AuDHD Flourishing

"Consistency" can feel like a dirty word in neurodivergent land... Consistency is a tool, not a final answer. It can be a better fit than habits for our brains (see past 3 episodes) It can be part of building systems that work for us (including reminders, since forgetting is a big reason for inconsistency) Kindness and self-compassion are where consistency REALLY matters, because they build capaci...

Builds on last two episodes: Self-Awareness vs. Solutions and Habits are Hard (but also very cool) Breaking "bad" habits is different (and more difficult) than building new habits. I also recommend not being too aggressive about it if those coping mechanisms are load bearing psychologically ;) AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!) Mattia's News...

There's some evidence that ADHD brains in particular may have trouble forming habits as they're traditionally thought of. But that doesn't mean they have no value for us! This episode is about how to lean into the part of habit formation that may work for us (spoiler alert, you may need WEIRD rewards) Builds on last week's episode, Self-Awareness vs. Solutions p.s. hopefully the birdsong in the ba...

You may have been told that you're "so self-aware," yet struggle to actually implement solutions. In the moment, you might be lacking the support, the executive function, the initiation energy, etc. Introspection and self-awareness are great, but they're not the end of the process. AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!) Mattia's Newsletter Like...

In the context of learning a musical instrument, it's obvious that there's a period of not being good at it. Whether you call it mediocrity or a skill gap, there's often a gap between where you are and where you want to be. There are many cases in which we can only improve by doing, trying, and yes, failing. It's uncomfortable and that's normal. You don't have to like it, but it is a step in learn...

Trying to do all of the things, all of the time is a recipe for being stuck. Instead, do some of the things, some of the time. The episode also talks about a couple of imagination techniques that may help with some types of PDA or other demand avoidance. AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!) Mattia's Newsletter Like Your Brain   community...

Last week we talked about creative entrepreneurship. This episode is about my recent & current creative blocks and insecurities that cover some of the difficulties of being a professional creative. And because people may ask: here's my pre-transition voice , and more-or-less current voice Related episodes:  100 Creative Time Limitations 24 Redefining Creative Success with Chris Hale AuDHD Flo...

Jon Hart is building an online space for neurodivergent musicians. And our conversation focused on the entrepreneurship side of things, because occasionally our disability disables us! Being a creative entrepreneur has its own challenges. One of which is having too many ideas... Connect with Jon: neurodivergentmusicians.com & the research questionnaire jonhartmusic.com AuDHD Flourishing resour...

Predictive Processing (or coding) differences are a relatively new proposed idea about an underlying mechanism of autism. Preliminary studies do show differences, but not necessarily "deficits," which I think is promising. While it may not explain everything, it's a compelling theory that resonates in my anecdotal experience. More reading/listening on predictive processing: The predictive coding t...

I just had a shocking experience regarding my own energy levels while on vacation. Truly, I never would have predicted it even if you laid out all of the details going in. This episode is about figuring out what drains and rejuvenates your energy, so you can start to choose where that (technically limited) bucket of energy goes. AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind...

The story of a meltdown. For me these days, that includes some intrusive thoughts around being a burden. You are not a burden. And even if we are sometimes, that's okay. I want to be a part of communities that can carry each other sometimes. repost of ep 23 Like Your Brain  community space Transcript Doc Email Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I pushed my body way too far, even though I was having trouble parsing that in the moment. The story is also a great analogy for how other ND internal needs feel (including PDA). Even with all the info, self-kindness, and support, I still struggle to find that exact line of capacity. It's okay that it's hard to figure out! This is the perfect and slightly ironic follow-up from last week'...

Alexithymia is common in AuDHDers, and involves having trouble identifying and communicating emotions. There are a lot of reasons this can be the case, including: interoception differences lack of useful training in emotional skills & language different emotional experiences than expected in the situation Childhood Emotional Neglect (which can cause alexithymia) Alexithymia is NOT a disorder!...

I would guess that most AuDHDers struggle with money in one way or another . Saving or planning for the future can be particularly difficult to emotionally attach to in the same way we connect with wanting something in the present moment. I use several tools to stay emotionally connected to my money big picture, and spoiler alert none of them is a budget: tracking all income closely a multi-tab fi...

This & next week are two episodes on money & finances as a follow up to last week's interview (more from Hyperfocus here). Justice sensitivity can highlight the unfairness we often feel between our financial situations and those of people who haven't struggled to find and keep work. For example, AuDHDers often experience conflict with bosses who think we ask too many questions or have a ba...

Thanks again to Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson for sharing this interview with financial therapist Christine Hargrove. She shares ADHD-focused advice that is useful for AuDHD folks as well! And the next two weeks will touch on other financial topics from this foundation. I especially love the line, "The best budget is one you can follow on your worst day" Learn more about Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobso...

I just started using a paper planner again for the first time in many years, and the coolest thing is noticing that calendared blocks of time feel more "real" to my brain when I've written them by hand. That tangibility in turn seems to be making it easier to stick with things. Caveat that it can always be the initial dopamine surge of any new system! That said, if it's working, I say try new tool...

Sometimes... a process is happening, internally. It can be integration, change, growth, positive disintegration... and sometimes it's unclear. Either way, the uncertainty can be disconcerting and frustrating! AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!) Mattia's Newsletter Like Your Brain   community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See a...

With an interest-based nervous system + AuDHD cyclical energy, the hardest tasks for us are Boring Annoying High Stakes and/or Difficult The episode covers how and why they're difficult, and some starting points for each one. The steps from later in the episode: If you're struggling to start something, identify if it's Boring, Annoying, High Stakes, or Difficult. Give yourself compassion for why t...

If you're feeling angry lately, that makes a lot of sense! It's not a bad emotion. In fact, it can feel quite motivating to create change. But what if you are feeling isolated and/or don't have capacity to directly create that change right now? That's where nourishing and care work come in, even if they're only for you (for now). While I don't use the word self-care in the episode, that's in part...

Sometimes I mix up true desires with interests and hyperfocus. But what about the persistent and even lifelong interests? Where do they fit in? This episode is for anyone who wants to throw their life out the window and start over when in the throes of a new interest ;) You're not broken! AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!) Mattia's Newslette...

This goes along with the interview about Embodied Exercise . For many people, the other side of that coin is eating. And rates of disordered eating are higher among Autistics, ADHDers (especially women), and trans and gender non-conforming folks. The episode only briefly touches on ARFID, an eating disorder more likely to affect autistic people for multiple reasons. If you know someone who could b...

Most people have one or two core self-care needs that, if they're met, everything else feels easier. This episode is about how to figure out yours... and what to look out for when you hear people preaching about their own! There's also acknowledgment that your neurodivergent body and brain may process things in different ways, so the following questions may not be that useful for you. Figuring out...

it is what it is AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!) Mattia's Newsletter Like Your Brain   community space (Patreon/Discord) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martha Munroe, a neurodivergent personal trainer, was noticing patterns in the ways her clients talked about exercise and their bodies. They were often driven by external goals (aesthetics, performance, what others think) vs. the internal experience of movement. She reframes exercise as a way to explore and express through embodiment. Also, reclaiming exercise (not only movement) by offering gentl...