AuDHD Flourishing

AuDHD brains face many challenges when it comes to projects. It's something I've put a great deal of time and learning into, both personally and professionally. This episode covers many ideas and approaches that tend to work for us.

Key Takeaways:
We usually learn to use what I call the Adrenaline-Anxiety Approach. While effective short-term, it can lead to burnout and other issues.
A monotropic approach is more sustainable and individualized... and it can feel slow at first.
Experimentation as a core tool
Creating just enough structure and safety to get going, without getting bogged down (loose planning)
Working with the brain states you have
Managing interruptions, inputs, and daily life
Finding the balance that works for you

The episode also walks through the Love Your Brain course, designed to help AuDHDers understand their mind-body system, work with brain states, and navigate project challenges. The course emphasizes self-compassion, experimentation, and building processes tailored to individual needs.

Repost - originally posted July 12th 2024

Links mentioned:
Devon Price's Laziness Does Not Exist article, and a PDF if you're not on Medium
The transcript may be especially useful for this episode! (It'll take a few seconds for the link to fully load to this episode)
Love Your Brain course (and the Sep/Oct 2026 live round info)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making friends is hard. Developing and keeping those friendships is hard. It's literally work!
Today I talk about my friendship journey, more to give examples and share what I've learned rather than to teach.
Because this is a deeply personal topic that's affected by your current capacity!

Mentioned upcoming live round of Love Your Brain course (Sep-Oct 2026)

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.

Caroline Maguire is passionate about learning how to bring your whole neurodivergent self to friendships... and not scaring people off!
Her book, Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults, includes not only skills but red and green flags, and info on masking vs adapting (which we also talk about in the episode).

Mentioned in episode: next week's workshop with Grace Bezaire

Connect with Caroline:
Book Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults (affiliate link)
Website https://carolinemaguireauthor.com/
Instagram @authorcarolinem
YouTube channel
Podcast The ADHD Social Playbook

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.

Thanks for the great topic suggestion from the community: polyamory & strengthening community bonds. Those are quite intertwined for me, since I've been out as poly/RA and exclusively in open relationships for almost 20 years now.
This is a collection of thoughts on what I've noticed while being poly, and how it overlaps with community building and relationship maintenance in general.

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.

My cats Mac & Cheese (see episode pic) have been having a hard time. I've learned a lot observing their reactive nervous systems because it's so easy to feel compassion for them.
This episode uses that extended metaphor to also talk about when AuDHD nervous systems feel reactive, including with meltdowns that can include anger or violence. Depending on how much reactivity is affecting your life, it may require professional help.
No matter what, you deserve compassion <3

Content note: episode mentions violence and medication

Resources for anger and reactive nervous systems:
Autistic anger (including therapy suggestions)
Resource for non-autistic folks to understand meltdowns
AuDHD emotional regulation (mentions RSD, justice sensitivity, alexithymia)
ADHD rage & anger (note: I didn't find many AuDHD-specific resources on this topic - plz share if you have good ones!)

Crisis Resources:
USA-based anonymous crisis chat
International crisis lines
Various types of crisis resources in about 10 countries

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.