About this episode

Sarah Kernion and Libby Hudson discuss the challenges of caregiving for a child with profound autism, including grief, burnout, and the impact on family dynamics.

What happens when years of caregiving, hypervigilance, grief, and responsibility finally catch up with a mother? In this episode of Inchstones, Sarah Kernion sits down with Libby Hudson for an unfiltered conversation about profound autism, marriage, caregiver burnout, grief, and what it takes to survive when your family’s needs seem bigger than your capacity to carry them. Libby and her husband Tyler Hudson have become respected voices in the profound autism community, but behind advocacy and awareness lies a deeply personal story. As their son Lyric entered adolescence, a devastating family loss triggered profound behavioral changes, escalating aggression, and years of living in a near-constant state of vigilance and fear. Libby shares what it felt like to lose her father, watch her son struggle to process grief he could not communicate, and navigate the impossible reality of loving a child while simultaneously fearing what dysregulation might bring next. Together, Sarah and Libby discuss: * profound autism and adolescence* caregiver burnout and nervous system exhaustion* grief and autism* marriage under chronic stress* maternal hypervigilance* supporting autistic adults*…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Kernion

Guest: Libby Hudson

Topics covered

• profound autism
• caregiver burnout
• grief
• marriage under stress
• maternal hypervigilance
• supporting autistic adults
• emotional resilience

Keywords

• autism
• caregiving
• hypervigilance
• grief
• burnout
• family dynamics
• advocacy
• mental health

More episodes of Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Parenting & Neurodiversity Insights

• Caregiver Stories: What My Daughter's Disability Taught Me About Living with Evan Rosenblum · July 21, 2026 · 33 min
• Parent the Child, Not the Diagnosis | Nora Canzoneri on Autism, Acceptance, and Letting Go · July 9, 2026 · 32 min
• Caregiver Stories: Choosing Love Through the Unexpected Journey of Motherhood with Valerie Probstfeld · July 7, 2026 · 28 min
• Beyond the Autism Diagnosis: Seeing the Child Before the Label | Dr. John Gaitanis · June 30, 2026 · 40 min
• Autism Fatherhood: When My Son Brought Me to My Knees | Tommy of Spectrum in Camouflage · June 25, 2026 · 32 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Inchstones with Sarah | Autism Parenting & Neurodiversity Insights podcast page.