Identity is complex and interwoven into the world around us. But as Autistic individuals who wear a mask, identity is often not entirely shaped by ourselves. Late in life discovery of autism or ADHD can set off a cascading journey of self-discovery and identity exploration. Once we start to embrace our authentic selves and explore our identity, everything can change.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, dive into the topic of exploring identity as late-diagnosed Autistic individuals and discuss the process of exploration and claiming an identity that embraces all our neurodivergent uniqueness, how it impacts and changes daily life and choices, and how it can shift both new and old relationships.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟯 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲:
1. Understand what unmasking and redefining identity can look like, as well as how it can impact both internal and external experiences, preferences, and relationships.
2. Discover how breaking free from a ”mask” identity can allow autistic individuals to explore their creative side, set boundaries, and authentically accept their autistic identity.
3. Learn how to use pleasure and play to explore identity and discover your most authentic self.

Give yourself permission to explore uncomfortable emotions and experiences. Be curious, dive into the things that give you pleasure, and detach from others’ expectations to unlock new paths of self-awareness and understanding.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬

🔸𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙢? 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 (blog post): https://neurodivergentinsights.com/bl...

🔸𝙉𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙨: 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙢, 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 by Dr. Nick Walker (book): https://neuroqueer.com/neuroqueer-her...

🔸𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠:
As a podcast listener, you can use this coupon code to enjoy a 25% discount on the individual workbook or the workbook for clinicians.
🔹For 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝘀𝗲, use coupon code: Unmasking25 at https://neurodivergentinsights.com/ne...
🔹For 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝘀𝗲, use code: Unmasking25-Clinical at https://neurodivergentinsights.com/ne...

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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

✨ 𝙉𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨
If you want to supplement your learning on burnout, check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/bu...

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💬 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙
Divergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: https://divergentconversations.substa...

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🎧 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: https://www.divergentpod.com
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💻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗳𝗳’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://neurodivergentinsights.com
💻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: https://www.allthingspractice.com