TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids

Debbie Reber

TiLT Parenting, from parenting activist, speaker, and author Debbie Reber, features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently-wired kids (giftedness, ADHD, austim, 2e, learning differences, sensory processing issues, anxiety, and more). TiLT aims to help parents feel empowered and in choice in how they parent, have more peace in their daily lives, and parent and advocate for their child from a place of confidence and awareness so that our children can thrive in every way. https:/tiltparenting.com read less

Our Editor's Take

TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids informs and encourages parents of neurodivergent kids. The podcast discusses every aspect of parenting. There's advice for picky eaters, sports, homeschooling, anxiety, perseveration, and college accommodations. The show discusses giving neurotypical siblings equal attention and helping them become allies.

Podcast host Debbie Reber wrote Differently Wired: A Parent's Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope. She is a New York Times bestselling author of books for women, teens, and children. Reber offers online courses and free resources to parents through her website. She is also the mother of a twice-exceptional son with ADHD, who is a frequent podcast guest. Reber invites specialists, therapists, and parents to share tips.

The word "tilt" in TILT Parenting is applicable. Reber says parents must tilt their thinking to raise atypical kids. She trademarked the phrase "differently wired," which includes children with ADHD and autism. She advocates for profoundly gifted and twice-exceptional children. Reber explains eighteen tilts parents can make to support their kids. She helps parents adjust their own thinking instead of trying to "fix" their kids. Over 20 percent of children have some level of neurodivergence.

Reber advises parents to take care of themselves as well. She shares twelve strategies for self-care on TILT Parenting. Even five minutes of yoga or fifteen minutes of Netflix helps when it's intentional. The kids can join, as long as it's something the parent enjoys. Reber grabs a blanket, slippers, and hot tea for herself and her son while they work. They take walks and listen to podcasts, as they both enjoy them.

Author and coach Margaret Webb provides perspective in the first episode. Her son has anxiety, autism, ADHD, and apraxia of speech. Webb says she wouldn't want someone to try to change her. They couldn't, anyway, so why should parents try to change who their kids are? Webb wrote Hero's Journey in Parenting: Parenting the Child You Didn't Expect While You Were Expecting. It's one of many resources Reber offers through her comprehensive podcast.

New episodes of TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids premiere Tuesdays and Fridays.

read less
Kids & FamilyKids & Family

Episodes

TPP 045a: 12-year-old Asher Answers Listeners' Questions (Special Kids' POV)
Yesterday
TPP 045a: 12-year-old Asher Answers Listeners' Questions (Special Kids' POV)
Our “Kid’s POV” special podcast episodes featuring conversations with my son Asher are particularly popular, especially among members of the community who like to co-listen with their own differently-wired children. And from time to time, we get emails from listeners who want to know more about Asher and how he deals with certain situations. A few months ago, we did a special episode where Asher tackled listener’s questions specifically related to his social life, and in today’s episode, we’re going to go through some other listener questions, covering everything from how Asher handles big emotions and thinks about his diagnoses to how he stays positive when he gets in trouble just for being who he is. And because many listeners are just curious to know more about who Asher is and what he’s interested in, I threw in a couple of personal questions at the end about his favorite books, games, movies, hobbies, and more. Pro tip: This is a good episode for co-listening! When Asher and I listen to podcasts, we dump a puzzle out on the dining room table and listen while building the puzzle. It makes for a nice combination!    Things You'll Learn From This Episode: How Asher identifies and/or fits in with other kids his age Whether his diagnosis is an important part of how he sees himself How Asher self-soothes when feeling sad or scared or other big emotions Whether his deep areas of interest are ever an issue in relationships with others Whether Asher ever feels down about himself because of challenges that crop up related to his neurodivergence Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/tilt - It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 383: Kristina Kuzmic Debunks “Parenting Truths” That Keep Parents Stuck and in Crisis Mode
4d ago
TPP 383: Kristina Kuzmic Debunks “Parenting Truths” That Keep Parents Stuck and in Crisis Mode
As parents, we want more than anything to help our kids thrive, to protect them from pain and harm, and avoid some, or maybe all, of the mistakes we made in our own lives. But what happens when our kids are struggling with really big, difficult, and scary, maybe even life-threatening, stuff? And none of our efforts to “fix” things are making a difference? That’s the focus of today’s show and I am absolutely thrilled to be in conversation about it with Kristina Kuzmic, a mental health advocate, author, comedien and self-described “cheerleader for her fellow humans.” Kristina has just come out with a powerful new book I Can Fix This! (And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself while Parenting My Struggling Child), in which she writes about her complex journey of parenting a child struggling with mental health and substance abuse. She wrote it to help other struggling parents reject ideas that keep families stuck and, with her trademark authenticity and wisdom, dispel the lies we believe as parents. This is SUCH a deep, raw, and generous conversation and it is exactly the conversation a parent feeling hopeless and overwhelmed in figuring out how to help their child needs to hear. Truly balm for the soul.   About Kristina Kuzmic After immigrating to America from Croatia during the war in her homeland, and later facing more challenges (divorce, single parenting, poverty, mental health challenges), Kristina’s goal became clear: to be for others what she needed when she was at her lowest. In 2011, when Oprah crowned Kristina the winner of Mark Burnett’s reality TV competition “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star,” Oprah said, “What is that THING…that’s so charming and charismatic and connected to the audience that makes you feel like, ‘I know her, I want to be her, I’m like her’… Kristina has all of that. She is an ‘IT PLUS’ girl… I wanna watch her!” Since working with Oprah, Kristina has branched out on her own, creating videos about juggling all of life’s challenges, and encouraging her audience to prioritize their mental health. She has quickly become a viral sensation with 2.9 million Facebook followers, over 670,000 Instagram followers, and more than a billion video views. Kristina’s first book, Hold On But Don’t Hold Still has been translated to seven languages. Her second book, I Can Fix This! (And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself while Parenting My Struggling Child) was released in May 2024.   Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/tilt - It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 023a: TIlt Founder Debbie Reber Shares the Tilt Manifesto
May 24 2024
TPP 023a: TIlt Founder Debbie Reber Shares the Tilt Manifesto
When I launched the Tilt Parenting website in April 2016, I was excited to share with the world the Tilt Manifesto, a document outlining my vision for a more positive, more inclusive, and more all-around awesome experience for parents raising differently-wired kids, as well as my ideas for how we can get there together. Because it’s important to us that the ideas behind the Tilt Manifesto are consumed and shared as broadly as possible, and because I know that the Manifesto is a kind of a long read and one thing we parents of atypical kids don’t necessarily have a lot of lying around is spare time, I decided to dedicate an entire episode of the podcast to the Manifesto. In it, I not only share my personal story of how I shifted my experience raising Asher from one where I felt overwhelmingly frustrated, stressed, and isolated to one full of acceptance, optimism, and possibility, but I lay out 10 ideas for things we can start doing today to shift the parenting paradigm to one that embraces our kids and our experience raising them. So, if you haven’t had a chance to read the Manifesto yet, or you have read it but could use a fresh burst of inspiration, I invite you to sit back and have a listen, and join me in imagining what could be when we join together to shift the experience for families with differently-wired kids.    Things You'll Learn From This Episode: Debbie Reber’s personal story of raising her twice-exceptional son Why the current parenting paradigm is broken and outdated, especially for parents with atypical kids How though our journey raising our differently-wired children is unique to us and who our children are, we are tied together through shared experiences of parenting outside the lines The 10 things parents everywhere can start doing right now to take a lead in shifting the parenting paradigm   Resources Mentioned: The TiLT Manifesto (download link for PDF) Neurodiversity: What Does it Mean for 2015? by John Elder Robinson (Psychology Today) Margaret Webb Life Coach Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/tilt - It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 381: Dr. Megan Anna Neff and Dr. Debra Brause on the Complex Relationship Between Traditional Therapeutic Practices & Neurodivergence
