You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Communication is already a complex personal and interpersonal skill to master but even more so for the neurodivergent. How does ADHD and Autism impact the art of communication? In more ways than one, and some of those ways are significantly less obvious than others. Can something as routine as "physical self-care" have a big impact on communication skills? You might be surprised. And speaking of s...

If you thought the hidden fees phase of life was the "not knowing why I'm suffering" phase, be prepared. One of the bigger obstacles to overcome is the continual discovery of new hidden financial, physical, mental, emotional and vocational expenses of being an adult with ADHD and/or Autism. The only thing more costly than the coping mechanisms and compensatory self-soothing is the painful awarenes...

In this episode we explore the various ways we can experience the range of emotions that define depression; from joy to the absence of joy. Value-based systems that only reward productivity give a false sense of joy which can also lead to depression when being productive or successful in work, relationships, goals and every day life can feel fleeting or underwhelming.  Read the Episode Companion P...

For adults with Autism, anxiety and medication are managed differently which also applies to co-occurring diagnosis like ADHD, depression, and mood disorders (irritability, aggression and meltdowns). Equally important is the Food is Medicine Movement bolstered by Nutritional Psychiatry. Let’s dive into the various ways we can manage how we feel.   Read the Episode Companion Post at https://youdont...

Growing numbers of adults lived decades before their Neurodivergent struggles were adequately observed, evaluated and treated. Understanding the impact of generations of childhood emotional neglect illuminates the devastating parenting trends that have resulted in rising numbers of mid-late life diagnoses. Which is a nice way of saying, maybe it’s not all their fault. Let’s explore together.  Read...

Decode manageable life skills. To-Do lists can be difficult for Autistic/ADHD adults and require organization, flexibility and prioritization skills. Read the Episode Companion Post at https://youdontsoundautistic.com/my-manageable-life/

Whether you’re at the beginning of your self-discovery journey, or are just learning terms, patterns and definitions, one question you may be asking is… Do I need an Autism diagnosis if I suspect I’m autistic? It’s a great question with multiple answers depending on your unique medical history.* Another big factor to consider is ADHD. While it’s common to have both, knowing you have both is most i...

Combating the chaos sensitivity of everyday life can feel hectic and exhausting especially for your brain. Using the power of neuroscience, did you know implementing an intentional Gratitude Practice for just 5 minutes a day can help flip your brain chemistry out of fight or flight sympathetic nervous system (SANS) and into the regenerating state of rest or digest parasympathetic (PANS)? Read the...

In this episode Blake and Rachelle discuss what it means to discover you're actually autistic and what to do with that information. We also cover an article on Depression and how best to manage your depression whether you're a man or woman.

Multitasking should be called multi-firing especially when describing the neurological crossfires women find themselves dealing with every day. Still boxed in by gender roles, childbearing, child rearing and household management on top of working to afford today's climbing costs of living, women with ADHD are repeatedly missed and misdiagnosed due to improper evaluation of women's cycles, hormones...

Anxiety is a familiar feeling. How is anxiety different when you're on the spectrum struggle a bit extra with social interactions, attending entertainment or sporting events (even if it's something you want to do). That's the thing about nervous energy. It's in the nerves and the nerves pick up on EVERYTHING. Then you add in sensory sensitives to lights, sounds, crowds, smells and chaos... even a...

Big feelings need a safe place to be expressed and supported by people who understand our unique life. After Rachelle joined a few "Mom's Autism" support groups on Facebook, we realized the importance of providing a safe place for Dad's too. The world we live in as parents is unique and often misunderstood. Dad jokes welcome at ADHD and Autism Dad's Group . Then we review Blake's first week on his...

Making small daily decisions while navigating ADHD and Autism are difficult enough without adding the need to make a pivotal life change too! Just the thought of that is overwhelming.  Blake found himself in this exact position this week and facing the same fork in his mental/emotional road that either goes left towards another round of procrastination... or right, towards the choice he's been mas...