AuDHD Flourishing

Intuition has been a way to interface with my body, even when the relationship with my body was contentious.While I won't share the trauma stories that led to the subtitle (Intuition Saved My Life), I have a variety of examples of how unconscious information can surface in a useful way.ep. 7 in an interconnected 10-episode seriesMentioned in episode:Free Workshops registration linkLove Your Brain course (Sep-Oct live round details coming soon)Resources:Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It often feels easiest to do what's right in front of us. And that's lovely, a lot of the time, and uses our strengths!And... it starts to feel bad if we're in whack-a-mole mode almost all of the time, and don't have spacious time to comprehend the whole of our experience.This ties into our sensory needs and leans more into the psychological side of these needs.Mentioned in episode:Free Workshops registration linkLove Your Brain course (Sep-Oct live round details coming soon)Resources:Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Bowler recently published the book Making Time: A New Vision for Crafting a Life beyond Productivity. It's a relaxing take on doing what you want to do, and feeling okay while doing it.One of the main themes is being present, and being true to yourself even if you're doing boring stuff you don't want to do. Finding those moments of resonance that turn the entire activity into building self-trust.If you already read the book and found it resonant even though it doesn't mention AuDHD... that's because Maria is AuDHD and snuck all that good neurodivergent content in!Connect with Maria: Maria's website, MariaBowler.comMaria's Substackthe book Making Time (affiliate link)Resources:Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Autistic community has taken many approaches to reframing what the diagnostic criteria calls "Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts." There's the double-empathy problem, for example, in which Autistic people have an easier time understanding each other where allistics struggle and vice versa. Childhood Emotional Neglect, while a relatively new idea from 2012, aligns remarkably with autistic social "deficits." While I'm by no means trying to draw a single causal line, I also wonder in this episode if maybe some of our social difficulties are actually signs of CEN. Even if our parents were quite well-meaning, we were more likely to experience CEN via a lack of appropriate mirroring of our internal responses, especially if our internal world was especially intense or complex. This episode covers the effects of CEN primarily. To learn more about examples of how it can develop, or how to address it, you can read the books below, or search for articles about them. Books mentioned: Running On Empty Running On Empty No MoreBoth are affiliate linksResources:Transcript DocEmail Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With UsLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The discussion centers on the vital role of sensory needs for neurodivergent individuals. Meeting these needs can transform a tough day into a more manageable one. Personal anecdotes and practical tips are shared to enhance daily sensory experiences, fostering joy. The importance of community connections for support and understanding is emphasized, along with the journey of self-acceptance. All of this reinforces the idea that addressing sensory needs can significantly improve emotional well-being.

Lessons learned from ~17 years of therapy over the last 20 years. How I'd approach therapy now based on that.What to look for in therapists, goal-setting in therapy, and reasons to quit your current therapist. Also connects back to last week's interview with Joe about AuDHD therapy.Links mentioned:Book Decolonizing Therapy (also mentioned last week, affiliate link)Blog post on finding a neurodivergent-affirming therapist (with links)More resources suggested by a community member:Dueling Minds, AuDHD SupportAutistic Girls Network in-person support groups for adultsADHD Support Groups in Canada (CADDAC)ADDA Virtual Support for ADHDResources:Transcript DocEmail Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With UsLike Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Sosta, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and late-realized AuDHDer, dives deep into therapeutic practices tailored for neurodivergent adults. He discusses the importance of personal connections in therapy and the nuances of managing emotions rather than eliminating them. Sosta also highlights the risks of using AI like ChatGPT for mental health support, emphasizing the need for human therapists. His insights on evolving perceptions of ADHD and autism underscore the significance of community support in fostering healing.

Reposting popular episodes June 2025. Back atcha in July with some spicy takes!Original show notes:Pasha Marlowe speaks brilliantly about how to navigate trauma, triggers, and sensory needs in relationships as an AuDHD person.Making it concrete, we both talk about a recent meltdown with our respective partners, and how we navigated those during and after.This is a deeply un-shaming episode—we still struggle with relational trauma despite all the "work" we've done. It's okay to have a lot of needs in relationships. And we talk about how hard it can be to figure out what those are and communicate them effectively.If your neurodivergent relationship needs extra support, Pasha is one of the rare practitioners who's ND, trained in family therapy, and works with couples!Resources mentioned:Pasha's websiteNeuroqueering podcast and Mattia's guest episode@neuroqueercoach on TikTok@neuroqueercoach on InstagramNeuroqueer Heresies bookFull Transcript hereAuDHD Flourishing Newsletter signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June I'm re-posting the most popular episodes from the show while I take a step back to look at the big picture. Update: the re-thinking has happened and retooling is in process :DOriginal show notes:Meltdowns and shutdowns appear to be a natural release valve for an overwhelmed autistic brain. They feel out of control and can be quite distressing.While there are ways to push them off, I experience a "point of no return" after which I need some big release or I'm going to feel terrible for days.Learning your triggers, as well as planning ahead for a safer experience if you do have a meltdown or shutdown can lessen our overall stress and shame.(One thing I forgot to record in the episode is that for me, shutdowns are almost always low-verbal or I can't speak at all.)Links:1. Meltdowns & Shutdowns* https://embrace-autism.com/meltdowns-and-shutdowns/2. How it feels to have an autistic meltdown and how you can help* https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/38f5MsC2mB5fnmCr5v77zDn/how-it-feels-to-have-an-autistic-meltdown-and-how-you-can-help3. All About ‘Autism Meltdowns’: Why They Happen and How to Cope https://psychcentral.com/autism/autism-meltdowns4. Autism Shutdown Vs Meltdown: What's the Difference? https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2022/06/autism-shutdown-vs-meltdown.htmlResources:Email listEpisode Transcript*autistic writer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the essential needs of individuals with ADHD and autism, highlighting the importance of engaging with personal interests for emotional regulation. Dive into the challenges of navigating executive function and the significance of autonomy and true rest. Discover the delicate balance of sensory stimulation and how it impacts communication and social comfort. Gain insights on processing needs and the journey of unmasking, emphasizing the variability of sensory requirements in neurodiversity. These discussions reveal the importance of personalized support for flourishing.