Connected Divergents

85. How I'm supporting myself in coming back to the things I want & love to do

Tina Ethridge — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:58:41 +0000

Support frameworks and mindsets I'm using to come back to the things I want and love to do after my PTSD/burnout in January :)

84. The Travel Experiment: on finding 'bare minimum' tethers while traveling

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:27:49 +0000

In this week's episode I talk about why traveling has been hard for me with my AuDHD, some past experiences I've had on trips (needing sometimes a full month to recover!), and how I approached my trip this past weekend as an experiment to explore a few questions:

1. Do I have an easier time coming home if I am not the one who has to drive?
2. Do I have an easier time coming home if the primary objective of the trip is to rest and relax?
3. Do I have an easier time coming home if I have maintained a threshold connection to my routines at home?

83. Recovering after a PTSD trigger: fun as the main event

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:27:37 +0000

82. What do I do when I'm avoiding work, my computer, my office?

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:09:32 +0000

Rooting into care, building safety, creating positive emotional experiences, leaning into transition time, and getting curious about the wisdom of our resistance. All so we can pull away from the cycles of avoidance, to adrenaline-and-deadline-fueled push, to crash and burnout, only for that cycle to repeat. Avoidance is asking to be met with support and care, and not to push ourselves harder until we feel like breaking.

81. Using the Scientific Method to work with your ADHD brain

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:20:22 +0000

So excited to share this episode this week!! Today we're talking about how to use the scientific method as a framework to better understand your ADHD brain and your needs! This is how we can conduct experiments, try new things, and implement changes to gather lived-experience data on what *actually* works for us, what *actually* helps us. And the best part—with experimenting, there's no failure. Only data! Every experiment is an opportunity to learn more about how your brain works, and we get to integrate and re-iterate on experiments by using that information. This means that even if an experiment doesn't go the way we planned, it's still a win!

80. Protecting my positive emotional experiences around podcasting today

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:26:43 +0000

It's New Year's Day and I AM TIRED, FAM. I really wanted to share this idea & framework I'm so excited about on experimental frameworks & using the scientific method to better understand your brain & your needs, but I hit a wall in the middle of this episode, which was already a capacity-aligned pivot from that—and I realized I need to end this recording early to go take care of myself. This episode is my own documentation of the win of making a visit, giving myself the chance to see how I felt recording, and realizing from that lived-experience data that my answer is a genuine & authentic 'no' for today. I'll catch up with you more in the next few weeks!

79. Coming back to center after travel and an update on ADHD meds re: creative process

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:14:04 +0000

Sharing in this episode about how I'm coming back to center after a season of travel & routine disruptions, and how I'm noticing ADHD medication is changing my creative process—a lot of grief here for me at the change, but I'm trying some new experiments to see if there are other systems and supports I need to help me with my creativity on meds!

78. When “I don’t want to” really means “I don’t know how”

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:54:10 +0000

This episode is about the experience of Demand Avoidance + how it connects not only to our experience of autonomy-loss, but ALSO our experience of uncertainty—not just that we don't want to do the thing, but that we actually don't yet know how.

In this episode, I share about the differences between demand avoidance and procrastination, and how the understanding of autonomy needs strengthens our resources for support. I'm then breaking down how overwhelm, uncertainty, and lack of clarity can influence the experience of demand avoidance, and how understanding this can bring create even more options for support!

77. A Capacity-Aligned Approach to Credit Card Debt

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:26:07 +0000

Quick Vyvanse ADHD med update from me on this episode, and then jumping into the main topic for today: Nervous System Regulation vs Nervous System Capacity Building, where capacity building can be more effective than regulation, and how I've applied this concept to paying off my post-Hurricane Helene credit card debt.

76. ADHD Meds Update: How will I know when I've found the right dose?

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 19:38:18 +0000

**THIS EPISODE IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE!!** I'm only sharing my personal experiences and reflections! Talk to your doctor!

In this episode I share about what I noticed on 20, 30, and 40mg of Vyvanse, and what I'm looking for to know when I've found the 'right' dose of Vyvanse for me (hopefully!)

75. Self-Sabotage or Self-Protection? Stepping away from the Writers Summit

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:18:50 +0000

I needed to step away from the ADHD Writer’s Summit. In this episode I share about what led me to this decision: the wall I hit around capacity, unstable meds, reflection in therapy. I'm unpacking the guilt of saying no, and how I’m learning to see these moments as reparenting and care instead of spiraling into shame. If you’ve ever wondered whether your ‘self-sabotage’ is really just your neurodivergent support needs showing up, this one’s for you. <3

74. 1 week on Vyvanse: Update!

