The monotropic neurotype that is Autism + ADHD holds strengths and challenges. Typical advice often doesn't work for us.
Your AuDHD host, Mattia Maurée (they/them), shares research, lived experience, and practical advice from coaching over 200 neurodivergent folks. They focus on feeling better first, before tackling the big life design questions.
You're doing great, you belong here, and it's possible to feel a lot better.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thank you for listening. Knowing you get me is very meaningful, and I'm sure it is for the other neurodivergent folks in your life. Thanks for being you! Keep it up, you're doing great, and see you in the new year :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
AuDHD folks have a complicated relationship with the idea of doing our best, because of our spiky profiles and cyclical energy. Also, we often seem to be trying harder than the people around us...whether or not that results in getting anywhere. There are many reasons that the brain might "hit a wall" and be unable to continue. Defining our best as "a bit better than average" is one approach (though I haven't convinced my own brain of that one yet). Some potential questions for reflection: What d...
Becoming the next version of ourself isn't about forcing. It's about that natural process of embodiment when suddenly, this is who we are now. Usually by the time we've fully embodied something, it kind of feels like we've always been this way. It's a difficult process to describe from inside it... but understanding the process you're in can be a relief! (And first 3.5 minutes are talking about the ADHD meds shortage and letting my brain do things that are easier for it) New Year: Map Your Inten...
Alternate title: AuDHD Unmasking & Activism Artist, skateboarder, special ed teacher, and AuDHD activist my world iz blue talks about his recent Autism and ADHD diagnoses... and the burnout that led to them. He originally learned how to live unmasked by being labeled as an artist, i.e. someone who will be themselves regardless. However, that way of life directly clashes with what's required in the professional world. We talk about how neurodivergent kids (and adults) are treated in school, w...
Bonus workshop from Like Your Brain (with client speaking cut out for privacy) on setting a personal intention or three for the new year that feels motivating and interesting to you. Of course you can use this method for any area of your life such as career. Traditional goal-setting starts with where you want to "arrive." We start with how you want to FEEL, and what helps you feel that way. The reason I'm focusing on feelings and personal aims is that we often put our best energy into profession...
If you're struggling, whether that's just a bad day, a longer stretch, or that very relatable feeling that all of life has been irredeemably difficult and that no one understands or can help... I just wanted to take a moment to validate and make space for those feelings. You're not alone... and at the same time we can end up feeling very alone. If you need to numb out from these feelings, it can help to acknowledge that it feels unbearable and that you're choosing temporary escape. We all do it ...
Neurodivergent folks may not experience habits in the way they're traditionally talked about. Specifically, they may never become truly "background," and instead we remain in the active decision-making mode. To that end, I've personally found it much more helpful to create rituals rather than habits. It explicitly acknowledges that this is an active process as opposed to a background habit, which is more honest about how our brains work. It also triggers my PDA (demand avoidance) far less! This ...
Matt made a career as a lawyer that worked for his brain... then found out he's AuDHD. He shares some of the challenges and strengths that have shaped his career. This is helpful for any AuDHDer with professional struggles, and especially if you're in or are considering a client-facing career. Note that we're not using his last name in the show notes or description for SEO reasons at his request, but he's happy to connect with young or aspiring AuDHD lawyers who are looking for mentorship or adv...
A simple practice blending honesty with your current feelings plus any gratitude that may arise. Including how to use this to smooth over social or family concerns... good luck with any holidays you celebrate! p.s. there's a new website up at audhdflourishing.com ! It's still under construction so please pardon any broken links... should be spruced up within the next week :) Like Your Brain community space Transcript Doc Email Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...
Thanks to Chris Hale for this cross-posted episode from his podcast, You Need a Coach B*tch! We talk about: Building businesses that work for our AuDHD brains What we don't see when looking at the external success of others Why so many people who achieve creative success young have wealthy backgrounds Questioning WHY you want your big goals so you can aim towards the ones that will really fulfill your desires Why it can be extra tough to start a small business and/or creative business right now ...
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. Like Your Brain community space Transcript Doc Email Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Diagnoses and labels can be really helpful to explain our experiences. We finally have a "because" to explain why we do the things we do! And also... that same "because" sometimes starts to feel like it's holding us back. It's possible to acknowledge limitations while also leaving space for growth and inevitable change. Like Your Brain community space Transcript Doc Email Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Linda Thai is a therapist, educator, and storyteller. She has been one of the most important people in my own healing journey, especially her focus on somatic embodied integration. Feeling safe enough to work with what the body holds was a turning point for both of us. Linda shares about her own healing journey and how key the body was for her own process. She drops countless pieces of wisdom in her gentle yet direct style. You'll also hear me laugh a lot more than usual, in part because of how ...
Poverty is not your fault. Debt is not your fault. And you don't have to find solutions alone! This episode talks about the systemic side, the AuDHD-specific elements such as impulsive shopping, and how screwed up debt is historically and currently. Note: This episode is quite USA-centric. While there are mentions of ways this might affect people in other countries, growing up here is my main context on this topic. Resources mentioned: Simone Seol's episode Debunking the idea of a "Scarcity Mind...
