Proprioception and Emotion Regulation: The Latest ADHD Research

Aug 24, 2025

Dr. Jessica Eccles, a Clinical Senior Lecturer from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, shares her expertise on the intricate ties between ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent traits. She discusses how proprioception issues and hypermobility can complicate emotional regulation. The conversation further explores the often-overlooked connections between neurodivergence, chronic fatigue, and long COVID. Dr. Eccles emphasizes the importance of early advocacy and support for neurodivergent children, shedding light on the critical need for understanding their unique challenges.

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INSIGHT

Autonomic Links Between Neurodivergence And Long COVID

Neurodivergent people are more likely to experience autonomic nervous system abnormalities like postural tachycardia syndrome and pain.
Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence with long COVID, dysautonomia, and chronic fatigue.

INSIGHT

Proprioception Shapes Emotion Regulation

Proprioception problems (uncertainty about where you are in space) predict emotion regulation difficulties in neurodivergent people.
Joint hypermobility amplifies proprioceptive issues and dissociation risks.

ADVICE

Target Proprioception To Improve Emotions

Target proprioception therapeutically to help improve emotion regulation in autistic and ADHD people.
Future research could develop body-based interventions to reduce rejection sensitivity and overwhelm.

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In this week's ADHD Women's Wellbeing Wisdom episode, we revisit eye-opening insights from Dr Jessica Eccles, a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the Department of Neuroscience.

This conversation explores the fascinating connection between the brain and body in neurodivergent women. We talk about the links between ADHD, autism, hypermobility, fatigue, long COVID, and emotional regulation, and how these can impact our mental and physical health in ways that often go unseen or misunderstood.

My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is now available, grab your copy here!

What You'll Learn:

The link between neurodivergence, hypermobility and long COVID.
How dysautonomia connects ADHD to chronic fatigue and physical symptoms.
The impact of proprioception issues and hypermobility on emotional regulation.
Research exploring emotional regulation difficulties in ADHD and autism.
The role of RSD in neurodivergent experiences of rejection and overwhelm.
Research looking at the link between childhood neurodivergence, trauma and adult fatigue.
The importance of early advocacy for neurodivergent children in schools and healthcare.

Takeaways:

01:32 - Hypermobility, Long COVID and Neurodivergence
02:15 - Abnormalities in the Autonomic Nervous System and Neurodivergence
03:24 - EUPD, ADHD and Autism Research
04:21 - Propioception, Emotion Regulation, Hypermobility and Neurodivergent Traits
08:00 - Hypermobility, Pain and Fatigue in Neurodivergent People
09:43 - Supporting and Advocating for Neurodivergent Children
15:19 - Advocating for Resources and Support

If you’ve ever wondered how ADHD shows up in your body, or why you feel so exhausted despite resting, this conversation will give you insight, validation, and clarity into issues you may have never considered connected.

Links and Resources:

Join the Waitlist for my new ADHD community-first membership launching in September! Get exclusive founding offers [here].
Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod
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Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.