Navigating Dental Treatment with Sensory Differences
Soles to Soul Care for Trauma and AuDHD with Eve Menezes CunninghamShow Notes
This week, for the Spring Equinox and World Oral Health Day, I’m sharing some self-care ideas for supporting yourself through dental treatment with sensory differences. I’d been feeling quite proud of myself for handling the gum surgery and all it brought up (flashbacks etc) but then, boom, dental claim rejected. So this whole episode about advocating for yourself, with sensory differences and other AuDHD traits and symptoms, while helpful, didn’t help me with the finances of it all as I’d thought I had been advocating for myself and don’t know enough about dentist language to be able to discern in the same way that the insurance people do. I’d never had to deal with it before. So while I’m improving with the self-compassion but am feeling pretty frustrated that am €500 short and need to pay out loads more in two weeks! And that’s life! Progress not perfection! Healing being far from linear! And, with my ongoing aim to not argue with reality and ask how any problem is actually trying to help me, I guess I needed the gum surgery and couldn’t have made it happen had I known it wouldn’t have been covered. What I really notice is that even with my lack of dental and periodontal jargon knowhow, my attitude towards myself is kinder. For most of my 50 years, I’d have been, “I should have somehow KNOWN” whereas now I’m like, you know what? I’m not a dentist. I have no idea what any of the labels mean and that’s on them for being misleading and not at least having a glossary with lay terms. How about YOU? As you watched or listened and scanned all your parts (including your teeth!) from the soles of your feet to your soul, what needs YOUR attention? Are you fobbing yourself off in any way? Look after yourself and let me know what helps you do the far less pampery and indulgent but very important types of self-care in terms of looking after your teeth, your finances and this one and only body you have for your entire life… Le grá (with love), Eve CHAPTERS 0:00 Finding support and community around sensory differences 0:43 Podcast introduction and Eve’s background 5:09 World Oral Health Day and anxiety about dental care 6:03 Neurodivergence, shame and struggles with dental hygiene 8:49 Advocating for sensory needs during dental treatment 11:42 Healing after surgery and the impact of long-term infection 15:04 Using the Feel. Love. Heal. framework for medical anxiety 17:52 Self-compassion and asking for support during treatment 23:10 Collective care and involving others in your healing 25:06 Encouragement to seek treatment and share experiences 27:18 Reflection and closing thoughts LINKS World Oral Health Day - https://www.worldoralhealthday.org/ Book bonus videos - https://solestosoul.ie/book/yoga-videos/ Metta meditation - https://solestosoul.ie/2019/10/02/self-care-metta-meditation-for-when-the-news-is-especially-challenging/ #worldoralhealthday #audhd #trauma #dentist #solestosoulcarefortraumaandaudhd #evemenezescunningham
More from Soles to Soul Care for Trauma and AuDHD with Eve Menezes Cunningham
As we get closer to Samhain, the start of the Celtic New Year, original Hallowe’en and time where the veil between the worlds of the living and dead are said to be thinnest, it’s an especial delight to welcome the fantabulous Lisa Taylor. She shares her ideal and actual self-care, Self care and community care including some of the ways in which she (and you can too) protects her energy, connects with Spirit and stays grounded. What are your favourite ways to connect with your highest, truest, wildest, most joyful, brilliant and miraculous Self? Let us know and thank you for being here. le grá (with love) Ev3 #lisataylor #embodiedwellbeing #grounding #energymanagement #solestosoulcarefortraumaandaudhd CHAPTERS 0:00 Energy management and the nervous system 3:25 Lisa’s work in travel, design and wellness 4:52 Looking after your energy 10:51 Self-care, trauma and working for yourself 14:35 Creating a morning self-care routine 16:23 How sea swimming can help reset 21:06 Creativity, play and switching off from work 27:12 Community, retreats and collective care 34:30 The cardamom pod question 37:15 Advice to a younger self LINKS https://www.lisataylortravel.