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If the sight of a form to fill out or bills you need to pay makes you want to crawl under a blanket, you’re not alone. In this episode of Neurodivergent Synthesis, Dr. Regina breaks down why paperwork — those endless forms, emails, and administrative tasks — can feel like an impossible boss fight for neurodivergent brains.

Paperwork doesn’t just require focus; it demands executive functioning, emotional regulation, and compliance with arbitrary rules — all while offering zero dopamine rewards. Add in Demand Avoidance (“What do you mean I have to do this?”) and Rejection Sensitivity (“What if I do it wrong?”), and you’ve got the perfect recipe for overwhelm, avoidance, and shame spirals.

Together, we’ll unpack how these overlapping neurodivergent traits combine to make even “simple” tasks so complex — and how understanding the pattern can help you reframe, strategize, and show yourself some compassion.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why executive dysfunction + low dopamine makes paperwork a multi-step nightmare
• How PDA turns “required” tasks into nervous-system resistance
• How RSD feeds the fear of messing up or being judged
• Realistic, nerd-friendly strategies for finally slaying the paperwork monster

You’re not lazy. You’re navigating a system that was never designed for your brain.

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About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Dr. Regina McMenomy, Ph.D., is a neurodivergent coach, educator, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. She helps late-diagnosed adults unmask, heal, and thrive without burning out. Author of the N.E.R.D. Notes Newsletter and host of the Divergent Paths podcast, Regina blends academic insight with nerdy joy to build belonging from the inside out. Catch her on Instagram @DrReginaPhD

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Unmasking isn’t about ignoring others or living without filters. It’s about finally showing up as your real self instead of a version built to keep everyone else comfortable. In this episode of Divergent Paths, Dr. Regina McMenomy, PhD, and co-host Russ bust the biggest misconceptions about neurodivergent unmasking.

They unpack three common myths:

1. That unmasking means you stop caring what people think,
2. That unmasking gives you permission to be unfiltered or rude, and
3. That unmasking means putting your needs above others.

Through personal stories and humor (yes, including a pizza-related revelation), Regina and Russ explore what healthy unmasking really looks like—balancing authenticity, empathy, and accountability without losing connection.

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About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Dr. Regina McMenomy, Ph.D., is a neurodivergent coach, educator, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. She helps late-diagnosed adults unmask, heal, and thrive without burning out. Author of the N.E.R.D. Notes Newsletter and host of the Divergent Paths podcast, Regina blends academic insight with nerdy joy to build belonging from the inside out. Catch her on Instagram @DrReginaPhD

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

Perfectionism doesn’t always show up in spreadsheets and checklists. In this solo episode of Neurodivergent Solutions, Dr. Regina McMenomy Ph.D. explores how the drive to be perfectly understood shapes her writing, her identity, and her unmasking journey.

Drawing from her background as a poet and her late auDHD diagnosis, Regina shares how a deep love for words has always been both a gift and a trap. She breaks down how perfectionism in writing often comes from a need for clarity, safety, and self-expression and why that pursuit of “just the right word” can feel both empowering and exhausting.

Whether you obsess over every sentence in an email or edit your voice in real-time during conversations, this episode offers gentle insight into how language, perfectionism, and neurodivergence intertwine.

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About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Dr. Regina McMenomy, Ph.D., is a neurodivergent coach, educator, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. She helps late-diagnosed adults unmask, heal, and thrive without burning out. Author of the N.E.R.D. Notes Newsletter and host of the Divergent Paths podcast, Regina blends academic insight with nerdy joy to build belonging from the inside out. Catch her on Instagram @DrReginaPhD

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

Why do neurodivergent brains often wait until the last minute to get things done? In this episode of Divergent Paths, Dr. Regina McMenomy, Ph.D. and co-host Russ Catanach unpack urgency bias: the tendency to focus only on what feels immediately urgent. From procrastination and crisis-mode productivity to burnout and emotional stress, we explore why urgency bias happens, how it can both help and harm, and practical strategies to work with it instead of against it. If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I only get things done when the deadline is on top of me,” this episode is for you.

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About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.

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What happens after you unmask and suddenly realize you’re not sure who you really are? In this solo episode of Neurodivergent Solutions, Dr. Regina McMenomy, Ph.D. explores the identity crisis that often follows late-diagnosed ADHD or autism, and why not knowing who you are without the mask is completely normal.

Regina shares why high-masking neurodivergent adults often lose touch with their preferences, emotions, and even their sense of self and what to do about it. With compassion, personal stories, and reflective prompts, this episode guides you through the messy, beautiful process of rediscovering who you are beneath the performance.