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:06:14 +0000

**DISCLAIMER** This is not medical advice! Please talk to a doctor before making any important medical decisions that would affect your health!! Repeat: This is not medical advice!

Sharing my own personal experiences on Vyvanse so far, comparing to my experience with Adderall XR (the only other ADHD med I've tried), and how I am evaluating my executive functioning & symptoms as the week has gone on.

73. Back on meds!?! First time on ADHD meds since 2022!

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:00:02 +0000

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not medical advice!! I'm only sharing my personal thoughts and experiences.

Link to work with me 1:1 in coaching!

72. Demands, overwhelm, perfectionism, & 'the big scary project' :}

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:52:29 +0000

Writer's Summit October 10-12

This episode is a case study on a 'big scary project' where I've been feeling a lot of overwhelm, fear, demands, and perfectionism. In it, I'm sharing with you how I process through the emotions that come with big projects like this one (shame, overwhelm, avoidance, shutdowns, meltdowns). This is an exploration on what supporting myself through it looks like, how I sniff out autonomy where I can find it, and how I'm doing things differently vs when I was younger and used adrenaline, cortisol, and fear of humiliation to get things done. (That's growth!)

71. back in the house!! + a different way of thinking about routines

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:36:51 +0000

WE ARE BACK IN THE HOUSE!!! This feels like a whole new chapter of the Connected Divergents pod, and certainly of my life!

Excited to chat with you about what it's been feeling like being back, and a discovery I made about how I experience 'routines' with my autism: not linked to time or sequences, but physical space & visual cues! Hope you enjoy <3

70. Lived Experience Template: self-coaching through a rumination spiral :)

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 23:43:42 +0000

Visit my Substack. Wanted to hop on and share this in real-time—today, I'm going through a *RUMINATION SPIRAL* on my day off! Related to not very fun hotel and insurance and post-hurricane things. I'm catching myself feeling like, if I could just 'close the loop', get to the end, and fix it—then, I won't have to feel this way anymore. I'm also feeling like, "I must be bad. I must have done something wrong. If I hadn't done anything wrong, then this wouldn't have happened." It's bringing me back to feeling like a little kid—scared and worried. In this episode, I'm sharing what I'm realizing as I experience it, and talking about a neurodiversity-affirming framework of compassionate understanding, reflective questions, and values-aligned actions that help support me through these moments.

69. "Where did that fiery little girl go?"

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:07:54 +0000

In this episode, I read a personal essay about growing up as an undiagnosed PDA-profile autistic child. It’s a story about control, shame, and the misunderstood ways resistance shows up in kids who are fighting for autonomy. I talk about meltdowns, self-harm, emotional neglect, and the long path toward healing and self-trust.

This is about what happens when you bury parts of yourself to survive... and what it looks like to slowly bring them home.

Content note: This episode includes reflections on childhood trauma, spanking, emotional neglect, self-harm, and depression. Please listen with care.

68. Outcome-based vs Process-based Goals

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:56:13 +0000

The start of this episode features Biscuit's purring! :D Quick lil dive on how if you're neurodivergent, you might be better-off setting process-based goals instead of outcome-based goals. Outcome-based goals tend to be fairly rigid, and often feel very 'far away'. With process-based goals, we are here to have you feeling focusing on there here & now, and the present that's right in front of you—not a distant dream for a some-day, one-day future!

67. Breaking away from rumination spirals

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:37:05 +0000

In this episode, I'm sharing a recent discovery about a "program" that runs in my brain when I'm feeling unsafe: the belief that I need to do MORE to fix it and reach safety. But the truth is, doing more & more & more only heightens my stress and anxiety—and makes me feel very, very unsafe. I'm talking about a framework and perspective on what actually reinforces the experience of safety—not to fix the problem at hand, but to close the loop on the "I'm not doing enough" program itself.

66. Did an allergy spray fix my burnout?!?

Tina Ethridge — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:10:14 +0000

I think I might actually be coming out of burnout—and the turning point was... an allergy spray? In this episode, I'm sharing my experiences navigating burnout, the subtle shifts and surprising changes I've been noticing lately, and how a new medication has unexpectedly started reshaping my relationship with work, rest, and energy. If you've ever struggled with burnout, this one's for you.

65. CBT vs DBT vs ACT for AuDHD? My personal experiences

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:32:06 +0000

Disclaimer: This episode is not medical advice. It reflects my personal, highly subjective experiences with ACT, CBT, and DBT. Please talk to a qualified professional for support tailored to you!

