something that's curable, quote unquote. It's something that you have to deal with, it's a different way of experiencing the world.
SPEAKER_01It's a lifelong diagnosis that has to be worked through and worked with and understood. Yes, and it's not curable.
SPEAKER_02No, no, it like most mental health disorders, I would say none of them are curable, quote unquote, but but they can be managed, and and that's that's the big thing. If you feel like you're you're autistic or on the spectrum, whatever terms you want to use, and you feel like it's negatively affecting you, it's probably good to talk to somebody about it. Seek out professional health. Now, again, you can go to a therapist and they could help, but that's a crapshoot. I I I would look, I would seek for somebody that has experiencing or experience dealing with autistic population and ask that question. Say, do you have experience treating autism? And if somebody says, uh just don't go to somebody else, so seek somebody with experience.
SPEAKER_01So 30 years ago, yep, autism was not a really talked about arena, it was not, and now we are 30 years later, and it is very prevalent in this day and age, it is in more prevalent than ever. Oh, yeah, in adults and in our teenagers, yep, and in our children, and you know, you're talking you you could tell if a kid is autistic at what age. It it depends. It you you uh you you could see it as young as like four or five, right? Right. So as an individual with a child with autism, right? You want to focus on where are their where do their interests lie, and then help them go through that and become more interested. So they they might get hyper hyper-focused, whether it be engineering, whether it be mechanical, whether it be building things, Legos, support it. Yeah, you know, encourage them to learn more about it.
SPEAKER_02Yes, absolutely. And and here's the other thing that that if you're a parent or somebody that that or a teacher or somebody that that has the duty of care for a lot of these kids or teenagers, you you have to you have to be flexible and be understanding and just say, I know this person doesn't learn the same way these people are learning. Sure. So I have to take that into account. And I and I think and and you said Matt, you're right. 30 years ago, there wasn't as much awareness stigma or stigma. Yeah, do you know what the difference is? Social media that is what's made the difference. What's that? Because now people can share their stories, people can talk about it. Yeah, and and I don't know if that's and and again, I I don't know if that's good or bad.
SPEAKER_01I because how do you think athletes get so good at their at their craft? It could be just commitment, commitment practice, but they they they follow a regimen, right? It is an everyday thing, they have to do things a certain way so they can get better and better at what they do. That is in my mind a form of autism. It it it could be, it could also be somebody who's just very well disciplined.
SPEAKER_02There's that that that could be that, and and if you want to talk about mental health issues, if you go back a ways, if you guys are sports fans, Detroit Tigers pitcher Dontrell Willis. Do you remember?
SPEAKER_01No, okay, the bird, no, oh not Mark Fidrich, not because he just sat up there and talked to himself the entire damn time.
SPEAKER_02But but Dontrell Willis, we got, I don't remember where we signed him from, but he was a I believe he was a Cy Young candidate early in his career. Okay, a lot of mental health issues. Okay, we signed him. He was here for a couple of years, but just had meltdowns, mental meltdowns on the mound, on the mound and off the mound. And and it just it's sad because I I I've he was probably dealing with a lot of different mental health diagnoses, and and I, you know, without talking to him individually, I can't speculate on that. Sure. But but again, we we talk about athletes. Yes, they have a regimen there, but but some athletes are so good because they're committed, like Tiger Woods. There's an example of somebody who was trained from childhood. This is what you do. Now, somebody some people would say his dad was abusive. Well, with how he that's that that you you could argue that one way or another. I don't know. Why do you think there's alcohol involved? Well, I mean, you you have to look at behaviors now as an adult to kind of say, well, did that did that have a negative effect on him? It's always the parents' fault.
SPEAKER_01It's all the parents' fault.
SPEAKER_02See, here's the thing at some point you become self-sufficient, and in and I don't say this in an uncaring way, believe me. Don't don't don't get me wrong on this, but but at some point you're in charge of your own life, sure. And you're in charge of your own decisions, and you're in charge of your own mental health. Now, yes, maybe you grew up in a bad environment. A lot of people have a lot of people have had terrible upbringings or terrible parents, but they grew up to be productive, secure, confident individuals. Now, why is that?
SPEAKER_01Because we're the Gen Xers are the last generation of maybe.
SPEAKER_02I don't know. It's it and it'd be interesting to see what and again, I won't be around for it, but in 50 years, what are what's what's society gonna be like? I I mean, we can get a whole bunch of philosophical arguments on that.
SPEAKER_01Let me write down another topic, another another podcast topic.
Therapy Options And Finding The Right Fit
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. So here's the thing with autism, and the thing to focus on is that it it's a very it's a very vague diagnosis. Now, when I say vague, I mean it's never black or white, it's always just based on your reporting, your symptomology, your feelings. If you feel like you're on the spectrum, if you feel like it's negatively affecting your functioning in life, definitely it's something that you should see a professional about. Sure. There's no medication specifically, but we can talk about okay, as an autistic person, you have these very specific ideas, and we can talk through those and kind of moderate what the expectations are based on what reality is. So let's say somebody comes to me and and I know for a fact, and and this is kind of hypothetical because it doesn't exist in real world. Somebody comes to me, I know they're autistic. There's no medication to help you with that. No, there's not now. If you told me I'm autistic and in my and I really can't, how do I I'm very OCD regarding these specific things?
SPEAKER_01I can say, okay, well, we can treat the OCD with some medication, but that's not the but as you have stated, medication is the last resort.
SPEAKER_02It is a last resort, but uh if somebody's autistic, they might not have the capability of processing therapy, okay, depending on where they're at on the spectrum. Again, that's why it's so very uh subjective, it's a very that there's not a specific treatment for autism. There really isn't. No, so it it's a it's a case-by-case basis. What are you going through? How can I help you?
SPEAKER_01The the best treatment for uh for autism is understanding, understanding and awareness, yeah. Those are the two big things of other people and yes, of the individual.
SPEAKER_02They have to uh be aware that they have this, they have to understand not why, but understand what they should do to function with here's the thing that the the kind of the general gist of autism is that they view the world differently than typical people, not rose-colored glasses.
SPEAKER_01You've heard that you know back from the 60s. Yeah, you got road cut road colour club. I can't speak rose-colored glasses on, yep, right? Yep, it's not it's that was not the cast strength, I promise. I got tongue tied. Yeah, looks pretty clear to me, but as you finish your little assumption, but you know, uh autism is very subjective, yes, and it comes down to the you know, the DSM 5 can say what's gonna say, but it's up to you as a therapist to say, okay, you have autism. This is these are the steps that we should take together, so there is understanding, right?
SPEAKER_02And now, and really understanding is the big thing because for autistic people, their world is not going to change. We we can do therapy to help them with issues related to their autism, sure, but it's not gonna change the way your brain works, no, so and and I hate to say this, but but that's one of the few diagnoses that you just can't say, oh, we can resolve that for you, because I can say to somebody with anxiety, I can work with you and get that fixed. I say fixed, it's probably strong. Make it better, okay. Make change with autism, right? It's tough to say, well, yeah, if we work together, you won't be autistic anymore. That that that doesn't work.
SPEAKER_01That doesn't exist, yeah. It doesn't exist. So I I'm really curious when you've been awfully quiet.
SPEAKER_02And I and I know. Oh boy. Well, Wayne is like, oh no, no, Wayne's probably overwhelmed. He's like, What the hell did I get into?
SPEAKER_01Don't need your opinion.
SPEAKER_00I'm just you're I'm listening to you no more.
SPEAKER_01Your your reflection, because when we started the episodes, you said but you do you do you feel like you have a little, you know, you're a little autistic.
SPEAKER_05You said, Yeah, I'm sure I am. Oh, yeah. When I when I go in the office in the morning, I have some ideas about how the day is gonna go. And if and if I'm forced to work on other things than what I expected to be working on, I get I get off. I get a little grumpy. Yeah, did you drink coffee?
