Quietly Autistic at Last
Quietly Autistic at Last
A podcast for the women who were always "a little different"—but never had the words for why.
Hosted by Dr. Allison Sucamele, a woman diagnosed with autism later in life, this podcast explores the quiet, often-overlooked experiences of neurodivergent women who spent years—sometimes decades—masked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed.
Each episode is a gentle unraveling of what it means to be quietly autistic at last: the grief of being missed, the relief of being named, the power of self-recognition, and the beauty of finally feeling seen.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, self-identifying, or just beginning to wonder… this space is for you. Tender truths, lived stories, unmasking, and self-compassion—one quiet conversation at a time.
Quietly Autistic at Last
# 14 - Why Travel Feels So Hard for Autistic Women: Anxiety, Separation, & the Nervous System
Today’s episode explores something many late-diagnosed autistic women carry quietly and often alone: the intense stress, dread, and nervous-system-level anxiety that comes with travel, and the fear that rises even when someone else is traveling. Not just “I don’t love airports” discomfort, but the full-body tension that starts weeks before a trip… or the spiraling panic when a partner, child, or loved one gets on a plane and suddenly feels too far away.
If travel has ever left you overstimulated, ashamed, exhausted, or hypervigilant, this episode is for you. We’ll unpack why travel hits autistic nervous systems so intensely, including the roles of sensory processing differences, intolerance of uncertainty, attachment patterns, executive functioning, and the mental “movies” our brains create when someone we love is in transit.
You’ll also learn practical, science-backed tools to make travel, or someone else’s travel, feel safer, more predictable, and more manageable for your beautifully wired brain.
Gentle strategies, realistic supports, and compassionate reframes included.
Quick Safety Note:
This podcast is for education and self-reflection only and isn’t a substitute for professional mental-health treatment, diagnosis, or therapy. Every autistic brain is different. Please take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and reach out to a qualified professional if you need more support.
If you’re in immediate distress or experiencing thoughts of harming yourself, please seek help. In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please contact your local crisis line or emergency services. You are never a burden for needing support.
References
The Connection Between Autism and Anxiety Disorders
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Preference for Order, Predictability or Routine
Why Changes In Routine Is Hard For Autistic People
Adult separation anxiety: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
Understanding and Managing Separation Anxiety in Adults with Autism
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