The Different-Functional Podcast

Unpacking Normal: Are Neurotypical Behaviors Worth Performing?

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Handshakes. Eye Contact. Small Talk. Hierarchies. There are so many social customs that we’re expected to know and to perform in any given social interaction. If you’re neurodivergent, many of these customs can seem silly or pointless or difficult to adapt to various social settings. Chances are that the customs aren’t going to change anytime soon, but what if they could? Would any of them be worth keeping or at least adjusting to be more universally user-friendly? Join us for an exploration of common social customs and some of the merits and flaws within them.

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Thanks so much for listening and remember, different does not mean defective.

Reflexive Reactions: Fear on a Fork: Trying New Foods When Your Brain Says "No!"

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This time around we’re exploring ARFID. If you’re unfamiliar with this acronym, it stands for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and while it’s not the most common experience, even among neurodivergent people, there are still plenty who do experience it. Like many things, ARFID exists on a spectrum of severity and the specific foods that a person may struggle with are highly variable from one individual to another. Those suffering from ARFID are often misunderstood and labeled as rude, spoiled, or difficult “picky eaters”, but the real truth isn’t nearly so simple.

Join us as we explore this fascinating and complex battle between brain, body, and food. We’ll explore the general concept of ARFID and then bring the topic a little closer to home as Autumn discusses her own relationship with food and attempts to try a few new things.

Games for People Like Us: This or That: Coping Skills Edition

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Who doesn’t love a good coping skill? If you’re anything like us, you probably have a whole collection of them to choose from at any given time and are always looking for new ones. So, this time around we thought we’d play a little game where we look at different coping skills from a randomized list, without any context at all, and pit them against each other to judge which one we think would be the most versatile in a pinch. Join us for this battle of the coping skills and see if you have feelings about them that are as strong as the ones we had.

Try This, Maybe: Flirting with Disclaimers: 15 Neurodivergent Pickup Lines Just in Time for Valentine’s Day

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0400

There are plenty of fish in the sea, so they say. That may be true, but the actual sea is full of poisoned fish and, from what we hear, the fish in the digital dating pool aren’t much better off. So, how about going back to the basics and meeting people in the real world? Join us as we scour the internet for some neurodivergent-friendly pickup lines to help you break the ice, find your people, and weed out the undesirables this Valentine’s Day.

Coping Case Files: Welcome to the Plateau: Navigating the Flat Lands of the Healing Journey

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re on a healing journey, you know the struggle of the steep and perilous upward climb. If you’ve been on it for a while, you likely also know the sense of accomplishment and pride you feel when you reach the summit of a challenge and can see how far you’ve come. We all know these peaks and valleys are integral and repeating parts of the journey, but if you’ve been on your journey for a very long time, we bet you’ve encountered something no one warned you about or prepared you for: the plateaus.

If you stay on the path for long enough, there will be moments of deafening stillness, when you can see everything you’ve accomplished but there’s seemingly nothing on the horizon and you don’t know what to do next. This is the no man’s land of the healing journey. You can’t go back and you’re not done, but you also don’t know where you are or where you’re headed, you just know you didn’t expect to be here.

So, what do you do? Join us for a discussion of what the view is like from the plateau and how to choose a path forward into the uncharted territory of your healing journey.

Pet (& Feral) Theories: Making Friends with My Symptoms: From Self-Criticism to Self-Curiosity

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It’s a couple of weeks into the new year, which means many of us are probably starting to feel just the faintest resurgence of those old struggles and habits we had confidently declared that we would conquer this time. At first, we’re filled with enthusiasm and hope and determination, but old habits die hard and the internal mechanisms which drive those habits are even harder to force into submission. So, what if we didn’t? What if, instead of leaning into brute force, we leaned into understanding? What if we made friends with our shadows and demons so we could learn to work with them instead of fighting against them? If you find yourself on the struggle bus right now, we hope you’ll join us for a discussion about personal growth through integration rather than through eradication.

Reflexive Reactions: Yuletide Beasts: Holiday Folklore and Finding Cheer in Our Own Way

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Christmas is over but we’re still technically in Yuletide territory so we decided to do something a little different this year to acknowledge the festivities before they slip away from us for another year. We like folklore. We like weird creatures. We like traditions and rituals that make no sense to us because they’re not part of our time period or culture. If you like those things too, we hope you’ll join us as we indulge in a hilarious exploration of some of the legendary and iconic characters behind Yule folklore. Hide your children and your sheep, tidy up your house, get some new clothes, grab your colander for home defense, and let’s go!

Try This, Maybe: Gifts That Won’t End Up In The Doom Pile: The Neurodivergent Gift Guide No One Asked For

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Holidays! Shopping for gifts sucks! Unless you’re one of those people who is naturally gifted at knowing exactly what to give as gifts to other people. Let’s be honest though, most of us probably don’t have that talent, so we sat down and did some brainstorming about what might make for good gifts. We can’t guarantee you’ll want any of these gifts or that you’ll know someone who will but there’s probably a pretty good chance we’ll at least get those gears turning. This episode is for the neurodivergent folks who procrastinated their shopping and now feel overwhelmed about what to get that you can actually afford.

Reflexive Reactions: Sick Day! Reactive Reflections on Illness

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Ivy is sick! And so is everyone else it seems. It’s that time of year when bugs and viruses and bacteria skulk around and infect the unsuspecting. So, we interrupt our scheduled content to talk disease instead. Grab a box of tissues and join us as we spill the tea on 90s sick day nostalgia, our tips and tricks, embarrassing moments, and some good old-fashioned complaints.

Games for People Like Us: Finding the Bright Side: A Playful Take on Shifting Perspective

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Things are rough right now, and by right now I mean for so long that it’s getting hard to remember when they weren’t rough. Walking through the world feels a bit like getting a scrub down with coarse grit sandpaper. If you’re feeling a little raw too then join us for a cognitive restructuring game where we look for the silver linings and seek out some meaning in the misery.

Coping Case Files: Ghosted by Halloween: Where has the Spirit of the Season Gone?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Is it just us or has Halloween ghosted everyone this year? Usually this is a holiday loved and looked forward to by dang near everybody, but this year the enthusiasm feels a bit lacking. We’re not seeing as many decorations for Halloween or even for fall in general. Our social media feeds are dripping with political bickering instead of flowing over with the annual ghosts, ghoulies, pumpkins, costumes, hot spiced apple cider recipes, or the warm and cozy autumn aesthetics. Times are tough for sure but it’s sad to think that maybe this holiday and all the magick it brings might slip away unnoticed.

Join us as we talk about where the spirit of the season may have disappeared and how we can get it back before the candles in the jack-o-lanterns burn down and flicker out completely.

Reflexive Reactions: Living by My Cycle: My Experience with Hormone Regulation and Cycle Awareness

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Okay, we’ll admit, this reaction isn’t very reflexive since it took several weeks to come to any conclusions, however, we will say that the outcome did not meet the reflexive expectations. Social media is full of creators touting all kinds of health and nutrition advice; and with so much of it seeming extreme, conflicting, or too good to be true it’s easy to look at these recommendations with a skeptical side eye. That’s exactly how we felt about the advice that women should adapt their diet and lifestyle in accordance with their menstrual cycle, so Ivy decided to do a little experiment.

We’re not experts and we’re not selling anything. We understand that good health and nutrition practices are not one-size-fits-all, but if you’ve ever been curious about what it might look like to live according to your cycle, we hope you’ll join us for this discussion. We break down what’s supposed to be happening with your hormones at different stages of your cycle and how that can manifest in your body and mood. We also explore some of the diet and activity recommendations for each week. And finally, we discuss Ivy’s personal experience with living this lifestyle: what she had to change, the challenges involved, the measurable results, and her final opinion about whether it’s worth trying.

Games for People Like Us: Taking Off the Mask: A Neurodivergent Tabletop RPG

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re an OG listener, you’ll remember a couple of years ago when we played a game we made to encapsulate the neurodivergent social experience. Well, for our first installment of Games for People Like Us, we decided to revisit this game and see if it was just as fun as it was the first time. We had a blast, and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.

If you’re interested in playing the game yourself you can purchase a printable version of it on our website at https://www.differentfunctional.com/products/p/taking-off-the-mask-a-neurodivergent-tabletop-rpg

Try This Maybe: Reality Checks: Cognitive Tools to Break the Spiral

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Do you ever feel like you get trapped in your own thoughts, spiraling out into negative rumination and worries about the future? If you do, then you know how detrimental it can be to your quality of life, your capacity to truly enjoy anything, and your ability to maintain healthy and happy relationships.