Resources:
dbt.tools
Book rec: ACT Made Simple by Russ Harris

64. Creative Persistence: Why Sticking with the Problem Leads to Solutions

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:25:13 +0000

In today's episode I'm sharing a tool for reflection and curiosity that I am LOVING for building intimacy around the things you want/love to do (but are finding very hard to do!). Updates on how I've figured out what works for my brain & body around movement, and ways that I've incorporated what works for me with movement into my writing practice!

Instagram Post: Thinking about doing the thing COUNTS as doing the thing
Essay: 'This Counts as Work' for Burnout Recovery

63. Why I don't use transactional rewards systems

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:44:48 +0000

In this episode, I chat through my thoughts on why I don’t use transactional rewards systems. This is more of an exploratory, verbally-processing kind of episode as I try to untangle my feelings about rewards, motivation, and what actually works for me (and maybe for you too!). It’s a casual, chatty deep dive into the nuance of motivation and why gold stars don’t always do it for me.

62. An Introspective on Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:22:51 +0000

An introspective exploration after reading Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman! Thoughts about what I enjoyed from this book, what didn't hit for me, and what still chewing on after reading in. SPOILERS AHEAD!

61. Why I dislike reading books about ADHD??

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:24:25 +0000

I've felt this way for a long time... Why do I feel such a strong dislike towards reading books about ADHD? I'm an ADHD coach! Should I enjoy them??? Diving in with you to explore why, and sharing some *book recs* for the books I absolutely freaking ADORED and what made them different!

**Thank you for being patient as I refigure my audio quality settings! This episode has a lot of pops in it, and I wish it didn't—I promise I'm trying really hard to work out new settings after having to move my setup into the hotel post-hurricane!**

60. When systems/tools/apps meet Demand Avoidance

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:59:55 +0000

I've had a REALIZATION hit me the last few days on why I'm no longer using apps/services like Flow Club (Ep 57) or even the Capacity Compass I talked about earlier this week (Ep 59)—they are too filled with *demands* to be sustainable for my brain wiring. Here's what happened for me to realize this, and the "strategy" I am replacing them with to reclaim my autonomy!

Episode 3: Intentional Novelty

Apps/Services Mentioned:
RescueTime
Boss As a Service
Flow Club

59. Capacity Compass for High/Med/Low Brain Days

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 01:01:45 +0000

Look, some days you're ready to conquer the world and some days putting on matching socks feels like a win. In this episode, we're diving into a chill way to roll with whatever energy you've got: the high/medium/low capacity compass! It's like a choose-your-own-adventure for your tasks, but make it realistic. No more pretending you're a productivity robot - instead, pick from your personalized menu of options based on whether you're feeling like a sparkly unicorn or more like a sleepy sloth. Because hey, doing something small still counts as doing the thing!

58. Dreams for 2025

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 22:14:47 +0000

The difference between setting "goals" and setting "intentions" and sharing my dreams for 2025! Do you have some for this year? Share with me @comfortandkindness on Instagram, or tina@comfortandkindness.co. You can also find my latest essays & newsletter archive over on Substack!

57. Am I not supposed to be shiny?

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:53:58 +0000

I love feeling shiny. But sometimes, I'm my sparkly, warm self and it ends up getting me hurt. Is this just masking? Is this a trauma response—fawning? Is it patriarchal expectations that have been brainwashed into me? Or is it my authentic nature? How do I untangle it all? And what's the reason why all of the help I've received in therapy ("just set boundaries!!) has never been enough? Find out why with me in this episode.

56. 'Flow Club' for body doubling!!??

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 22:58:50 +0000

Have you ever tried the platform 'Flow Club' for body doubling?! I actually am so surprised, but I really have been enjoying it this week!! Breaking down why I prefer it over other platforms like FocusMate—this is coming as someone who historically has loathed and detested body doubling on principle (and I have a whole episode that explains why—Ep 41, When body doubling feels like Masking!). Take a peek!! Here's a link to try it out!

55. Hurricane Helene Update

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:22:02 +0000

Just a quick little ep to break the seal for me when it comes to podcast recording again—Updating you on my life after Hurricane Helene, the challenges I am navigating, the priorities I have for taking care of myself, and the mindsets that are carrying me through. ❤️‍🩹

54. How to Build Intrinsic Motivation with AuDHD

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:58:43 +0000

In this episode, I dive into the difference between intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, especially for those of us with ADHD. Learn how to build and nurture your own intrinsic motivation to get things done in a way that feels good and sustainable. Whether you're tired of relying on external rewards or struggling to tap into your inner drive, this one's for you!

