Masking For It

The final episode of the first series of Masking For It podcast explores the topic of overdiagnosis in neurodivergent adults, highlighting the challenges and misconceptions surrounding this issue - mainly because the reality is neurodivergence is still woefully underdiagnosed!

The conversation delves into the impact of continuing to neglect neurodivergent needs on the healthcare system, the need for improved understanding and support for neurodivergent individuals, and explains why behavioural solutions are inappropriate. The conversation delves into the impact of behaviour theory on children, the role of the brain in regulating responses, and the misinterpretation of anxiety as behaviour. It also explores the need for feedback, the normalization of neurodivergence, and the challenges of diagnosis and support. The conversation concludes with a call for change and hope for a better future.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to 'Overdiagnosis' in Neurodivergent Adults
• 06:52 Challenges in Diagnosis and Assessment Services
• 17:14 Impact of Current Diagnosis Model on Welfare and Education Systems
• 22:53 Behavioural Solutions and Neurodivergent Needs
• 32:29 Importance of Feedback and Support
• 39:13 Call for Change and Hope for the Future

We're hopping on the Pod to wish our listeners a very Merry Christmas, with a brief discussion to explore the different experiences of neurodivergent individuals during the Christmas season, including challenges, expectations, and self-care strategies. Alexandra, Lesley and Gail delve into the unique perspectives of ADHD and autism, offering insights into managing the holiday season with sensitivity and understanding.

With 2025 nearly at an end, Season One almost is too - after this Christmas Special, we have just one more episode as a final gift to you this year! Make sure you're following our pages as we will be sharing highlights from the season, as well as sharing new blogs and insights with you as we prepare for Season Two, where we'll be inviting some fascinating guests to join the conversation...

Enjoy the festive break, however that looks for you, and we'll look forward to catching up with you in 2026!

Alexandra, Lesley and Gail explore the complexities of therapy for neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing the importance of understanding identity, being aware of differences in communication, and the need for tailored therapeutic approaches. The speakers discuss the significance of energy management, the risks of misdiagnosis, and the necessity of finding the right therapist who understands neurodivergence. Alexandra explains how understanding your neurotype allows for more success with self care strategies, and Lesley and Gail tell us why compassion-based therapies can be more effective for neurodivergent individuals than CBT. Masking For It advocates for acceptance and self-advocacy, highlighting that therapy should focus on personal growth rather than fixing perceived deficits.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context Setting

04:03 Understanding Neurodivergent Therapy

09:30 The Importance of Identity in Therapy

13:36 Communication Challenges in Therapy

15:03 Understanding Humour and Masking in Autism

17:44 The Importance of Diagnosis and Self-Awareness

20:50 Energy Accounting and Its Impact on Well-Being

24:26 Misdiagnosis: Trauma vs. Neurodivergence

27:28 Celebrating Neurodivergence and Finding Balance

32:40 The Role of Executive Function in Therapy

35:48 Finding the Right Therapy for Neurodivergent Individuals

43:42 Reassurance and Acceptance in Therapy

45:02 Thank Yous

45:31 Contact Us

45:57 Outro

Help is available and we advise you speak to your GP or Psychological Clinician if you have been affected by any of the subject matter in this conversation, or would just like to know more about finding some support.

Some other resources can be found at:

The National Autistic Society

https://www.autism.org.uk/

Mind

https://www.mind.org.uk/

For urgent support Call NHS: 111

For text based support text: SHOUT to 85258

Or to speak to a specialist about diagnosis or ongoing support: https://spectrumnorthwest.org/

Summary

In this episode of Masking For It, the hosts delve into the journey after receiving a diagnosis of autism or ADHD. They discuss the emotional complexities involved, including feelings of grief, loneliness, and the transition to understanding one's identity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, processing emotions, and navigating relationships post-diagnosis. The hosts also explore the nuances of disclosing one's diagnosis to others and the significance of building a supportive network. Ultimately, the episode aims to provide comfort and guidance to those on a similar journey, reinforcing that it is a process of self-discovery and empowerment.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey After Diagnosis

10:38 Understanding the Transition

20:11 Self-Compassion and Shame

29:43 Navigating Disclosure and Trust

37:58 The Importance of Advocacy and Support

40:40 Thank you

41:08 Contact Us

41:34 Outro

Resources

• Unmasking Autism - Dr Devon Price
• Brené Brown's Marble Jar Theory for Trust

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vaq2jMJe4mU

• National Autistic Society

  https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/after-diagnosis

Get In Touch With Us

[email protected]

www.maskingforit.com

Socials - @maskingforit

Following the latest announcement of further delays to the highly anticipated SEND reforms, Alexandra gives us a deeply personal insight into the impact a delayed discovery of her ADHD and Autism had on her life. She emphasises how advantageous such a full understanding of who you are is, hoping her story encourages those deliberating whether it's worth seeking a diagnosis later in life, as well as strongly advocating for screening across the board as early as possible. Lesley speaks about the effects of surrounding environments upon behaviour and how reassessment of these should be prioritised above the implementation of more and more restrictive systems and procedures. Finally, Gail addresses the vital importance of supporting individuals as they wait (ever increasingly) long periods for official assessment - challenging the idea that delays for diagnosis also mean delays receiving any support at all.

This must, and can, change - tune in to learn more about how and why.

In this Halloween Special, Alexandra, Lesley & Gail beckon you to join their Coven as they explore the intersection of neurodivergence and historical perceptions of women and witchcraft. They discuss how societal fears of difference led to the persecution of individuals, in this case, particularly women, who do not necessarily meet social norms. They draw parallels between historical witch hunts and the modern-day stigma, and barriers, faced by neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing the need for understanding, kindness, and community support. Their discussion highlights the importance of celebrating differences and learning from history to create a more inclusive society.

Chapters

00:00 Witchcraft and the Role of Power

02:05 The Impact of Fear on Society

04:40 Neurodivergence and Historical Parallels

07:16 The Psychology of Fear and Othering

11:19 The Historical Context of Othering

12:14 Fear of Difference and Conformity

13:38 The Impact of Labels and Stigmas

14:06 School Dynamics and Pack Mentality

16:23 Historical Perceptions of Danger

18:07 Women, Knowledge, and Vulnerability

19:31 The Role of Women in Society

21:04 Language and Gendered Perceptions

23:17 Systemic Issues and Change

24:36 Rituals, Wellbeing, and Neurodivergence

26:40 Modern Witchcraft and Community

30:51 The Future of Neurodivergence Acceptance

32:12 Empathy, Kindness, and Systemic Change

35:39 Thank you

36:09 Get in touch

36:34 Outro

In the final instillation of our 'Decoding Diagnosis' Trilogy, we hear from Lesley and Gail in detail as they breakdown requirements of the assessments used for Autism diagnosis. This prompts discussions around how we can differentiate between Trauma and Autism/ADHD, whilst we know many Neurodivergents will carry trauma as well. We also discuss the age old myth surrounding eye contact and Autism - with details from Alexandra's own experience with this that you might not expect! Finally, we talk about the importance of language and how this can affect people's feelings about their identity, as well as how the lack of language to explain certain experiences of Neurodivergence is another barrier to diagnosis and understanding that we need to address.

Chapters

00:00 The Intersection of Trauma and Neurodivergence

08:27 Understanding ADHD and Autism Diagnosis

20:50 The Complexity of Eye Contact and Communication

34:16 Language and Identity in Neurodivergence

40:12 Thank You

40:42 Contact Us

41:08 Outro

This second instalment of our Diagnosis Trilogy begins with a deeply personal announcement from one of our trio, highlighting the numerous layers of complexity and contributing factors surrounding diagnosis - especially for women.

This sets the team up for further discussion where Lesley and Gail share with us what they have to consider as assessors, their opinions on the tools they have to use, and some of the feedback and reactions they've encountered over the years - including a little about Alexandra's first encounter with them!

As this episode ends on a note of 'must do better'...make sure you tune in for the final part of the trilogy as they dissect the deepest parts of the process and get intimate with some of those stereotypes, in what can only be described as the most revealing episode yet...

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Spectrum: High-Masking and Its Challenges

03:50 The Impact of Societal Perceptions on Neurodivergence

12:00 The Importance of Environment in Neurodivergence

18:42 Understanding Parental Intuition and Support

24:41 Navigating Diagnostic Assessments

29:10 The Challenges of Diagnostic Tools

35:57 The Intersection of Trauma and Neurodivergence

36:47 Thank you!

37:16 Get In Touch

37:42 Outro

Get in touch!

Socials: @maskingforitpodcast

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.maskingforit.com

The first of a special trilogy introducing the diagnostic process, from both sides of the experience, in preparation for Masking For It's upcoming feature episodes: The Diagnosis Diaries.

With widespread discussion surrounding assessment and Autism and ADHD diagnoses on the rise (with some being told there is a 10+ year waiting list!), we want to familiarise people with the process and highlight some of the pros and cons of the current tools and systems we're working within.

Alexandra, Lesley and Gail also take a look at the evolution of our understanding around neurodivergent conditions and mental health, giving perspective of just how much what we know is in its infancy, and identifying how easy it has been for outdated stereotypes to stick...as they emphasise that conversation and research around neurodivergence must keep evolving if the systems in place for diagnosis are to catch up with the reality of these neurotypes as different, not deficient.

Don't forget to tune in for the following two parts, for some more deeply personal revelations, as well as the dissection of the elements that make up the tools which have been introduced to you in this episode. There's so much to unpack and we're thrilled you've joined us, so we can make it make sense and work out the next steps we need - together.

Books mentioned:

The Psychopath Tests - Jon Ronson

Neurotribes - Steve Silberman

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

04:43 Understanding Neurodivergence and Systems

09:18 Exploring the DSM-5 and Diagnostic Criteria

13:33 The Evolution of Diagnostic Labels

17:40 Neurodivergence and Identity

28:04 Understanding the Stigma of Autism vs. ADHD

32:30 Navigating the Spectrum: High-Masking and Its Challenges

38:38 Thank You

39:07 Contact Details

39:31 Outro

Get in touch:

Socials - @maskingforitpodcast

Email - [email protected]

Website - www.maskingforit.com

Welcome to 'Masking For It'!

In our very first episode we introduce ourselves and explain how a Clinical Psychologist, Speech Therapist, and Neurodivergent Woman end up together on a Podcast...but most importantly - why.

We're inviting you to join our (previously private!) conversations about Neurodivergence, because we need to encourage many more of these conversations if we're going to help Neurodivergent individuals and society become acquainted - and it's crucial they do.

This introductory episode provides an overview of the topics we'll be addressing - with deep dives and revelatory research to come...Follow/Subscribe so you don't miss out!

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Advocacy

04:03 Understanding Neurodivergence

07:40 Personal Experiences and Insights

14:18 The Journey of Self-Discovery

15:36 Breaking Down Stigma Around Neurodivergence

17:47 Rethinking the Education System for Neurodivergent Individuals

21:08 Navigating Life Post-Diagnosis

25:06 The Burden of Explanation: Understanding Autism

28:25 Redefining Neurodivergence: From Disorder to Identity

31:50 The Impact of COVID-19 on Neurodivergent Lives

35:07 The Need for Kindness and Understanding in Society

39:09 The Role of Schools in Identifying Neurodivergence

43:01 Introduction and Overview

43:30 Engagement with the Audience

Dedicated to Monty & Pippa xx