The Neurodivergent Woman

In this week’s episode we’ll be discussing family violence and domestic abuse. These are important conversations, but they can also be distressing or triggering for some listeners. If this episode feels too difficult to listen to right now, please take care of yourself and consider coming back to it when you feel ready—or just skipping it altogether. And if you or someone you know is currently experiencing domestic abuse, please know that you're not alone and that support is available. We’ve included links and resources below if you need help or someone to talk to.   This week we’re speaking to Patricia Gallagher about domestic and family violence. Patricia is a neuro-affirming registered psychologist, EMDR Accredited Practitioner with EMDRAA, and a Board Approved Supervisor, with over 16 years of experience across diverse settings. She currently works with clients from her private practice based in Melbourne, Gallagher Psychology. Patricia’s niche is in working with women affected by domestic violence, family violence, and childhood trauma; supporting them to heal and rise above the ashes of shame and trauma. In addition to her clinical work, Patricia is a sought-after trainer, supervisor, and speaker in the fields of trauma and family violence.   In this episode we cover: What neurodivergence means to Patricia + her experience of being at the early stages of her exploration of her own neurodivergence. The definition of family and domestic violence and the different forms of abuse that come under this definition. What is ‘covert’ abuse. Understanding the cycle of abuse that commonly occurs, and factors that play into this. Common traits and emotional experiences of perpetrators. What is ‘coercive control’. The factors that increase the likelihood of disabled, neurodivergent, and / or previously traumatised folk being targeted for domestic and family abuse. Logistical and emotional barriers to leaving situations of domestic abuse. Patricia’s approach to supporting people’s recovery from domestic and family violence. The shark cage exercise for building boundaries. Tips and resources for anyone experiencing domestic or family violence.   Things we mentioned: Australian statistics on the prevalence of domestic and family violence. Study on the prevalence of intimate partner violence in Australia. Royal Commission into rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence of women and girls with disability. Australian Government Coercive Control Fact Sheet Ursula Benstead’s Shark Cage   Connect with Patricia through her Instagram @gallagherpsychology or @patriciagallagher, Facebook page, Gallagher Psychology, and her website, www.gallagherpsychology.com.au.   Looking for support with situations of domestic or family violence? Try these resources: Australia wide 1800RESPECT (Ph. 1800 737 732) - National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Offers phone and online chat support 24/7. Relationships Australia (Ph. 1300 364 277) - Counselling and support for individuals and families experiencing relationship breakdown or violence. Women's Legal Services - Provide free legal advice and assistance on domestic and family violence, family law, child protection. QLife (Ph. 1800 184 527 - 3pm–midnight daily) - LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral. Are You Safe at Home? Ask Izzy - Search tool for nearby shelters, food, legal help, and more. Some state based services Safe Steps (Victoria) (Ph. 1800 015 188) - 24/7 family violence response line for women and children in Victoria. InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence (Victoria) (Ph. (03) 9413 6500 / 1800 755 988) - Culturally sensitive family violence support for migrant and refugee women in Victoria. DVConnect (Queensland) (Women's line: 1800 811 811; Mensline: 1800 600 636) - Crisis counselling and referrals for people experiencing domestic and family violence. Immigrant Women's Support Service (Queensland) (Ph. (07) 3846 3490) - Support for migrant and refugee women experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Domestic Violence Crisis Service (ACT) (Ph. (02) 6280 0900) - Services for people affected by domestic violence in the ACT. Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline (NSW) ( only: 1800 019 123) - A dedicated line for Aboriginal victims of crime who need counselling, information, and referrals.   Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!   Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Monique welcomes Arnikka de Kort to the podcast, to chat about breastfeeding and infant sleep.   Arnikka is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Neonatal Nurse and Founder of SuckleBubs - a space that reimagines how women and babies are supported in the early weeks of newborn life.  She is also the creator of In Bloom - a postpartum and breastfeeding mentorship program guiding mothers through their transition to motherhood, from pregnancy and into postpartum.  Drawing from her clinical and lived experience as a neurodivergent mother, Arnikka blends her clinical skills with a deeply attuned and compassionate approach to the care of mothers and babies.    This ep is packed with knowledge gems direct from Arnikka’s brain, so flick it on to anyone you know who is pregnant or postpartum, neurodivergent or not!   Monique and Arnika cover: What is an IBCLC? What neurodivergence means to Arnikka and her personal journey to discovering her own neurodivergence and the self-acceptance that came with that. Arnikka’s personal experience as a neurodivergent mother with birth and breastfeeding. The variability in infant sleep needs. The interrelationship between infant sleep, feeding, and baby’s sensory needs. Some of the key challenges parents face in their infant feeding journey, including those specific to neurodivergent mothers. Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). Arnikka’s tips for parents experiencing infant feeding challenges. Tips for problem solving issues with infant sleep and supporting infant circadian development. Elements of pregnancy, birth, and infant care that can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent mothers and tips to manage these.   Things we mentioned: Before the Letdown: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex and the Breastfeeding Mother by Alia Macrina Heise The NDC institute – free resources and a practitioner directory. Motherkind by Zoe Blaskey Mama Rising by Amy Taylor-Kabbaz   Connect with Arnikka through her website, Suckle Bubs, or on Instagram @sucklebubs.   Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!   Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode Monique chats with two amazing guests – Specialist GP Dr Megan Thomas (she / they) and Clinical Psychologist Bianca Comfort (she / her) – about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAS).   Dr Megan is a queer, disabled, neurodivergent doctor with lived experience of EDS, POTS, MCAS, and related conditions. She is a GP Specialist and one of the Founding Directors of Connected Health Alliance, an EDS CORE Network of Excellence and health promotion charity working to improve the lives of hypermobile humans through the provision of interdisciplinary healthcare, clinician education, and research. Megan is a passionate advocate of holistic, trauma-informed, person-centred care that is affirming for people of all neurotypes, identities, and experiences.   Bianca is a Melbourne-based neurodivergent Clinical Psychologist and is the Director of Comfort Psychology, a telehealth practice focused on chronic illness and neurodivergence. She is also the Vice President of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and Co-Chair of the Australian EDS & HSD Network. Bianca's expertise lies in the intersection between neurodivergence and chronic illnesses such as EDS, POTS, and MCAS. Drawing from both her professional and lived experience, Bianca is a passionate advocate and educator.   Monique, Megan, and Bianca cover: Megan and Bianca share what neurodivergence means to them, and their experiences as neurodivergent health practitioners with chronic illnesses. What are EDS, POTS, and MCAS, and how are these conditions diagnosed? Why do we see EDS, POTS, and MCAS commonly occurring together? How do these three conditions relate to Autism and ADHD? Factors to consider when managing multiple co-occurring conditions. The triple empathy problem. The types of supports people may need if they have these conditions. How to access support.   Things we mentioned: The Beighton Score System for EDS and the Hakim 5 questionnaire for hypermobility can be found on the Ehlers-Danlos Society website. Mast Cell Mediator Release Syndrome Questionnaire. The EDS Society The Australian POTS foundation The Australian EDS and HSD Network The Australian Mastocytosis Society Studies on the overlap between EDS, Autism, and ADHD: Cederlöf et al., 2016; Dogan et al., 2011; Shiari et al., 2013; Csecs et al., 2020; Csecs et al., 2022. Research on “clinician associated trauma” experienced by patients with EDS - Halverson, Penwell, & Francomano, 2023.   Find Bianca at her clinic, Comfort Psychology, and on Instagram @comfortpsychology. Find Megan through her website, Dr Megan Thomas, or her clinic, Connected Health Alliance, and on socials @drmeganthomas and @connectedhealthalliance.   Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!   Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week features Jessica Horner, a policy advisor with People With Disability Australia and an AuDHD advocate. She shares her insights on the importance of storytelling for neurodivergent individuals, discussing how narratives shape identity. Jessica delves into the impact of media representation on personal experiences, emphasizing the need for diverse voices in storytelling. She also reflects on her journey with autism, highlighting self-advocacy and the critical role it plays in honoring the emotional validity of neurodivergent stories.

This week Monique chats with Sienna Macalister (they/them), who listeners may know by their Instagram handle @sienna.stims, about being an Autistic person with high support needs. Sienna is a non-binary, ‘unreliably speaking’ Autistic advocate, diagnosed with Autism Level 3. They are multiply neurodivergent and have a number of co-occurring health conditions, including Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). Sienna is passionate about creating a world where Autistic people are not just accepted but celebrated, with a deep affinity for exploring neurodivergence with nuance.   Monique and Sienna cover: What does ‘unreliably speaking’ mean? What neurodivergence means to Sienna and the importance of understanding the term to mean more than just Autism and ADHD. Sienna’s experience of early diagnosis of Autism and the diagnostic overshadowing this led to, particularly around diagnosis of their health conditions. The evolution of Sienna’s neurodivergent identity. Sienna’s experience of using mobility, communication, and health and wellbeing supports. Support needs, disability, and therapeutic intervention as a valid part of the neurodivergent experience, and the difference between affirming and non-affirming therapies. The role of lateral violence and internalised ableism in excluding people with higher support needs from the cultural conversation on Autism. Sienna’s suggestions to increase inclusion and representation for Autistic people with higher support needs. Sienna’s current special interest – budgie breeding!   Find Sienna on TikTok and Instagram @sienna.stims, on their professional Instagram @sienna.macalister_media, or on YouTube @sienna_stims.   Sienna’s writing is features in the anthologies Someone Like Me, edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, and Hyperfocus, edited by Spectrum Writing.   Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!   Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Michelle Garnett, a clinical psychologist and late-diagnosed AuDHDer, shares her insights on neurodivergence in teens. She discusses her own journey with anxiety and finding effective coping mechanisms. The conversation highlights the unique challenges neurodivergent teens face during adolescence, including social pressures and identity formation. Michelle emphasizes the importance of tailored support for these individuals and offers practical tips for parents to help their children navigate this transformative stage with empathy and understanding.

Simone Mangelsdorf-Collett, a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist specializing in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), dives deep into the complexities of this often-misunderstood condition. She explains how FND differs from other neurological disorders like epilepsy and Parkinson's. The discussion highlights its historical context, the stigma surrounding women's health, and the links between FND and neurodivergence, especially among women. Simone also offers insights into treatment approaches and the importance of advocacy in reshaping perceptions of FND.

In this engaging conversation, Sharen Lui, a neurodivergent Educational and Developmental Psychologist and director of Sprout Psychology, dives into the intricacies of neurodivergence within Chinese culture. She shares her journey of self-discovery and the significant role cultural identity plays. Sharen highlights the impact of language on perceptions of neurodivergence, the cultural pressures faced by neurodivergent women, and the challenges in accessing supportive healthcare. Her insights emphasize the need for culturally responsive mental health practices in diverse communities.

On this week’s episode we chat with Sari González and Becka Koritz – co-founders of Radical Learning – about unschooling and alternative models of education. Sari and Becka are mums to neurodivergent unschoolers, youth rights advocates, and agile learning facilitators who challenge conventional education and parenting. Through their business, Radical Learning, and their podcast, Radical Learning Talks, they support parents and educators in unlearning control-based approaches to education and embracing trust, consent, and youth agency - especially when supporting neurodivergent kids.   On this episode we cover: How Becka and Sari think about neurodivergence. Becka and Sari’s paths to alternative education. What’s the difference between homeschooling and unschooling? Concepts in unschooling, including de-schooling, consent-based learning, and understanding how power manifests in mainstream ideas of teaching and learning. How can we teach our kids if we aren’t teachers? Navigating our inner ‘Mrs. Trunchbull’ and the internal work of de-schooling. Neurodivergence and learning; honouring our unique talents and skills. Unpacking the concept of ‘resilience’. The Shift Retreat from Radical Learning   Sari and Becka are coming to us from Mexico, so listeners may occasionally hear the sounds of nature in the background!   Connect with Sari and Becka through their podcast, their website, or their Instagram @radical_learning.   Plus, books that Marie recommends in this space: Unschooling To University: Relationships matter most in a world crammed with content by Judy Arnall Homeschool Gone Wild: Inspired Learning Through Living by Karla Marie Williams College Without High School: A Teenager’s Guide by Blake Boles The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson Raising Free People: Unschooling as Liberation and Healing Work by Akilah S. Richards     Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!   Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discussion dives deep into the fascinating world of learning and memory, highlighting the four key stages: perception, encoding, retention, and retrieval. It particularly focuses on the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, including how sensory overload can impact memory. Insights into the effects of hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause on cognitive function are shared. Listeners also learn about innovative strategies for improving memory retention and the importance of personalized learning environments for better comprehension.