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Spectrum in Camouflage

Spectrum in Camouflage

Written by: Tommy Rhine
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 A podcast about navigating life raising a child with autism and the hunt for answers.2024 Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships
Episodes
  • With Dr. Matt Hamilton: The Perfect Storm Behind Autism, What Many Parents Miss Until It’s Too Late

    With Dr. Matt Hamilton: The Perfect Storm Behind Autism, What Many Parents Miss Until It’s Too Late
    Jan 2 2026
    Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy. I’m super stoked because I sat down with Dr. Matt Hamilton from Maximum Potential Chiropractic, and we kicked off a longer, science-heavy conversation about neurologically focused chiropractic care and something they call “The Perfect Storm.” This episode is Part 1, and I’m splitting it up so the ending is going to feel like a hard stop. That’s on purpose, because I want you to be able to actually absorb this stuff without your brain melting. We started by talking about my son, Wyatt, and what Dr. Matt is seeing in his scans right now, including heart rate variability (HRV), autonomic nervous system changes (dysautonomia), and a stubborn mid-thoracic area that can affect digestion, detoxing, and overall energy. From a dad perspective, I love that they don’t just guess. They track progress with real numbers, then adjust the plan when things stall. Dr. Matt also explained how their team can change “levers” in care, timing, where they adjust, and the technique they use, and how that can change the proprioceptive input and help the nervous system wake up and regulate better. Then we moved into the big idea: the “Perfect Storm” is often hiding in plain sight, like a “moonwalking bear.” It’s usually not one single thing. It’s more like layers that stack up over time, fertility stress, stressful pregnancy, birth trauma or intervention (C-section, induction, forceps, vacuum, cord issues, epidurals), plus early medical and pharmaceutical exposure. Dr. Matt connected this to vagus nerve development, regulation, and why so many kids struggle with sleep, digestion, immune issues, motor planning, sensory challenges, and speech. We also talked about how parents carry a ton of stress too, and how getting out of fight-or-flight matters, for our kids and for us. I even shared a simple thing that helped me calm down fast: laying on my back and putting my legs up on the wall for five minutes. Sounds silly, works great. If you’re new to this topic, take your time with it. Nothing about this is instant. It’s a process. We’ve been in care for two years, and I’m still learning. I’m sharing it because I know families need more options, more hope, and more support. This is part 1 of 2 of my conversation with Dr. Matt. Key Takeaways Dr. Matt says every child has their own “storm,” so care plans should be personal, not cookie-cutter.HRV and clinical scans can help show progress, not just feelings or guesswork.The “Perfect Storm” pattern often includes pregnancy stress, birth intervention, and early medical stress on the nervous system.Vagus nerve function matters for regulation, sleep, digestion, immunity, movement, and even speech development.“They’ll grow out of it” can be a dangerous mindset if early symptoms are warning signs of bigger issues later.Medication can change chemistry short-term, but parents still deserve a plan that supports long-term development.Progress takes time. Months, sometimes years, especially when the nervous system got pushed off course early.Community matters. Parents need people around them who bring grace, support, and real help.Parents need to stay well too. Anxiety is real, and getting regulated helps the whole family.The best time to act is early, but it’s never too late to start building a better path. If this episode hit home and you’ve got questions, send them to me. I want to turn your questions into future episodes, and I also want families to feel less alone. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com, and email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com. Share the show with a parent who needs more hope and more options, and please subscribe wherever you listen. Contact Information Website: spectrumincamouflage.com Email: tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com Dr. Matt’s office: mpchiro.com Office email: info@mpchiro.com Follow Us! We’re on TikTok: tiktok.com/@spectrum_in_camouflageJoin our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/4002769846662357See 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.
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    54 mins
  • Post-Christmas Encouragement and A Reminder of What's Important

    Post-Christmas Encouragement and A Reminder of What's Important
    Dec 26 2025

    Hey, What’s Up! It’s Tommy.

    This is a short, post-Christmas encouragement for every parent who feels tired, stretched thin, or quietly overwhelmed after the holidays. Christmas can bring joy, but it can also bring stress, comparison, and emotional whiplash, especially for families raising autistic children or navigating special needs. In this episode, I want to remind you of something simple but powerful. As long as your kids have you, they have everything they need. And as long as you have your kids, you have everything you need.

    We talk about family pressure, holiday expectations, and the temptation to compare our lives to the perfect pictures we see online. I share a mindset that has stuck with me, that every day we are given two things, a chance and a choice. If you opened your eyes today, you already have your chance. What you do next is your choice.

    As we move out of Christmas and toward a new year, this episode is about resetting your focus. It’s about remembering your role as a parent, leaning into your marriage as a team, choosing gratitude, and finding renewed hope through faith in Jesus Christ. This is not about perfection. It’s about presence, perseverance, and showing up for the people who matter most.

    Key Takeaways
    • Your presence matters more than any gift or perfect holiday moment
    • Comparison steals joy, focus on your own family and your own race
    • Stress rises during the holidays, teamwork in marriage matters more than ever
    • Every day offers a chance and a choice, how you respond sets the tone
    • Faith provides steady hope when life feels heavy or chaotic
    • Your kids don’t need perfect parents, they need consistent love
    • Gratitude and intention can reset even the hardest days

    If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another parent who might need a reminder that they are doing enough. Your support helps this message reach families who feel alone.

    Visit spectrumincamouflage.com\ Email me anytime at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com

    • 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, 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.
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    8 mins
  • With Kailee: Christmas With an Autistic Child, Lower the Pressure, Keep the Meaning

    With Kailee: Christmas With an Autistic Child, Lower the Pressure, Keep the Meaning
    Dec 19 2025

    Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy.

    It’s the Friday before Christmas, and Kailee and I wanted to talk honestly about what the holidays can feel like in a home like ours, the good moments, the hard moments, and everything in between. We share how Wyatt has had some high-stimulation days lately, how a good chiropractic appointment and a calm day can feel like a huge win, and how we’ve learned to stop forcing “normal” holiday expectations. We talk about getting our Christmas tree as a family, keeping things short when we need to, and letting Wyatt be comfortable even if that means he’s nearby but not involved in every tradition. Kailee also shares something big, sometimes you just need to feel your feelings, even if it looks like a “pity party” for a day. We close out with what we want you to hear most, you’re not alone, it’s okay if the holidays bring extra pressure, and Christmas is about connection, memories, and for us, keeping the birth of Christ at the center.

    Key Takeaways
    • It’s okay to feel sad, overwhelmed, or frustrated during the holidays, you can feel the “yuck” and still find joy.
    • Some seasons require shorter outings and earlier exits, that is not failure, that is wisdom.
    • You don’t have to force traditions, if your child is comfortable nearby, that still counts as being together.
    • The holidays can trigger overstimulation and sleep issues, and it can hit harder than other times of the year.
    • Christmas does not have to look like social media, your calm, connected moments matter.
    • Parents can accidentally turn on each other under stress, naming that helps you stay on the same team.
    • It helps to shift the goal from “perfect” to “peace,” and from “stuff” to “connection.”
    • For our family, Christmas is about memories, and most importantly, the birth of Jesus.

    If this episode hit home, share it with another parent who might need to hear it. And if you’re listening right now feeling worn down, give yourself a little grace this week.

    Contact Information
    Visit spectrumincamouflage.com
    Email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com

    Follow Us!
    • 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.
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    44 mins
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