You’ll learn:

• Why masking can overwrite identity
• How grief and fear show up after unmasking
• Where to start when you don’t know your likes, needs, or voice anymore
• Gentle strategies for rebuilding a sense of self, one moment at a time

If you’ve ever asked, “Who am I, really?”—this one’s for you.

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About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

In this special episode of Divergent Paths, Dr. Regina McMenomy Ph.D. and co-host Russ Catanach take you inside their live panel at Rose City Comic Con: “Neurospicy Brains, Found Family, and Fandom… Oh My!” Recorded in front of nearly 400 attendees, this conversation highlights how fandom communities — from cosplay to comics to gaming — provide belonging and resilience for late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adults. Joined by panelists Rachel Ferdaszewski, Isabela Oliveira, and Rabbi Davina Bookbinder, the panel explores neurodivergent identity, perfectionism, masking, burnout, and the healing power of found family in geek culture.

If you’ve ever felt like you “missed the tutorial level of life,” this episode will remind you that you’re not alone and that your story matters.

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Book a Clarity Call with Regina

About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

Masking isn’t a lie—it’s a life skill. In this solo episode of Neurodivergent Solutions, Dr. Regina McMenomy unpacks why neurodivergent people learn to mask from such a young age and why it’s not a failure of authenticity but a tool for safety and belonging.

Drawing from her personal experience as a late-diagnosed ADHD adult and mother, Regina explores how masking develops in response to rejection sensitivity, social expectations, and survival instincts. She also discusses the complex reality of unintentionally teaching masking to our kids and why approaching this topic with compassion is the key to healing.

You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of:

• How masking starts (and why it’s reinforced)
• Why it’s normal to mask even after diagnosis
• The cost of masking—and the power of reframing it
• How to begin the unmasking process with self-trust and intention

If you’ve ever felt ashamed for hiding parts of yourself, this episode will help you replace that shame with compassion.

Book a Clarity Call with Regina

About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

Impulsivity isn’t just about skydiving on a whim or blowing your paycheck on shoes. For neurodivergent folks, it often shows up in subtle ways: cutting someone off mid-sentence, firing off a 2am text, or jumping to finish someone’s thought. In this episode of Divergent Paths, Dr. Regina McMenomy and co-host Russ Catanach delve into the neurological implications of impulsivity, examining how dopamine and executive function contribute to its manifestation, and why it’s not always a flaw. They share personal stories, pop culture examples, and practical strategies for pausing between urge and action, while still honoring the creativity and spontaneity that impulsivity can bring.

Whether you live with ADHD, autism, or are just curious about how neurodivergent brains work, this episode will change the way you think about impulsivity.

Want to dig deeper? Practice some healthy impulsivity by signing up for Regina’s free newsletter at divergentpathsconsulting.com for more stories, strategies, and resources.

Book a Clarity Call with Regina

About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

Unmasking as a neurodivergent adult isn’t about oversharing. It’s about finally showing up as your full self. In this solo episode of Neurodivergent Solutions, Dr. Regina McMenomy shares practical, compassionate unmasking strategies designed for late-diagnosed ADHD and autistic adults navigating work, relationships, and everyday life.

Learn how to recognize when you’re masking, stop performing to make other people comfortable and start honoring your real needs. From communication habits to self-accommodation, this episode offers small, actionable steps to help you unmask with intention—not fear.

Whether you’re just beginning to understand your neurodivergence or you’ve been on this journey for a while, this episode is a grounding, encouraging guide to reclaiming your voice, your energy, and your identity.

Book a Clarity Call with Regina

About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.

Sign up for N.E.R.D. Notes and get weekly nerdy neurodivergent insights!

Struggling to recognize when you’re hungry, tired, anxious—or even where your body is in space? You’re not alone. In this episode of Divergent Paths, Dr. Regina McMenomy and co-host Russ Catanach explore the often-overlooked sensory systems of interoception and proprioception—and why they’re especially important for neurodivergent folks.

We break down:

• What interoception and proprioception actually are
• Why body awareness feels harder for ADHDers and autistic people
• How these “hidden senses” impact emotional regulation, burnout, and self-care
• Personal stories of missed signals, sensory confusion, and learning to tune in
• Tools to reconnect with your body and support your nervous system

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or deep in your unmasking journey, understanding these internal sensory systems can be a game-changer. Your body’s been trying to talk to you—maybe it’s time to listen. So enjoy this episode we lovingly nicknamed, "Where did that bruise come from?"

Book a Clarity Call with Regina

About Dr. Regina McMenomy PhD,

Regina is an educator, consultant, and founder of Divergent Paths Consulting. With over two decades of experience in higher education and instructional design, she now helps individuals create more inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming spaces. A late-diagnosed ADHDer herself, Regina blends academic insight, personal experience, and a healthy dose of nerdy joy to help others unmask, heal, and thrive.