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lisataylortravel/ https://www.instagram.com/luckylisat/ Transcendental Meditation https://www.tm.org/en-gb Vickie El-Rayyes https://www.dilligrey.com/ If you enjoyed this, check out: Episode 93: More Joy, Less Angst: Trauma-Informed Yoga for AuDHD https://solestosoul.ie/2026/01/13/more-joy-less-angst-trauma-informed-yoga-for-audhd-episode-93-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 99: Defy Dystopia! Energy Clearing Meditation for Trauma and AuDHD https://solestosoul.ie/2026/02/24/defy-dystopia-energy-clearing-meditation-for-trauma-and-audhd-episode-99-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 130: Wayward Women Co-author, Tracey Davies https://solestosoul.ie/2026/09/29/wayward-women-co-author-tracey-davies-episode-130-of-soles-to-soul-care-for-trauma-and-audhd-with-eve-menezes-cunningham/ Choose your own adventures: https://solestosoul.ie/adventures/ Book your free telephone consultation and access 100s of body-mind practices at https://solestosoul.ie/free-downloads
I so loved talking to Sue Reed about her books, trauma recovery, late diagnosis of ADHD, graveyards, blackberries, nana naps, sea swims, trees and so much more. What part/s of your story have you been told others don’t care about? What might you be able to alchemise if you give yourself permission to care about it and trust that others will too? You can watch or listen wherever you podcast and access full transcript, show notes, links and more here le grá (with love), Ev3 #suereed #therewildingofmollymcflynn #authorlife #latediagnosedadhd #traumahealing CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to the podcast and meeting Sue Reed 04:10 From therapy to creative writing and The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn 10:14 Self-care, cold water and finding space to regulate 15:27 The importance of movement and learning to feel lovable 20:57 Addiction, trauma and understanding what happened 23:32 Finding your voice through writing and an ADHD diagnosis 27:13 From shame to self-compassion 30:57 Realising it wasn’t your fault 34:09 Learning to set boundaries 35:52 Finding community, connection and support 40:26 Throwing cardamom pods for Gill Castle 42:41 What Sue would tell her younger self 45:20 It absolutely was not your fault 46:22 Grounding and checking in with yourself LINKS RIPE Post-trauma badassery, unapologetic ageing, gardening as witchcraft, menopausal resurrection, van life joyrides, and neurospicy chaos. By Sue Reed
I’ve been sober (alcohol and drugs, mostly alcohol) since 2001. Quit smoking in 2001, too. Became vegan in 2017. And (drumroll) it’s nearly 7 weeks since I quit the crisps! In this episode, I share what may sound like a silly example of dorsal vagal (aka Freeze! with the Polyvagal Purrs approach – journal and planner coming soon!) numbing and yet it was challenging. I remember contemplating quitting crisps in 2008 doing my NLP master practitioner training but not wanting to be “crisp sober” so not going ahead. I hope this episode will help you untangle some of your own numbing go to behaviours and remember that you deserve better. le grá (with love), Ev3 HASHTAGS #iamjanedoe #polyvagalpurrs #sobriety #embodiedwellbeing #solestosoulcarefortraumaandaudhd CHAPTERS 00:00 Struggling to do what you mean to do 03:19 When behaviours help us feel safer 06:48 Learning to feel good in your body 10:12 Understanding your nervous system responses 12:18 Getting curious about what a behaviour is trying to do 14:03 Learning to love and care for yourself 15:55 Healing through community and support 18:19 How the body can teach us what we need 20:56 Sending love back to our younger selves 25:24 The cardamom pod question 28:43 The Body is Not an Apology (Sonya Renee Taylor) 30:26 Grounding and listening to what you need LINKS Sonya Renee Taylor: https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/ Meggan Watterson: https://www.megganwatterson.com/ onlinevents: https://app.onlinevents.co.uk/ If you enjoyed this, check out: Episode 25: ‘My needs are high’ says Louise Lucas (formerly Brown), the delightful queer, neurodivergent therapist, supervisor and trainer https://solestosoul.ie/podcast-feed/my-needs-are-high-says-louise-brown-the-delightful-queer-neurodivergent-therapist-supervisor-and-trainer/ Episode 127: Compassion and Pandas with Louise Lucas: Episode 127 