The Neurodivergent Experience

Episode: Hot Topic: Navigating the News with a Neurodivergent Brain

Hosts: Jordan James & Simon Scott (with Ashley Dupuis as guest co-host)

Date: February 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into how neurodivergent individuals—especially those with autism, ADHD, and CPTSD—interact with and are affected by the constant barrage of news, particularly in overwhelmingly negative cycles. The hosts, joined by Ashley Dupuis, explore the unique cognitive and emotional processing challenges neurodivergent people may face, and offer strategies for maintaining balance between staying informed and protecting one’s mental health.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Emotional Weight of Modern News

• Constant Exposure to Negativity: Both hosts express how today's news is relentlessly dark, making it hard to stay hopeful or motivated.
  • “It is absolutely affecting our brains and how we experience the world.” – Ashley Dupuis [02:22]
• Conflict Between Staying Informed and Protecting Mental Health: They discuss the tension between wanting to avoid ignorance and the negative toll of news exposure.
  • “If I don’t watch it, I’m ignorant, I’m ill-informed... if you stand for nothing you’ll fall for anything.” – Host [03:28]

Neurodivergent Perspectives on News Consumption

• Pattern Matching and Emotional Intensity: Neurodivergent pattern matching can make negative headlines trigger spiraling worries about the future.
  • “My anxiety levels have been rising…think about if that's happening when you’re researching for a car, what's happening to how you're viewing the world if you are just taking in more and more of this really, really dark, dark news?” – Ashley Dupuis [03:43–05:01]
• Heightened Empathy and Justice Sensitivity: The emotional impact is amplified for those with increased justice sensitivity.
  • “It’s so difficult living with heightened empathy and justice sensitivity when the news is loud, it’s dramatic, it’s urgent, and it’s catastrophic.” – Host [07:47]

How Our Brains Process News

• Reticular Activating System (RAS): Ashley introduces the RAS’s filtering function, likening it to internet cookies—what we focus on, we see more of.
  • “If you’re consuming nothing but the darkest, most evil sort of news that’s happening…it will absolutely affect how you see the world.” – Ashley Dupuis [05:01]
• Negativity Bias and Doomscrolling: The hosts break down why our brains keep engaging with negative stories—seeking to feel safe or soothed—which news and social media algorithms exploit.
  • “Our brain thinks, keep going until you find something to soothe you so that you feel safe to then put it down…” – Ashley Dupuis [05:53]

Desensitization and the Struggle for Nuance

• Feeling Overwhelmed and Numb: Continuous exposure can lead to desensitization, black-and-white thinking, and emotional fatigue.
  • “All of my thinking at the moment with the news is black and white... I feel so desensitized to so much horrific shit.” – Host [08:48–09:14]
• The Flood of Unfiltered Imagery: Videos and images of violence or trauma can show up without choosing them, causing unexpected emotional distress.
  • “I’ve just... that’s just come up on my feed. I didn’t choose to see it. It’s just... yeah.” – Ashley Dupuis [09:22]

Navigating News with Neurodivergent Trauma (CPTSD)

• Triggering Content and Retraumatization: The hosts stress the impact of seeing news about abuse, especially for neurodivergent women and those with CPTSD.
  • “It will be very re-traumatizing to people who have been, you know, sexually abused.” – Ashley Dupuis [14:21]
• Permission to Disengage: Ashley gives explicit validation that it’s okay (and sometimes necessary) to take a break from the news for mental health.
  • “Actually you can switch off. You don’t have to stay informed newswise as much as people... your mental wellbeing comes first over being informed.” – Ashley Dupuis [15:40]

Social Pressures and Navigating Conversations

• Pressure to Be Informed: There’s an expectation in social circles to have opinions on everything, leading to stress for those who opt out.
  • “In social settings there’s a pressure to care about everything. You’ve got to have an opinion and it’s really difficult.” – Host [17:01]
• Engaging Without Complete Knowledge: Ashley highlights the value in asking thoughtful questions and protecting one’s peace, even if you’re not fully informed.
  • “You can still ask intelligent questions... have an interesting discourse with someone even if you don’t know all of the facts.” – Ashley Dupuis [17:55]

Coping Strategies and Positive Practices

• Intentional Positive Input: Actively seeking uplifting or inspiring stories as a counterbalance is recommended, even if it requires effort.
  • “Try and find one new thing that inspires you, a different thing every day.” – Ashley Dupuis [21:04]
• Gratitude and Inspiration as a Practice: Ashley recommends gratitude practices, supported by neuroscience, to help rewire perspectives and counter negativity.
  • “It can help your RAS, your filtering system, so counter all the negativity that’s coming in by starting a regular gratitude practice. It is fully backed by science.” – Ashley Dupuis [24:22]
• Circle of Control: Focus energy on what is controllable and close, such as personal relationships and daily actions.
  • “Let’s really focus on the things that we do have control and influence on in our life... if we’re completely focusing on things outside of our circle of control, we feel very powerless.” – Ashley Dupuis [20:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On News Anxiety:
  “There are moments that I have where I realize how inconsequential I am, even though I have a lot of justice sensitivity and I care deeply and I’m an extremely empathetic person.” – Host [19:36]

• On Permission to Opt Out:
  “Your mental well-being comes first over being informed on national stories... a news detox could be wise for a lot of people.” – Ashley Dupuis [15:40]

• On Positive Practices:
  “When I first started hearing gratitude in the zeitgeist... did a bit of an eye roll… But this was before I really knew how gratitude can rewire your brain.” – Ashley Dupuis [24:22]

• On Social Pressure:
  “There’s a pressure to care about everything. You’ve got to have an opinion and it’s really difficult.” – Host [17:01]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro/Setting Context: 00:55–02:22
• Emotional Impact & RAS Explanation: 03:43–05:47
• Doomscrolling & Algorithm Effects: 05:53–07:10
• Empathy, Pattern Matching, and WWII Example: 07:14–08:47
• Desensitization and Trauma: 09:22–14:21
• CPTSD, Opting Out, and News Detox: 14:45–16:52
• Social Pressure and Navigating Conversations: 16:52–19:30
• Circle of Control & Finding Inspiration: 20:01–21:34
• Transactional Analysis and Ain’t It Awful Game: 21:59–23:11
• Positive News Scarcity & Gratitude Practice: 23:11–25:06
• Closing Reflections and Listener Call-Out: 25:06–26:30

Takeaways and Listener Guidance

• You Are Not Alone: Many neurodivergent folks experience emotional overwhelm from persistent negative news; this is normal and valid.
• Practical Tips:
  • Take intentional breaks from news (“news detox”).
  • Proactively seek out inspiring, positive stories.
  • Practice gratitude to retrain thinking patterns.
  • Focus on your circle of control—what you can realistically impact.
  • Recognize and assert your right to disengage for self-protection.
• Community Engagement: Listeners are invited to share experiences and coping strategies regarding news consumption—validation and new ideas are welcome!

This episode is candid, compassionate, and practical about the realities of staying informed in a divisive, distressing news cycle—especially for neurodivergent people. It balances the need for awareness with the equally important right to protect your mental health, paving the way for a healthier and more intentional news relationship.