May 21 2024
TPP 381: Dr. Megan Anna Neff and Dr. Debra Brause on the Complex Relationship Between Traditional Therapeutic Practices & Neurodivergence
I’m SOOO excited to share this conversation with you, as it’s been a few months in the making and it’s on a topic I’m personally very interested in and I feel like not enough people are talking about — and that topic is, the intersection of traditional therapeutic modalities and neurodivergence. Specifically, I wanted to examine how some therapies may not meet the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals and what it means for a therapist to be truly neurodivergent-affirming.  And I have two wonderful guests to get into it with me — author, parent of neurodivergent children and neurodivergent clinical psychologist Dr. Megan Anna Neff, who’s been on this show twice before, and Dr. Debra Brause, the parent of an autistic ADHDer, and a licensed psychologist and therapist who works from a neurodivergent-affirming stance. And get into it we do. In this conversation, Megan Anna, Debra, and I explore what some limitations and challenges are for neurodivergent clients working with therapists who don’t understand their neurotypes, how therapeutic approaches can be adapted to provide sensory safety and center the client's experience and agency, why cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may not be as effective for differently wired people, as well as the potential limitations of standard strategies like mindfulness and visualization as. Most importantly, we'll discuss the qualities to look for in a therapist who is truly neurodivergent affirming —what that means, and how it can make all the difference in a child's therapeutic journey. Megan Anna and Debra shared a lot of resources as well that you can go back to if you are a parent looking to get your child therapy.  Dr. Megan Anna Neff is the founder of Neurodivergent Insights where she creates education and wellness resources for neurodivergent adults, the co-host of the Divergent Conversations podcast, and the author of Self-Care For Autistic People, which is the book we talked about last time she was on the show. As a late-diagnosed AuDHDer , Dr. Neff applies their lived experiences to their professional focus. They are committed to broadening the mental health field's understanding of autism and ADHD beyond traditional stereotypes.  Dr. Debra Brause helps couples embrace who their children are, and provides support and guidance through this unique journey. Her professional training includes diagnostic assessment for learning disabilities at the UCLA Office for Students with Disabilities, and clinical work in community mental health settings including The Southern California Counseling Center and the Maple Counseling Center.    Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/tilt - It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 012a: A Conversation with 11-year-old Asher About Managing & Tracking Screen Time
May 17 2024
TPP 012a: A Conversation with 11-year-old Asher About Managing & Tracking Screen Time
In this special kid’s POV edition, Asher and I talk about SCREEN TIME. Like many families with children (differently-wired or not), the issue of screen time — how much, what kind, and when — is something we are constantly grappling with. And because like many other differently-wired kids, Asher is really into the games and projects he’s got going on in his virtual world, we’ve struggled to come up with an approach that feels good for Derin and me as parents while also helping Asher learn how to be more responsible for his time and behavior online (and after he shuts down). In this episode, Asher and I detail our current approach for tracking screen time, which we co-designed in such a way that it will help him learn to track his own time, set intentions for how he will spend his time, and stay emotionally regulated both while online and when it’s time to get off. (That’s the goal anyway!). And if you want to give our approach a try, download our Screen Time Planning Worksheet below! Things You'll Learn from This Episode: The strategy we’re using to help Asher learn to be more responsible for his screen time, as well as support more peaceful transitions from screen to the real world Why time warnings might actually create anxiety rather than smooth transitions How frequent brain breaks can support healthy screen time habits   Resources Mentioned: Download a PDF of Asher’s New and Improved Screen Time Planning Worksheet The Productivity Planner from Intelligent Design The Pomodoro Technique Time Tracker Visual Timer and Clock from Fun and Function Get Exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/tilt - It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 380: Dr. Marc D. Hauser on the Harm of Childhood Trauma and the Hope of Resiliency
May 14 2024
TPP 380: Dr. Marc D. Hauser on the Harm of Childhood Trauma and the Hope of Resiliency