https://solestosoul.ie/2026/09/08/compassion-and-pandas-with-louise-lucas-episode-127-of-soles-to-soul-care-for-trauma-and-audhd-with-eve-menezes-cunningham/ Episode 94: Neuro-affirming Self Acceptance with Dr Emma Bede https://solestosoul.ie/2026/01/20/neuro-affirming-self-acceptance-with-dr-emma-bede-episode-94-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 97: Movement and Meaning with John Wilson https://solestosoul.ie/2026/02/10/movement-and-meaning-with-john-wilson-episode-97-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 28: COOKING as self care? Psychotherapist and nutritional therapist Jayne Leonard has revolutionised my LIFE https://solestosoul.ie/podcast-feed/cooking-as-self-care-psychotherapist-and-nutritional-therapist-jayne-leonard-has-revolutionised-my-life/ Episode 42: On Inner Royalty with Jayne Leonard https://solestosoul.ie/2025/01/21/on-inner-royalty-with-jayne-leonard-episode-42-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 50: Neurodiversity Celebration Week with Jayne Leonard https://solestosoul.ie/2025/03/17/neurodiversity-celebration-week-with-jayne-leonard-episode-50-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 60: Jayne Leonard on food and mood https://solestosoul.ie/2025/05/27/jayne-leonard-on-food-and-mood-episode-60-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 48: Cattitude: Purr! Hiss! Freeze! Polyvagal informed self care for trauma and/or ADHD. With cats https://solestosoul.ie/podcast-feed/cattitude-purr-hiss-freeze-polyvagal-informed-self-care-for-trauma-and-or-adhd-with-cats/ Choose your own adventures: https://solestosoul.ie/adventures/ Book your free telephone consultation and access 100s of body-mind practices at https://solestosoul.ie/free-downloads
From dogs to isolated cabins, graveyards to comedy, late diagnosed ADHDer and Wayward Women co-author, Tracey Davies, was an absolute delight to chat to for episode 130 of Soles to Soul Care for Trauma and AuDHD. If you're a late diagnosed AuDHDer (autism and ADHD), autistic or ADHDer, did your school report cards help in the process? I only had one school report to hand over and it was very helpful. I hope you enjoy this episode and thanks again for being here. le grá (with love), Ev3
Am beyond delighted to share this conversation with the magnificent Mattia Maurée of AuDHD Flourishing. I can’t believe I’ve gone from literally sobbing on my kitchen floor a few years ago (when I came across their podcast when I was going through my own late diagnosis. Listening to all the episodes, I felt like they were inside my head) to sharing their ideal and actual self-care. Mattia shares their love of camping, awe-inspiring nature and more. le grá (with love), Ev3 #audhdflourishing #audhd #neuroqueer #lgbtq+ #mattiamauree CHAPTERS 00:00 Mattia on the restorative power of camping 04:03 Mattia created AuDHD Flourishing 07:45 Mattia’s ideal and actual self-care 11:07 Learning to listen to the body 14:05 Finding connection through nature and awe 18:08 Combining nature, movement and connection 19:21 The communities that help Mattia feel held 23:48 The power of group somatic work 25:10 Who Mattia would throw cardamom for 27:40 Sending love to a younger self 30:04 What Mattia needed to hear when they were younger 33:09 Grounding and listening to what you need LINKS https://www.audhdflourishing.com/ https://linktr.ee/mattiam https://www.patreon.com/mattia/about https://www.tiktok.com/@audhdflourishing https://www.youtube.com/@MattiaMauree https://www.rewilding.cc/ If you enjoyed this, check out: Episode 83: Community as self-care with Elizabeth Potts https://solestosoul.ie/2025/11/04/community-as-self-care-with-elizabeth-potts-episode-83-of-the-feel-better-every-day-podcast/ Episode 111: Survival for Sensitive Souls with Zeenat Ahmed-Peto https://solestosoul.ie/2026/05/19/survival-for-sensitive-souls-with-zeenat-ahmed-peto-episode-111-of-soles-to-soul-care-for-trauma-and-audhd-with-eve-menezes-cunningham/ Episode 126: Trauma, AuDHD (autism and ADHD) and Your 9 Senses https://solestosoul.ie/2026/09/01/trauma-audhd-autism-and-adhd-and-your-9-senses-episode-126-of-the-soles-to-soul-care-for-trauma-and-audhd-with-eve-menezes-cunningham-podcast/ Choose your own adventures: https://solestosoul.ie/adventures/ Book your free telephone consultation and access 100s of body-mind practices at https://solestosoul.ie/free-downloads