Unmasking Queens Podcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Have you ever felt exhausted after spending time with friends, family, or a romantic partner because you were constantly trying to be the person you thought they wanted you to be? For many autistic women, masking, especially in relationships, can become such a natural part of everyday life that they lose a sense of who they are.

In this episode, I tell a story of the emotional toll I experienced when I performed autistic masking in one of my earliest relationships and what it took to learn for me to be more authentic with potential partners. I also provide some thoughtful homework for you to examine your own tendency to mask in relationships. Lastly, I provide small steps you can take this week to unmask in your own relationships.

If you are a late-diagnosed autistic woman looking to become more of yourself in your relationships, a life coach can help you! Contact me on any of my social media pages or send me a message on my website to set up a quick 15-minute consultation. I would love to learn more about your strengths and how I can help you use the unique brain and nervous system you have to achieve your goals!

NOTES:

I am aware that at around the 5:51 mark of the episode I used the term "non-verbal". I have also been made aware that the preferred terminology is "non-speaking". I apologize, and I will do my best to be better.

INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: Espresso by Chillpeach

RESOURCES:

• Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders Helpline: 1-888-375-7767, Monday– Friday, 9am–9pm CST
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline: 1-866-662-1235, Monday–Friday, 9am–7pm EST
• Diabulimia Helpline: 425-985-3635, 24 hours, 365 days (for those with co-occurring diabetes and eating disorders)
• National Eating Disorders Association: Get Help for Eating Disorders: Screening & Support | NEDA

WEBSITE: www.RebeccaMoodyAutismCoach.com

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccamoodycoach.bsky.social

YOUTUBE: / @rebeccamoody-y3l

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Have you ever been told you're too obsessed with something, that you talk about your interests too much, or that you need to find a more “normal” hobby? Maybe you could talk about penguins all day long, or you stay up until 2 AM researching the history of the American Revolution.

Maybe you've been told your love of fashion and makeup artistry is silly or not productive, and yet you long to play with clothes and experiment with makeup.

For many autistic women, special interests are a source of joy, comfort, creativity, and deep personal fulfillment!

They may also be something we've learned to hide.

In this episode, I talk about autistic special interests and why they deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged. I'll share stories of some of my own special interests and how I have been able to integrate them into my career paths, how I have been able to use them to better understand myself, and how I have been able to find connections with others who share my passions.

I will also talk about why late-diagnosed autistic women may have learned to hide their passions to fit in and how to make more room in your life for the things that genuinely excite you in a balanced way.

Your special interests don't have to become a career or serve a practical purpose to be worthwhile. Sometimes, it's more than enough that they bring you joy.

If you're a late-diagnosed autistic woman learning to embrace who you are, this episode is an invitation to stop dismissing or hiding what you love and start celebrating the things that make you feel most like yourself.

You don't have to justify your joy. You deserve to make room for it.

Link to Blackberry Letters on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackberryLetters

WEBSITE: www.RebeccaMoodyAutismCoach.com

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccamoodycoach.bsky.social

YOUTUBE: / @rebeccamoody-y3l

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Have you ever felt so exhausted, overwhelmed, or depleted that even everyday tasks suddenly feel impossible? You may be experiencing autistic burnout

In this episode, we’re talking about what autistic burnout is and what it can look and feel like. I will also share my own stories of my experiences with autistic burnout and the steps I took to heal from it.

Most importantly, we'll talk about ways to begin recovering by understanding your needs, reducing demands, honoring your limits, and creating a life that supports your autistic brain instead of constantly overwhelming it.

If you've been feeling exhausted, disconnected, overwhelmed, or like you just can't keep doing things the way you've always done them, I hope this episode gives you the tools to begin healing.

WARMLINES THAT DO NOT CALL THE POLICE:

Call Blackline: 1-800-604-5841 centers BIPOC & LGBTQ+, Black Femme lens

Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (US) / 1-877-330-6366 (Canada) – by & for trans folks, English & Spanish

Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: 1-888-407-4515 – trained peer supporters

Fireside Project: 1-623-250-7393 – support during & after psychedelic experiences

LGBT National Help Center: 1-888-843-4564 – Confidential LGBTQIA+ support

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483 – centers Native Americans experiencing intimate partner or sexual violence (24/7)

INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: Espresso by Chillpeach (I do not own)

If you need help preventing and recovering from burnout, you don't have to do it alone. A life coach can help give you the tools you need to build a life you don't have to constantly recover from. Please reach out to me on my socials or at my website to set up a free 15-minute consultation.

WEBSITE: www.RebeccaMoodyAutismCoach.com

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccamoodycoach.bsky.social

YOUTUBE: / @rebeccamoody-y3l

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Have you ever experienced rejection or criticism so intensely that it feels paralyzing, even when you know the situation may not be as serious as it feels in the moment? In this episode, we’re talking about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), a term commonly used to describe intense emotional responses to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, failure, or disapproval.

We’ll explore what RSD means, how rejection sensitivity can show up in autistic and neurodivergent women, and why these experiences can sometimes be especially debilitating for women who are diagnosed with autism later in life.

I will share my stories about how RSD has cost me friendships and job opportunities. I will also give you practical skills and tools for how to minimize the emotionally dysregulating realities of living with RSD.

If you’re a late-diagnosed autistic woman who struggles with rejection, criticism, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or fear of disappointing others, I can help you build confidence to overcome rejection sensitivity and live your best life!

WARMLINES THAT DO NOT CALL THE POLICE:

Call Blackline: 1-800-604-5841 centers BIPOC & LGBTQ+, Black Femme lens

Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (US) / 1-877-330-6366 (Canada) – by & for trans folks, English & Spanish

Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: 1-888-407-4515 – trained peer supporters

Fireside Project: 1-623-250-7393 – support during & after psychedelic experiences

LGBT National Help Center: 1-888-843-4564 – Confidential LGBTQIA+ support

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483 – centers Native Americans experiencing intimate partner or sexual violence (24/7)

INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: Espresso by Chillpeach (I do not own)

WEBSITE: www.RebeccaMoodyAutismCoach.com

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccamoodycoach.bsky.social

YOUTUBE: / @rebeccamoody-y3l

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Have you ever felt like you were stuck with a decision that you previously made because you invested a lot of time and money into it? Or you may be concerned that if you change your mind about a decision that you previously made, you might make someone else unhappy.

As late-diagnosed autistic women, we are more likely to have unhelpful thought patterns such as black-and-white thinking, falling into the trap of sunk-cost fallacies, and people-pleasing. This can keep us stuck in careers, relationships, and life patterns that do not work for our brains, bodies, and nervous systems.

But it doesn't have to be that way. You can make decisions that honor who you are right now, especially with the knowledge that comes with an autism diagnosis later in life.

In today's episode, I will talk about how my own autism diagnosis has invited me to explore some of my career choices. I also invite you, my dear listener, to consider some questions around your own choices:

1. What did I originally want?

2. Do I still want it?

3. Do I still want it, or do I just feel like I SHOULD want it?

4. What do I know about myself now that I didn’t when I first chose this?

5. If I were completely starting over, knowing what I know now, would I choose this again?

6. Would I still choose this if I knew there was no one to please?

7. Would I still choose this if I was allowed to change my mind later?

If you are looking for empowerment around your decisions, especially with the understanding that comes with a late autism diagnosis, this episode can help get you started!

WEBSITE: www.RebeccaMoodyAutismCoach.com

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/rebeccamoodyautismcoach

BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccamoody...

YOUTUBE: / @rebeccamoody-y3l

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

What is synesthesia, and what does it have to do with autism and neurodivergence? In this episode, we explore synesthesia, a fascinating sensory experience where one sense can automatically trigger another, such as seeing colors when you hear music or associating personalities with letters and numbers. I will also tell some stories from my own experiences with synesthesia, starting with when I was two years old and my family committed the heinous sin of singing "Happy Birthday" to me!

We’ll look at the different types of synesthesia, how it can relate to sensory processing and neurodivergence, and why understanding your unique sensory experiences can be especially meaningful after a late autism diagnosis. If you’re a late-diagnosed autistic woman (or simply curious about the fascinating ways neurodivergent brains experience the world) this episode is for you!