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Why do so many people with ADHD and autism experience chronic pain, unexplained exhaustion and hypermobility? In this episode, ADHD and autism expert Nick Potter explores the surprising connections between neurodivergence and physical health, from fibromyalgia and easy bruising to interoception and why ADHD and autism have historically been overlooked in women. Chapters: 00:47 The Hypermobility Test: Are You Hypermobile Without Knowing? 07:38 Why So Many ADHD and Autistic Women Were Missed 11:39 The Surprising Link Between ADHD, Autism and Chronic Pain 15:37 What Fibromyalgia REALLY Feels Like 24:23 Advert 26:12 Why You're Always Exhausted (Even After Resting) 33:05 Why Do You Bruise So Easily? 36:07 Interoception: Why You Might Not Notice Your Body's Signals 51:04 ADHD and Autism: What If Your Brain Isn't the Problem? 01:02:30 A letter to my younger self   Visit Nick’s website 👉 https://backboneclinic.com/our-team Visit Nick on instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/backboneclinic/ Discover Neuralis by HealthRestore — a dedicated ADHD Profile designed to help people explore their individual characteristics and strengths through a personalised assessment. Try it through ADHD Chatter here 👉https://kf7jhxklzbmwcf.kartra.com/analytics/traking_links/G8V6EFgBshdT?tracking_id1=XXX&tracking_id2=XXX&cpc=X.XX Learn more about Neuralis here:https://www.myadhdprofile.com Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen is a British clinical psychologist and world-renowned expert on autism. In this deeply personal and eye-opening conversation, we explore the hidden struggles of being autistic, from the loneliness of feeling different and the emotional cost of masking to the link between autism, addiction and mental health. We uncover why autistic people can see patterns others miss, the truth about autistic empathy, and what happens when years of masking leave you questioning who you really are. An essential conversation for anyone who has ever felt different, misunderstood or alone. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:24 What Everyone Gets WRONG About Autism 08:02 The Hidden Psychological Cost of Feeling Different 10:01 Are You Born Autistic? Nature vs Nurture 11:32 Why Autistic People Crave Intellectual Intimacy 14:59 The Loneliness Nobody Talks About 19:07 When Autistic Obsessions Become Superpowers 21:20 The Darkest Side of Feeling Different 23:56 The Shocking Link Between Loneliness and Addiction 28:08 The Hidden Cost of Autistic Masking 33:05 When Masking Makes You Lose Yourself 38:33 Why Autistic Girls Are More Vulnerable to Abuse 42:22 Why Autistic Brains See What Others Miss 49:55 The Biggest Myth About Autistic Empathy 01:17:30 An Emotional Letter to My Younger Self Buy Simon’s book 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pattern-Seekers-Theory-Human-Invention/dp/014198239X Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I wish I knew about this 14 day meal plan years ago. It changes everything. Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and leading voice in women’s health and hormones. Dr. Brighten’s Book ADHD & Women: https://drbrighten.com/adhd-and-women/ Dr. Brighten’s Website: https://drbrighten.com Dr. Brighten’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten Dr. Brighten’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoleneBrighten Dr. Brighten’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten Dr. Brighten’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbrighten/ Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and leading voice in women’s health and hormones. In this episode, she joins Alex to explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD, hormones, the immune system, pregnancy, postpartum changes, PMDD and perimenopause, and why so many women are still being misunderstood by conventional medicine. Chapters: 00:00 The Heartbreaking Reality of ADHD 02:07 The ADHD Patient Dr Jolene Will Never Forget 05:19 Why ADHD Isn’t Just a Brain Condition 06:51 The Hidden Brain–Hormone–Immune Connection 12:14 Why Estrogen Can Change Everything for ADHD Women 14:04 What Medicine Still Gets Wrong About Female ADHD 16:43 The Shocking Link Between ADHD, PMDD & Endometriosis 29:45 Why Pregnancy Can Make ADHD So Much Harder 32:54 The Postpartum ADHD Experience Nobody Warns You About 37:02 Why ADHD Can Suddenly Get Worse in Perimenopause 43:23 The 14-Day Meal Plan for Better ADHD Energy & Focus 50:21 The Lifestyle Habits That Can Transform Female ADHD 52:37 What ADHD Women Think Is Normal — But Isn’t 53:28 The ADHD Symptom Women Blame Themselves For Most 56:55 A Letter to My Younger Self Dr. Brighten’s Book ADHD & Women: https://drbrighten.com/adhd-and-women/ Dr. Brighten’s Website: https://drbrighten.com Dr. Brighten’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten Dr. Brighten’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoleneBrighten Dr. Brighten’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten Dr. Brighten’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbrighten/ Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode has been paid for by Focused. It contains an advert for their ADHD assessments. Almost one year on, Danielle Mulligan, Focused Clinical Lead and ADHD Nurse Practitioner, returns to the podcast to discuss how assessment and support for ADHD is changing. Get a discount on your ADHD assessment at Focused -- use the code 'CHATTER' at checkout   https://uk.focused.clinic/ Chapters: 00:00 The Heartbreaking Reality of ADHD 02:33 Why ADHD Makes You Feel Broken 06:47 The Scary Pattern After 1,000s of ADHD Assessments 10:35 Why Being Misunderstood Turns Into Shame 12:48 Why an ADHD Diagnosis Can Make Things Feel Worse 15:18 The #1 Thing ADHD People Blame Themselves For 17:03 The Hidden Grief After an ADHD Diagnosis 19:31 How ADHD People Learn to Hide It 22:50 Why So Many ADHD Adults Were Missed for Decades 24:57 The Pattern Before an ADHD Breaking Point 25:57 Why Focused Was Created  26:57 What Actually Happens During an ADHD Assessment 28:45 What an ADHD Assessor Is Really Looking For 29:47 How to Make ADHD Assessments Feel Safe 31:06 The Growing NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment Gap 33:30 The Biggest Misconception About ADHD 34:56 A Heartbreaking Letter to My Younger Self Take the ADHD and Education survey at Focused = Enter their £150 prize draw  https://uk.focused.clinic/adhd-education-survey/quiz Explore Focused:  https://uk.focused.clinic/ Focused on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusedclinic Focused on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/focused.clinic/ Focused on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcrewyWYFprbMiObNA1Jgow Focused on X  https://x.com/Focusedclinic Focused on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusedclinic/ Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clinical psychologist, therapist and ADHD expert Dr Jacob Ambrose returns to explore what a dysregulated nervous system really looks like, why anxiety and hypervigilance can become your normal, and what happens when you finally begin to feel safe. We discuss why rest can initially feel uncomfortable, the difference between being perceptive and hypervigilant, why rejection can feel so personal, and a difficult question: if fear has powered you for most of your life, what replaces it when you begin to heal? Chapters: 01:14 What does ‘healing your nervous system’ actually mean 02:17 What does a dysregulated nervous system actually look like 04:50 Why healing makes you feel worse to start with 06:21 The first rule of healing 08:06 The big emotions that come with healing 12:23 How healing reduces anxiety and makes you less productive 17:42 If your life has been powered by fear, what replaces it 19:31 How can you feel exhausted but not realise 21:10 Restorative solitude vs unhealthy isolation 23:55 Tiimo advert 25:30 The early warning signs of a dysregulated nervous system 29:22 Why reason leaves you when you’re triggered 32:51 When rejection stops feeling so personal 37:23 The difference between being perceptive and hypervigilant 38:51 Are you healing when things that bothered you no longer do 41:42 Healing from narcissistic abuse 47:37 Advice for anyone who’s trying to heal 48:49 A letter to my younger self Find Dr Jacob on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/dr.jacob.ambrose/?hl=en Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Gina Rippon is a revolutionary Autism specialist . Having written multiple books on the topic, Gina Rippon PHD shares the ultimate guide to spotting autism in high masking autistic women. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:19 How Autism Can Be Hidden — Even From Yourself 03:25 Are You Socialising… or Performing? 05:10 Masking Can Start Earlier Than You Think 07:20 Why Making Friends Can Feel So Hard 09:53 The “Contradictory” Personality Nobody Understands 11:35 What Are Autistic Girls Trying to Hide? 15:25 How Masking Affects Romantic Relationships 20:58 What Happens When You Can’t Mask Anymore 22:25 The Hidden Cost of Masking for Years 24:19 How Much Are You Actually Masking? 27:58 Tiimo advert 29:17 How ADHD Can Hide Autism in Women 34:25 Can You Accidentally Mask During an Autism Assessment? 37:01 The Dangerous Side of People-Pleasing 38:28 The Questions Autism Assessments SHOULD Ask 39:42 What I Wish Every Autistic Woman Knew 41:17 Why Autism Can Look Like OCD 43:07 A Letter to My Younger Self 46:00 Focused survey read Find Gina on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gina-rippon-33287819 Buy ‘The Lost Girls Of Autism’ 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Girls-Autism-Autistic-Research-ebook/dp/B0CX7G2BZW Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Focused are running a new survey and a prize draw giveaway, where you can win £150 in Amazon vouchers just for taking part. It's just 5 simple questions about how ADHD affected you (or affects you now) at college and university. Take the survey here. 👉 https://uk.focused.clinic/adhd-education-survey/quiz It's open to anyone living with ADHD aged 18 or over. (The results from their previous survey about ADHD & health are in too -- results here 👉 https://uk.focused.clinic/myhub/adhd-health-survey-results ) Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does something as simple as replying to an email, doing the washing or starting a task feel almost impossible with ADHD? In this episode, leading ADHD advocate Hester Grainger reveals what’s really happening inside the ADHD brain when we procrastinate, and shares 4 practical, brain-based ways to finally get started. We also explore dopamine, motivation, shame, and what happens when years of struggling begin to change the way you see yourself. If you’ve ever called yourself lazy because you knew what you needed to do but still couldn’t do it, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:57 Why Your ADHD Brain Just Can’t Start 07:06 Dopamine Explained Simply 10:14 The First ADHD Hack That Gets You Moving 13:57 The Second Hack: Make Your Brain Care 17:13 The Brutal Things ADHD Makes You Believe About Yourself 20:18 When ADHD Turns Into Shame 21:43 When Procrastination Becomes Your Identity 24:01 Tiimo advert 25:20 The Third Hack: Why Pressure Actually Works 30:34 The Fourth Hack: The ADHD Motivation Switch 33:38 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Hester’s website 👉 https://www.perfectlyautistic.co.uk Find Hester on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hestersvibe/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Judith Mohring is an award winning Cambridge-educated psychiatrist and psychotherapist specialising in ADHD, autism and mental health. In this episode, she explores why understanding yourself doesn’t always lead to healing, how overthinking can become a form of emotional avoidance, and what it really takes to reconnect with yourself after years of masking. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:13 “I don’t know who I really am” 03:54 Why understanding yourself doesn’t always lead to healing 08:09 Why you can understand your brain and still feel trapped 10:15 When analysing yourself stops you feeling 12:06 Analysing emotions vs processing them 16:34 Why ADHD can make therapy harder 19:26 Why ADHD brains analyse themselves so deeply 23:07 When hyperfocus turns inward 24:32 How masking disconnects you from yourself 28:21 Tiimo advert  29:49 Why years of therapy can leave you feeling the same 31:17 When therapy becomes another intellectual exercise 35:41 Where does healing actually begin? 36:33 Interoception: learning to feel what’s happening inside 38:59 How a therapist helps you feel safe 40:25 How ADHD and autistic people begin to heal 46:01 How to stop analysing and start feeling 47:18 How do you know if you’re healing? 49:09 The Washing Machine of Woes 49:52 Finding yourself after decades of masking 51:02 Do you find your true self — or create it? 53:00 Is overthinking a form of emotional avoidance? 54:05 A letter to my younger self Visit Judith’s website 👉 https://www.thenaturalpsychiatrist.com Find Judith on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/adhded.with.drjudith/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning psychiatrist Dr Asif Bachlani to explore what it really feels like to live with both ADHD and autism. We uncover 5 hidden signs of masking AuDHD, the contradictions that can make life feel exhausting, the loneliness of feeling different, and the emotional impact of receiving a diagnosis later in life. Dr Asif also shares the assessment he’ll never forget, and the true cost of spending years hiding who you really are. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:56 Why Dr Asif Bachlani Dedicated His Life to ADHD & Autism 04:22 The Patient Who Changed Everything for Dr Asif 07:02 What Neurodivergent People Can Teach Us About Being Human 08:39 The Sentence Dr Asif Hears After Almost Every Diagnosis 12:58 The Hidden Grief of a Late ADHD or Autism Diagnosis 16:47 The Contradictions of Living With AuDHD 21:04 What People With AuDHD Fear Being Judged For 24:52 Is Masking a Choice — or Does It Happen Automatically? 27:05 The AuDHD Assessment Dr Asif Will Never Forget 36:43 Why AuDHD Can Feel So Incredibly Lonely 41:21 Tiimo advert 43:05 Sign #1 You’re Masking AuDHD 45:40 Sign #2 You’re Masking AuDHD 48:19 Sign #3 You’re Masking AuDHD 50:25 Sign #4 You’re Masking AuDHD 53:29 The True Cost of Never Unmasking 01:02:11 Sign #5 You’re Masking AuDHD 01:02:54 Washing Machine of Woes: Your Questions Answered 01:05:24 A Letter to My Younger Self Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Martin Brunet has 25 years experience as a NHS GP. He has a special interest in Autism and ADHD and is the author of the best selling book entitled ‘Make Your Worry Make Sense’. In this episode, Dr Martin Brunet explores the hidden reality of autistic masking, why it starts, what it feels like, and the long-term impact it can have on identity, relationships and wellbeing. We discuss the subtle signs of masking, why so many autistic people go undiagnosed, and what it can look like to safely rediscover who you are beneath the mask. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:08 What Masking Actually Feels Like 06:32 How Early Does Masking Start? 07:48 What Teaches a Child to Start Masking? 09:26 Can One Cruel Comment Change You for Decades? 11:22 What Are Autistic People Protecting Themselves From? 14:03 Is Masking a Choice — or Completely Automatic? 16:29 The Autistic Mirror 19:54 When Masking Becomes a Survival Mechanism 21:43 The Subtle Signs Someone Is Masking 24:38 Inside the Mind of an Autistic Person Who’s Masking 26:19 The Aeroplane Analogy That Explains Masking 28:57 What Years of Masking Does to a Person 31:08 Tiimo 32:38 The Biggest Cost of Masking: Losing Who You Are 34:39 Why Masking Can Make Autistic People So Lonely 36:18 Why So Many Autistic Women Are Missed 38:58 Can You Look Successful While Falling Apart Privately? 41:21 Code-Switching: What It Is and Why Autistic People Do It 43:39 Why an Autism Diagnosis Can Be So Emotional 46:24 How Do You Find Yourself After Years of Masking? 49:05 Why Unmasking Isn’t Right for Everyone 52:42 How to Start Unmasking Safely 54:30 The “Washing Machine of Woes” 59:16 What I’d Tell My Younger Autistic Self Visit Dr Brunet’s website 👉 https://www.martinbrunet.com Find Dr Brunet on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/doc_martin_gp/?hl=en Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Luke Beardon is a leading autism researcher, author and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who has spent more than 30 years working alongside autistic people and their families. In this episode, Luke reveals what autism can actually feel like from the inside, from masking and rehearsing conversations to sensory overwhelm, burnout and the exhaustion of constantly trying to fit in. He explores why so many people go decades without realising they’re autistic, what happens when you mask for so long that you lose sight of who you really are, and why the parts of yourself you spent a lifetime hiding may never have needed fixing in the first place. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:23 Why Luke dedicated his life to understanding autism 02:46 How can someone be autistic for decades without knowing? 05:38 What high-masking autism actually looks like 08:06 How early does autistic masking begin? 10:21 The biggest misconception about autism in adults 16:10 The biggest signs you’re masking autism 17:37 Why autistic people rehearse conversations 23:50 Why small talk can be so exhausting 29:59 What sensory overwhelm actually feels like 36:40 Why autistic people stim 40:04 Tiimo advert 41:31 The autistic behaviours people are made to feel ashamed of 43:33 The hidden cost of masking autism 46:39 What autistic burnout actually feels like 49:58 Can you mask for so long that you lose yourself? 51:27 When the mask becomes your personality 57:54 Are you really an introvert, or could you be autistic? 01:00:05 The Washing Machine of Woes 01:03:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Buy Dr Luke’s books 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Luke-Beardon/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALuke%2BBeardon Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the things you've criticised yourself for your entire life... weren't flaws at all? What if struggling to make simple decisions, feeling overwhelmed by change, or caring so deeply about fairness weren't personality quirks, but signs your brain has been working differently all along? Today I'm joined by Dr Fareeha Amber Sadiq (known as Dr Amber), Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director at Eleos Clinic. She has assessed hundreds of autistic individuals and has helped countless people finally understand why they've always felt different. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:54 Why Every Decision Feels So Overwhelming 06:24 Why Autistic People Need Predictability 09:04 Why Injustice Feels Physically Painful 19:19 When You Can't Start... But Can't Stop Either 23:17 The Secret to Switching Between Tasks 25:43 The Autism Trait Everyone Calls Laziness 27:33 The Shutdown Nobody Sees 32:57 Tiimo Advert 34:17 The Hidden Reason Some People Can Mask for Decades 36:08 Why So Many People Don't Realise They're Autistic 41:14 How Masking Slowly Erases Your Identity 43:13 The Most Emotional Part of an Autism Assessment 45:15 The Moment People Realise They've Been Masking Their Entire Life 50:56 The One Sentence That Makes Psychiatrists Think "Autism" 54:15 The Autism Assessment Reactions I'll Never Forget 57:22 Washing Machine of Woes (Audience Questions) 01:03:02 A Letter to My Younger Self Download Dr. Sadiq’s free guide, Could This Be Me?, which explains why so many autistic adults were missed for decades, and what clarity could look like for you 👉 https://www.eleosclinic.com/wondering Find Dr Sadiq on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/eleos_clinic/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to know what autistic masking actually feels like from the inside? Dr Carly Jones MBE is one of the world’s leading autistic advocates. Diagnosed as autistic in adulthood after both of her daughters were diagnosed, she has spent nearly two decades improving the lives of autistic people through policy, education and lived experience. In this episode, Carly explains what masking actually feels like from the inside, why so many autistic people learn to hide who they are from childhood, and the emotional cost of spending years pretending to be someone else. Together, we explore people pleasing, self-abandonment, loneliness, burnout, and the difficult journey of discovering who you really are after decades of masking. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:56 The Mask You Didn't Know You Were Wearing 09:31 Is Your Brain Protecting You Without You Knowing? 11:42 The Childhood Moment You Learn It's Safer Not To Be Yourself 14:50 What Rejection Does To The Autistic Brain 18:23 Mask #1 22:25 The Day You Stopped Showing What You Loved 27:01 Mask #2 30:19 When People Pleasing Stops Being Kindness And Becomes Survival 34:25 The Moment You Start Abandoning Yourself 37:29 Tiimo advert 38:48 Mask #3 41:39 What If You're So Good At Reading People... You Forget Who You Are?43:34 Mask #4 46:43 How People Can Think You're Fine While You're Falling Apart 48:28 The Loneliness Nobody Talks About In Autism 51:07 The Warning Signs Your Mask Is About To Break 57:49 How To Start Taking The Mask Off (Without Losing Yourself) 01:01:19 Why Letting Go Of The Mask Feels So Terrifying 01:08:37 How To Know What's Really You... And What's Just Survival 01:11:47 The Lie Neurodivergent People Blame Themselves For 01:16:27 "I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore." 01:18:50 A Letter To My Younger Self Visit Carly’s website 👉 https://drcarlyjonesmbe.uk Find Carly on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/drcarlyjonesmbe/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's Sunday Times Best-selling book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Buy Alex's No.1 Sunday Times Best-selling book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Burnout doesn't always look like a breakdown. Sometimes it looks like pushing through, feeling numb, forgetting who you are, or wondering why everything suddenly feels so much harder. I'm joined by Dr Jo Perkins, an eminent Chartered Psychologist who supports senior business professionals and organisations to develop effective strategies to optimise psychological performance. Dr Jo explains how burnout develops, why so many people miss the warning signs, and why it can hit people with ADHD especially hard.Together, we explore the difference between being tired and having a nervous system that can no longer recover, the hidden role of masking, and what real recovery actually looks like. If you've ever thought, "I'm just exhausted," but suspect it's something more, this conversation could change the way you understand burnout. Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 02:10 The Biggest Lie About Burnout 03:51 Burnout Before You Realise It’s Happening 05:17 Does Burnout Hit Suddenly or Build Up? 06:23 Why People Miss the Warning Signs 09:33 How Bad Burnout Can Really Get 16:16 Do We All Have a Breaking Point? 17:20 When Your Body Stops Recovering 19:00 Tired vs Burnt Out (Big Difference) 21:24 When You Stop Feeling Like Yourself 24:38 Why Burnout Makes ADHD Worse 29:43 Tiimo Advert 31:43 Can Masking Cause Burnout? 36:46 When to Seek Professional Help 38:44 The #1 Warning Sign of Burnout 40:26 Can You Fully Recover from Burnout? 41:47 The Biggest Recovery Mistake 43:17 A Letter to My Younger Self Visit Jo’s website 👉 https://drjoperkins.com Find Jo on LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-perkins-46b943 Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/offers/adhdchatter Buy Alex's book entitled 'Now It All Makes Sense' 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-All-Makes-Sense-Diagnosis/dp/1399817817 Order Alex’s book about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria 👉 https://linktr.ee/adhdchatter?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9ffd8709-06df-444c-9936-c136fbd14d6e Producer: Timon Woodward  Recorded by: Hamlin Studios Trailer editor: Ryan Faber DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices