Divergent Conversations

Being an Autistic human often pairs with a complex relationship with emotions.Just the question, "How do you feel," can feel so uncomfortable and spark anxiety, panic, and avoidance, often resulting in pre-planned responses or an answer that makes you think, "What the hell am I saying right now?"In her initial session with a new therapist, Megan Anna, an Autistic psychologist, unintentionally exposed her genuine feelings about emotions, inadvertently confessing, "I hate emotions."In this episode, you'll hear the personal experiences and realizations of both Patrick and Megan Anna around emotions, communication, and navigating relationships.If you or someone you know struggles with expressing emotions or feeling understood and connected to others, then this episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Understand how Autistic people may display emotions differently and the challenges we face in navigating and expressing our emotions.Identify signs of sensory overload, what can trigger it, and some methods to help self-soothe and regulate.Learn how and which tools and technologies to use to improve and aid in communication By gaining a deeper understanding of Autistic emotions, we gain the potential for greater self-awareness which can empower us to embrace our authentic selves and foster meaningful connections.💻 Dr. Megan Anna Neff's Website: https://neurodivergentinsights.com💻 Patrick Casale's Website: https://www.allthingspractice.com Resources:Resources for Emotion Identification (blog posts):The Emotion Matrix: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/arousal-valence-modelThe Feeling Wheel: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/the-feelings-wheelIncreasing Emotional Identification: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/emotional-identificationResource (Workbook):The Alexithymia Workbook: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/p/alexithymia-workbookEmotions 101: If you’re a nerd like me and enjoy learning the science of emotions this workbook is for you: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/p/emotions-101————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

Exploring the challenges of finding a neurodivergent affirmative therapist, embracing special interests in therapy, understanding therapy misconceptions, and discussing therapeutic modalities like IFS and plural systems. Highlighting the importance of authentic connections, personalized approaches, and navigating therapist wait lists for successful outcomes.

There can be a lot of stigma around autism and especially being an autistic therapist, which can make it even harder for autistic individuals to step into this career.They may even be told that they can't be empathetic or relate to others in a way that could help their clients, which is just NOT TRUE.If you are autistic and have been hesitating to step into the mental health field because of the stigma around autism, then this episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Understand how being autistic can make you a better therapist for other neurodivergent clients, often more so than an allistic (not of the autism spectrum) therapist.Identify ways to combat the notion that autistic people can't make good therapists, as well as how to navigate grad school when you are receiving a negative perspective on autism from professors or supervisors. Learn how to structure a private practice to support your needs and create a stable work environment for more longevity in your career as a therapist.When Dr. Megan Neff was asked why they became a therapist, the answer was "because I'm autistic." This episode can help you explore in what ways autism can help you succeed as a therapist, as well as in what ways you might struggle and how to face those times.Check out the resources on Megan's website to learn how you can find a Neurodivergent Affirming Therapist: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/resources ————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

For many adults who are diagnosed later in life, their diagnosis story often begins with a misdiagnosis story.It's not uncommon for these adults to go through childhood and some adult life just feeling like they are a bit more weird or different than a lot of the people around them.It can even be a somewhat painful experience as they try to find answers and explore the reasons why they just don't seem to fit in and why they present themselves the way they do.If you have been exploring the possibility that you might be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed autistic, ADHD, or another neurodiverse diagnosis and want to explore more about what that might look like, this episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Understand some signs of autism and ADHD in early childhood and teen years, and how they can be misdiagnosed or misunderstood.Identify ways that undiagnosed autism and ADHD can impact development around and interactions with environments and people and manifest self-soothing habits, as well as how to identify what grounds you and helps you regulate and cope with things that cause you discomfort.Hear the personal stories of Megan and Patrick prior to diagnosis and how they showed up in their childhood and teenage years.Undiagnosed autism and/or ADHD can have a huge impact on the way an individual shapes their behavior, beliefs, and relationships in the world, and finding answers to a lifetime of questions only in adulthood can feel frustrating and confusing but also offer a sense of relief and comfort. It's important to explore what helps you regulate your body, find comfort, self-soothe, and cope with stress to live a life that is designed around your uniqueness.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