SPEAKER_00No, no, no, he he's a waterbush when I drink it.
SPEAKER_02You had to do it twice. Just to make sure you heard it. Yeah, actually, I accidentally hit it twice. That's all.
SPEAKER_01I I I've known Wayne since we were teenagers, yeah. We're talking decades in the movie. Yeah, absolutely. And and I I love his quirks. I I love this man for his quirks because every once in a while he'll he'll move his head to the left or to the right. I love I love the quirk of what Mr. Wayne Smith. It it but how you are as a person makes me love you even more, and it's not the fucking bourbon talking.
SPEAKER_06I'm telling you, what the fuck are you doing?
SPEAKER_01It didn't hurt, but I'm I'm I'm just saying, everybody has quirks, everybody has their thing.
SPEAKER_02No, everybody has has idiosyncrasies and quirks or or tendencies, and that's just your personality, and and it's and it varies, like I said, everybody's different. I mean, yeah, some people are really off the wall, but that that that's our personality, yeah. That that's well, you guys probably know you probably have friends that are like, oh, I'll give you an example. Okay, okay, because well, not not. We know a lot of folks, so we have friends, but but but like like my son has friends, they've been they've been friends since childhood, sure, but they're so different. It's like I'm like, Well, how do you how are you guys friends? It it doesn't even make sense to me, but but it's fine because because they're friends.
SPEAKER_01There's a there there's a period of time where I I'll be driving home from work and this guy won't get a call. And like, so you driving home from work? Yes, I am, yeah, and we'll just chit-chat for the the drive home because that that's how our friendship catch up, sure catch up, yeah, talk about things, right? Just that's what we do, sure. Nice, nice and this is the bourbon talking.
SPEAKER_03I love you, dude.
SPEAKER_01Now, thanks for being here, Wayne. I I do appreciate that. I know I we I invited you in for the man cave. I'm like, hey, you want to stick around for the motor city hit? Absolutely.
SPEAKER_05He's like, okay, yeah, well, yeah, I didn't have too much whiskey, and uh I had rum left. So so nice, I stick around.
SPEAKER_01Enjoyed your rum. Absolutely. So I I just I just hijacked your podcast. No, no, no.
SPEAKER_02And here's the thing, and I you you know this, Matt. We've been doing this for years.
SPEAKER_01We have been, yes.
SPEAKER_02And and I always say, I I don't want this to be so I I never want to be like too serious and like very you we do all these mental health podcasts, they're like, Oh, you're in a shame spiral, you need to. I'm like, don't quit all this fucking psycho babble, just talk to people, just be real. That that I I say this to clients all the time. I'm like, you know, just be real with people, just be honest. It's it's just it works so much better. And I believe me, I've I've been doing this, I've been a therapist for 31 and a half years. Uh it's a long time giving away my age, just calling 32, right? And I've seen some shitty therapists. Oh my god, over the time myself. I I visit, I I've been to bad therapist, and let me tell you this story, okay. Before we end today, but uh, so that this is gosh, I don't think I was married yet, so it had to be at least 30 years ago. I make an appointment with this therapist, I show up, I think it was on a Saturday. I go in.
SPEAKER_01Saturday appointment? Yep.
