Uncertainty and Mental Health with Sarah Bergenfeld and Martha Sweezy

Autism functions as a condition of sensory surplus, where the brain’s predictive processing mechanism struggles to filter sensory noise, leading to heightened sensitivity to uncertainty and increased metabolic demand. By integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) with this framework, individuals can move away from deficit-based labels toward a more compassionate understanding of their nervous system. Predictive processing explains how state shifts and dysregulation occur when expectations are unmet, while IFS provides tools to map internal parts and resolve the shame associated with unpredictable behaviors like stimming or withdrawal. Recognizing these behaviors as functional attempts to restore homeostasis allows for greater self-predictability. This approach empowers autistic individuals to navigate their internal world with curiosity rather than self-blame, ultimately reducing the toxic impact of shame and fostering a more nuanced, respectful relationship with one's own neurology.