For individuals who've wondered if they are autistic (or know they are but haven't been formally diagnosed), it can be a complex journey to first decide whether or not to seek a formal autism diagnosis and then to learn how to restructure the way they see and interact with the world.Getting diagnosed and embracing yourself as autistic can feel like tearing down a wall (or removing your mask). And you can finally see yourself clearly, but so can everyone else.You might feel relief, you might feel grief, you might feel like you don't know what to do next, so if you're trying to decide if you want to get a formal diagnosis, then this episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Hear 2 different diagnosis stories from Megan and Patrick, including a before and after look at the way they showed up in the world.Understand the many different ways that autism presents and is perceived across different ages, gender, race, and other backgrounds.Identify what it means to unmask and how to do it for yourself.There are many misconceptions and cultural stereotypes around autism that make a misdiagnosis or complete overlooking of autism very common. Even Patrick and Megan didn't get diagnosed until adulthood.If you are wondering about a diagnosis for yourself, a family member, etc., then hopefully these stories can help you find the answers for you.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

Ever wake up in the middle of the night with the thoughts of “Damn. I’m not going back to sleep tonight” crossing your mind? Sleep and neurodivergent brains have a complex relationship, and many neurodivergent individuals struggle with insomnia, restless sleep, sleep paralysis, being light sleepers, and having the weirdest sleep schedule in general, if you can call it a schedule at all. Fatigue is often common and more intense for neurodivergent individuals, which can be hard on those who are already struggling with executive functioning.If you find that sleep is a challenge or seems harder for you to get than others, then this episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Understand the relationship between neurodivergence and sleep disorders and challenges on a personal and clinical level.Learn how to make the most of sleepless nights so that you can reduce the stress of your “time zaps.”Identify ways to improve the quality and consistency of sleep.Sleep challenges are something neurodivergent individuals will often struggle with, so we encourage you to explore what will help take some of the stress out of sleepless nights and help create the best environment for relaxation and rest.Dr. Neff Resources: Autism, ADHD, and Sleep: An Expert Guide on Neurodivergent Sleep: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/autism-adhd-and-sleepSleep Workbook: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/p/the-neurodivergent-sleep-workbook————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

Do you ever find yourself in a state of paralyzing burnout that can happen even when you're doing activities that you enjoy?Have you ever taken a vacation to fight the fatigue of life only to find that your post-vacation burnout-recovery state is reversed sooner and more severely than others?Do you wonder how you can reduce your burnout in a way that works and actually lasts?Then this episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to this episode:Understand what autistic burnout looks like and how it differs from the burnout that might be experienced from things like work.Identify ways to provide self-care when you are experiencing autistic burnout, as well as how to incorporate sensory soothers.Learn how autistic burnout and ADHD can affect each other.Autistic burnout can be a very tiring and frustrating experience. It can have a significant impact on your productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life. Therefore, it is important to understand what it is, how it affects you, and how to deal with it effectively. By doing so, you can preserve your energy and improve your quality of life.To cope with autistic burnout, it is crucial to identify the activities or practices that help you recharge and calm your senses. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can manage your energy levels and reduce the likelihood of burnout.Additional Resources:Check out Dora M. Raymaker's study on autistic burnout: “Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew: Defining Autistic Burnout." Megan's Resources for Autism and Burnout: How to Spot Autistic Burnout: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/autistic-burnout-symptomsWhat Causes Autistic Burnout: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/what-causes-autistic-burnoutAutistic Burnout Recovery: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/autistic-burnout-recoveryAutistic Burnout Workbook:  https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/p/autistic-burnout-guide-and-worksheets————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

Have you ever felt like there was some big mystery that you could never solve as to why you acted and thought the way you did?Maybe you were told that you are neurodivergent but struggle to understand what that means for you.Do you feel tired of masking and don't know where to find a voice that will speak out, be supportive, and educate about neurodivergence?This episode is for you.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Understand what it means to be autistic and how it can be easily misdiagnosed and misunderstood.Identify the many ways in which autism shows up in a person and its diversity.Understand what it means to mask and how this reflects in and shifts the dynamics of relationships.In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Megan Anna Neff, Psychologist, and Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC, LCAS, 2 Autistic-ADHDer Therapists, and see what this podcast has in store for you.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources