# 8 - The Double Voice Within: Navigating the Autistic Inner Monologue

“I am speaking on the outside. But I am also narrating, analyzing, and negotiating on the inside. Two tracks. One body. One mind.”

Welcome to Quietly Autistic at Last, the space where we stop performing, start understanding, and learn to live by the rhythm of our own nervous systems. I’m your host, Dr. Allison Sucamele.

In this episode, we’re diving into something rarely named but deeply lived by many autistic women: the double interior monologue — the layered, structured, and often relentless inner narration that runs alongside everything we say and do.

We’ll explore:
🌿 What the double voice actually sounds like in daily life
🧠 Why it happens — from executive function load to masking and predictive modeling
💬 How it shapes communication, emotional regulation, and identity
💛 Ways to make peace with it through grounding strategies, unmasked spaces, and self-compassion

This isn’t “just overthinking.” It’s a unique cognitive landscape that deserves language, understanding, and care.

Whether your inner narrator feels like a whisper or a thunderstorm, this conversation offers both validation and gentle tools to navigate that duality with more ease.

✨ Kind reminder: This content reflects the lived experience of one autistic person and is not meant to represent all autistic people. Autistic experiences are diverse. This information is for reflection and education only and should not be taken as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice.

📸 Join the community: @quietlyautisticatlastpodcast
— a space for soft reflections, unmasked conversations, and late-in-life autistic journeys.

🧭 Mental Health & Crisis Support (U.S.)

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Dial 988 (24/7, free, confidential support).
• Crisis Text Line — Text HELLO to 741741 (U.S.) to connect with a crisis counselor.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text 62640 (general mental health support and resources).
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) — autisticadvocacy.org
  (peer support, advocacy, and resources).
• The ARC — thearc.org
  (resources and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism).

🌍 International Resources

• Find international helplines at opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
  .
• Samaritans (UK & Ireland) — Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
  .
• Lifeline (Australia) — Call 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au
  .

🌿 Autism-Specific & Neurodiversity-Affirming Supports

• Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) — awnnetwork.org
  
  
• NeuroClastic — neuroclastic.com
  (first-person narratives and advocacy).
• Autism Society — autismsociety.org
  (education, resources, and local affiliate networks).
• Neurodivergent Therapists Directory — ndtherapists.com
  (to find affirming mental health providers).

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content reflects the lived experiences of autistic individuals and is intended for education, reflection, and resource sharing only. Autism is a diverse spectrum, and no single narrative can speak for all autistic people. This information does not substitute for professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice.

If you are in crisis or need immediate help, please call emergency services in your area or a local crisis hotline. For personalized mental health support, consult a qualified profe