AuDHD Flourishing

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's episode about giving up on NT/ableist expectations ;) (ep 80) Repost of ep. 81 Mentioned in episode: wish listExperimenting Your Way to an Extraordinary LifeComparative Grammar of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and FrenchNeurocomplexity modelaffiliate link Resources: Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! It's a difference. And... you may have reasons to question whether there are aspects of it you want to address. Additional reading: When you can read everyone but yourself: on autistic and ADHD emotional awarenessWhat Is Alexithymia? Defined, Explained, and Linked to NeurodivergenceAlexithymia AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: While a strict budget has never worked for me, staying attached to my overall money picture has been incredibly helpful. The latter part of the episode shares two tools for anxiety around money: p.s. doing #2 above while recording actually helped me get started on my taxes, which I submitted six days early (possibly a personal record??) *yes this is a terrible term AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 bad "vibe." For me, acknowledging and soothing that unfairness with things beyond just spending has been important. The episode also touches on comparison with others, consumerism, and why I just buy things directly from China now (via AliExpress, and that link gives me a whopping $1 coupon if you end up making a purchase ;) AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Jacobson here! AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 tools anyway, even if they only work for a few months ;) AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the kind of nourishing I mean. Once your capacity is higher, you'll be able to build more. And the people doing the literal feeding and care work are just as much a part of the movement! AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 be an expert interview on ARFID, please send them my way. Oh another fun fact I didn't mention... it's possible that the "obesity epidemic" (unscientific nonsense) was literally caused by dieting. Yes, that's correlation, but damn it makes a compelling chart. (from Anti-Diet, book below) Mentioned in episode: Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive EatingEmbodied Exercise with Martha Munroe AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 your core self-care need or needs (just a jumping-off point!): Resources mentioned: https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2019/11/18/is-matthew-walkers-why-we-sleep-riddled-with-scientific-and-factual-errors/Transcript Doc And one more link someone sent taking down the book Why We Sleep (I haven’t listened to this episode but the links alone look great): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4r0Vawq8xAfnsnKbYVUNhc?si=n7t-koeuS2GXQ2QnA8j4dQ AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Repost of ep 11, originally published Aug 18 2023 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

it is what it is AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity 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 gentle structure if desired. I loved her book, Attuned Exercise! Connect with Martha: Attuned Exercise@attunedexercisemarthamunroe.comAlso mentioned in episode (book I'm reading): Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity book links are affiliate links Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting as an AuDHDer is challenging and misunderstood. Many parents I speak to are near or in burnout at any given time, especially if they had kids before discovering their neurotype (which is common). This episode is based not on my experience as a parent, but my experience having spoken and heard from many AuDHD parents, and what I see working for them. This is in part a follow up to last week's interview with Julie M Green Mentioned in episode: Good InsideInstagram AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity *affiliate link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie M. Green is the author of Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance. She shares about how difficult early parenthood was, how different her autism presents versus her kid's, and navigating school and regulation skills. The book is a vulnerable look at some of the challenging and lighthearted moments of raising an autistic kid. Connect with Julie: Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance juliemgreen.cahttps://www.instagram.com/juliem.greenhttps://theautisticmom.substack.com/ AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity *affiliate link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You deserve to survive this. Please stay. And if staying out of spite helps you, it has gotten me through some tough times. My Medium article, "Please Stay, We Need You" Repost of ep. 75 Crisis Resources: USA-based anonymous crisis chatInternational crisis linesVarious types of crisis resources in about 10 countries Resources: Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flow is pleasant and often productive. It may also require some guardrails to be healthy for AuDHDers, especially those of us on the very monotropic side. It's often easy for us to get into flow and hyperfocus, and to stay in them until they stop feeling pleasant. Adding in more rest and recovery, including preparatory rest as needed, can really help! It's also okay to avoid flow states for a period of time, as I am right now for the most part. Do Less program for 2026 (starts Jan 15, reach out by Jan 7) mattia@mattiamauree.comapplication answers AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Alexander is an artist and play worker who has mapped some common shapes of autistic play. He's passionate about neuro-affirming play for all ages. Play is both a healing tool, and can help prevent some of the effects of trauma (we touch on this lightly, a concept I learned from Linda Thai) One possible way to apply the play styles is noticing which ones speak to you, and which ones you're already engaging in, then leaning into those. The ebook is free, and it's a quick and excellent read! Apologies for the audio quality. Max was using a headset and didn't have an actual microphone, so I did the best I could to clean it up Do Less program for 2026 (starts Jan 15, reach out by Jan 7) mattia@mattiamauree.comapplication answers Connect with Max: The Joys and Shapes of Autistic PlayPlay Radical AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AuDHD leadership touches on last week's interview with Dr Megan Anna Neff. And it goes beyond the visible leadership of creating content, or being in the public eye. AuDHD leadership can include Mentioned in episode: - Do Less program for 2026 (starts Jan 15, reach out by Jan 7) - Email mattia@mattiamauree.com with application answers, and/or any questions - Blog post with business episodes AuDHD Flourishing resources: Transcript DocMattia's NewsletterLike Your Braincommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.