SPEAKER_02Wow, I have Saturday appointments, okay. Yeah, so that's not unusual. Saturday is a busy day for therapists. So so I go into the office and I've never met the guy before. Again, I made the appointment on by phone, met on a Saturday morning. You know, he opens a door, he's wearing a he's wearing a Michigan sweatshirt, U of M. Okay, in shorts. Uh-huh. In general, first off, I'm like, it's okay. He's comfortable. It's a Saturday, it's February, whatever. So I walk into the office and there's a chair and a couch. And as I'm passing the chair, is it the poster dude? No, okay, not the poster dude. As I'm passing the chair, hang in there. He's like, he just says, No, what? And I'm like, he says, That's my chair. The couch. No, I was walking by the chair. He's behind me. You weren't gonna sit down, you were just walking by, right? Exactly. So I go and sit on the couch, and he sits on the chair. And you guys know those those things from either Costco or or one of those other bulk stores. It's like those big plastic barrels with like mince or candy or something in it. What the okay? So he's got a he's got one of those sitting on the floor next to his chair, and they're they're York peppermint patties. A whole like like jug jug of them. The whole time we're talking, he picks one out, unwraps the wrapper, puts it in his mouth, throws the wrapper on the ground, and just chews. He did that the whole session. He must have ate a hundred of those things.
SPEAKER_01A hundred.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm not kidding. Constant.
SPEAKER_01So can we look at problems?
SPEAKER_02And and I'm like, I'm I'm never coming back. I it was lucky. I I don't even I don't know if I finished the session, honestly.
SPEAKER_01Did you ask for one?
SPEAKER_02No, no, it was just done. I was just done. So so sidebar for for for potential people out there looking for a therapist, do your homework. Yeah, yeah. If you don't feel comfortable, don't stay with that therapist. You have a choice. Ask for somebody else. By law, you can ask. Well, I mean, it's not even law, it's just preference. If you if you don't like somebody, you can ask for somebody different.
SPEAKER_01And they have to oblige.
SPEAKER_02Well, they don't have to, but then you just go to a different facility. I would say as a as a professional. So here's the thing. If somebody can't you, you and I, I'm a therapist, Matt. You come to see me. It's our first session. You're eating peppermint patty. 30 minutes later, you say, you know what? I'm just not connecting with you.
SPEAKER_01Can I can I have one? No. No, no, don't shut me up. Come on.
SPEAKER_00That escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand.
SPEAKER_01But I'm saying, I I come to you, I'm the patient. Right. You're the therapist. Yes. And you're eating peppermint patties constantly.
SPEAKER_02It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you don't like the way I look. Okay. And let me let me give you my spiel that I give to first-time clients when I meet them. Okay. Hey Matt, it's good to see you. Have you been to a therapist before? No. Okay. Let me tell you, therapists are just like any other profession. There are good ones and they're bad ones. Okay. And at any point during this process, if you feel like you're not getting what you need, or honestly, if you just think I'm an asshole, it doesn't matter.
SPEAKER_01You say that to you say that to every client? Absolutely. Okay. Keep role playing.
SPEAKER_02And then let me let me I lost my train of thought. You threw me up, Matt. Sorry.
SPEAKER_05Roll for initiative, man.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. During this process, you might feel like you're not getting what you need, or simply maybe you just think I'm an asshole. It's important you let me know because I need you to get to somebody who you can connect with and work with. And if you don't feel that with me, it's not gonna work for you. So it's important you let me know if that happens.
SPEAKER_01I I appreciate you saying that. Did you know your right nostril is bigger than your left nostril? No, I don't like that.
SPEAKER_02No, okay. I'll give you another therapist. Okay, there you go. Here's Jane. And she has symmetrical nostrils. No, but but that's the point, right? Well, no, that's what I'm saying, though. That that that a lot of therapists don't that they have no self-awareness, and and and I'm not I'm not criticizing the profession, I'm just saying it's like any other profession. You've probably seen doctors in your past that are just quacks to to to be blunt. Yeah, so you as the client, it it you're you're it's your responsibility to take care of your own mental health, right? And if you're a therapist, I don't care what the reason is. If you don't feel like you're connecting, it's time to seek out somebody you connect with.
SPEAKER_01But okay, so so coming back to autism, coming back and the person with the autism, what if they're they're they're they're not comfortable with sharing those feelings. Well, that's what I would say.