An AuDHD therapist! Danielle Aubin (she/they), LCSW, works with neurodivergent clients and has expertise in trauma. We talk about why trauma is such a big deal for ND clients. And the title of the episode comes from their amazing take on why having safe therapy is especially important for ND people, and what that looks like. If you're in therapy or considering it, this episode is for you! (Also if you've experienced trauma from therapy, because this conversation totally validates that also.) Epi...
Optimizing (and the related bio-hacking) are really popular... but why? Who are we doing this for, and who really benefits? This episode spans the last several years of my life starting with my first coaching certification that was literally called Optimize at the time. There were some positive benefits such as better sleep, which on the whole improved my mood. But in the long run, there's a potential negative side to the advice to optimize. And at the same time, many AuDHD people will enjoy opt...
Thanks to Amelia Hruby at the Off the Grid podcast for this lovely interview! Here are her show notes: Today I’m joined by coach & composer Mattia Maurée to talk about running a business & navigating social media in a way that supports your unique brain & lived experience. Tune in to our conversation to hear about— Common ADHD, Autistic & AuDHD struggles with work How to quit overworking as a coping strategy Embracing a cyclical relationship to social media The importance of play...
Task bracelets can be a task per tag or written really small like I did below... then they stay on your wrist to walk you through the task. Thanks to Caitlin Fisher for the idea! The first half of the episode covers how to make them and how I'm using them. Then it's about the launch of Like Your Brain , an ongoing community space for integration and gentle support. Do less, feel better! The welcome calls are Fri Sep 29 2023 2p EST, and Mon Oct 2 5p EST... hop in if you want to help shape what th...
This is a mind-expanding episode! Cassandra Idris recently founded an organization built around neurodivergent brains at every level, and mutual aid for some of the most marginalized populations in Philadelphia. She speaks eloquently about mental health, being a trans woman and the inherent social betrayals in that experience, and how the system isn't going to pay us to bring it down. Because she's seen the systems from many perspectives (including from the inside as an HR professional), she has...
Feelings, emotions, sensations in the body... We've all received confusing messages around what they mean and what they are. And many autistic folks have trouble connecting to their emotions and related body sensations. They're also important and potentially useful messages from our body as it attempts to stay safe. This episode covers one compelling theory of what feelings (sensations and emotions) are, as well as a variety of tools to get through the day no matter where you are in your journey...
Michael is an AuDHD content creator (with a huge audience) and coach who runs a free AuDHD peer support group. He shares his formula for feeling better, which includes removing negative stimuli to reach neutral, rather than trying to leap straight to happiness. And shares beautifully about how he finds peace in the neutral, since even happiness is a fleeting feeling. You can connect with Michael at the links below: Peer Support Group All of Michael's links Instagram @ADHDruids Transcript Doc Ema...
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 i...
Jes Diverges (she/they) helps fellow autistic ADHDers and has a fascinating background. We dive into how they ended up coaching rather than finishing their therapy degree... and in the process touch on how messed up some of our culture's attitudes are toward mental health! While we certainly don't solve the issue of AuDHD mental health, we talk about when to take a break from trauma healing how entrepreneurship has been a surprising part of our trauma healing why insistence on one modality such ...
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!): Thinking back to times in your life ...
How do we survive capitalism while navigating the ethical dilemmas of making money within this broken system? There's no one right answer, but this episode breaks down my thoughts about it over the past few months. The problem isn't simply the exchange of goods or services for money, it's how late-stage capitalism seeks short-term profits above all else, extracting all the excess labor of the "lower classes" for profit. Ultimately I want more of us to be able to survive capitalism so we can buil...
It's easy for AuDHD brains to latch onto one concept of a solution, and believe it has to happen that way. But sometimes there's a deeper question or problem underneath that. As one example, many neurodivergent folks want a morning routine... but the real question under that could be "How do I feel good in the morning," or "How do I get my day started?" How do we ask the right questions to make sure we're not wasting our energy? One way to know that part of you believes you're asking the wrong q...
This is a meta-episode about how I think about and approach the science around autism and ADHD (as well as other neurodivergences). While I do my best to do additional research, there are so many things that no one knows about AuDHD brains! One tool to improve this podcast is the Transcript doc linked below, which is publicly available for comments. If you have any questions or comments, you can leave them on the file and I'll try to answer them there and/or in the podcast! Full Transcript here ...
I'm a naturally growth-oriented person... however, I often find myself changing or "fixing" things that others think are a problem. What happens when I reorient to what's actually important to me? The self-help industry will happily sell us solutions, whether or not the problem was actually bothering us before we heard about it. Many of us feel like we're struggling alone. But not only are most people silently struggling, many neurodivergent folks feel that they're uniquely broken. It's such a c...
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 communi...
Nat Smith is a vulnerability coach, playwright, and connection witch. They're also my sibling, so you'll hear stories about our childhood. Nat has known they're ADHD for years, and only recently has been exploring the label autistic. One reason it's been a slow realization: they don't experience it as a disorder and don't need a lot of external support day-to-day. Because of that experience, we also touch on the "levels" of autism currently being given in diagnosis. Many Level 1 folks are never ...
