Hey, What's Up! It’s Tommy. This episode is a heart-to-heart on anxiety, what it looks like inside our homes, and why our phones, feeds, and constant news can fuel it. I share how doomscrolling ramps up my nervous system, what my wife changed to feel calmer, and why stepping away from the screen helps me show up as a better dad, husband, and human. I talk about blue light, sleep, dopamine loops, and that heavy, dark feeling that spreads after big news events. Most of all, this is an invite to live in the moment, protect your peace, and make simple choices that bring calm back into your day.

• Anxiety often rises from constant stimulation, fast news cycles, and endless social feeds.
• Blue light at night disrupts melatonin, which hurts sleep and raises anxiety.
• Doomscrolling can overload the nervous system and leave you more exhausted than before you grabbed the phone.
• Using social apps with a purpose, then closing them, cuts stress.
• Simple phone rules help: no phone at dinner, out of the bedroom at night, and screen time checks each week.
• Try planned breaks, like a weekly phone-off window. Many people feel lighter and sleep better right away.
• Algorithms feed what you click. If a topic spikes your anxiety, stop tapping on it.
• Presence beats perfection. Engage your kids, partner, and friends in real time. That connection is the antidote to anxiety.
• Faith and focus in the present moment reduce worry. You cannot control everything, but you can control your inputs.
• Small, consistent habits create calmer days and better parenting.

Let’s keep this conversation going. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com for more episodes, tools, and encouragement. If you need uplifting accounts or want to share your story, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com. If this helped you, share it with a friend and leave a rating so more families can find hope.

You can always reach me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com. More at spectrumincamouflage.com.

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Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families. If you have questions or ideas or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.

Hey, What’s Up! It’s Tommy. Today, I discuss how holding onto negative thoughts can wear down both your body and mind. The last year brought a lot, from business pressure to parenting through autism to a close friend’s death. That weight showed up in my sleep, patience, focus, and energy. I checked the basics, then ran complete blood work. The results indicated that I am healthy, but I am deeply stressed. That was a relief. It also pushed me to rebuild with gratitude, better inputs, and a mindset shift. I share what chronic stress does to the nervous system, why a single thought can spiral when we attach a story to it, and how simple gratitude work can change our brain chemistry. If you are a parent, caregiver, teacher, or friend in the special needs world, this is for you. You get a chance every morning and a choice every day. I am choosing gratitude.

• Negative thought loops can trigger real physical symptoms. Chronic stress hits hormones, mood, and immunity.
• Naming the real fear matters. For me, it was mortality and the “what happens to my kids if I’m gone” question.
• Check the basics first. Water, food quality, sleep, movement, and helpful reading.
• Data calms fear. Comprehensive blood work showed strong overall health and clear stress markers. That knowledge reset my mindset.
• Gratitude is a tool, not a cliché. It boosts dopamine and serotonin, lowers cortisol, and helps regulate emotions.
• “Kill the monster.” Face the nagging issue you keep avoiding. Take the step you are putting off.
• You may not be the old you. That is okay. Aim to be stronger, wiser, and more resilient than before.
• Routines help. Morning scripture or quiet reading, a few breaths, and a short gratitude check set the tone for the day.
• Caregivers run hot. Your nervous system carries a lot. Give it real recovery, even if it is small and steady.
• Every morning gives a chance. Every day gives a choice. Choose gratitude.

If this episode helped you, share it with another parent or caregiver who needs encouragement today. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com for more episodes and updates. Email me anytime at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com with questions or topics you want me to cover.

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• Website: spectrumincamouflage.com

Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families. If you have questions or ideas or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.

Hey, What’s Up! It’s Tommy.

Life at our house has been a roller coaster. Some days are tough. Some days feel calm. Lately, I feel hopeful. I used to set deadlines for Wyatt’s progress and fall apart when the date slipped. I do not do that now. I focus on the moment and the next small step. That shift has changed me, and I think it is helping our family. In this episode, I share what is working for us right now: tight home routines, a calmer nervous system, better sleep, and learning to celebrate small, real wins. If you are feeling stuck, I get it. There are more chances to start again than we think. One breath at a time.

• Hope grows when I stop setting deadlines and focus on today.
• Routines help. We eat at set times and keep a steady bedtime during the school year.
• Nervous system care has helped Wyatt sleep and settle. Chiropractic support has been a big part of that for us.
• Small wins matter. Independent bathroom trips. Playing with toys in new ways. More chill, more present.
• Gut health can affect behavior. We saw changes with dairy and gluten out, and by adding probiotics and omega-3s.
• Magnesium helped us with winding down before stressful times or sleep.
• Movement helps. Outside time, sandboxes, scooters, and play burn energy and lower anxiety.
• ABA and early intervention changed a close friend’s story. Getting help early can open doors.
• Some days are still hard. I try to prepare for the future without missing the good that is here now.
• Opportunities are constant. You can choose a new start any moment you decide.

I would love to hear what you are seeing in your home. If you feel stuck, try one simple change you can keep this week. Keep it small. Celebrate it. Then stack another one.

Visit spectrumincamouflage.com for more. Email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com with questions or your story.

• We’re on TikTok: tiktok.com/@spectrum_in_camouflage
• Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/4002769846662357
• See us on Instagram: instagram.com/spectrum_in_camouflage

Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families. If you have questions or ideas or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.