In this episode, we’re discussing the concept of cognitive restructuring, a valuable tool that can help you hit the pause button on anger, fear, and rumination so that you have the opportunity to positively shift your perspective and your responses to daily life stressors.

Pet (& Feral) Theories: Too Tired to Relax: Why Rest is Exhausting

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Why, oh why, is it so hard to rest?! We know we need rest and relaxation and sleep and all of that good stuff, so why can’t we just do it? It sounds so simple, and it should be so easy, yet many of us feel like we are actively struggling to rest.

If you also find it easier to multi-task a dozen projects than to relax for even 10 minutes then this episode is for you. Join us as we discuss: why rest can be so difficult; how to take the pressure off with a shift in perspective; and possible solutions that address some of the root causes of restlessness.

Coping Case Files: Mindfulness: Does It Suck or Am I Just Doing It Wrong?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Mindfulness is one of those pop psychology suggestions we’re often recommended for stress relief, and while its benefits are also historically well-rooted in various cultural and spiritual practices it’s not always as easy as it seems like it should be. Similar to meditation, it’s a classic example of “simple, not easy”. In this episode, we’re exploring the idea of mindfulness on a personal level as we try to understand why Autumn has such a contentious relationship with it, and we seek to troubleshoot ways that the practice could be adapted to be more user-friendly for an individual.

Reflexive Reactions: Stayin' Alive: When Pollyanna and Spite Just Aren't Enough

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We’re starting back up after our hiatus on a more serious note, so we’ll give you the trigger warning that this episode contains discussion of suicidal ideation. It won’t be all doom and gloom though. While we are discussing depression and the struggles that lead to self-destructive thoughts our goal in this episode is to find ways to quiet the noise and find reasons to keep going. If you’ve ever experienced these thoughts yourself then you know clichés and toxic positivity generally aren’t enough, and they can even leave you feeling frustrated, invalidated, and even more alone.

We’ve been there ourselves and we know how painful, difficult, and isolating it is to experience these thoughts and feelings. Join us as we react to some of the advice the internet has to offer and give our opinions on whether or not it’s actually effective. There will be some serious discussion, some heartfelt moments, and a little bit of gallows humor, and we hope it will help you feel less alone and less stigmatized.

If you are struggling with suicidal ideation right now, please don’t feel like you have to suffer in silence. Please find trusted people that you can talk to and lean on for support. If that feels too intimidating or you don’t feel like you have anyone in your life you can discuss this with, please contact the suicide hotline in your area, the phone number to call or text in the USA is 988. Stay with us. There are reasons to keep going even if you can’t see them right now.

Updated Trailer

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A lot has changed since we first started the podcast so we figured it was time to reintroduce ourselves.

Announcement

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

It's time for a candid talk about where the podcast has been and where it's headed. While we're still holding true to our core values and goals we are also overhauling some things about the podcast, so we'll be taking off the month of July so that we can reset, recalibrate, and make some important changes happen. Thanks for being here and supporting us and we'll see you in August!

Too Bright, Too Loud, Too Much: A Neurodivergent Tour of the 5 Senses

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Join us for a romp and a rant through the five senses and explore with us all of the various ways we can become overloaded by our sensory experience of the world. If you’ve ever felt sensorily overstimulated into a state of rage, tearfulness, or catatonia you’re not alone. If you’ve ever been treated like a crazy person for feeling overwhelmed by sights, sounds, and textures that other people don’t even seem to notice then this is the episode for you.

The Movement Mindset: Choosing Fitness Activities That Fit You

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How often do you hear that “exercise is important”, and that you should “get more active” or “work on your relationship with movement”? If you had a penny for each time you’ve heard those kinds of phrases from social media influencers, magazine covers, doctors, family, or friends you could probably for a year’s worth of gym membership fees up front. I mean, thanks for the super vague advice but what does that really mean? Even if you want to get more physically active, how do you get started? What’s classified as exercise? Do you need to go to the gym? Why is increasing activity even so important to begin with? Is the adage “no pain, no gain” true when it comes to improving your fitness?

Join us as we discuss some answers to these, and many other, questions; and explore a few different types of exercise, along with their various benefits and warning labels. If you’ve ever been overwhelmed, confused, or possibly even triggered by the mere idea of exercise, we’re here to help make it all a little less daunting.

Connected, Not Consumed: 8 Tips for Digital Detox

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Spring is here for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the weather starts to warm up it becomes uncomfortably obvious just how extra dependent we were on our digital devices to get us through the cold, winter months. Honestly, regardless of the time of year, most of us are probably on our devices too much; it’s hard not to be when nearly everything we use is now digital, from our forms of entertainment to our work to the many tools we use to keep our daily lives running smoothly.

We don’t want to villainize all technology, but we do still need to admit that there are some real downsides to being constantly barraged by screens at every turn. So how do we pull back a little from our digital dependency? Join us as we discuss some realistic tips and tricks that will enable you to find more balance and engage more actively with the people and world around you.

Pet (& Feral) Theories: Autism

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There’s a lot of talk right now about autism. Unfortunately, we’re seeing a resurgence of people pathologizing the autistic experience and reinforcing social stigmas and negative stereotypes. Yes, autism comes with its challenges but to demonize it is complete and utter nonsense; it’s simple fear mongering from people who have clearly never truly known or loved an autistic person. Join us for this episode as we explore some social and experiential theories around autism.

As we always say, different does not mean defective. One of us is autistic and the other has known and loved more autistic people than she can count. Neurodivergence can be challenging and often isolating, but neurodivergent people are also brilliantly loveable, unconventional thinkers who have so much to offer. We see you and we stand with all of you who are feeling even more stigmatized and unappreciated right now.

Futile or Functional: ADHD Life Hacks

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We’re back again with another installment of Futile or Functional, where we explore the usefulness of the internet’s suggestions for our mental health. This time we’re diving into some ADHD life hacks. Since Autumn isn’t ADHD, we’ve welcomed Jake back for another episode to give his feedback on these suggestions. So join us as Ivy and Jake try to determine whether these hacks are futile or functional, and hear Autumn’s amusing observations as an outsider looking in on some common ADHD conundrums.

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

The Serenity Prayer: Acceptance vs Change

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We’ve all heard some iteration of the serenity prayer, but what does that actually look like? What does it mean to accept the things you can’t change and work toward changing the things you can? How do you even decide what to change and what to accept? Join us as we discuss how living by the serenity prayer can positively impact your life.

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

Sounds of Strength: 90s Songs That Helped Us Cope

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The times are tumultuous and uncertain and, let’s be honest, it’s not exactly bringing out the best in most people. So, let’s take a stroll down memory lane, get a blast from the past, and live for a brief, blissful moment in the delusion that we’re back in the 90s. The 90s may not have been perfect either (we certainly had more than our fair share of family trauma from our childhood) but when it comes to music or music videos, we’d argue it was quite possibly the best decade of all time.

Yes, there was a lot of fun, fluffy pop music like any other decade, but the 90s also produced a lot of deeply meaningful and often cathartic songs. For those of us who grew up in the 90s, the music of that era made us feel seen and understood; it got us through hard times; and it built the people we’ve become. Maybe it’s time to revisit these songs and let them bolster our strength again for the challenges ahead.

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

Self-Care Soundtrack: Modern Melodies for Mental Wellness

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Music is such a powerful tool for emotional processing and personal expression; and with how crazy the world seems to have been in recent years, music seems like a more valuable resource than ever. Whether you use it to help you calm down, vent your frustrations, have a good cry, or find hope on the darkest days music is a fundamental part of our self-care regimen. Join us as we examine some of the songs that are keeping us going and explore how we use music as a coping skill.

How are you utilizing music to help you survive these trying times? We’d love to hear from you so reach out to us at differentfunctional@gmail.com or you can find us on social media, on TikTok and Instagram as different_functional and on Facebook as different functional.

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

ADHD Tourist: Post-Concussive Syndrome Taught Me About ADHD

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to visit the mind of someone with ADHD? Well, now you can! But we don’t recommend actually doing it because taking a tour of the ADHD brain may involve getting a head injury. We would know because as sisters, we apparently feel the need to do everything together, so we went and got matching brain injuries only a few months apart. While the research on the topic is still in largely in its infancy, there is a notable correlation between the symptoms of ADHD and those of traumatic brain injuries. For one of us, the brain injury significantly amplified pre-existing ADHD symptoms but for the other sister, who was only familiar with an autistic landscape, post-concussive syndrome left her a stranger in a mighty strange land. Join us as we discuss our experiences with post-concussive syndrome and everything it taught us about ADHD symptomology.