Today, we're delving into a topic that's both profound and hopeful: the harm of childhood trauma and the incredible power of resilience. Joining me on the show is Dr. Marc D. Hauser, who's here to unravel these complex topics in a way that's accessible and empowering for all parents. Through his groundbreaking work, including his new book Vulnerable Minds: The Harms of Childhood Trauma and the Hope of Resiliency, which is what we’re diving into today, Marc brings scientific evidence about childhood trauma to a broader audience and sheds light on the pathways to healing and growth. In this conversation, we explore what constitutes a traumatic experience and why neurodivergent children may be more vulnerable to their effects, as well as ACES, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, often misunderstood but profoundly influential in shaping a child's journey. Marc helps us understand their significance in the context of resilience.   About Marc Hauser Marc Hauser is a scientist, educator, author, consultant and public speaker. Hauser’s scientific research, including over 300 published papers and seven books, has focused on how the brain evolves, develops, and is altered by damage and neurodevelopmental disorders, with an emphasis on the processes of learning and decision-making, as well as the impact of traumatic experiences on development. Hauser’s educational and consulting work has focused on the implementation of quantitative, brain-based methods for teachers, clinicians, and doctors working with children who have different disabilities, including especially those that result from a history of traumatic experiences. Hauser earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bucknell University, a PhD from UCLA and Post-doctoral fellowships from the University of Michigan, Rockefeller University, and University of California-Davis. From 1992-2011, he was a Professor at Harvard University. In 2013, he founded the company Risk-Eraser, dedicated to providing software and consulting to programs focusing on students in special education. His most recent book Vulnerable Minds, published in March 2024 by Avery-Penguin-Random House Publishing, New York.   Things you'll learn from this episode How Vulnerable Minds makes scientific evidence about childhood trauma accessible to a broader audience How traumatic experiences are defined The impact of trauma on neurodivergent children as well as ways in which these kids are more vulnerable to trauma What it means for a school to be trauma-informed in action What ACES are and how their assignment and meaning is frequently misinterpreted and misunderstood The role of nature and nurture when it comes to whether other not an experience results in trauma or is met with resiliency   Resources mentioned for the Harm of Childhood Trauma and the Hope of Resiliency Dr. Marc D. Hauser’s author website Vulnerable Minds: The Harms of Childhood Trauma and the Hope of Resiliency by Dr. Marc D. Hauser International Children’s Aid Network (iCAN) Marc Hauser on X Marc Hauser on Instagram Marc Hauser on Linkedin Marc Hauser on Facebook Dr. Vincent Falliti Stephen Porges and Polyvagal Theory The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Health and Development in Young Children (National Institute of Health Study) The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, MD What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey Kelly Mahler on Understanding and Supporting Kids’ Interoception Experience (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Lori Desautels on Shifting Educational Systems Toward Post-Traumatic Growth (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Revelations in Education, Dr. Lori Desautel’s website Intentional Neuroplasticity: Our Educational Journey Towards Post Traumatic Growth by Dr. Lori Desautels   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 378: Julie Bogart on Helping Kids Become Critical Thinkers
May 7 2024
TPP 378: Julie Bogart on Helping Kids Become Critical Thinkers
In a world overflowing with information and complexity, critical thinking isn't just a useful skill; it's an essential life raft. From navigating complex interactions to making informed decisions, our children need the ability to think critically now more than ever. But what does that really mean? And how can we as parents nurture this skill in our children? I invited author and Brave Writer founder Julie Bogart back to the show to help us answer these questions and to talk about her new book, Becoming a Critical Thinker: A Workbook to Help Students Think Well in an Age of Disinformation. In this conversation, we got into so many things. And as you’ll hear, I could have talked to Julie for hours. But for this episode, you can expect to hear Julie’s thoughts on how and why we can foster critical thinking in our children, how considering multiple perspectives and incorporating diverse viewpoints leads to better problem-solving, what parents can do to encourage self-awareness, open-mindedness, and curiosity, and much more. About Julie Bogart Julie Bogart is known for her common sense parenting and education advice. She’s the author of the beloved book, The Brave Learner, which has brought joy and freedom to countless home educators. Her new book, Raising Critical Thinkers, offers parents a lifeline in navigating the complex digital world our kids are confronting. Julie’s also the creator of the award-winning, innovative online writing program called Brave Writer, now 22 years old, serving 191 countries. She home educated her five children, who are globe-trotting adults. Today, Julie lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and can be found sipping a cup of tea while planning her next visit to one of her lifelong-learning kids. Things you'll learn from this episode Why critical thinking is essential to navigate complex issues and make informed decisions How considering multiple perspectives and incorporating diverse viewpoints leads to better problem-solving and policy-making How parents can play a crucial role in fostering critical thinking skills in their children by encouraging self-awareness, open-mindedness, and curiosity Why traditional models of authority and obedience in parenting are being replaced by a more collaborative and respectful approach that values children's reasoning and autonomy How the Becoming a Critical Thinker workbook helps students develop skills such as vetting sources, analyzing data, and considering multiple perspectives Why engaging in perspective-taking and tolerance can help neurodivergent kids deconstruct ideas and accept other points of view   Resources mentioned for Helping Kids Become Critical Thinkers Julie Bogart’s Brave Writer website Julie Bogart’s Blog at Brave Writer Brave Writer Writing Blitz Brave Writer Podcast Becoming a Critical Thinker: A Workbook to Help Students Think Well in an Age of Disinformation by Julie Bogart Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parents’ Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart Julie Bogart on Instagram Julie Bogart on Facebook Julie Bogart on Twitter Julie Bogart on Moving Through Writing Resistance for Differently Wired Kids (Tilt Parenting podcast) Herman Kahn Noam Chomsky The Vow (HBO Documentary series) Killing Us Softly documentary (Jean Kilborne)   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 376: Kelley Coleman on Everything No One Tells You About Parenting  a Disabled Child
