Caught in “not enough” or “too much” loops as an autistic or AuDHD adult—stuck in old patterns, feeling like your needs are a burden, or burning out trying to keep everyone else okay? This episode of Adulting With Autism dives into self-love for autistic adults with Christina Ketchen, a certified life and relationship coach trained in HeartMath®, Gottman, and the Hoffman Process, who brings both neuroscience and hard-won personal wisdom to healing.​

Christina talks about trauma loops—those familiar patterns and relationship dynamics that feel terrible but somehow also “normal”—and how they can quietly drain self-worth over time. She shares compassionate tools like heart-focused breathing to support the nervous system, “kind no’s” that protect your energy (“This doesn’t work for me—thank you”), and gentle self-talk that shifts you from “I am broken” to “I am human and learning.”​

You will hear how patterns often started as protection, how faith/meaning can reframe pain without dismissing it, and why embracing your “messy” humanity is part of building real self-love, not a sign of failure. Christina also offers guidance for neurodivergent adults who feel guilty setting boundaries or fear that saying no will make people leave.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Keep ending up in the same painful situations or relationships
• Struggle to hold boundaries without intense shame, fear, or backlash inside your own mind
• Are learning what self-love looks like for you as an autistic or AuDHD adult, beyond clichés and quick fixes

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your self-love journey:
Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Self-Love Alchemist”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop ( Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Coaching and masterclasses with Christina at christinaketchen.com
• Her podcast The Self Love Shift

Feeling stuck in survival mode as an autistic or AuDHD adult—checking all the boxes on paper but still burned out, unfulfilled, or unsure what you actually want? This episode of Adulting With Autism explores self-love and life direction with Chandra Lynn, a certified transformation coach, former Apple/Mercedes marketing leader, and author of Root to Rise: How to Love Life When It’s Messy, When It’s Hard.​

Chandra breaks down her Root to Rise framework, which looks at key areas of life—like career, relationships, health, and creativity—and helps you line them up with core emotional needs such as security, variety, growth, connection, and contribution. She shares simple journaling prompts like “What do I want? Why? What am I willing to try?” to help you get out of autopilot and start making choices that actually fit you, not just what others expect.​

You will hear how her own path from high-pressure corporate roles into more aligned, heart-centered work unfolded in zigzags, not straight lines—and why that is normal, especially for neurodivergent adults. Chandra offers practical tools for exploring purpose through experiments and “try-ons,” building authentic relationships, and practicing self-love in the middle of messy, imperfect life rather than waiting to “fix everything” first.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Feel like you are surviving but not really living
• Are questioning your career, relationships, or direction as a late-diagnosed autistic or AuDHD adult
• Want a grounded framework to check in with your needs and make kinder, more aligned choices

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your Root to Rise journey:
Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Root Your Rise”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Root to Rise: How to Love Life When It’s Messy, When It’s Hard
• Chandra’s quiz, courses, and coaching at glowliving.com

Growing up with labels like “too emotional,” “overreacting,” or “ice queen,” and now struggling to understand what you actually feel as an autistic or AuDHD adult? This episode of Adulting With Autism dives into emotion regulation for autistic adults with Jenn Veilleux, clinical psychologist, professor, and author of Open to Emotion, who blends her theater background with science to support authentic emotional expression.

Jenn shares her own journey from being called “too emotional” to seeing emotional intensity as a form of being a “super-taster” of feelings. She talks about the difference between awareness and attention—how you can notice emotions without getting completely swept away—and offers metaphors like watching emotions move through like wind instead of something you have to hold onto forever.

You will hear practical tools for:

• Unmasking your emotions after years of pushing them down or performing what others expect
• Using body signals (interoception) as early warning signs so you can regulate sooner
• Sitting with emotions long enough to understand them without drowning in them
• Challenging myths about ADHD and “overreacting” so you can embrace your full range

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Struggle to identify what you feel until you are already overwhelmed
• Have been told your emotions are “too much” or “not enough” your whole life
• Want language and tools to unmask emotionally at a pace that feels safe

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your emotional journey:
Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Emotional Range Journal”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Open to Emotion by Jenn Veilleux
• Workshops and more at jenncveilleux.com