Clinically Awkward

In this Eating Disorder Awareness Month episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, stressy messy AuDHD therapist, am joined by Bailey Pilant to talk about disordered eating in neurodivergent people, especially binge eating disorder, with guest appearances by bulimia and ARFID. We explain why “just listen to your body” is wildly unhelpful advice when your hunger cues are basically non existent, and how restriction, calorie tracking, nighttime binges tend to show up together.

We get into the AuDHD mechanics behind it all, including executive dysfunction, hyperfocus, sensory issues, dopamine seeking, medication effects, and the fear of being perceived. We also talk about why shame and punishment don’t actually change behavior, despite diet culture’s strong insistence otherwise.

We challenge food rules like earning meals and labeling foods good or bad, share realistic strategies for getting fed when functioning is low, and discuss sensory barriers, clothing, body changes across life stages, and the emotional experience of weight fluctuation. We close with thoughts on self compassion, appreciating what bodies can do. 

As an offshoot of my ongoing Heated Rivalry hyperfixation, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, LCSW, am joined by sexologist Dr. Samia Khan for a candid conversation about queer and neurodivergent sexuality. We talk about the stigma around different types of pleasure, why the prostate has a PR problem, and how shame tends to ruin perfectly good curiosity. We also get into consent, communication, aftercare, kink, ethical non monogamy, and why different generations are having very different conversations about sex. Along the way, Dr. Khan shares how sex became both her professional field and a full blown special interest, and we retire a few myths that have been confidently incorrect for decades.

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your friendly neighborhood stressy messy AuDHD therapist, sit down with author Maria Ingrande Mora to talk about our shared and deeply unhinged hyperfixation on hockey. We unpack our hockey origin stories, including nostalgic and occasionally wacky adolescent fandom, how our relationship with the sport has evolved, and what neurodivergent joy, intensity, and identity look like both on and off the ice. We also get into sports and mental health, parasocial relationships with athletes (you are not alone), and Maria’s upcoming book A Wild Radiance.

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, AuDHD therapist, am joined by Dana Cea, a therapist from North Carolina, to explore the unique challenges neurodivergent individuals face around hair care and hygiene. Dana shares insights into their own neurodivergent identity, the impact of social expectations on appearance, and practical ways to make hair care routines more manageable. The conversation balances honesty and warmth as we talk through sensory sensitivities, societal pressures, and the often unspoken realities of personal hygiene, with an emphasis on self-accommodation and reducing shame. This episode offers compassionate, grounded strategies for neurodivergent folks navigating daily self-care.

00:00 Introduction to Clinically Awkward

00:33 Meet Dana Cea: Neurodivergent Therapist

04:42 Navigating Appearance Expectations

13:01 Curly Hair Chronicles

21:44 Hair Care Routines and Challenges

29:44 Professional Appearance Expecta tions

33:59 Hygiene Challenges and Neurodivergence

40:59 Simplifying Hygiene Routines

51:59 Self-Care Tips for Neurodivergent Individuals

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite stressy, messy AuDHD therapist, chat with Colette Bennett, a journalist, author, and Cohost of Colette and Matt Have Entered the Chat. Colette discusses how she turned her love for video games into a profession. She recounts her journey from geeking out over an Atari at age five to working in a high-speed newsroom. They laugh about ADHD mishaps, discuss the wild world of gaming journalism, why yelling 'get good' is the ultimate insult in gamer lingo, and her decision to ultimately leave the field. Colette offers sage (and hilarious) advice for young neurodivergent women diving into male-dominated spaces, reminding them it's totally okay to be the awkwardly brilliant queens they are.

Find Collette Here:

Colette and Matt Have Entered The Chat

00:00 Introduction and Special Interests

00:16 Guest Introduction: Colette Bennett

00:41 Colette's Diagnosis Journey

03:51 ADHD Treatment Experiences

06:18 Hyperfocus on Video Games

10:29 Challenges as a Woman in Gaming

20:30 Gaming as a Social Outlet for Neurodivergent Individuals

25:31 Navigating Online Communities

28:24 Masking and Competency in Gaming

33:54 Wholesome Gaming Communities

38:16 Gamergate and Its Impact

44:11 Advice for Neurodivergent Women

51:51 Where to Find More Content

In this bonus, supersized, and increasingly unhinged episode of Clinically Awkward, Rain Glynn and I discuss our current hyper-fixation, the Canadian “hockey” show Heated Rivalry. We dig into the show's character portrayals of neurodivergence, trauma, and interpersonal relationshiops. We dissect moments of clear autistic behavior, the show's handling of trauma and mental health, and the authentic representation of queer relationships. With plenty of humor, we also explore fan reactions, the importance of female characters, and the brilliant performances by the actors. Spoilers abound as we offer an enthusiastic, fan-girl driven therapist's breakdown of the show.