Apr 30 2024
TPP 376: Kelley Coleman on Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child
Have you ever felt paralyzed by all the “stuff” involved in charting a path and advocating for your child? I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s put off calling the insurance company or establishing a relationship with a new health care provider because at the time it felt too overwhelming and daunting. But what if there was a resource that provided everything parents and caregivers need to know about navigating all the complex, but critical, aspects of raising a neurodivergent child? How great would that be? I’ve got some good news for you! Today’s guest, Kelley Coleman, has created that resource — it’s her brand new book called Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports. Kelley’s book draws upon over a decade of experience, including her own experience parenting a child with multiple disabilities. It’s an honest, relatable, actionable roadmap to the practicalities of parenting a disabled child, featuring personal stories, expert interviews, and the foundational information parents need to know about topics including diagnosis, school, doctors, insurance, financial planning, disability rights, and what life looks like as a parent caregiver. In this conversation, Kelley, a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities, shares so many insights from her book, including the difference between being a parent and being a caregiver, strategies for navigating Insurance, working with medical teams, and other daunting systems, future care planning, and so much more. Seriously, Kelley has created SUCH an incredible resource in this book, because she’s researched, and mapped, and made simple and doable the key things and tools parents need to stop wasting unnecessary time, money, and stress as they navigate this journey. Enjoy the episode, and please share it with others who would benefit from Kelley’s insight and positive approach so that they can spend less time filling out forms, and more time loving their children exactly as they are.   About Kelley Coleman Kelley Coleman is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports draws upon over a decade of experience, including her own experience parenting a child with multiple disabilities. Kelley lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two boys, and her son’s trusty service dog.   Things you'll learn from this episode What the difference is between parenting and caregiving and why it’s an important distinction to make What some of the most common challenge nondisabled parents face embracing disability in their children Why it’s critical that parents and caregivers have access to practical information (and why it’s so hard to find) Strategies for navigating Insurance, working with medical teams, and other daunting systems Why financial planning is so important and how to get started The benefits of connecting with experts and disabled leaders in the disability community   Resources mentioned for Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child Kelley Coleman’s website Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports by Kelley Coleman Kelley Coleman on Instagram Kelley Coleman on Facebook Emily Ladau’s website Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally by Emily Ladau Activist Emily Ladau on Demystifying Disability (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Judy Heumann (disability rights activist) Rebecca Cokley (disability rights activist) After Revealing He Couldn’t Read, Former Convict Is Inspiring Others on TikTok — Here’s How (People Magazine article about Oliver James) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 374: Penn & Kim Holderness Talk About How ADHD is Awesome in Love & in Life
Apr 23 2024
TPP 374: Penn & Kim Holderness Talk About How ADHD is Awesome in Love & in Life
I’ve been a longtime fan of Kim and Penn Holderness, who I’ve had a parasocial relationship with for years as I love to consume and share their funny music videos, vlogs, and skits. And in more recent years, it’s exciting to see them talking openly and with humor and authenticity about Penn’s ADHD and how together, Kim and Penn navigate their marriage and raising kids in their mixed neurotype household. All that say, I loved having a chance to sit down with Kim and Penn to talk about their brand new book, out next week, called ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD, which they wrote because they are on a mission to reboot how we think about ADHD by taking us inside their ADHD world, and all highs, lows, and moments in between. I think what I loved about their book, and this conversation, the most is that Kim and Penn are real and open about how beautiful, and yes, messy, it can be to navigate family life as a person with ADHD or as someone married to an ADHDer. And so in today’s conversation, that’s what we hear about — how Penn has learned to hack himself to manage his ADHD-related challenges, the ways in which ADHD has enriched their family life, how Kim has reframed her thinking and approach to support Penn’s executive function challenges and be an “ADHD whisperer” while also taking care of her own emotional and mental well-being. After listening to this episode, I highly recommend you go to their Instagram or YouTube and check out their content. Their first book together, Everybody Fights, about how couples can fight better and end your arguments feeling closer, more loved, and better understood, came out in 2021. The book we’re talking about today, ADHD is Awesome, comes out April 30.   