Episode 142: FLASHBACK — AuDHD Burnout City: How Autistic and ADHD Burnout Collide and Compensate

ADHD and Autistic burnout can feel like an endless cycle of overwhelm, exhaustion, and frustration—especially for those who live at the intersection of both identities. Many AuDHD individuals struggle to distinguish between ADHD burnout and autistic burnout, but understanding their overlap and unique challenges is crucial to finding compassionate, practical ways to support our mental health.

In this flashback episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the unique qualities of AuDHD burnout. They reflect on their own lived experiences, explore the differences and intersections between ADHD and Autistic burnout, discuss why traditional accommodations often fall short, and share insight on how burnout can lead to shame, depression, and executive function collapse. Through vulnerable storytelling, tangible metaphors, and thoughtful humor, they invite listeners to rethink both self-care and community support in navigating burnout.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟑 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞:
1. Gain clarity on the nuances between ADHD burnout, Autistic burnout, and their combined impact for AuDHD burnout—plus learn why academic literature often overlooks the lived reality of those with dual neurotypes.
2. Hear relatable and honest discussions about executive dysfunction, shame spirals, depression risk, and the paradox of needing energy to recover from exhaustion, especially within the context of daily life and work.
3. Take away practical frameworks and metaphors (including animal critter analogies and the “burnout city”) that offer new language for self-understanding, along with concrete ideas for future-proofing your life against burnout as an AuDHD individual.

If you’re navigating the relentless push-pull of ADHD and Autistic traits, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will help you feel seen and provide tools for building more resilient self-care. Listen now for validation, empathy, and practical insight on surviving—and even softening—the cycle of AuDHD burnout.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬

🔸 Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Masking Workbook: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/au...
🔸 Neurodivergent Insights Resource on Autistic Burnout: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/bu...
🔸 The Autistic Burnout Workbook by Dr. Megan Anna Neff: https://www.simonandschuster.com/book...
🔸 Library of Boundary Scripts (free): https://neurodivergentinsights.notion...

Divergent Conversations Podcast Episodes:
🔸 Episode 2: Autistic Burnout (https://www.divergentpod.com/2)
🔸 Episode 47: Autistic Burnout (Part 2): A Deep Dive Into The Diversity of Burnout (https://www.divergentpod.com/47)

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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 & 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

✨ 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚
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✨ 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 want 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