What causes burnout?

Burnout. We've all been there. But what actually causes your brain to feel this way? The bad news is that burnout in ADHD and autism is relatively new, but the good news is that we have tons of studies looking at burnout in neurotypical brains. In this episode, we look at the brain changes noted in these studies, and * spoiler alert *, there's a lot of overlap with the known differences n ADHD and autistic brains. Do we basically just exist with a perpetual, baseline level of burnout? Tune in to find out!PresentationSources:ADHD burnout overviewADHD burnout ratesStudy correlating ADHD burnout severity with severity of executive functioning deficitsSystematic review of autistic burnout researchNeuroimaging study of burnoutGlutamate imbalance literature review in autismStudy proposing a different sequence of medication trialing for autistic patients with anxiety and depressionLifecycle of a neurotransmitterHow transporters work in the brainHow SSRIs workHow partial agonists like Buspirone workHow Wellbutrin works

Amy Arnsten is a powerhouse in the world of neuroscience. She's a professor at Yale, she runs her own lab (aptly called the Arnsten Lab), and she's responsible for discovering guanfacine. This medication is an absolute gamechanger for rejection sensitivity and working memory for everyone with ADHD. We were lucky enough to chat with her and ask all our most burning brain related questions. In this episode, you can expect a lot of mythbusting as Amy corrects the record on common ADHD tropes that don't stand up to scrutiny when you're an internationally recognized expert on neuroscience.

Is it possible to know that someone has ADHD or autism just by looking at them? It turns out, people do seem to have a sixth sense that consistently detects ADHD and autism. In this episode, we explore the physical “tells” that might be giving us away and how this impacts the lives of ADHD and autistic people.Due to character limits, we couldn't paste all the source links, but you can find them in this doc: Sources doc (with all links)Below is a guide covering how local anesthesia is ineffective with hypermobility. Please use this and show it to your doctors. It's scary stuff, and you deserve to not feel pain during procedures.***IMPORTANT!!! Guide to local anesthesia and surgery for hypermobility***

Dearest Gentle Reader, rarely is society faced with such a vexing debate over a member of “The Ton”. Could it be that Miss Francesca Bridgerton is autistic? This author will humbly endeavor to set the record straight, not through gossip and speculation, but through science and fact. It is our greatest wish that in your journey to understand Miss Francesca, you discover yourself, for this, dear reader, would make the fruits of our labor worthwhile, indeed.Sources:Tony AttwoodFrancesca Autistic CompilationFrancesca CompilationAutistic adult brains name recognitionDifferent emotional facial expressionsDouble empathy problemEye contact triggers amygdalaGABA and GlutamateThe theory of monotropismMost common special interestsWhat causes special interests?Autistic women more vulnerableThalamus explains sensory issuesAutistic people have weaker autobiographical memoryFear of being perceivedDebunking the Empathy/Systemizing Quotient in autismAutistic adults enjoy being in the same space without direct interactionStudy on autistic special interestsCAT-Q Autism Assessment

You know that “new crush” feeling where your heart is pounding and you've got butterflies in your stomach? It can feel exhilarating! But imagine if you got stuck in a loop where you experience it every single day for years. Suddenly, it becomes a little less fun. This is the plight of people suffering from limerence, where you become addicted to your own fantasies of being in a relationship with someone who is unavailable in real life. So how do you know if it's love or limerence? In today's episode, we'll break down all the ways you can tell the difference. Curious what causes limerence? We dive into the neuroscience behind it in our previous episode “Why do ADHDers get addicted?”Sources:What causes limerence?Dr. Kirk Honda's limerence deep-diveDr. Tom Bellamy's limerence introductionDr. Tom Bellamy’s YouTube channel about limerence Limerence meta analysisDr. Kirk Honda's borderline personality disorder deep-diveDr. Kirk Honda's Baby Reindeer deep-diveOCD vs ADHD and Autism

We all know people with ADHD are more prone to addictions like gambling, alcoholism, and substance abuse. But what if you could be addicted to your own fantasies? And how do addictions form in the first place? In this two part episode, we’re examining limerence, a condition where you become addicted to compulsive, consuming fantasies about a romantic relationship with someone who does not express interest in you.In order to truly grasp limerence, you need to understand the neuroscience behind addiction, which is the topic of this episode. We take an in-depth look at the brain changes that occur when you become addicted to something, and we explore why ADHD brains are exceptionally vulnerable. This episode will help you understand ADHD struggles on a whole new level! Give us a listen, and be sure to come back for the second part of this special, where we tackle the precise symptoms of limerence and the conditions it's commonly mistaken for. Sources:Dr. Kirk Honda's deep dive on limerenceAddiction neuroscience research with Professor Kent BerridgeUnderstanding addiction and how it's treatedStatistics about ADHD and addiction The overlapping neurobiology of addiction in ADHDResearch on ADHD and low hedonic toneResearch on ADHD and attachment styles General information about attachment styleADHD and divorce rates

Diagnosis rates are rising, and people everywhere are being prescribed medications with major side effects. But what if it's actually a misdiagnosis? We're talking, of course, about dementia.Although dementia can look similar to ADHD and autism in older populations, treatment options are wildly different, and very few clinics perform ample screening to distinguish between these conditions. In this episode, we'll break down the similarities and differences. We'll also talk about the pitfalls of aging gracefully with ADHD and autism, so you and your loved ones can navigate the complexities armed with knowledge.SourcesSurvey about menopause with ADHDStories about aging with autism Meta-analysis about aging well with autismVideo about aging with ADHD by Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. Clinics rarely screen for ADHD in older populationsStudy on ADHD and dementia riskCommon conditions that look like dementiaUp to 13% of diagnosed dementia cases are actually liver failureADHDers have poor autobiographical memoryADHD memories don't have context about time or location Dementia side effects reported by pharmacists and caretakersSevere side effects to dementia anti-psychotic drugsSevere side effects from anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody medications for dementia Only 31% of ADHDers would be eligible for a randomized controlled trial about ADHD meds

Have you ever been completely obsessed with a video game and you can't pull yourself away? Video games have a nuanced and important role in the lives of AuDHDers. In this episode, we'll dig into the good, the bad, and the ugly side of video games. In the right context, they serve as a powerful, therapeutic tool for self regulating and even improving challenges associated with ADHD and autism. Unfortunately, they can also be addictive and drain your time, money, and willpower.Sources:Basic stats about video gamesUsing Dungeons and Dragons as a therapeutic technique for autismMeta analysis on using games for ADHD treatmentCogCubed ADHD assessment gameResearch on EndeavorRX to treat ADHDEndeavorRX gameplay demoUsing Tetris to prevent PTSD after traumatic experiencesADHD and video game addictionAutism and video game addiction Autistic people are less likely to purchase loot boxesLoot boxes increase gambling addiction risk in adolescents by 3.7x to 6.0x32% of children regret their online purchases and 41% don't understand what they purchased Adolescents who purchase loot boxes are at 1.87x higher risk of severe psychological distressBlind boxes increase suicide risk in childrenAustralia automatically classifies games with loot boxes as Mature

What do computers, music, and nature have in common? They are some of the top special interests for autistic people! In today's episode, we look at the research behind special interests to separate the truth from the stereotypes. We also look at some of the possible reasons why so many autistic people have special interests. Join us for this very special episode where we get to talk about our favorite things!Chapters00:00 Welcome & why special interests matter02:54 Myth-busting: hyperfocus vs. special interests03:24 The research problem (ask adults, not just caregivers)05:16 Strengths, coping, and pride07:04 When treatment targets the wrong thing08:48 Special interest study11:20 “Current” interests vs. lifelong ones11:46 Disney special interests18:16 Burnout and the 80% finish line20:21 INCUP attention model (ADHD)22:32 Work friction & making novelty23:10 Top special interests by gender27:08 What makes an interest “special” 32:56 When intensity hurts well-being34:21 Monotropism 10140:36 Hyperfocus & mental health44:06 Systemizing vs. empathy—why that binary fails50:01 Temple Grandin’s thinking styles54:32 Special interest stigma59:15 Our special interests1:01:52 ConclusionReferences: Grove et al., 2018; SAGE 2024 hyperfocus study; Autism Understood (Monotropism); Temple Grandin on thinking styles.Special Interests Study (Grove et al., 2018)👉 https://research.vu.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/72579810/Grove_et_al_2018_Autism_Research.pdfMonotropism Overview (Autism Understood)👉 https://autismunderstood.co.uk/autistic-differences/monotropism/Hyperfocus Study (SAGE Journals, 2024)👉 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27546330241237883Systemizing Quotient – Revised (Embrace Autism)👉 https://embrace-autism.com/systemizing-quotient-revised/Thinking Styles in Autistic People – Temple Grandin Framework (Embrace Autism)👉 https://embrace-autism.com/thinking-styles-in-autistic-peopleKeywords: autism, ADHD, AuDHD, special interests, hyperfocus, monotropism, Temple Grandin, systemizing quotient, Simon Baron-Cohen, Disney Imagineering, Pixar, pattern thinking, executive function, INCUP, attention regulation

This conversation delves into the complex relationship between autism and religion, exploring how neurodivergent individuals experience spirituality and religious practices. The discussion highlights various cultural perspectives on autism, the role of empathy in spiritual relationships, and the unique understandings of religious concepts among autistic individuals. It also addresses the impact of new age beliefs and astrology on the perception of autism, emphasizing the need for better research and understanding in the field.Chapters00:00 Finding Faith and Overcoming Challenges00:48 Exploring Autism and Religion02:14 The Intersection of Autism and Spirituality07:56 Understanding Religious Experiences in Autistic Individuals11:52 The Role of Empathy in Spiritual Relationships14:32 Cultural Perspectives on Autism and Religion18:57 Unique Understandings of Religious Concepts21:46 The Capacity for Religion in Autistic Individuals22:34 Diverse Religious Interpretations of Autism29:49 New Age Beliefs and Autism45:18 The Role of Sensitivity in Spiritual Experiences52:07 Astrology, ADHD, and Autism Connections