About Kim and Penn Holderness Kim and Penn Holderness have been married for sixteen years. For seven of those years, they have chronicled their marriage and their family with funny music videos, vlogs, skits, and a podcast. Their videos have resulted in over a billion views and 4.5 million followers across social media. Penn and Kim honed their storytelling skills with twenty-five combined years in the TV news business. Today, they own their own company, Holderness Family Productions, where Kim is Chief Executive Officer and Penn is Chief Creative Officer. As well as creating content for their channels, they also work alongside brands and agencies to shape product launches and marketing campaigns. Their book about improving communication in marriage was released March 30, 2021. Penn and Kim live in Raleigh, North Carolina, with their children, Lola and Penn Charles, and fluffy dog, Sunny.   Things you'll learn from this episode How Penn navigated being diagnosed with ADHD in college and how that impacted his understanding of self and identity The power of “operation mindset shift” and reframing ADHD traits as strengths How Kim came to understand how Penn’s brain wiring impacted his executive functioning How Penn has “hacked” himself to manage his ADHD symptoms and challenges The power of empathy, comfort, and connection when navigating a mixed neurotypes relationship What some of the “upsides” are for friends and family members of people with ADHD   Resources mentioned for How ADHD is Awesome in Love & in Life The Holderness Family ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD by Kim and Penn Holderness The Holderness Family Podcast ADHD is Awesome Book Trailer (YouTube) Everybody Fights: So Why Not Get Better At It? by Kim and Penn Holderness Dr. Ned Hallowell Dr. Ned Hallowell on How Parents Can Best Support Their Children with ADHD (Tilt Parenting podcast) Dr. Emily King Learn with Dr. Emily (podcast) ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction - from Childhood Through Adulthood by Dr. Ned Hallowell Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood by Dr. Ned Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
TPP 372: Dr. Megan Anna Neff on Self-Care for Autistic People
Apr 16 2024
TPP 372: Dr. Megan Anna Neff on Self-Care for Autistic People
I’ve done one episode just about self-care for this show — it’s a solocast from five years ago where I shared twelve strategies and ideas for creating a sustainable, doable self-care practice. I’ll have a link to that in the show notes page for this episode. Today’s episode is about self-care, too, but the focus is on self-care for autistic people, and joining me is return guest Dr. Megan Anna Neff of Neurodivergent Insights. Megan Anna has just published a brand new book called Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask! which she wrote to help autistic people accept themselves, destigmatize autism, find community, and take care of physical and mental health. I really enjoyed going inside this book because, as we discuss, self-care is so much more than what it appears to be on the surface. Megan Anna considers self-care to be a collective effort that includes the well-being of the community, a framework that really resonated with me. So we talk about that, along with other ideas from Megan Anna’s book, including how internalized ableism can hinder self-care, considerations for navigating self-care for individuals with PDA, and insights into co-regulation, sensory considerations, and how advocacy and accommodations in the workplace can also be forms of self-care.   About Dr. Megan Anna Neff Dr. Megan Anna Neff (she/they) is a neurodivergent Clinical Psychologist and founder of Neurodivergent Insights where she creates education and wellness resources for neurodivergent adults. Additionally, she is co-host of the Divergent Conversations podcast. As a late-diagnosed AuDHDer (Autistic ADHD), Dr. Neff applies their lived experiences from a cross-neurotype marriage and parenting neurodivergent children to their professional focus. They are committed to broadening the mental health field's understanding of autism and ADHD beyond traditional stereotypes. This personal-professional blend enriches their work and advocacy within neurodiversity. Dr. Neff is the author of Self-Care for Autistic People and a forthcoming book on Autistic Burnout. Additionally, she has published in several peer-reviewed journals on topics ranging from neurodivergence, place attachment, relational psychoanalysis, social psychology, and integration of spirituality into psychotherapy. Passionate about distilling complex research into visually accessible formats, she translates research into visual pixels which you can find on her website, Instagram, and digital workbooks. Additionally, Dr. Neff is passionate about community building and creating digital communities by and for neurodivergent individuals.   Things you'll learn from this episode Why self-care should be approached with self-attunement and an understanding of one's own needs Why self-care is a collective effort that includes the well-being of the community How internalized ableism can hinder self-care and why it’s important to address it Ideas for navigating self-care for individuals with PDA regarding autonomy, co-regulation, and sensory considerations Ways to practice self-care in the workplace, including self-disclosure, documentation, and setting realistic expectations   Resources mentioned for Self-Care for Autistic People Dr. Megan Anna Neff’s website Self-Care For Autistic People by Dr. Megan Anna Neff * A special bonus offer for Tilt Parenting community * Divergent Conversations Podcast Neurodivergent Insights on Instagram Neurodivergent Insights on Facebook Dr. Megan Anna Neff on LinkedIn Dr. Megan Anna Neff’s Link in Bio Dr. Megan Anna Neff on Diagnoses and Misdiagnoses (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Sarah Wayland Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Dr. Donna Henderson and Dr. Sarah Wayland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices