"I Didn't Want To Go Home" episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 31, 2025 · 30 MIN

"I Didn't Want To Go Home"

from Autism Dadcast · host Gaz and Andrew

He had the house. The job. The wife. Three kids. On paper, everything was fine.But by the time his son Mason was three or four, he was falling apart. Barely sleeping. Drinking too much. Finding any excuse to stay out longer. Supermarket runs for things they didn't need. One more round at the pub. Anything to delay walking through the front door.He wasn't a bad dad. He just didn't know how to be one — not for a child like Mason. Non-verbal. ADHD. Severe sleep issues. Smashing up the house. And a system that kept saying no.It took a huge row with his wife for something to shift. And it took a reckless, credit-card-funded trip to Disney World to finally understand what his son actually needed.Because in Florida, something changed. Mason — the kid who couldn't queue, couldn't wait, couldn't regulate — went on a roller coaster and came out a different child. Slept every night. Engaged. Calm. Two weeks of the son they always knew was in there.Then they came home. And within weeks, it all came back.This is what it's like to glimpse what's possible — and then have to figure out how to recreate it in a world that isn't built for your kid.Dan talks about the drinking, the guilt, the isolation, the fear of what happens when they're gone, and the relentless reality of raising a child who will probably need support forever. He also talks about hope. Because there is some. Even when it doesn't feel like it.

He had the house. The job. The wife. Three kids. On paper, everything was fine.But by the time his son Mason was three or four, he was falling apart. Barely sleeping. Drinking too much. Finding any excuse to stay out longer. Supermarket runs for things they didn't need. One more round at the pub. Anything to delay walking through the front door.He wasn't a bad dad. He just didn't know how to be one — not for a child like Mason. Non-verbal. ADHD. Severe sleep issues. Smashing up the house. And a system that kept saying no.It took a huge row with his wife for something to shift. And it took a reckless, credit-card-funded trip to Disney World to finally understand what his son actually needed.Because in Florida, something changed. Mason — the kid who couldn't queue, couldn't wait, couldn't regulate — went on a roller coaster and came out a different child. Slept every night. Engaged. Calm. Two weeks of the son they always knew was in there.Then they came home. And within weeks, it all came back.This is what it's like to glimpse what's possible — and then have to figure out how to recreate it in a world that isn't built for your kid.Dan talks about the drinking, the guilt, the isolation, the fear of what happens when they're gone, and the relentless reality of raising a child who will probably need support forever. He also talks about hope. Because there is some. Even when it doesn't feel like it.

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"I Didn't Want To Go Home"

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Spectrum Living: A Podcast William Thomas Dorste William Thomas Dorste is an adult male,  evaluated and diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) + ADHD at the age of 30 in 2023. He is also a self-published author who currently has 3 books out:The Autistic Journey - A Novelette (published Dec. 29, 2023)Space City - (published Jul. 9, 2024)The Darkest Hour - A Novelette (published March 14, 2025)William's official website: https://www.williamthomasdorste.com/DISCLAIMER: William is NOT a licensed therapist, psychologist or counselor in any way! If you need to seek help, please find a licensed person who can give legal health advise!  Explicit Late to Liberty Davie This is a podcast simulating what it's like to overdose on libertarian autism for an hour or so. While also keeping with libertarian tradition of never being on time. We focus on inner LP issues and current events. Probably a side story of something unrelated. Hosts are Otto, Jacob, Davie and Alex. Explicit Neurodivergent Moments Joe Wells and Abigoliah Schamaun Ever walk into a room and immediately forget why you’re there? Or get confused when someone is surprised you’ve taken what they said literally?Comedians, Abigoliah Schamaun and Joe Wells do, and so do their guests, and these Neurodivergent Moments shine a light into the world of our diverse minds. Each episode, ADHD Abigoliah and Autistic Joe, speak to a guest with a neurodivergence about their divergence, life, career and how they navigate the neurotypical society we live in.Lighthearted, sincere and insightful, Neurodivegent Moments is a journey into the diverse world of our differently wired brains and the people who own them. ADHD, Autism, OCD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Borderline Personality Disorder and more are all topics of conversation. The Neurodivergent Moments Podcast has been featured at Latitude Festival and in Readers Digest and makes its debut at The London Podcast Festival on 14 September 2023.Follow the Podcast on Twitter and Explicit Your Improv Brain Jen deHaan Your Improv Brain is a show that helps you understand your brain (and body!) to be a happier, better performer. I'll also explore the intersection of improv comedy, neurodivergence, and the science of performance. Episodes cover how different brain types, including neurodivergent and neurotypical minds, experience comedy and performance. The show discusses creating supportive environments and understanding cognitive differences in improv practice.Your Improv Brain also explores how neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism, impacts how we learn, coach, and perform. Host Jen deHaan - who is certifying in multiple programs based on nervous system regulation - gets into the science of why we freeze up on stage, how to find flow state, and using nervous system regulation tools to become a more resilient improviser and actor.Why this show is for youWhether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical, this show provides a neuroinclusive lens on the creative process. We move beyond "yes and" t Explicit

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This episode was published on December 31, 2025.

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He had the house. The job. The wife. Three kids. On paper, everything was fine.But by the time his son Mason was three or four, he was falling apart. Barely sleeping. Drinking too much. Finding any excuse to stay out longer. Supermarket runs for...

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