Unapologetically Sensitive
When Your Nervous System Borrows Someone Else’s Vibes Patricia (she/her) shares a real-life update on navigating uncertainty, emotional overwhelm, and finding small moments of connection during difficult times. She reflects on the impact of global stress, parenting a child in the military, and how co-working and body doubling through the BREAM community unexpectedly lifted her energy. This episode gently explores neurodivergent needs for connection, pacing, and honoring your capacity—especially when life feels heavy. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE · A candid check-in about...
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The Quiet Season: Healing, Routine, and “Nothing to Talk About” Patricia (she/her) reflects on a quiet, low-drama season of life and how emotional regulation, routine, and healing can create a sense of calm—but also unexpected challenges for creativity and productivity. She shares honest insights about AuDHD, executive functioning struggles, and the difficulty of initiating tasks when life slows down. Patricia also explores her deep connection to animals, the role of caregiving in neurodivergent lives, and how simplicity, routine, and lower expectations are supporting her wellbeing right...
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The Radical Neurodivergent Act of Stopping Before You’re Exhausted Patricia (she/her) shares what it’s like when life is actuall calm. Without drama or big stories to tell, she reflects on learning to honor her energy limits. Patricia talks about pacing physical activity, noticing the urge to push past fatigue, and practicing self-compassion when her body needs rest. She also shares everyday moments—from kayaking at sunrise to navigating workouts and dog walks—while exploring what it means for autistic and neurodivergent people to find the “sweet spot” between doing enough and...
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Yes, I Twisted My Ankle. Yes, I Peed a Little Patricia Young (she/her) explores how change— even neutral change — can feel dysregulating, especially for autistic and neurodivergent people. From shifting family schedules and unexpected travel changes to navigating awkward neighbor dynamics and social gray areas, she shares real-life examples of practicing flexibility instead of binary thinking. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE · Why neutral change can still feel deeply dysregulating · The nervous system impact of...
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Insurance Denials, Unexpected Connection Hacks and a Kitten with a Foot Fetish Patricia Young (she/her) shares a “mishmash” of real-time reflections on disappointment, expectations, nervous system shifts, and the everyday emotional intensity of being AuDHD. From insurance frustrations and PDA autonomy struggles to surprising connection hacks like a digital picture frame, Patricia explores what it means to be neurodivergent in a world full of unpredictability. This episode is a gentle reminder that big feelings are valid, connection can show up unexpectedly, and sensitivity is nothing to...
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Unbothered, Unmasked, and Still Showing Up: Why Neurodivergent People Do the Hard Things for Others Patricia Young (she/her) explores what it means to show up for others as an AuDHDer. She reflects on value-driven behavior, executive functioning challenges, internalized ableism, grief, rest, and the deep relief of living an “unbothered life.” Through personal stories about partnership, support, sensory overwhelm, initiation struggles, and authentic connection, this episode invites listeners to rethink productivity, compassion, and what real belonging looks like when we stop masking and...
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The Day My Nervous System Chose Violence (Internally) Patricia Young (she/her) explores what happens when big feelings meet medication changes, OCD spirals, and unmet needs. Through a vulnerable personal story about adjusting OCD medication, asking for support, and reacting more intensely than expected, Patricia reflects on autism, relational OCD, RSD, and trauma responses. She also discusses how to hold grief and joy at the same time, how to create meaning when life is profoundly unfair, and why it’s okay to share joy without making yourself smaller. This episode is a compassionate reminder...
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The Holidays: A Group Project My Nervous System Didn’t Agree To In this New Year’s episode, Patricia Young (she/her) explores why the holiday season can be especially challenging for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD nervous systems. Through personal stories about gift giving, overstimulation, masking, PDA, rejection sensitivity, and the need for sameness and predictability, she unpacks how small changes and social expectations can quietly dysregulate neurodivergent people. The episode also includes updates on her purple hair and tattoo, reflections on attunement and fairness, and a gentle...