SPEAKER_02Hey, listen, I know you seem a little bit withdrawn and maybe less likely to express yourself, and that's up to the therapist you absolutely to recognize that behavior. Yes, okay, yes, but if you're autistic and and and you just have a situation with or a therapist or a doctor or any professional, and you feel like this just doesn't feel good, you it's it's your it's your your responsibility to yourself to say I don't feel good with this. Okay, let me talk to somebody else. All right. And I'm and I and again, I say that I'm totally transparent and and upfront about that with every client I see.
SPEAKER_03Gotcha.
Detroit Dog Rescue And Closing
SPEAKER_02Because I think people I I hate to say this, but but it's a fact. Some therapists are just there for dollar signs. I've worked with therapists in the past who just look at their schedule and say, Oh, I only have 20 clients this week, I need 30 because I need to pay for my boat, whatever. They they see it as dollars, they don't see it as helping people. And that unfortunately is a truth in the world. So so again, uh if you feel like you're on the spectrum as far as autism goes, and you feel like it's negatively affecting you, here's the thing a lot of autistic people lead totally functional, productive existences. It doesn't that they have challenges, but they're able to get past that. But if you feel like you might be on the spectrum and it's affecting you negatively, it's important to seek out help because a therapist may not cure you, but they can get you through the challenges that you're facing, and there is no cure, there is no cure, there's no cure for any mental illness, it's all mental illness exists in the mind, and that is where you work to try to resolve issues. Sometimes something like schizophrenia that's a chemical issue, it's not there's no cure for that. But somebody who might be experiencing depression depending on the circumstance, that might be something we could get past, depending on what is going on. But every situation is different, every situation is individual. It's an important again for you to seek out somebody who you can connect with. What's your tagline? Change your thinking, change your life. There you go. Yep, and that's where it all begins. Even with people with autism, you can you can make changes to the way you think. It can be challenging, it can be difficult, but we can help, we can moderate some of those beliefs to help life become more comfortable, if that makes sense. No, that's fair. Yeah, that's a fair statement. All righty, that is our episode, folks. All right, let's before we go. Somebody needs a home. Who that's Beth. Beth, Beth was born in February of 2024. She's just over two years old. Okay, mixed breed. I'm seeing a little pit in here, but we'll we'll look at it. It's a female, 70 pounds, dog friendly, yes, cat friendly, unknown, kid friendly, yes. Okay, any age, activity levels high. Yeah, kid friendly, yes. There's Beth.
SPEAKER_01Oh, come on.
SPEAKER_02What's up? Patch, yeah. Look at that. I I love dogs when they have like one eye that's just like covered with a different color.
SPEAKER_01Those those those white blue eyes are killing blue eyes.
SPEAKER_02Actually, I saw this dog and I thought of my own dog. You you've seen my my well, it's my son's dog.
SPEAKER_01Yes, you're your your new puppy.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_01Oh, she's beautiful.
SPEAKER_02And and while we're doing that, I'll I can yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_01Here we go.
SPEAKER_02I'm sorry. I'm like a I'm like a guy with a new kid.
SPEAKER_01Yep. There see, see, yeah, I see the eyes. Yeah, absolutely. He's got that same blue, those, those like white blue eyes. Yep, yep. Beth is adorable, though. Yeah, I gotta say. Let's go back to Beth. I I see a little she's adoptable. I see Charlie is not. I see the pity. Yep, I see a little bit of pit. I I see I see the mixed breed, you know, lab in the ears and in the nose. A little phantom of the opera. Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_02Yes, exactly. Exactly. Good call, good call. So anyway, Beth, Detroit Dog Rescue.com slash adopt. Beth needs a home. She's ready. Pick her up, take her, take her home. All yours. Enjoy yourself. All righty, folks. That is our show for today. We'll be back next Monday night, same time, same bat channel. If you want to join us on Facebook Live, go to the Motor City Hypnotist Facebook page. You can ask questions, be a part of the show, to chime in, do whatever you want. You know, you could do whatever. You're online, nobody's gonna know. In the meantime, change your thinking, change your life, laugh hard, run fast, be kind. We'll see you next time.