53. When you hate exercise & have a negative relationship with moving your body

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 23:47:05 +0000

DISCLAIMER: I am not a personal trainer or a medical professional!! This is not medical advice! These are just my thoughts, opinions, and experiences as someone who has a strong personal connection to this and has struggled for *years* with negative and self-punishing experiences around movement. Thanks for listening!

52. My lifelong medication journey as a late-diagnosed ADHD'er

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 22:27:25 +0000

DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice! In this ep I am diving way back to my early childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, college, and working life about my misdiagnoses & all of the meds that I took that were not right for my brain—what it felt like to try stimulants after my ADHD diagnosis, and why I later decided to get off of them in 2022. Currently contemplating whether I want to give stimulants another shot or not, but being okay sitting in the unknown.

Show Notes: Growing up as an internalized PDAer from the At Peace Parents Podcast

51. showing up authentically + unmasking journey thoughts

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:36:31 +0000

In this episode I say a big thank you for 10,000 downloads and share what it means to me to be able to show up authentically without masking, and without the thought of, "If I don't mask, then I won't be perceived as worthy/good enough." Chatting about how academia + education pressures us to write in a certain "professional" way instead of cultivating our authentic voice (at least for my line of education!) and how I used makeup as "armor" for so many years. And also about the idea of "regressing" and how yes, it can be true in some ways, but we're so often missing out on the fuller picture!

Thank you so much again for 10k!!!

50. ADHD/AuDHD Journaling Tips + Keeping a "Lab Notebook"

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:34:43 +0000

Talking about ADHD+AuDHD-affirming tips for journaling and why it can be helpful to keep a "lab notebook" style journal instead of a diary to help you experiment with your brain ☺️

Episodes referenced: Episode 9, Storm Journaling & Emotional Dysregulation + Episode 19, How to Come Back to "Doing the Thing" After Time Away (about persistence!)

YouTube video referenced ~ Commonplace books for self-discovery

49. Entering Autonomy & Agency as a Resource State

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:53:51 +0000

What does it feel like to be free from the heavy, sticky state of "DEMAND," and enter the lighter and freer space of autonomy and personal agency, away from demands?

48: "Comfort Zones" Framework: Breaking Away from the All-or-Nothing

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 02:03:32 +0000

What are "comfort zones" when you're AuDHD and how do we "get out of our comfort zone" when we're neurodivergent??? In this episode, I take a neurodiversity-affirming approach to the idea of comfort zones, sharing a few examples of how I've approached it in my own life. Listen in for nuggets about making class webinars in a way that doesn't feel dangerous, Magic The Gathering and socializing as an autistic person, and dog training!

47. Radically Self-Accepting a Meltdown & Post-Meltdown Breakdown

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 01:34:11 +0000

I had a meltdown this week…. And I actually embraced it? Listen in to hear some post-meltdown reflections and analysis, and my key takeaways from what I learned from this experience. (Also! I got a cat!!!)

46. Why “should” we be breaking up with neurotypical social scripts?

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 24 May 2024 02:09:55 +0000

So many of our cultural scripts tell us that there’s a “right” way to do things. If you’re going to write, you have to use a real computer with a keyboard. If you’re going to make art, you need a studio. If you’re going to do the dishes, it has to look THIS way.

These scripts are worth questioning, because so often, the wisdom of our brain’s resistance is saying, “There is a social script here we believe to be correct and ‘right’, but it doesn’t not work for me to do it this way. I need more flexibility. I need another way. I need to figure out what’s right for me.”

45. When to Pause (instead of desperately searching outwards for answers)

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 16 May 2024 22:24:55 +0000

On "the fertile void" and the spirit of being willing and open to receive, instead of chasing after the answers.

44. Why you need a Close Why AND a Far Away Why

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 09 May 2024 14:50:49 +0000

You PROBABLY have a "far away why" for the things you want & need to do. But do you have a "close why"? Is it close enough? Listen to learn more about this expanded neurodiversity-affirming framework for "finding your why!"

43. When "tricking yourself" to do it stops working.

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:31:56 +0000

"I just don't wanna" and The Power of a Visit

42. The (MULTIPLE!) Stages of Making A Change

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 22:23:43 +0000

If you have something pop into your head about yourself or your life that you want to make a change in, **action is not step one**. Action is actually step FOUR, and there are three other critically important stages to move through before even beginning to take action. Listen to hear more about a self-compassionate approach to creating change in our lives.

41. When body doubling feels like MASKING???

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:28:10 +0000

If you've ever used body doubling in the past to great success, but have found that the shininess of this tool has worn off for you, and now you're at the point where you know you *could* use body doubling resources, but your brain is like NAHHHHH.... This episode is for you. If you have thoughts to share about ideas for unmasked & radically neurodivergent-affirming body doubling, please reach out to me at @comfortandkindness on Instagram or tina@comfortandkindness.co!

40. Post-Meltdown Reflections 1.5, an Update

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:24:34 +0000

Just wanted to share an update post-post-meltdown now that I'm feeling better & my head is feeling less fuzzy/cloudy. Grateful for the support of kind people. May we all find our people. <3

39. Post-Meltdown Reflections

Tina Ethridge — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 17:19:57 +0000

This week I had an autistic meltdown. IT WAS NOT FUN! I wanted to share my insights and reflections on it, in case it helps anyone feel less alone in the experience. I see you. I'm with you.

38. When you feel like your needs are an inconvenience to others

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 17:52:15 +0000

Are you carrying an old wound like me, where you feel like your needs are an inconvenience to others, even though all of the evidence you have suggests otherwise? And even though maybe you know its objectively "a good thing" to communicate your needs & your feelings, you're also kind of like... BUT WHY? Why why why? Why would I do this? Why not just deal with it myself? Aren't my feelings my own responsibility??? What's the point of sharing what your needs and your feelings are when you can theoretically regulate your own emotions??... #lonewolf. If you're reading this and feeling like, "Hi, that's totally me," this episode is for you. Sharing stories & experiences in this ep to highlight the journey from, "I should be able to deal with this on my own" to, "I want to loop you in about how I'm feeling, because I trust you."

37. How to feel proud & self-celebrate—on purpose!

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 23:41:05 +0000

In this episode I talk about neuroplasticity frameworks for feeling proud & celebrating ourselves when we have a disconnect between the cognitive experience of—"Yeah, I would like to feel proud of myself about this"—and the deeper, embodied, somatic and emotional experience of feeling proud of ourselves. Also, in this one, I sing you a little song ☺️🎶

36. Why we NEED to be "F*cking around and faffing about"

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:52:16 +0000

"Your brain will do it when it's ready to do it," is a profound truth for me. BUT, sometimes, we can't always wait! Sometimes we have hard deadlines and rigid timelines. So, what do we do then??? The mindset that I talk about today dives into a more active approach that still allows for the intuition and subconscious-level processing that many ADHD + AuDHD brains *need* when it comes to doing the things we want to do.

35. "What if it's meant to feel easy?"

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:39:42 +0000

WHAT IF IT'S ACTUALLY MEANT TO BE EASY??? In this episode we dive into resource states and neuroplasticity frameworks for creative problem solving when we're experiencing executive dysfunction!

34. Masking & Unmasking with Guest Peter Harrison

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 19:24:25 +0000

In this episode I explore with the pod's first guest, Peter Harrison about autism assessments, masking & unmasking, and what it feels like to mask (and how to approach unmasking!).

33. When every week is a sh*t week & on blowing up your life

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 23:54:51 +0000

Okay, cool, let's normalize shit weeks, yes... But what do we do when every week feels like a shit week? How do we know what requires radical self-acceptance, and what requires radical change? In this episode I talk about the circumstances in which it might actually be a good thing for someone blow up their whole life.

32. When your New Year isn't feeling very Sparkly

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 23:53:51 +0000

New Year's got you feeling down? Me too, friend. Me too. If you're not feeling very "woo" or sparkly and shiny at the start of 2024, this message of comfort is for you.

31. All About Uncommon(ly) Talked About Hyperfixations!

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:11:36 +0000

In this episode I talk about uncommonly talked about hyperfixations!! It's not all sunshines and rainbows and crochet amigurumi on this ship! We dive into the experience of hyperfixating on PEOPLE, body-focused and medical hyperfixations, and a "perfectionism" hyperfixation on shiny things in our environment. I also mention how ADHD meds affected my experience of many of these—listen in! **CW: I talk about cancer in this episode**

30. Hobbies aren't meant to stress you out!

Tina Ethridge — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 20:39:33 +0000

Editor's note: Hobbies aren't meant to stress you out *without your own enthusiastic consent*. Like, skydiving? Probably stressful. But if it's what you signed up for, because you LOVE IT, because it's worth it to you—then hell yeah. I'm rooting for you. Rock on. But if we're talking about... crochet? Journaling? Scrapbooking??? Learning how to roller-skate again? A different perspective can be helpful.

I hope you remember to have fun <3

29. Building "Intimacy" with The Things We Want to Do!

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 23:32:24 +0000

Intimacy is important for human relationships—and it's *also* important for the things we want to do!! These are a reflection of the human relationship with have with ourselves. So, how do we build intimacy, and why should we?? Listen to learn more!

28. How To Do "To Do's": Common Pitfalls of the To Do List

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 04:13:34 +0000

In this episode I lay out common pitfalls of the dreaded "to do list" and explore ideas on how to approach task initiation executive dysfunction in ways that are more accessible for your ADHD!

27. Why transition time is NOT procrastination (Honoring your needs, Meetings Edition)

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 01:53:27 +0000

Transition time, decompression time, and time to recharge—this is NOT procrastination!!!! Transition time is ESSENTIAL for neurodivergent brains. Learn the "why" in this episode.

26. Frameworks for Hyperfixation Spending + Impulsive Spending $$$

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 23:38:33 +0000

If you experience hyperfixation spending or impulsive spending (or have an interesting relationship with grief, BECAUSE, Y'KNOW, MY ADHD BRAIN SPAGHETTI'S ON HERE SOMETIMES), this episode is for you!!! In this ep, I talk about some of the main frameworks for impulsive + hyperfixation spending that I teach in my Impulsive Spending Masterclass.

25. How to reconnect with identifying YOUR needs

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:09:04 +0000

In this episode I talk about why it's so freaking hard to know what your needs are when you're late-diagnosed neurodivergent, and a strategy for connecting with your intuition!

24. Touchstone Libraries: A Hack for Understimulation

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 17:49:52 +0000

Here is one of my FAVORITE support tools for when I'm understimulated, or even for when I'm just wanting to follow my dopamine but I have no idea what I want to do! Create a library for yourself, a physical menu of options—make it as visual and accessible as possible!

23. NORMALIZE HAVING SH*T WEEKS

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 21:53:33 +0000

This is my love letter, my mission statement, for NORMALIZING having absolute garbage weeks. Have you been having a rough day, a rough week, a rough year? This message is for you. Not everything we experience is meant to be fixed—not every hard moment means that we're broken.

22. What to do when you think: "Ahhh, I have no time! I've wasted my entire day!"

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:47:11 +0000

Do you frequently find yourself looking at the clock and saying, "AHHH!! I have no time!! I've wasted my entire day!!!" If this is you, this is the episode for you! Here are some mindset downloads based on neuroplasticity techniques to require your brain to hold different beliefs—(on purpose! Very very very intentionally!!!) and require the actually incredibly neutral trigger point of looking at a clock. This simple shift I talk about in this episode creates nervous system safety, supports unshaming, and is aligned with radical self-acceptance... and also break away from all-or-nothing thinking!! Also, like, hi, your brain has a non-linear perception of time, remember?!?! So when we say, "I don't have enough time"... TIME IS A CONSTRUCT! Have you seen how fast time goes when you hyperfocus?!!??! Have you seen how slow it goes when you're bored!?!?! We can work *with* this part of our brains instead!

21. Exploring the idea of a "bare maximum"

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:47:53 +0000

Okay, so we've heard of bare minimums, but what about bare maximums??? Do we even need bare maximums? When is it a good idea to use them? And is hyperfocus a bad thing??? Listen to this episode to learn more! And if you are looking for it, here's the link to sign up for my Neurodivergent Love Letters in your inbox!

20. Defining YOUR Version of Rest

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 16:36:03 +0000

Do you ever feel guilty for not "resting enough" on the weekends? Or have you tried to make sure you're getting enough rest by taking naps, chilling on the couch, watching Netflix—and found yourself feeling bored AF? Here is my love letter to you: Rest doesn't *always* have to look like physical rest. It can!! And we love that!!! But rest for your brain can actually look highly active—especially with ADHD! Listen to learn more!

19. How to Come Back to "Doing the Thing" After Time Away

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 17:09:41 +0000

Do you have a hard time coming back into your routines after they've been disrupted? Maybe you went on vacation or traveled for work, maybe you had an unexpected chaotic life even happen (me + Hurricane Idalia), or maybe you just burned out. In this episode, I walk you through gentle approaches toward coming back to doing the things you want to do.

18. Hobby Rewiring

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 21:36:45 +0000

Why I think it's important for our brains to have experiences (through things like hobbies!) that reflect our values back at us. Not "shoulds," but true, authentic values for the people that we want to be, and the beliefs that feel like home in our brains and in our bodies.

17. Two Tools for Negative Self-Talk

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:42:43 +0000

Lately I've had a lot of people tell me, "Wow! You are so nice to your brain!!" But I have not always been so nice to my brain. My go-to default was beating myself up and shaming myself for not doing enough. I reflected on it a bit, and there are two tools in particular that I tend to utilize *a lot* when it comes to this particular form of brain-changing via neuroplasticity—using *new*, different neural networks and breaking away from those default patterns. I invite you to try these out and see how they feel for your brain! And also, if you have no idea what I'm talking about when I refer to neuroplasticity, I give some info about it on here! :)

16. Why I LOVE (Yes, Love!!!) When Clients Cancel On Me

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:04:17 +0000

I have clients with chronic pain, chronic illness. I have clients who are in burnout, or just on the cusp of coming out of burnout. I have autistic clients with sensory overload and ADHD clients who take stimulants and find that no pharmacy can fill their prescriptions due to the shortage, leaving them in withdrawal.

I have clients who have had MAJOR life crises. The loss of loved ones. Clients with the stress and challenge of moving, of new job transitions, of vacation transitions.

This is what life looks like. A fully lived life. A tapestry with every color of thread. This is what humanity looks like, too. And amidst the bustle of humanity, the weaving of life's loom, some of my clients are working to deconstruct the belief that resculeding a session with me at the last minute is disrespectful. That it's rude. Inconsiderate. A waste of my time. What I have to say is this:

There is never anything disrespectful about respecting your own humanity. Your capacity. Your needs. Your precious time.

I want people to learn this to their core.

I want people to carry the experience of being celebrated for rescheduling instead of reprimanded. So the next time they get hit with a $45 fee for forgetting their dentist appointment, they know with the utmost certainty: It doesn't always have to be like this.

15. Intuitive Eating, Anti-Dieting & ADHD!

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 22:02:42 +0000

In this episode, I talk about my journey with disordered eating & finding my way to intuitive eating / anti-dieting... all before I ever even knew that I had ADHD! But of course, learning that I did have ADHD made this entire journey make SO MUCH more sense. Intuitive eating changed my life. I went from obsessing 24/7 about food, restricting food, and my weigh on the scale to recovering from my binge eating disorder and being able to totally change my relationship with food, to the point of being able to happily coexist with sweets and treats in the house without bingeing. I wanted to share my story in the hopes that it would help others who have experienced a challenging relationship with food & their bodies, and now know that they are neurodivergent.

Resources:
The Anti Diet by Christy Harrison
The F*ck It Diet by Caroline Dooner
Intuitive Eating by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole

14. Mindset Downloads Around Your To-Do List

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:11:54 +0000

If you hear panting in the background, it's my dog Melody! :D Join me today for this episode about mindset downloads for your to-do list and how to use a to-do list as a support tool instead of having it be a fascist dictator that throws value-judgments at you for not being "good enough" if you don't get enough things done.

13. A Tool for "Following Your Dopamine" with Decision Overwhelm

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 23:38:05 +0000

Have you heard me talk about "following your dopamine" but struggle to feel what your intuitive pulls/calls/longings are? If following your dopamine feels challenging, that makes sense. This is a mental muscle, a spiritual skill, that we've often not been taught how to develop. It gets overcome by "shoulds" and shame. We were taught not to listen to our intuitive pulls because they're childish, immature, lazy, or wasteful. But the concept of "following your dopamine" is a critical skill when it comes to trusting ourselves and learning how to meet our needs. Learning how to answer the questions of, "What do I need right now?" "What does my brain need right now?" "What does my nervous system need right now to feel safe and supported?" Here's a quick and simple tool for learning how to follow your dopamine when it doesn't feel intuitive quite just yet. If it helps you, please share your results with me! I would love to hear it!

12. Insights on Demand Avoidance

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 18:34:42 +0000

This episode is all about demand avoidance, my experiences around it and how I approach it in ways that are helpful for my brain (instead of harmful). Demand avoidance is something that I've struggled with since childhood. For me, the experience is an internal cringe combined with a teen-angsty feeling. Very often, demand avoidance for me causes emotional dysregulation and in extremes, meltdowns & shutdowns. Today I share about what strategies, mindsets, and approaches help me work with my demand-avoidant brain. I also briefly talk about how exercise, moving my body, and dieting/diet culture represented demands for much of my life.

Show Notes:
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda-menu/what-is-demand-avoidance/

11. The Nominalization of Procrastination

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 22:30:24 +0000

Procrastination is a nominalization—which means, it's a verb that we conventionally use as a noun. Taking back the "verb" of procrastination allows us to gain insights about what exactly is holding us back & keeping us stuck. The wisdom that lies within our resistance. This was a challenging podcast to record, not because I didn't want to record it, but because I was incredibly emotionally dysregulated from a stressful week. But I wanted to be here. I wanted to record it. I talk about a few ways that I created safety in my nervous system to sit down and press the red button, and why this is a critical principle when we're dealing with procrastination and executive dysfunction.

10. How to Deconstruct Old (Neurotypical) Mindsets & Values

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:03:11 +0000

Hi friends!! On this episode, I talk about how I approach deconstructing old mindsets & values that we learned from our parents/culture/society, but no longer wish to carry because it's not serving us anymore. *AND* how to adopt & embody new mindsets and values by experimenting with our brain to create concrete evidence to grasp onto that this shift does, in fact, serve us better. Listen in!

9. Storm Journaling & Emotional Dysregulation

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:30:34 +0000

In this episode, I share a tool I like to call "Storm Journaling" as an act of radical self-acceptance & unshaming when we experience intense emotional dysregulation. Emotional regulation is a part of our Executive Functioning & has a huge impact on the experience of both ADHD & Autism. I've spent so much of my life trying to "fix" my big emotions, when what I really needed was to learn how to embrace them fully. I hope you enjoy. **Important note**: I don’t recommend Storm Journaling as a daily journaling practice. That’s a pretty quick ticket to feeling like crap, a lot. This is a tool best-used at your discretion, when you’re in an Autistic meltdown/shutdown or you’re in full-on ADHD emotional dysregulation, and the thought of doing something to make yourself “feel better” makes you even more upset. This is a sign that we need to lean into feeling our feelings, instead of trying to change them. For more routine journaling, I love Amie McNee’s work. You can find her journaling compendium on her website AmieMcNee.com and get it for free if you sign up for her newsletter. (In no way is this an ad or sponsored in any way—I’m just a huge fan of her work, and this resource is phenomenal).

8. Are you a Verbal Processor?

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:50:04 +0000

What does it mean to be someone who is a "verbal processor?" And how can we lean into this to help ourselves understand our feelings, challenges, wins, and experiences? This is my love letter to verbal processors!

7. Two Structural Approaches for Time Blindness

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:52:20 +0000

There are two structural facets when it comes to "time blindness," or, the non-linear perception of time that ADHD'ers experience. The first is external / environmental: If we don't see it, it doesn't exist! The second is internal / emotional: We vaguely know what time it is, but we're so ashamed about being late that we throw ourselves into nervous system dysregulation (flight), and it makes us EVEN MORE late. Listen to learn my approaches for both.

6. Ping Pong Brain

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 17 May 2023 21:10:33 +0000

How to embrace your ping-pong spaghetti brain AND get the things done that you care to get done—we embrace our ping-pong spaghetti nature, because this is how our brains are wired. And instead of fighting against it or trying to change it, we work with it instead. Here are my mindsets & tricks for working through projects and tasks in a way that's practical & accessible for neurodivergent brains.

5. The 3 Steps to Unshaming

Tina Ethridge — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:14:10 +0000

Unshaming is a critical skill in any self-acceptance journey, and especially an ADHD acceptance journey. In this episode I walk you through 3 steps to unshame any experience. I talk about how shame is pervasive in the neurodivergent experience and why, and how to take power away from shame and take it back for yourself.

Edit: My brain *COMPLETELY FORGOT* how Kristin Neff is actually pretty ableist—her book on self compassion, while it has wonderful parts to it, also has a part where she claims her autistic son was "healed" by a shaman. Eugh. I blocked all that out.

I'd like to quote bell hooks instead: "Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion."

4. All About Body Doubling

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:58:34 +0000

This episode is all about body doubling!! Here's how to make your body doubling sessions more effective by using co-regulation, and strategies to body double *with yourself* if you're an introvert like me.

3. Intentional Novelty: Adding Sparkle to Your Systems

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 23:52:22 +0000

Here's what to do BEFORE you dive into using traditional ADHD coaching tools: Investigating harm-reductive and de-shaming mindsets for when the novelty wears off for that new tool, that new visual timer, that new planner.

2. Perfectionism: Do it Badly. On Purpose.

Tina Ethridge — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:37:08 +0000

Today I'm talking about my top "mindset downloads" for overcoming perfectionism and how to break away from your all-or-nothing thinking. (And a cute story about the first time I met Shawn, and how he blew me away on our first date!).

1. Sustainable Habits

Tina Ethridge — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Hi friends! Welcome to the Connected Divergents Podcast. On this episode, I'm talking about the mindsets & perspectives that are essential in order to create sustainable habits when you have ADHD. It's not about forcing yourself to adhere to the neurotypical rules. It's about creating space to honor your brain, and work with your executive dysfunction instead of always fighting against it. Follow me @comfortandkindness on Instagram to learn even more.