01:04: Introducing Heated Rivalry

02:50 Autism in Heated Rivalry

11:13: Trauma and Relationships

16:45 Fan Reactions and Adaptation Discussion

30:20: Hayden and Shane Friendship Dynamics

31:50 Unmasking and Evolving Communication

43:57 Shane's Coming Out and Family Dynamics

50:28:  Neurodivergent and POC Representation in Media

58:48 Final Thoughts and Future Hopes

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, join me, your. Favorite stressy messy AuDHD therapist, Alyssa Zimmerman as I sit down with Danielle Procope Bell, an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at University of Tennessee and

expert in Black Feminism and Critical Autism Studies. Danielle shares her journey as a late-diagnosed autistic woman and her special interest in chess, diving into how it has shaped her personal and academic life. The conversation explores the intersectionality of race, gender, and neurodivergence, touching on family dynamics, cultural disparities in diagnosis, and the pressures of masking. Danielle provides valuable insights into how critical autism research can better include Black Autistic voices and the broader implications of creating an inclusive society. Tune in for an engaging, honest, and illuminating discussion that challenges existing paradigms and champions neurodivergent inclusivity.

00:52 Meet Danielle Procope Bell

05:06 Chess, Autism, and Pop Culture

09:31 Intersection of Autism and Black Feminism

21:14 Navigating Social and Racial Bias

31:35 Young Adulthood and Autistic Masking

38:23  Challenges of Adulthood and Parenthood

43:15 The Sims and Neurodivergent Reflections

47:17 Advice for Black Women Suspecting Autism

49:28 Critical Autism Research and Inclusivity

58:01 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite AuDHD therapist, am joined by the hilarious Rain Glynn to yap about equine therapy. We chat about all things horses, because who knew horses could be therapists too, right? Rain breaks down therapeutic riding, horsemanship, and equine-assisted psychotherapy, and we touch on how horses are basically huge emotional sponges. You'll hear wild stories about horses in therapy, clients who beef with their horses, and how ponies are evil. Horses make the best therapists, no contest. But don't just take my word for it, tune in and we'll laugh, learn, and maybe even convince you to give equine therapy a try.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Framing

01:14 Understanding Equine Therapy Modalities

08:56 Sensory Processing and Equine Therapy

14:20 Challenges and Misconceptions in Equine Therapy

23:49 The Unique Benefits of Equine Therapy

29:31 Client Experiences with Horse Behavior

35:04  Neurodivergence in the Military

37:16  Myths About Equine Therapy

39:14 Horses’ Emotional Intelligence & Personalities,

50:50  Funny Horse Stories and Training

56:05 Starting Your Equine Therapy Journey

57:21: Conclusion and Outro

Join me, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite Stressy, Depressy, AuDHD therapist, as I chat with Blair Buckley, a social worker and therapist from Denver. Blair dives into her journey of dealing with late-diagnosed ADHD, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS, and MCAS, while navigating the complex healthcare system as a neurodivergent woman. We discuss the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in medical settings, the importance of advocating for oneself, and the small victories in managing chronic illness. Tune in for an insightful and honest conversation filled with practical advice and as always a healthy dose of humor.

Join me, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite Stressy, Depressy, AuDHD therapist, as I chat with Blair Buckley, a social worker and therapist from Denver. Blair dives into her journey of dealing with late-diagnosed ADHD, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS, and MCAS, while navigating the complex healthcare system as a neurodivergent woman. We discuss the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in medical settings, the importance of advocating for oneself, and the small victories in managing chronic illness. Tune in for an insightful and honest conversation filled with practical advice and as always a healthy dose of humor.

00:00 Teaser & Intro

01:15  Blair's Neurodivergent and Chronic Illness Identity

08:20 Challenges in Healthcare for Neurodivergent Women

16:33 Sensory Issues in Medical Settings

21:25 Neurodivergence and Being a ‘Difficult Patient'

28:58 Emotional Challenges and  The Spoon Theory

34:27 Under Employment and Systemic Issues

48:37 Advocating for Yourself in the Medical System

51:50 Conclusion and Resources

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I’m joined once again by friend-of-the-pod Sidrah Kahn as we unpack our shared experiences with aunthood, messy family dynamics, and what it means to be the resident child-free women holding the emotional scaffolding together. We talk about the joys and chaos of being an aunt, swap stories about our nieces and nephews, and get into the very specific kind of care child-free women end up providing. We also dig into how millennial women think about motherhood now that we’ve seen the unfiltered reality of pregnancy and postpartum. It’s honest, funny, and a little too relatable for anyone “cool aunt” who has never been cool on purpose.

00:00 Introduction to Clinically Awkward

00:58 Welcoming Sidrah Kahn: Aunthood and Family Dynamics

04:29 The Role of Aunts in Child Development

08:39 Cultural Perspectives on Aunthood

20:53 Neurodivergence in the Family

23:56 Sensory Sensitivities and Accommodations

27:34 Navigating School Cafeterias and Childhood Experiences

28:53 The Evolution of Communication: From Track Phones to Smartphones

31:34 The Role of Child-Free Women in Family Systems

33:41 Aunt Life: The Joys and Challenges

35:39 Reflections on Parenthood and Child-Free Choices

43:25 The Importance of Community and Support Systems

53:44 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections