AuDHD Flourishing

Thanks Eric Tivers for interviewing me & allowing me to share the full episode here as well. His show notes:In this episode of ADHD reWired, Eric Tivers is joined by Mattia Maurée, an award-winning composer, poet, and host of the AuDHD Flourishing Podcast. Mattia shares their insights into the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent (ND) individuals, particularly those with ADHD and autism, as they navigate trauma, self-expression, and what they describe as “attention tunnels.”Mattia opens up about their personal journey, discussing the impact of complex PTSD, disordered eating, and their late diagnoses of ADHD and autism. They explain how monotropism—having a narrower field of focus—shapes their experience as a ND person. Through the lens of monotropism, Mattia explores how being stuck in an attention tunnel can make transitioning to different tasks or social situations feel overwhelming and distressing.Eric and Mattia dive deep into the intersections of trauma and neurodivergence, examining how ND brains may be more easily traumatized, especially in environments that fail to meet their unique needs. They discuss the profound impact of ND parents raising ND children and the challenges of navigating systems that don’t support their differences.This conversation also highlights the importance of self-expression in healing and flourishing. Mattia explains how self-expression, rather than achievement, has become central to their definition of success, emphasizing the importance of creating work that resonates emotionally, even if it doesn’t fit the traditional metrics of success.Other topics discussed include:The connection between hyperfocus and monotropism in ADHD and autismHow Mattia balances creativity, self-care, and flourishing as a ND individualThe complexity of navigating trauma in ND familiesThe importance of community and support systems for ND creatives and entrepreneursThis episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay of trauma, neurodivergence, and flourishing. Whether you identify as ND or are simply curious about these experiences, this conversation offers valuable insights into the importance of creating space for self-expression, healing, and growth.Resources:Transcript DocEmail Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With UsLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

Thank you to guest Amy Knott Parrish for sharing about her unusual journey with sobriety. When she realized what her future was going to look like, she... stopped drinking. Because it wasn't about the drinking, it was about the problem that the drinking was self-medicating.After nine years of continuous sobriety, her therapist insisted that she try AA, but it wasn't the right fit.As with many institutions, it wasn't built for her!The giftedness/intensity piece adds another layer—we talk about how we sometimes just need the psychoeducation on certain topics, not necessarily the emotional excavation approach. (I could talk about that for hours.)Find Amy: https://www.rebelling.me/Sobriety blogA pro-AA AuDHD story (anonymously shared by a listener)Resources:Transcript DocEmail Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With UsLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

(Part 2 of 2. Part 1 here)Being AuDHD + gifted is being an outlier of outliers. I'd guess most of us feel like aliens.And even when we start to understand the shape of our experiences, it can feel overwhelming to even begin to order our understanding in a satisfying way. (Autoethnography, anyone?)Our depth and intensity needs can be quite challenging to meet, especially if we have lower physiological capacity due to trauma/CPTSD, and other intersectional identities that are often marginalized/mistreated.Mentioned in episode: 1. Some giftedness models:Rainforest mindRuf's 5 levelsInterGifted & HEPG"Dabrowski’s Theory and Existential Depression in Gifted Children and Adults"2. Living With Intensity book*3. Neurocomplexity & PDA as existential intelligence4. Autism/ADHD/Gifted Venn Diagram5. Overexcitabilities & being "too much"6. Ember Green's quick IQ doesn't exist overview + Aspie Supremacy deep dive (p.s. this video is 2 hrs long and made me cry a LOT bc of historical horrors... still worth it if/when you have the spoons)Resources:Transcript DocEmail Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With UsLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)*affiliate link

Being AuDHD + gifted is being an outlier of outliers. I'd guess most of us feel like aliens. And even when we start to understand the shape of our experiences, it can feel overwhelming to even begin to order our understanding in a satisfying way. (Autoethnography, anyone?)Our depth and intensity needs can be quite challenging to meet, especially if we have lower physiological capacity due to trauma/CPTSD, and other intersectional identities that are often marginalized/mistreated.This became part one of two!Mentioned in episode: 1. Some giftedness models: Rainforest mindRuf's 5 levelsInterGifted & HEPG2. Neurocomplexity & PDA as existential intelligence3. Autism/ADHD/Gifted Venn Diagram4. Overexcitabilities & being "too much"5. Ember Green's quick IQ doesn't exist overview + Aspie Supremacy deep dive (p.s. this video is 2 hrs long and made me cry a LOT bc of historical horrors... still worth it if/when you have the spoons)Resources:Transcript DocEmail Newsletter: Nothing Wrong With UsLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

Emily Kircher-Morris is the host of the long-running and popular podcast, The Neurodiversity Podcast. (And she interviewed me last year.) She's a compassionate, incisive, and important voice in 2e and neurodivergent-affirming education. Also a delight to talk to!Building on what we talked about, she shared some additional resource links below.Connect with Emily & mentioned in episode:Emily Kircher-Morris, LPCThe Neurodiversity PodcastConnect with Emily on Facebook or LinkedInNeurodiversity UniversityNeurodiversity-Affirming Schools (new book)Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and SupportedTeaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s ClassroomRaising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted KidsResources:Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

Dr Chris Wells speaks & teaches about positive disintegration, Dabrowski's theory that (among other things) provides an alternate explanation for some mental illness. While the theory is not entirely about giftedness, it helps many gifted people make sense of their experiences.Dr Wells also talks about their journey, which included being on disability for many years. It's a reminder that while labels can change, they can also hold an enormous amount of power! Learn more about Chris & positive disintegration: Dr Chris Wells InstagramPositive Disintegration.orgThe Dabrowski Center & their InstagramPositive Disintegration Podcast InstagramLiving With Intensity book (affiliate link)Resources:Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

Sheldon Gay shares about giftedness, in particular the intersections of being late-identified as a Black man. He hosts the I Must Be BUG'N podcast (Black, Underrepresented/Unidentified, Gifted and otherwise Neurodivergent).I absolutely love his term of having a sparkly mind! We weave through many topics, including education and melanated & marginalized kids not having their needs met.This is the first of 5-6 upcoming episodes on gifted neurodivergent experiences.p.s. that "or, but anyway" that I didn't finish was that people experience my intensity as seeming like mental illness.Mentioned in episode & connect with Sheldon: Sheldon's websiteI Must Be BUG'N podcastOur Wild Minds (community for Black gifted adults)Dr. Joy Lawson Davis is a friend & mentor whom Sheldon would like to mention & point toward her website for her work with Black/BIPOC gifted advocacy: https://drjoylawsondavis.com/Living With Intensity book (affiliate link)Resources:Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

24:23 to skip specific American politicsIn this episode:Mutual aidLocal connectionsSurveillance & privacy considerations for devicesResistance is workingGeneral strike & Mar 15 shutdown (#Shutdown315)Emotional survival: monotropic reset, alpha brain wavesBeing careful whom you listen to (accompanying Emily Science Journalism ep 82)Links mentioned:Surveillance guide for devicesHow to change Meta settings to limit tracking (note there is no way to make Messenger app safe)Ad-blocking guide (note that I haven't vetted all their recommendations, though I do use one of them already)General Strike USAMarch 15 2025 general shutdown in US #Shutdown315The Open-Focus Brain by Les Fehmi is the book I don't automatically recommend bc of offensive disability language, plus I personally didn't find the exercises as helpful as when another ND person led me. That said, the book may still be helpful to you. There are hundreds of open focus exercises on YouTube, and I may try to find one that I like and link it here at some point.Article, "My problems with the Constructed Theory of Emotions," (the critique of How Emotions Are Made) Andrew Huberman is a liar articleNot in episode, but I adore this takedown of Matthew Walker's book Why We SleepDe-GooglingOther links shared on the Discord recently:Article: sabotaging DOGE Simple Sabotage Field Manual from above articleHelping trans people leave the USMI, MN, NY, VE, WA EDL (drivers license for land & sea entry)Actions for protecting disability rightsSmall actions to take nowResources:Transcript DocEmail NewsletterLike Your Brain community space (Patreon)

Mini episode on my experience with intrusive thoughts and how/when they stopped being distressing.Monotropic brains tend toward thought loops and thus can make intrusive thoughts pretty easily.In my case, I think my brain was in part trying to generate interest when my needs were not being met. Dopamine is also a learning chemical that tells the brain to pay attention right now.This is just my experience... Please seek professional help if you're having distressing intrusive thoughts!Crisis Resources:USA-based anonymous crisis chatInternational crisis linesVarious types of crisis resources in about 10 countries