The Difference Between ADHD and PTSD Executive Dysfunction in Adults
When it comes to ADHD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the lines can easily blur. It can be very difficult to get an accurate diagnosis of one or both. On top of this, ADHD increases the risk of experiencing trauma and developing subsequent PTSD, and trauma can both worsen existing ADHD symptoms Learn More
Traditional Neuropsych Often Fails Marginalized Communities (aka Why I Offer Inclusive Autism Assessments)
Traditional Adult Autism Assessments Can Fail Marginalized Communities. Here’s What I Do Differently. As an autism specialist in Los Angeles, I’ve found that traditional adult autism assessments don’t always take into account the lived experiences of the people pursuing a diagnosis. Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC individuals), those identified as Learn More
The Unique Experience of AuDHD (Autism and ADHD) — Here’s What You Need to Know
Recent research suggests a significant overlap between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism. Studies indicate that 50 to 70%[1] of individuals with autism also meet the criteria for ADHD, and two-thirds of ADHDers may also have autism[2]. However, it’s only relatively recently that a dual diagnosis (often referred to as AuDHD) Learn More
6 Tips to Help You Manage Conflict in Friendships
Friendship brings comfort, support, and joy into our lives. But, just like any relationship, it isn’t immune to conflict. It’s how we manage when those conflicts arise that determines the long-term success of the relationship. Conflict can ruin a friendship. Or, if handled correctly, it can help it become deeper and stronger. Learn More
How to Use Generosity (with Boundaries) to Deepen Friendships
Generosity is a remarkable quality that has the power to enhance our lives. Not only does it enable us to create closer relationships with others, but it also provides us with invaluable support during challenging times. One of the significant benefits of generosity is its ability to help people maintain strong and Learn More
How to Use Healthy Vulnerability to Deepen Your Friendships
Healthy vulnerability is an essential component of strong connections and trusting relationships. Healthy vulnerability involves being open and honest with others about one's emotions, thoughts, and experiences while also setting appropriate and safe boundaries”. This means that people can share their vulnerability with the people they care about without needing to compromise Learn More
How To Start New Friendships
Many people think friendship is something that just happens by chance. Making new friends can feel like a matter of rolling the dice and getting lucky. You either meet someone randomly by chance and you click, or you don't. But that’s not how it actually happens. Adult friendships are all about initiation Learn More
How Attachment Style Shows Up In Friendships
When people hear about attachment styles, it’s usually in the context of romance. People try to determine their attachment style so they know why they respond certain ways to their partner. But attachment is much more complex, and it influences every relationship, especially your friendships. What is an Attachment Style? Attachment theory Learn More
The Benefits of Finding a Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapist
So many neurodivergent people try therapy and end up stopping. This isn’t because they don’t want to do the work; this is because therapy betrayed them. Many find their experience with their therapist unfulfilling at best and traumatizing at worst. Therapy, where they were supposed to feel safe and accepted, became a Learn More
Five Problematic Coping Strategies Used by Masked Autistic People
Masking autism is an utterly exhausting task. It’s not just a matter of toning down behaviors allistic people might perceive as strange; masking autism includes changing the core parts of who you are to blend into a neurotypical world. Doing it often can cause burnout, mental and physical pain, and a loss Learn More
Five Struggles and Strategies for College Students with ADHD
College is overwhelming for most students. Unfortunately, for those with ADHD, it can be even more challenging. This has nothing to do with their intelligence-- rather, the open structure of colleges disadvantages students with executive functioning challenges. College is full of freedom, decisions, and endless potential. But, for neurodivergent students, these become Learn More
From High School to College: Skills to Help Students Navigate the Accommodations Process
Transitioning into college produces major anxiety for most students. This can be especially true of students with disabilities, who must learn an entirely new system for accommodations. To get the most out of the experience as possible, a student with a disability transitioning to college needs to know how to navigate many Learn More
Autism’s High Co-Occurrence with Eating Disorders
Several factors make autistic people more vulnerable to developing eating disorders. Both autism and eating disorders are linked to sensory issues around food and repetitive or ritualistic behavior. An autistic person might have an eating disorder that’s based on weight gain and control. Alternatively, the behavior might stem from characteristics associated with Learn More
ADHD and the Pillars of Struggle Care
In her book, How to Keep House While Drowning, KC Davis introduces the concept of "struggle care". It's a philosophy built around caring for your needs when things are hard. It promotes the idea that daily chores, work duties, and other daily tasks are morally neutral and have no bearing on personal worth. When Learn More
The Default Mode Network and ADHD
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is improperly named. ADHD-ers aren’t lacking in attention. Rather, they struggle in directing their attention at will. Their attention goes in all directions, often independent of a person’s desires. Science is still working on the particulars of why this happens, but one theory is the behavior of a Learn More
Seven Steps to Unmasking as a Neurodivergent Person
Masking is the process of trying to fit into a specific and socially acceptable mold, no matter what your natural instincts are. The term is most often used in context with autism. However, most, if not all, neurodivergent people mask throughout some or all their lives. They’ve been told they are too Learn More
Understanding the ADHD Nervous System
ADHD impacts the pathways in the brain and the nervous system. People with ADHD have brains with different wiring than their neurotypical peers. Their brains aren’t defective; they’re simply constructed differently and their best functioning doesn’t look like what neurotypical people expect. It’s important that people with ADHD (and those who love Learn More
The Strengths and Struggles of Being an Autistic Parent
For so many years, the public believed that autistic people couldn’t be parents. The disability seemed too significant. The idea that an autistic person could handle raising a child was too hard for people to grasp. But, the truth is that there are thousands of autistic parents. Some are diagnosed and some Learn More
Setting and Maintaining Work Boundaries
Someone working a full-time job can spend more time at work during the week than they spend sleeping. People’s jobs take up a huge amount of their time and energy. This can be beneficial; work can provide friends, structure, and a purpose. But this isn’t the case for many. Work is also Learn More
Disclosing Your Autistic Identity
Pros and Cons of Disclosure Deciding whether to disclose your autistic identity is deeply personal. On one hand, doing so may allow you to live more authentically. It might become easier to stim around other people. You can be honest with people when something in the environment is triggering you or causing Learn More
Setting Boundaries Without Guilt—Is It Possible?
This week’s post is for anyone who has a goal of setting boundaries without feely guilty. It’s a worthy goal. It would undoubtedly make boundary-setting easier. But is it obtainable? Unfortunately, most of us will never realize the dream of setting boundaries without feeling a little guilty. In our experience, people always Learn More
What to Consider When Deciding if You Should Take ADHD Medication
When a client is newly diagnosed with ADHD, they often ask us whether they should pursue medication. This is a very personal decision. For some people, they decide to try more behavioral strategies before adding on medication. For others, trying behavioral strategies doesn't work without the help of medication. Whatever you decide Learn More
The Challenges at the Intersection of Race and Autism
Multiple studies explore the connections between race and autism. Researchers are still working on this question. One thing current data clearly tell us is that, while there isn’t a known biological link between a person’s race and autism, there is a major connection between someone’s race or ethnicity and their experience living Learn More
10 Common Mistakes When Setting Personal Boundaries
I was recently inspired to start a blog series on the topic of boundaries. The first post explained what boundaries are and why they’re important. Then I followed up with a four-step process for establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries. This time, we explore common mistakes when starting to establish and enforce boundaries. Learn More