S3 E8: Autism, Advocacy and being Unapologetically Visible with Yenn Purkis

Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. In this episode, Jenny is joined by children's nurse and sleep consultant Michelle Cyril to talk about neuroaffirming sleep and why traditional sleep advice often does not work for neurodivergent children and teenagers. Michelle shares the moment she realised that the strategies she used professionally were not working with her own neurodivergent children. Together, Jenny and Michelle explore sensory regulation, busy brains and bodies, transitions, PDA and what it really means to work with a child's brain instead of against it. Michelle also talks about the period she spent working with neurodiversity consultant Madeleine Woolgar, whose approach changed how she supports her own children. Madeleine's work is tailored to the individual family she is working with, so her specific recommendations are not covered here. Her details are in the links below. Jenny and Michelle discuss why calm and stillness are not always the answer, how movement and sensory activity can help some children settle, and why your child's natural sleep window may look completely different from other children's. Michelle explains why an earlier bedtime does not necessarily mean more sleep and how parents can rethink routines, baths and expectations. They also talk about the pressure parents put on themselves when sleep is difficult, why bedtime struggles are not a sign of failure, and how looking after your own regulation can make evenings easier for everyone. Ultimately, neuroaffirming sleep is about understanding the child in front of you and creating routines that support their brain, body and nervous system.

Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. It's the first episode of Season 4 - can you believe it?! In this episode, Jenny is joined by Daniel Curtis for a wide-ranging conversation about neurodivergence, diagnosis, masking, authenticity and what happens when you finally begin to understand yourself differently. Daniel shares his experience of being diagnosed with ADD and the psychiatrist who told him, very bluntly, that he was “bluffing the world every day”. Rather than simply giving him a diagnosis and sending him on his way, she asked him a much bigger question: now that you know this about yourself, what are you actually going to do differently? This episode explores masking, vulnerability, creativity, parenting neurodivergent children, the emotional impact of diagnosis and why there is no single correct way to process discovering that you are neurodivergent. Jenny and Daniel talk about the fear that can still surround diagnostic labels, why understanding a child’s neurodivergence can help us support them more effectively and the complicated mix of relief, anger, grief and self-understanding that can follow a diagnosis later in life. They also explore why authenticity requires vulnerability, why we often connect more deeply with people who are willing to show their imperfections and how understanding yourself can change the way you move through the world. The conversation turns to purpose, fulfilment and supporting other people through experiences you once had to navigate alone, as Jenny reflects on why so much of her own work comes from wanting other neurodivergent people to feel understood and less alone. At the heart of the conversation is one simple idea: you do not need to have everything figured out. Sometimes you just need to work out what the next right thing is. Useful links Find out more about Daniel Curtis: https://www.danielcurtishq.com/ Join the Reclaim Yourself membership waitlist or check whether doors are open: https://www.audhdistically.me/join-the-membership Work with Jenny, including 1:1 coaching and text coaching options: https://www.audhdistically.me/work-with-me Sign up for Jenny’s weekly Positivity Pause newsletter: https://www.audhdistically.me/get-my-newsletter Buy Jenny’s book: https://amzn.to/4o58FQf Visit Audhdistically Me: https://www.audhdistically.me Follow Jenny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audhdistically.me

Welcome back to Autism, ADHD and Us Three. In this community Q&A episode, Jenny answers 10 questions sent in by listeners and Instagram followers about late-diagnosed autism, ADHD and AuDHD identity. This is the final episode of Season 3 as the podcast will be taking its summer break in July and August.

If you are parenting a disabled or neurodivergent child and sometimes feel like the world was not built with your family in mind, this episode will land. In this episode of Autism, ADHD and Us Three, Jenny sits down with Dana Garrett to talk about parenting, advocacy, communication, community, and the very real emotional load of caring for a child with additional needs. Dana shares her experience as the mother of a mostly non-verbal daughter, and opens up about everything from diagnosis and communication differences to sibling dynamics, self-care, and the power of creating stories that help children feel seen. Together, they explore how behaviour is often communication, why caregivers need support too, and how inclusive books and communities can make life feel less isolating for families navigating disability and neurodivergence. Inside this episode: Communication beyond words, including AAC, sign language, gestures, and behaviour Why behaviour is often communication, not defiance The reality of parenting a non-verbal child Supporting siblings of neurodivergent and disabled children Why caregiver self-care is essential, not selfish The importance of community, shared understanding, and safe spaces How inclusive children’s books can build empathy, acceptance, and confidence This is a warm, honest conversation about advocacy, resilience, and the need for families like ours to feel held, understood, and less alone. 🎧 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dana Garrett 01:40 Early Development and Diagnosis of Elena 05:26 Communication Beyond Words 09:42 Understanding Behavior as Communication 12:12 Advocacy and Navigating Social Situations 13:34 The Journey of Self-Publishing Children's Books 17:44 Supporting Siblings of Neurodivergent Children 20:46 Creating Inclusive Stories 24:03 The Importance of Community 27:29 Self-Care Strategies for Caregivers 33:21 Upcoming Retreats and Workshops for Caregivers 💛 Connect with Dana Garrett Author website: https://danagarrett.com Rare Blooms Foundation: https://rarebloomsfoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danagarrett/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danagarrett/ 💫 Resources Mentioned Elena and Wyatt's Adventures on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Elena+and+Wyatt%27s+Adventures Self-love journals for caregivers on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=self-love+journals+for+caregivers Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VJX4V4X Coherent Breathing Technique: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6362514/ 💛 Work With Me & Next Steps New here? Start here: https://welcome.audhdistically.me/start-here Sign up for The Positivity Pause newsletter: https://www.audhdistically.me Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audhdistically.me

If you thought finally getting your autism or ADHD diagnosis would feel like pure relief… and instead you feel exhausted, foggy, emotional or completely flattened… this one’s for you. In this solo episode of Autism, ADHD and Us Three, Jenny breaks down something nobody really warns you about. The post-diagnosis crash. She explains why so many late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults experience burnout after finally getting answers, and why this isn’t weakness, regression or you not coping well enough. It is physiology. Jenny explores what happens inside the nervous system after decades of masking, hypervigilance and pushing through environments that were never built for your brain. She talks about the relief that comes with diagnosis, and why that relief can actually trigger shutdown, exhaustion and emotional fallout. Inside this episode: Why diagnosis can act like a circuit breaker for your nervous system How ADHD hyperfocus and autistic deep processing can accelerate burnout The physical signs of nervous system recalibration Why you cannot “optimise” your way out of this phase Practical ways to stabilise when everything feels too much What real recovery actually looks like This episode is a permission slip to slow down. To stop turning yourself into a project. To let your body land after years of survival mode. If you are in that shaky “who am I now?” space… you are not alone. 🎧 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:05 Relief and the unexpected crash 01:34 Why burnout happens after diagnosis 02:30 What is happening inside the body and brain 03:34 Masking, hypervigilance and chronic stress 05:48 The nervous system under long-term pressure 07:42 Diagnosis as a circuit breaker 08:36 Physical signs of recalibration 09:29 Identity shifts and psychological changes 10:54 Grief after diagnosis 12:13 The post-diagnosis crash explained 12:53 ADHD hyperfocus and autistic deep processing 13:44 Medication and increased sensory awareness 15:09 Nervous system regulation and perceived regression 17:02 Acceptance and self-compassion 20:42 What to actually do during burnout 21:34 Myths about strength and recovery 22:55 Practical regulation and self-care 23:50 Small steps that help 24:46 Community and support 28:00 Final encouragement 💛 Work With Me & Next Steps Join my free 5 day live experience Unlearning the Bullshit https://welcome.audhdistically.me/unlearning-bs-registration New here? Start here: https://welcome.audhdistically.me/start-here Sign up for The Positivity Pause newsletter: https://www.audhdistically.me Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audhdistically.me