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Bold Moves: Purple Hair, a Tattoo, and No Take-Backs Patricia (she/her) reflects on what it really means to make bold moves—and how we talk to ourselves when those decisions don’t land the way we hoped. Through the very real experiences of dyeing her hair purple for the first time and getting a tattoo she isn’t sure she likes, she explores autistic decision-making, sensory overwhelm, masking, regret, and self-compassion. This episode is about reframing regret as information, honoring neurodivergent needs in the moment, and learning how to be kinder to ourselves when we take risks and...
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Keeping it Real During the Holidays: p.s. I Love the Grinch! Patricia (she/her) dives into the emotional and sensory whirlwind of navigating change as an AuDHDer during the holiday season. She unpacks the exhaustion that comes from shifting family dynamics, unpredictable routines, kitten chaos, people coming and going, and the desire to show up with more capacity than she actually has. Patricia speaks candidly about shutdowns, resentment, communication misfires and boundary-setting. This episode invites listeners to honor their own wiring, acknowledge their limits, and give themselves...
info_outlineAttachment Wounds: A Follow Up Conversation
Jen and Patricia reflect on their recent challenge (see episode 241), and they discuss the importance of taking responsibility for their own needs and emotions. They explore the impact of attachment wounds and the challenges of navigating relationships. They talk about what trauma and reenactment looks like in a relationship. They also discuss the need for self-care and the importance of managing expectations. This is a very vulnerable and open conversation.
CO-HOST
Jen Perry, MSEd, MA, LPC
HIGHLIGHTS
Summary
In this conversation, Patricia and Jen discuss their recent experiences and the impact it had on their relationship. They explore the challenges of change and disruption, the importance of naming and validating emotions, and the process of healing from past trauma. They also touch on the dynamics of their friendship and the need for autonomy and understanding. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the importance of holding space for each other and navigating through difficult emotions with patience and curiosity. In this conversation.
Takeaways
· Change and disruption can be challenging.
· Naming and validating emotions is powerful and can help in moving forward.
· Healing from past trauma requires self-awareness and taking responsibility for one's own healing process.
· Navigating difficult emotions in relationships requires patience, understanding, and the ability to hold space for each other. Taking responsibility for our own needs and emotions is essential in relationships.
· Attachment wounds can impact our expectations and behaviors in relationships.
· Self-care and managing expectations are important for maintaining healthy relationships.
· Open and honest communication can lead to growth and healing.
Sound Bites
· "Change and disruption are difficult for me"
· "Letting it be okay to say it's annoying"
· "The power of naming things and how validating it is"
· "It's the openheartedness really."
· "Adulthood in many ways is a myth except for taxes and stuff."
Chapters (please adjust for the addition of the introduction)
00:00 Introduction and Frustrations
08:03 Reenactment and Taking Responsibility
25:49 Openheartedness and Taking Responsibility
34:00 Accepting Unmet Needs
40:39 Managing Expectations
PODCAST HOST
Patricia was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 17 years, but she is now exclusively providing coaching. She knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truthteller. Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), then learning she is AuDHD with a PDA profile and RSD, helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and a sense of self-compassion. She created the podcast Unapologetically Sensitive to help other neurodivergent folks know that they aren’t alone, and that having a brain that is wired differently comes with amazing gifts, and some challenges. Patricia works online globally working individually with people, and she teaches Online Courses for neurodivergent folks that focus on understanding what it means to be a sensitive neurodivergent. Topics covered include: self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors you
CO-HOST BIO
Jen Perry, MSEd, MA, LPC has been a psychotherapist for 20 years. She specializes in helping Highly Sensitive People thrive in love, work, and parenting Highly Sensitive Children. Jen is passionate about using mindfulness and compassion-based approaches to ameliorate human suffering.
LINKS
Jen’s Links
Email: [email protected]
Jen’s website: https://heartfulnessconsulting.com/
Patricia’s Links
Neurodivergent Online Course-- https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/neurodivergent-online-courses/
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Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com