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you have any feedback or topics you’d like for us to cover we’d love to hear from you at differentfunctional@gmail.com Don’t forget to follow us on social media, on TikTok and Instagram as different_functional and on Facebook as different functional. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

The Game of Love: Rants, Rambles, and Random Thoughts on Valentine's Day

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? Personally, we don’t love it, but we also don’t hate it. What we do hate is that the current state of the world is kinda lousy and the long, slow trudge through winter is starting to feel like a real Debbie Downer. So with that in mind, we thought the Love holiday might be a perfect excuse to do something fun and fluffy. Join us as we play a little word association game, taking Valentine’s themed vocabulary words and cramming as much unhinged rambling about each one as we can in our allotted amount of time. Hold onto your little heart-shaped butts because we get a little wild, a tiny bit spicy, kinda creepy, and sometimes even sickeningly sentimental.

Unraveling Fashion: Neurodivergence and the Struggle for Comfort and Style

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Are you a fashionista? Us too! Not really. We lied. We’re not even good at faking it, but we’re trying. Is fashion supposed to be so hard? What are the rules? How do you know you’ve committed a fashion faux pas? Is that person staring at you because they like your style or because they think you look vaguely unhinged? How are you supposed to tolerate wearing things that touch you in weird ways, are super scratchy, or make a lot of noise and not lose your mind? Is fashion just part of yet another social script that neurodivergent people have to struggle to understand or is it a safe haven for self-expression? These are the kinds of questions we’d like some answers to. We don’t have the answers but we’re going to talk about it anyway, so join as we try to figure out what neurodivergent fashion looks and feels like (sensory issues, anyone?).

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast,and leaving a rating or review. If you have any feedback or topics you’d like for us to cover we’d love to hear from you at differentfunctional@gmail.com Don’t forget to follow us on social media, on TikTok and Instagram as different_functional and on Facebook as different functional. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

Focus on Your Feet: Finding Strength to Move Forward

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We’re starting to settle into 2025 but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ve left the hardships of 2024 behind us (or the previous years for that matter). If you’re anything like us you may find that you’re still a little shell-shocked and unsure of how to move forward. We’re still processing the lessons from the past and the horizon ahead is a little hazy, but we’re here in this moment and there’s power in simply putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply to focus on your feet. Join us as we discuss how we can move forward one moment, one breath, one step at a time.

Winging It: The Truth About Adulting

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Here we are, yet again, at the start of another year. If you’re anything like us, 2024 must have put you through the wringer too. We’re ready to put last year behind us, but we’re also giving 2025 that wary, suspicious side-eye until it proves it can play nicer and be more reasonable than its predecessor. So instead of revisiting the usual new year celebratory rituals and plans, we’re sitting down for a humorously serious conversation about how challenging it is sometimes to just…adult.

Join us as we discuss how the heck anyone is supposed to take care of their body, clean their house, find a good mechanic, and file paperwork even at the best of times. Even without life’s curveballs, adulting is already kinda confusing and often really f***ing annoying, and the truth is none of us really know what we’re doing. Even when we think we know we usually end up finding out that we were wrong somehow. In reality, most of us are really just out here…winging it.

Gift Giving 101: Gift Giving Tips for Neurodivergent People

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0400

'Tis the season for gift-giving, but for many neurodivergent individuals, the holidays can bring more stress than joy. From choosing the right gift to managing limited resources like time, money, and energy, selecting the perfect present can feel like navigating a minefield. The pressure to find something meaningful and the fear of getting it wrong can make holiday shopping overwhelming.

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked challenges of gift-giving and share practical gift-giving tips that reduce stress and help you stay authentic to your spirit of giving. Whether you're buying for a loved one, a coworker, or someone you barely know, this episode is packed with gift ideas and strategies for managing the complexities of gift-giving with neurodivergence in mind.

And don’t forget to check out our FREE bonus content available on Patreon, where we discuss specific types of gifts and who they work best for!

If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you have any feedback or topics you’d like for us to cover we’d love to hear from you at Don’t forget to follow us on social media, on TikTok and Instagram as different_functional and on Facebook as different functional. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

Futile or Functional?: Gratitude Journal Prompts

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us again here in the USA, and there’s just so much to be thankful for this time of year! Or is there? That’s the question. Well, maybe not exactly. Are there things to be thankful for? Sure. If you look hard enough you can always find something, but you know what’s often even easier to find? Things you’re not thankful for. When life gets really challenging, we’re not generally overflowing with appreciation for how awful things feel. That’s why gratitude journaling is so often recommended in pop psychology. That’s pretty vague though. I mean if you’re struggling to be in a positive mind set, just sitting down with a blank sheet of paper and the expectation to be grateful you probably won’t get very far. But what about journal prompts, questions intended to make you look closer or broaden your perspective? Join us as we explore and discuss some journal prompts intended to inspire gratitude. Do they work? Let’s find out.

Also we’re starting a new series! Consider this episode a pilot. We didn’t announce it in the episode because we’re silly gooses who didn’t decide on it until after this episode was finished and we were preparing it for release. The series will be called Futile or Functional, and we’ll be reviewing pop psychology concepts, giving our thoughts as to their effectiveness as neurodivergents who have been deeply entrenched in the world of psychology for most of our lives.

If you took a fancy to the same gratitude prompts that we did you can find them here: https://christieinge.com/gratitude-journal-prompts/ We are not in any way affiliated with this creator, we just liked her list of questions.

Fall Craft-Along: Using Crafts and Community to Improve Mental Wellness

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0400

This time of year is the perfect opportunity for crafting, creativity, and community! Even if you don’t think you’re “that kind of person” you might be surprised by how much fun it can be and what you can learn about yourself and others. With that in mind, we’ve decided to do something we’ve never done before on the podcast: a craft-along! And for those of you who are here for our usual mental health themed programming, you won’t be left out. This is also an opportunity to explore some therapeutic techniques: art as therapy, writing prompts, and stream of consciousness.

If you want to craft along with us here is a list of everything you’ll need: glass container, fall leaves, strong, balloon, modge podge, curly ribbon, construction/scrapbook paper, glue stick, markers.

Patreon members get some extra special content too. For thefirst time ever we’re sharing a raw, unedited video version of this episode. Watch us get covered in modge podge and see how awkward and long winded we actually are before we edit and clean up the episodes. Even if you aren’t a Patreon member you can purchase this specific post through their website (but just between us, with the minimum price requirements they set to sell an individual post, it might be worth it to join our Patreon for a month if you’re curious andcheck out all out other content too).

Befriending the Boogeyman: How Halloween Teaches Us to Embrace Our Fears

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It’s spooky season! How are you going to spend your Halloween? Over here, we’ll be having a nice big group hug with the boogeyman and all his friends. Why? Because that’s one of the best parts of spooky season. Join us as we take a look closer at the symbols and icons of the season in order to learn from them and face our greatest fears. You can even do it dressed up as a princess or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and it doesn’t get any better than that.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Rising From the Ashes-Part 2: Rebuilding When Everything Has Fallen Apart

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

What do you do when it all falls apart? Well, you rise from the ashes like a phoenix, of course. Yes, but how? What does that look like and how do you do it? Join us for this two-part episode on what it actually means to rise from the ashes and rebuild your life. In this episode, we’re exploring what it means to rebuild your life and your sense of self after everything has fallen apart. If you missed our last episode, and rebuilding seems like too daunting of a task right now, then we recommend listening to part one, where we discuss survival mode: what it is, how to know you’re in it, and how to start stepping out of it so that you can thrive rather than just surviving.

Rising From the Ashes: Transitioning from Surviving to Thriving

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

What do you do when it all falls apart? Well, you rise from the ashes like a phoenix, of course. Yes, but how? What does that look like and how do you do it? Join us for this two-part episode on what it actually means to rise from the ashes and rebuild your life. In this first episode, we’ll be discussing survival mode: what it is, how to know you’re in it, and how to start stepping out of it so that you can thrive rather than just surviving. Tune back in next time as we explore what it means to rebuild your life and your sense of self after everything has fallen apart.

The Horrors Persist: Does Managing Mental Health Ever Get Easier?

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

We would say that things have been rough lately but let’s be honest, for many of us it’s not just been “lately”. If you’re a regular listener of our podcast then chances are good that you’ve been trying to manage your mental health or neurodivergence or that you’ve been trying to heal from a significant trauma; and those overarching themes are always there no matter what happens in the world or in our personal lives on a day-to-day basis. That’s what’s most exhausting. For a lot of us, this difficult time isn’t temporary. This is just life. So, the question we pose is, does it ever get any easier? Does developing management strategies and learning self-mastery, communication, and relationship skills actually help in the long run? Join us as we share some of the management strategies and skill sets we’ve developed, and assess whether it’s been worth all the work we’ve put in over our nearly 50 years of combined experience on this mental health and trauma recovery journey.

Patreon Gold: Exclusive Clips Compilation

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Heeeey! So the bad news is that we don’t have a new episode because Ivy is moving. The good news is that we still have an episode for you, a compilation of some clips from our Patreon vault. The other good news is that we’re finally going to be able to record again in a few days once Ivy finishes unpacking her studio setup so we’ll have a brand spanking new episode for you next time. Thanks for your patience and thanks for listening!

Hard to Love?: Neurodivergent Traits and Long-Term Relationships

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

We’ve got something a little special for you guys this time, since Ivy is still living that couch surfing life for now and won’t have a recording space for another couple of weeks. Autumn’s boyfriend Jake has filled in as a guest host for this episode about neurodivergence in committed relationships.

Do you ever feel like you’re hard to love? Well, if you’re any flavor of neurospicy you probably know exactly what it’s like to feel as though you’re either too much or not enough, or maybe even both simultaneously. While some aspects of neurodivergence can feel like superpowers, it’s also true that living as a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world requires active management and can leave us feeling more than a little disconnected from other people. Join Autumn and Jake as they discuss the lessons they’ve learned over their decade-long relationship about how to cope with the fear of being hard to love and how to navigate the challenges and benefits of being neurodivergent in love.

Unseen Influence: Discovering Our Positive Impact

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Most of us have wondered at one time or another what impact we have on the lives of other people and what legacy we’ll be leaving behind. All too often we fall into the trap of feeling insignificant, like nothing we say or do matters; and the worst of our intrusive thoughts might even have us believing that our impact is negative, that we do more harm than good, that we’re not enough, and that other people would be better off without us. But the truth is we all touch more lives than we realize, and our influence is as varied and multi-faceted as we are. You may be a hero to some, a villain to others, a lover, a friend, family, a teacher, a sage, a kindly stranger, a random person that captured someone’s attention for a brief but memorable moment. Chances are you will never know how many lives you’ve touched, how far your influence spreads, or how meaningful your words and actions might be. But you do matter. To someone. To lots of someones. Join us as we explore the butterfly effect of human interaction and share stories about some of the people who have touched our lives in both big and small ways.

Navigating Elimination Diets - Part 2: Meat & Gluten

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It seems like over the last several years a lot of us have been experimenting with elimination diets as a way to treat everything from hormone imbalances to autoimmune to diseases, and mental health issues to medical mysteries. While the old adage: “You are what you eat” has been around for a very long time it’s only in recent decades that science has actually been discovering just how extensively our dietary lifestyle impacts our overall health and well-being. This is all well and good, but what does it actually look like to eliminate something from your diet, especially if the removal of that food is likely to be a permanent change? Join us in this two part series as we discuss how we navigated our own elimination diets and how the lifestyle changes have impacted our lives in both the better and the worse. If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you have any feedback or topics you’d like for us to cover we’d love to hear from you at differentfunctional@gmail.com Don’t forget to follow us on social media, on TikTok and Instagram as different_functional and on Facebook as different functional. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

Navigating Elimination Diets: Part 1 - Sugar and Dairy

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Reel Inspirations: Using Pop Culture to Embrace Change

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Maybe life is always in flux but it sure feels as though this year has brought with it even more changes than usual. If you feel like your life has been completely upended and you’ve found yourself, willingly or unwillingly, on a transformative journey as a result, you’re not alone. We know what it’s like when the hits keep coming, the universe keeps throwing you one curveball after another, and you’re struggling to even find time to catch your breath. Join us as we explore the ways in which we can take comfort, inspiration, and guidance from pop culture as we close one chapter in our lives and navigate the uncharted territory ahead.

Beneath the Mask: 12 Questions for Your Unmasking Journey

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

To a certain degree we all go through life wearing a mask, or a series of masks that we change out based on the social situation we find ourselves in, but when you’re neurodivergent this masking process is taken to another level. Most of us learn at a very young age that our social survivability is dependent upon our ability to read the social scripts we’re handed and slip into character; we may even become very successful at playing a variety of characters along the way. The problem arises though when we’ve been in character for so long that we’ve forgotten who and what our authentic self really is. Where does the mask end and where do we begin? And even once we figure that out, how do we give ourselves the freedom to take our mask off when every instinct we now have is screaming at us to keep it on? Join us as we explore 12 questions that can help guide you to find your own answers to those questions.

Symptoms of Health: Recognizing Signs of Healing and Growth

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

When we think of our mental health, we tend to immediately start making a list of everything that is wrong; and we fall into that habit so easily because, for many of us, something has been wrong for a long time and we’ve been actively trying to sort it out and work on ourselves. Being on a healing and self-discovery journey is one of the most powerful things we’ll ever do for ourselves and for our loved ones, but sometimes we can get so focused, for so long on correcting what is wrong that we forget to take notice when things start to go right. The work is important but it’s also equally important to acknowledge our efforts and give ourselves credit for our hard-earned victories, no matter how big or small they are. We hope you’ll join us as we flip the script on our pathologies and discuss some of the “symptoms” that are proof-positive of healing and growth. If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you have any feedback or topics you’d like for us to cover we’d love to hear from you at differentfunctional@gmail.com Don’t forget to follow us on social media, on TikTok and Instagram as different_functional and on Facebook as different functional. If you’d like to support us on Patreon we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional As always, thank you for listening and remember: Different does not mean defective.

Running on Fumes: Tips and Tricks for Tackling Burnout and Refueling Your Tank

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The march of time never stops, the demands on our personal time never seem to wane, and there’s always more than enough stress to go around. The truth is, most of us tend to burn the candle at both ends, and that habit has a way of catching up to us in the form of burnout. Yes, sometimes we put ourselves in that position unnecessarily but there are also plenty of times when burning out is unavoidable because there’s simply too much to do and not enough time or energy to get it all done. Either way, we’re not here to judge, but we are here to help. Join us for a discussion about how to cope with burnout, lessen the impact of it on your life, and replenish your reserves.

Bloopers & Blushes: Neurodiversity in the Bedroom

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

S-E-X is almost always a taboo topic of discussion, perhaps especially among neurotypicals and “civilized society”. For those of us who are neurodivergent and already regularly struggle with the subtleties of social scripts, the topic of intimacy can feel more taboo and, at times, even confusing. The lived experience of neurodivergents is often different in surprising, wonderful, and weird little ways; and though we often can’t discuss S-E-X openly we can likely assume that the same rule applies in this arena of life as well. But how do we know for sure if we can’t talk about it? Well, we don’t know how to answer that question, but your Different Functional ladies here are pretty direct and blunt, and since we don’t know any other way to be we figured, why not go about this in a trial-by-fire sort of way. Join us as we discuss the intricacies, oddities, and awkwardness of being neurodivergent in the bedroom, and help us answer the age-old question: “Is it just me, or…..?” Thanks for listening. We very much appreciate you and the support you offer us. If you’re enjoying the show it would be wonderful if you could please like, subscribe, rate, review, and spread the word about our humble little podcast. If you’re feeling especially generous and would like to support us on Patreon you can find us as www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

The Duality of Neurodivergence: Recognizing Our Challenges & Embracing Our Strengths

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Like many other things in life, neurodivergence is a bit of a double-edged sword. Some of our neurodivergent traits are so impressive that they almost seem like superpowers, while others impair our ability to function so much that they can feel like a curse. What’s even more interesting is how our own perception of these traits may differ from the perceptions others have of us, especially the perceptions of other neurodivergent people. Join us as we explore the duality of our neurodivergence, discussing our perceptions of both our best traits and our biggest challenges through the lens of autism and ADHD. Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Neurodivergent Vocabulary: An Exploration of Clinical and Community Terminology

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Increasingly more of us are being diagnosed with some form of neurodivergence and/or are accidentally stumbling upon an unexpected sense of kinship among neurodivergent communities on social media. As our knowledge expands, both clinically and culturally, our vocabulary around neurodivergence is also evolving at a rapid rate. Clinicians have been in the process of changing diagnostic terminology for a while already and now, members of the neurodivergent community have been coming together, often via social media, to create terms and phrases that more accurately describe the full, lived experience of being a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world. Many of us are discovering that while our struggles can indeed be described as symptoms that impair our daily function, especially in the context of societal expectations, there are also so many fascinating, beautiful, and almost superhuman qualities on the other side of the neurodivergent coin. Join us as we discuss the definitions and origins of some of these terms and explore what they may actually look like as part of the lived experience for neurodivergent people. Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

The Stress Test: Are Popular Coping Mechanisms Helpful for Neurodivergents?

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

How’s everyone feeling out there? Not gonna lie, 2024 has started off as a very stressful year for us. We have our tried-and-true coping mechanisms and skills but let’s face it, sometimes you just need a little something extra to get you through the storm; so we did a little internet search to see if there were any suggestions that maybe we hadn’t thought of before. The conclusion we came to was: No, not really. Pretty much every website we came across gave the exact same basic advice we’ve all heard again and again and again, with barely even any variance in how it was packaged. And we thought, alright, if they’re all saying the same things then surely there must be some merit to these suggestions, but do they work as well for as for neurodivergents as they seemingly do for neurotypicals? Join us as we put these suggestions to the test and discuss our views on their efficacy and shortcomings as two neurodivergent women in search of some heavy duty stress busters. Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Mostly Unmasked: A Curiously Candid Conversation Compilation

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0400

We’ve been doing the podcast now for a little over two years and if you’ve been listening for awhile you’d probably think you know us pretty well by now. I mean we do share a lot about our personal lives and past experiences, and we always try to be as authentic as possible, but if you’re neurodivergent you’re likely also very familiar with a little thing called “masking”. To coexist somewhat peaceably in a neurotypical world, many neurodivergents learn early on that they have to slip on a persona and play by certain rules, and over time those masks become almost second nature and it can even become difficult to remember where the mask ends and you begin. So for this episode we’re doing something a little bit different. We want to show you our strange, little neurodivergent selves, as unmasked and unfiltered as possible; so instead of presenting you a typically structured episode where we’d instinctively mask, we’ve compiled a ton of clips with our more candid moments during the last two years that never made it into the episodes. From bloopers to conversations about the weirdness of life, this is a glimpse behind the masks we wear everyday. Strap in and prepare yourselves for a rowdy and raucous good time that’s chaotic, unhinged, and hilarious. We’ve got the combined humor of teenage boys, little old ladies, and fed up millennials so expect some crude humor, cussing, and complaints about weird things bodies do. We hope you’ll join us for the party and that you’ll still like us on the other side of it, after you’ve seen some of our rougher edges. Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Dating Differently: Exploring the Awkwardness of Neurodivergent Dating

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Valentine’s Day! Do ya’ll celebrate this holiday? To be honest, we don’t really celebrate it much ourselves. There’s too much pressure to make things extra special and it’s uncomfortable to eat at an overcrowded restaurant. Also, does anyone else think it’s strange to romanticize an internal organ, especially since a “heart” looks nothing like the one in your body and it’s not even the organ responsible for creating all those lovey-dovey feelings anyway? Honestly, that last question might point to one more reason why we don't celebrate Valentine's Day in the typical fashion: Neurodivergence. Everything neurodivergents do, we do a wee bit differently (awkwardly too in most cases), and dating is no exception. Join us for some story time and an exploration into some of the ways that neurodivergence can make dating an interesting and challenging endeavor. We’d also love to hear from you! Email us your stories of dating as a neurodivergent person at differentfunctional@gmail.com or drop us a comment on one of our posts for this episode on Tik Tok, Facebook, or Instagram where you can find us as Different Functional. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks so much for listening! We’re so glad you’re here!

Hurt People, Hurt People: How to Stop Paying Trauma Forward

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0400

We’d like to believe that all trauma and abuse survivors are purely sympathetic characters who would never inflict the kind of pain they’ve been through on another person, but the reality is usually much messier than that. When we hear the phrase “hurt people, hurt people” we often think of it as a way to understand and maybe even develop compassion for bullies, but you don’t have to be a stereotypical bully for this phrase to apply to you. Many of us who have been victims of trauma and abuse end up perpetuating that cycle forward as a result of maladaptive coping mechanisms, a lack of self-awareness, environmental normalization of destructive behaviors, warped attempts at self-protection, or even self-loathing and sabotage. And most of us don’t want to hurt others; in fact, we often hate ourselves when we do cause harm because we know exactly how damaging the long-term impact of that pain can be. But how do we stop weaponizing our wounds and stop paying our own trauma and abuse forward? Join us as we share some of our own experiences on this topic, and discuss how you can make peace with the past, make amends with those you’ve hurt, and change your perspectives and behavior to ensure a better future for yourself and your relationships. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review.

It's Not Me, It's You: How Society Gaslights Neurodivergent People

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re a neurodivergent person, chances are you’re used to feeling out of step with the rest of the world. Those of us in the community have learned the importance of masking and adaptation because we’ve often been accused of being weird, lazy, unmotivated, easily distracted, overly sensitive, immature, inappropriate, unempathetic, disrespectful, rude, selfish, uncommunicative, bad listeners, etc… The list goes on and on. But what if we’re not actually the problem? It’s possible that we’ve been gaslit our whole lives into believing things about ourselves that are egregiously untrue or misrepresented and then pressured into fixing things about ourselves that were never broken to begin with. Maybe we're just different. And maybe there's nothing wrong with that. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review.

New Year's Resolutions: 10 Tips for Making Lasting Changes

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Happy New Year! 2023 was a wild year, and by that we mean it was a feral beast. We may have all walked away from it a little scratched up, bruised, and shell shocked but we made it! Cheers to our survival and to the hope that 2024 will usher in some much-needed relief and happiness; after these last few chaotic and pensive years, we’ve all certainly earned it. Because of everything we’ve been through recently, those New Years resolutions feel even more meaningful than usual. It’s time for some real, lasting and positive changes, but what does that look like and how do we get there without just losing heart or motivation by the end of January? Join us as we discuss how to identify and attain the goals that will bring the most sustainable improvements into your life. Thank you for listening, your support means the world to us. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

All I Want for Christmas: Offbeat Christmas Media for the Quirky Holiday Hater

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0400

How’s everyone doing out there? If the answer is “Not so great” we feel you. The holiday season is a bit of a trudge for us too, and few things are more grating on the nerves than the inescapably repetitive songs and movies that play for weeks on end every single year. How many times can you listen to Jingle Bells without losing your mind? How many Santa themed movies can you watch before you start having nightmares about how exactly he sees you when you’re sleeping? And if you’re struggling with your mental health or your relationships this year then how much forced “holly jolly” can you take? Now, don’t get us wrong. We do wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, but we also understand if that feels like a tall order, so we’ve put together a list of mostly offbeat Christmas movie and song recommendations to help you survive the rest of this holiday season. Thanks for listening and for your support this year. We’ll see you in 2024, and here’s hoping it’s a better year for all of us. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review.

Coping with Holiday Stress: Finding YOUR Reason for the Season

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Love it or hate it, the holiday season can be the most challenging and stressful time of year. Sure, there are lots of pretty sparkly things and good food and magical festivities and great sales BUT there’s also so much traffic, so many crowded stores, tons of familial and social obligations, and a surplus of financial woes. Santa always comes bearing a loaded mixed bag of both good and bad things that can make us feel all sorts of ways about all kinds of things. In the midst of all this, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, switch into auto-pilot mode and forget what this season is all about. That’s right, the reason for the season. No, we’re not going to say Jesus because we believe that the holiday season is not one-size-fits-all, and that everyone should have a chance to enjoy it on their terms and for their own reasons. And if you’re struggling to find your peace, love, and joy this year then join us as we explore a plethora of possible reasons that might help you find your holiday spirit. If you enjoy the podcast don’t forget to subscribe and please leave us a rating and review. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Thanks for listening!

Pass the Trauma: Using Dark Humor to Cope with the Holidays

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Over the river and through the woods, to our traumatic holiday memories we go. Buckle up folks, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride! We may not be able to pick our families, but we can choose whether we laugh or cry at the madness and chaos they bring to us. We’ve personally cried plenty of tears over the years, and while there may still be one or two of those tears in this episode, we’re mostly sick of crying and think maybe it’s time to bring some dark humor to holiday spirits (double entendre, anyone?). Allow us to regale you with some insane tales that may feel very familiar and relatable to those of you who grew up in dangerously dysfunctional homes. ***MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING*** If you don’t have a strong stomach and a twisted sense of gallows humor you might want to sit this one out because this episode does include the following topics: suicide, racism, assault, domestic abuse, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, and mental health crises. That being said, if you’re still along for the ride there are some laughs and also some touching moments to be had, and it only took us about 25 years to find them.

If you are struggling this holiday season and need some assistance, please, don’t hesitate to reach out. There are resources available that can help pull you out of both internal and external crises. Visit our website www.differenfunctional.com/mental-health-resources for an extensive list of helplines that you can call, text, or chat with today. You are worthy. You are loved. You can get through this. And you are NOT alone.

Meeting the In-Laws?: Navigating a Functional Family when You Come From Dysfunction

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

It’s here guys. We’re in the thick of it, and we don’t mean mashed potatoes and gravy. We mean the holiday season. Dun, Dun, Dun! If you grew up with a dysfunctional family, you probably had at least a few traumatic holidays with them and that can make you a little skittish when the turkey and jingle bells start coming out. Family is hard. Holidays are stressful. But if you’re dealing with your own family at least you know what to expect. However, what if you’re not dealing with them? What if you’re meeting your partner’s family for the first time instead? And what if they’re…. “normal”? That sounds like it would be a relief, but it can be equally if not even more intimidating. When you’re only used to dysfunction, trauma, and abuse it can be difficult to know how you should interact with a family that is close-knit and loving, where no one screams or throws chairs or burns the food just to be spiteful. We get it, we’ve been there ourselves. So if you’re stressed and struggling to figure out how to navigate this holiday season with the future in-laws we’ve put together a list of questions for you to consider and talk over with your partner so you can feel a little more prepared for whatever uncertainty comes your way. If you enjoy the podcast don’t forget to subscribe and please leave us a rating and review. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Thanks for listening!

Patreon Unlocked Bonus: The Mothman

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

If you enjoyed our most recent episode, we have a surprise for you. We actually held back one extra story to release for Halloween. We hope you all have a terribly wonderful Halloween!

Halloween Special Episode: Urban Legends: Converting the Horror Aversive

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Halloween! Spooky season is upon us and we need your help to settle a dispute! While we both love fall, Ivy has a fondness for the creepy, crawly, scary aspects of the season but Autumn most definitely does not. Now we’re not debating whether horror is good or bad entertainment, or even necessarily whether it’s good or evil. No, we’re at an impasse about whether or not it has any merit at all within society, culture, or the individual human psyche. So please, gather around the campfire with us while we dip our toes into the spooky realm to explore some classic urban legends and discuss whether these stories are worthy of passing along to scare yet another generation. We’re even joined by a special guest storyteller who will delight and terrify us with his rendition of these classic creepy tales. How do you feel about urban legends or the genre of horror? Write in and give us your thoughts at differentfunctional@gmail.com or use the contact form on our website www.differentfunctional.com. Don’t forget to check out our resources page for this episode on our website, as well. And if you’d like some extra spook, join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Thanks for listening!

Pumpkin Spice, Flannel, and Halloween: Embracing the Joys of Fall on Your Terms

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Autumn is here! And we don’t mean the co-host of the podcast either. Are you slipping into your flannel shirts, beanies, and boots yet? Enjoyed any pumpkin spice lattes or apple fritters? Have you been busy decorating, watching horror movies, and picking out a costume for spooky season? We don’t know about you, but this year has been putting us through the wringer, and with so much stress and uncertainty it’s been hard to find the little joys in life. So, in this episode we’re taking a big, deep breath of that crisp fall air, grabbing some warm apple cider, and sitting down to chat about the relief and child-like joy that this season can bring. Sure, there may be a lot of disparaging memes and mocking comments about the “basic white girl fall starter pack” but you know what we say? Screw ‘em. It feels like these days the moments of joy are few and far between and we’re not going to be ashamed of some moments of happiness and contentment. If you enjoy the podcast don’t forget to subscribe and please leave us a rating and review. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Thanks for listening!

Inner Child Play: A Timed Challenge to Help You Connect with Your Inner Child

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Okay ya’ll, we’re doing something a little bit different this time. Chances are you’ve heard of inner child work, and if you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably also done some inner child work yourself or are curious about trying it. When we hear the words “inner child work” we often imagine cathartic moments, full of difficult and complex feelings, but that’s not all it is. Connecting with your inner child is also about establishing internal trust and allowing that younger version of yourself to have freedom of expression and to play. Many of us who were traumatized, abused, or neglected as children never really had the opportunity to freely enjoy our childhood. And heck, even if you didn’t experience childhood trauma, having to be an adult all the time is so boring and frustrating! So today, we hope you’ll join us for a bit of a game. Let’s all allow our inner child to express themselves through a series of timed challenges that are as fun as they are fascinating. There will be lots of unmitigated joy, some internal battles of will, and some unexpected heartfelt moments; which is honestly exactly what a lot of us need right now.

Don't Speak: 20 Things You Shouldn't Say to a Trauma Survivor

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

It seems like everyone has an opinion about everything, whether those opinions are educated and well-informed or not. If you’re a trauma survivor you’ve probably heard them all, everything from victim-blaming to toxic positivity and everything in between. Some of the people who are spouting these opinions are willfully ignorant and abusive while others are well-intentioned but ill-equipped to help. One thing is for sure though, there are some things we all wish we’d never have to hear again. Join us as we discuss some of these hot button phrases and maybe send this episode along to anyone who you wish would just zip-it for once. If you enjoy the podcast don’t forget to subscribe and please leave us a rating and review. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Thanks for listening!

Pop Culture and the Pre Apocalypse: Staying Sane in a Surreal World

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

There’s a whole lot of crazy going on in the world right now. Maybe there always is but these last few years it has felt worse than usual. The pandemic, social unrest, political corruption, economic downturn, ongoing war, an uptick in natural disasters, and so on and so on. Nearly all of us are feeling the effects of this combined chaos in one way or another, and while it’s not quite the apocalypse there are some days when it sure does feel like it. So, what are we to do? How do we get through the madness of these trying times while still maintaining our sanity? Well, when truth becomes stranger than fiction it might actually be beneficial to explore what real-world survival skills fictional pop culture protagonists can teach us to help us survive the pre-apocalypse. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Well, This is Awkward: React and Review

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In our last episode, we may have picked on neurotypicals just a little bit so this time we thought we’d level the playing field and talk about The Great Equalizer. No, not death. Awkwardness. While we, as neurodivergent people, often think of ourselves as being the most painfully, embarrassingly awkward people on the planet the truth is neurotypicals aren’t immune to awkwardness either. We all have moments that make us blush, put our foot in our mouth, embarrass the heck out of us, and make us want to run away. So join us as we take a gander at a random list from the internet of supposedly universal awkward moments, and listen along as we react to these scenarios and embarrass ourselves for your entertainment. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

You're So Weird!: Flipping the Social Scripts

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Those of us in the neurodivergent community have had our fair share of struggles with social situations. By the standards of the neurotypical world, our social skills come up lacking and we’re often seen as awkward, eccentric, odd, clueless, weird, off-putting, crass, rude, etc… If you’re neurodivergent, you know what we mean. You probably have a whole list of not-so-nice words that people have used to describe you and backhanded compliments you’ve been given, and we’re sure you’re all too familiar with “that face” people give you when you’ve broken a social rule that you either didn’t understand or didn’t care about. Even if you’ve learned to mask really well chances are still good you’ve committed some social faux pas in your time. But let’s be honest here, a lot of neurotypical social scripts are arbitrary, poorly written, and they just don’t make much sense. So join as we flip the script on neurotypicals for a change and call them out for all the ways in which they’re actually the weirdos here. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Feeling Your Feelings: An Intimate Exploration of Emotions

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Our experience of emotion is something we generally take for granted. Afterall, feelings just tend to happen. Our hearts beat, our lungs breath, our legs move us forward, and we feel stuff. Unless we’re actively struggling with one those things, we don’t often give them much thought or effort. But maybe we should. Emotions and our relationships with them can actually be really complex, and by exploring them more fully we gain a much richer understanding of ourselves and our experience of the world. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Life is Good as a Goblin Girl: And Other Alternatives to the #HotGirlSummer

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We’re in the sweltering stretch of summer and you know what that means... It’s #hotgirlsummer time. Or is it? Join us as we discuss the concept of the “hot girl summer”: what it’s supposed to be; whether the social media image fits its definition; the pros and cons of pursuing that ideal; and some equally valid alternatives if that particular hashtag doesn’t fit your vibe or aesthetic. There’s plenty enough room for all of us, whether you’re a hot girl, a goblin girl, or something else entirely. As they say: You do you, Boo. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Fears and Phobias: Maybe It's Not All Just in Your Head

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

You’re afraid of something. We know you are. It’s okay, you can admit it. Fear is part of the human condition, and unless you’ve got some rare and interesting anatomy in your brain’s amygdala, chances are good you’ve felt fear many times before. Some of us are bigger scaredy-cats than others (and if you are one such kitty, we meow in solidarity with you) but what if it’s not just all in your head? Join us as we destigmatize some commons fears and phobias and seek to understand why we feel fear; how to determine if we’re being irrational; and what to do about it when our fear gets the better of us. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Retro '90s Cartoons! The Lessons They Taught Us About Mental Health, Relationships, & Life

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Buckle up because we’re going retro! Some of the first important lessons we learn as children come from the kinds of media we’re exposed to and if you’re a Millennial or Gen-Z that probably means your formative years were full of cartoons like Rugrats, Wild Thornberrys, Daria, Hey Arnold, Animaniacs, Magic School Bus, The Simpsons, and more! Join us as we explore some of the life lessons we learned from these iconic 90s cartoons and how our perspectives of them have shifted once we grew up. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Autism vs ADHD: Being Different, Differently

Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

What does a day in the life of a neurodivergent person look like? Well, that depends. The definition of neurodivergence and the number of us huddled together under the umbrella of that term is ever expanding. We are a large community with a vast set of eccentricities, challenges, and gifts but even with all this diversity we also share many things in common. Join us as we discuss and compare notes on how autism and ADHD influence our lives, motivations, routines, and relationships. Do you relate to our experiences? What form does your neurodiversity take and how does it influence your life? We’d love to hear from you at https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact If you enjoy our shenanigans don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, leave us a rating and review, and tell a friend about us. Thanks for listening.

Victim Mentality: The Anti-Hero of Trauma Recovery

Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Victimhood is loaded with stigmas and complicated, uneasy feelings and so it’s kind of expected that we should jump straight from being traumatized and abused to being a resilient survivor and the hero of our own story. But does slapping a superhero themed bandage on our wounds actually heal them? Join us today as we take a more neutral and destigmatizing look at what victim mentality is, who has it, what purpose it serves, and how to grow beyond it without needing to demonize it. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Anxiety Coping Skills A-Z: A Real Life Rate and Review

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

If you struggle with anxiety, you’ve probably gone down the internet anxiety rabbit hole more than once, looking for guidance on how to cope with it. And there is an overwhelming amount of information and advice being offered by gurus, mental health experts, and someone’s Aunt Gertrude who swears by this or that natural remedy. Where do you begin and what actually works? The truth is there’s no one path or coping skill that will work for everyone, and even things that seem universal will have to be tailored to fit you just right. Join us as we explore the anxiety ABCs to give you a real-life review of some coping mechanisms, tools, and skills that are commonly used or recommended. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Self-Discovery Playlist: A Musical Guide to Finding Yourself After Childhood Trauma and/or Neurodivergent Masking

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

One of the biggest challenges that comes with experiencing childhood trauma or being neurodivergent is that we often don’t get the opportunity to discover our identity until we are adults. Most people get to cultivate their identity during their early developmental years, but for those of us who were expected to mask or who were living in survival mode as children identity development was a luxury we simply couldn’t afford. Once we reach adulthood we often have the freedom, safety, and autonomy to finally find ourselves but doing so is a daunting prospect. Join us as we discuss the highs and lows of this self-discovery journey and how music can help us define ourselves. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Neurodivergent Easter Eggs: Exploring the Gifts of Being Different

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Easter everyone! This holiday is a generally fun and uplifting one for most of us regardless of whether we see it in a religious or secular light. The winter is melting away and with spring finally here we feel revived, refreshed, and ready for some goodies and games with our loved ones. Nothing illustrates these ideas better than Easter baskets and Easter egg hunts, and we’d love to have you join us as we take an allegorical journey to discover the wonderful things that come with being neurodivergent. So tell us, what’s in your Easter basket? To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

20 Dick Moves We All Do

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We all try to be good people and surely that must mean that our hard work results in us being altruistic angels full of Love and Light all the time, right? Hmmm… Maybe not. The truth is we’re human and that makes us susceptible to feelings of frustration, exhaustion, pettiness, envy, and egocentrism. Our desire to be good makes us want to believe that we can and should become immune to such feelings but that isn’t realistic, and what often happens instead is that we end up racked with guilt and shame and we forget that everyone else feels these emotions sometimes too. Join us as we call ourselves out and discuss some of the common dick moves we all share. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Neurodivergent RPG: Symptoms or Superpowers?

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

For so long, we were taught that neurodivergence was a glaring flaw in our design and that if we wanted to be successful (or even just normal) we had to mask what made us unique as though hiding symptoms or a horrible disease. Thankfully, the narrative is beginning to change as it becomes increasingly more apparent that we aren’t diseased and that “normal” is a word with almost no meaning. In this episode, we ask the question: What would happen if we stopped masking and instead embraced our neurodivergent traits in everyday interactions? And since life and other people are unpredictable, we figured the best answer to that question would come in the form of a table top RPG game. Join us in our chaotic and hilarious attempt to forge bonds, burn bridges, and discover whether neurodivergent traits are symptoms or superpowers. To purchase the digital version of the game we played in the episode visit www.differentfunctional.com/products. If you’d like to become a patron you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional. Please, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating or review!

Let Me Tell You: Communicating Mental Health Needs in Your Relationship

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Love is wonderful and all but, let’s face it, relationships can be really hard; and one of the biggest challenges when you’re building a relationship and a life with someone is communication. One minute you feel like you’re on the same wavelength, reading each other’s minds and the next minute you feel like you’re not even speaking the same language. And if you and/or your partner has a trauma history, mental health struggles, or is neurodivergent that can add a whole other complicated layer to the communication equation. Today, we’re exploring how to understand yourself and your partner better and how to communicate your needs and get on the same page with your significant other. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Green Flags: A Musical Exploration of Healthy Relationships

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We often look to music to explore and enhance our own life experiences and, for better or worse, “Love” dominates the airwaves. We are constantly inundated with lyrical messages about what love is, what it looks like, and how it feels. But how many of those messages are healthy, or even true? Love can be wonderful and fulfilling, but many of the catchy songs we find ourselves singing along to set the bar for relationships very low and are often downright toxic. If we absorb the narratives these songs spin, we may be misled into ignoring and potentially glorifying red flags. Today, we’re exploring the concept of love through music that tells a different story, one that lines the path ahead with green flags to guide our way. Be sure to check out our resources page to access a playlist that includes all the songs we talk about in this episode and more https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources

Good Grief!: Grappling with Loss and Death

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Grief isn't caused solely by death. Grief can be triggered by any important loss we experience: loss of a job, loss of a relationship, or even the losses of innocence, ideals, and potential that so often accompany trauma. What exactly is grief? Why do we experience it? And most importantly, how can we make the experience of grief just a little easier to handle? We explore all these questions and more in this episode. Join us as we take a deep dive into grief and loss. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources and if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

New Year, Same You

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Happy New Year! Time to get back to work, lose that holiday weight, set new goals, and Change. Your. Life!!! But what if…and hear us out here….what if you didn’t do any of those things at all? In this episode, we’re discussing the social pressures that confront us at the start of each new year and exploring how to: determine if you really want or need to make changes; decide if the timing is even right for change; and create a plan that will help you make desired changes without burning out in the process. And just remember that even if you’re eager to set new goals this January, the New Year doesn’t have to mean a New You. You can stay the Same You and that would still be just fine and dandy. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes, visit www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to like, rate, review, and subscribe. And if you’d like to support us on Patreon, you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Winter Whispers: Finding Hope in the Darkness

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Throughout history, cultures have ascribed meaning to the natural cycles of the seasons, seeing in them the cyclical nature of our human existence as well. Spring brings new life and new beginnings. Summer brings growth and abundance. Fall is the season of culmination and harvest. But winter…winter is a time of scarcity, of death and grief, of letting go, of forced rest, and of personal reflection. The holiday festivities offer a brief, brilliant flash of distraction from the harsher aspects of the season; but when the winter wonderland fades into a stark landscape of short, cold, dreary days we’re left to our own devices and inner ruminations, making it hard to find a spark of hope and warmth in our lives. Join us, as we discuss what winter has to teach us and explore what hope actually is and how to find it, even on our darkest days. If you're enjoying the podcast please don't forget to subscribe, follow, rate, and review. You can find our resources for this and all our other episode at https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources and if you'd like to become a patron we are at http://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Boundary Setting Basics

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0400

The holiday season can be a difficult time for anyone with a dysfunctional family, mental or physical health struggles, neurodivergent traits, or very limited resources; and while boundary setting is always important, that’s especially true this time of year when the pressure is on to play nice, play along, and put our own needs on the back burner. In this episode, we discuss some boundary setting basics to help you break out of people-pleasing tendencies, cope with difficult individuals, push back against the pressure, and say no when you need to. Thanks, as always, for listening and if you are enjoying the podcast please, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. You can find our resources for this and all our other episodes at www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’d like to become a patron you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional and if you’d like to check out our new merch click here http://tee.pub/lic/XbE9gNPNOms

Turning the Tables on Holiday Traditions: A Holiday Season Survival Guide

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Uh oh. The holidays are already upon us again. 'Tis the season, so they say, and while many people are giddy with excitement, some of us enter the holiday season with feelings of trepidation, anxiety, and grief. Even if you have a festive spirit and love the rituals and traditions of the season, it’s still a stressful time because there are so many more expectations, demands, and disruptions to our daily lives. That stress is made even worse if you struggle with your mental health, have experienced a recent trauma or loss, have an abusive or dysfunctional family, feel the pain of loneliness, struggle with financial insecurity, or are even simply neurodivergent. In this episode, we’re exploring how we can turn the tables on holiday traditions, push back against the pressures, find a little more joy and peace for ourselves, and generally just survive the season with our sanity intact. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. If you’d like to become a patron we are at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional We also now have merch! You can find a link to it on our homepage at www.differentfunctional.com

The Echoes of Childhood Trauma in Our Adult Lives

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Childhood trauma imprints on us like nothing else can. It lives rent free in our heads and takes a toll on our lives well into adulthood. Our minds and bodies hold onto those memories for decades, expressing them again and again in ways both subliminal and overt. It can resurface when we least expect it, causing us to relive painful memories as though they are happening again in this moment, and often compelling us to repeat patterns of trauma or abuse without us even being aware that we’re doing it. In this episode, we’re talking about all of the ways in which childhood trauma can echo into your adult life; as well as how to recognize the impact on our lives, to understand why these patterns repeat, and to begin mitigating the damage it causes. To see our resources for this and all our others episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’re enjoying the podcast please show us some love by subscribing, following, reviewing, commenting on, and sharing our episodes. And if you’d like to become a patron you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Jekyll & Hyde: The Duality of the Social Masks We Wear

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Happy Halloween! It’s that time again, to dress up as ghosts, ghoulies, and whatever else floats our happy little spooky boats. But what about the masks we wear every day, the social personas we slip on each morning when we venture out into the world? Are the masks we wear to convince others, and sometimes even ourselves, that we are the living embodiment of a particular archetype also a little scary? In this episode, we’re talking about the duality of the roles we play and the masks we wear, because if we’re really honest with ourselves, there’s a little bit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in us all. If you’re enjoying the podcast please show your support by subscribing, rating and reviewing, and leaving us a comment! To become a patron go to www.patreon.com/differentfunctional today. There are no pictures of the infamous laundry basket costume we mentioned in the episode, but go on over to our resource page for this episode to see some of our other costume choices over the years, www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources

Lesser Known Truths About Trauma Recovery

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0400

There’s a lot of information out there about trauma recovery; some is valuable and honestly, some is clichéd and irrelevant nonsense. It can be a challenge to discern the truth from the myths, especially early on in your healing journey. It can also be hard not to judge yourself harshly when you’re basing your progress on what are actually unrealistic expectations and rules around what healing “should” look like. And sometimes you ask important questions and get nothing but silence in return. Today, we’re discussing some of the lesser known and lesser heard truths, both hard and hopeful, about trauma recovery that we’ve learned during our own healing journeys. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and leave a comment for us. We’d love to hear from you, so don’t be a stranger! To see our resource for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources And if you’d like to become a Patron you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Mental Health Support 101: When and How to Provide Support to the People in Your Life

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400

How can you support someone who is struggling with their mental health, trauma recovery, or neurodivergence? If someone you love has ever experienced these challenges, then you know how painful it is to watch from the sidelines and not know how to help. And if you’ve struggled with these kinds of things yourself, then you know how frustrating it is to be surrounded by well-intentioned but clueless people who want to help, but just don’t understand what you’re going through. Conversations about mental health are awkward and difficult, so let’s tackle it together. This episode is loaded with tons of helpful resources, some clinical perspectives, and plenty of lived experience advice to help you bridge the gap between you and your loved ones. You can find the resources for this and all our other episodes at https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’re enjoying the podcast please support us by subscribing, rating, reviewing, commenting, or by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

My Brain Made Me Do It: Everyday Compulsions We All Have

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Admit it. You have compulsions. Do you count floor tiles for no reason? Feel a need to correct a strangers' grammar or speling? Do you jiggle the heck out of the door knob to make sure it's locked, only to come back and double-check anyway? Ever felt the desire to scream in a library or church? Are you unable to resist meowing in response to a cat? Have you ever wanted to throw a potato at a stranger or boop a pigeon in the butt with a loaf of bread?! Okay, maybe those last two are just us. Anywho... Every human alive has some kind of compulsive thoughts, urges, and behaviors. Who knows, maybe ghosts do too. Join us for a hysterically funny exploration of the many everyday compulsions that are a universal part of the human experience. If you enjoy this episode, please don't forget to subscribe, follow, like, comment, rate, and review! You can also find us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional Also, visit www.differentfunctional.com/grandma-bus-prize to submit your episode topic suggestion for a chance to win a Grandma Bus Prize

Damaged Goods: Trauma's Negative Impact on Self-Esteem and How to Flip the Script

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Let's face it. Trauma is complex. It hits us where it hurts, the wounds are deep, and the scars often leave us feeling flawed. Today, we're discussing some of the ways trauma can negatively impact our self-esteem and sense of identity, but more importantly we'll also be diving deep into how we can change the narrative to take back our power. If the trauma you've experienced has ever made you feel isolated, unworthy, at fault, or fundamentally broken...we've been there, we get it. Let's change it together. Let's write a new story. Let's make it our own. Let's make it a good one. If you're enjoying the podcast, don't forget to subscribe, follow, rate, review, and/or leave us a comment! To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources You can also find us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Patreon Unlocked: Unnecessarily Disastrous: Clothing Concerns & Wardrobe Weariness

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Yes! It's our off week but we wanted to share a little something extra with you. We hope you'll enjoy this special mini-episode from our Patreon vault, a sample of our comedic segment Unnecessarily Disastrous! If you're curious about our other Patreon perks and content you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

Body Image Issues: Why We Have Them and How to Shift Our Perspective

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

How do you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror? From our earliest developmental years, we’re fed messages about the connection between beauty, health, popularity, love, and success. Some of these messages are insidiously subliminal while others are painfully overt. Either way, we’ve all felt the pressure to submit to these rules and felt insecure when we’ve found ourselves falling short of the beauty ideal. But where do these messages come from and who, or what, decides what the beauty standards are? In this episode we explore the origins and perpetuation of beauty standards and discuss ways that we can break out of the cycle and love ourselves a little more. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you’re enjoying the podcast, please, don’t forget to rate, review, follow, comment, and subscribe! And if you’d like to support us on Patreon we are https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional

6th Sense or Mental Illness? Exploring the Intersection of Paranormal Experience and Mental Health

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

It's so freakin' HOT! Summer has been taking us for a crazy ride on this heat wave for too long and I don't know about you, but we're ready to feel a chill in the air and down our spines. The start of Spooky Season is still weeks away, but we're going to pretend it's right around the corner. So gather around the campfire with us and we'll tell you some of our ghost stories and other paranormal experiences. We'll also talk about the overlap between supernatural experiences, trauma, and mental health. Is what we've experienced real or are you just sitting at this campfire with a couple of crazy people? You can find our resources for this and all our other episodes at https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you're enjoying the podcast don't forget to like, subscribe, comment, and tell your friends about us; and if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true&view_as=public

A Neurodivergent Guide to Making Friends When You Suck at Socializing

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0400

You ever try making friends? If you're anything like us then it's surprisingly hard. When we're kids we just ask some other random kid at the playground if they want to be our friend, but then we get older and all of a sudden it becomes complicated. The are different rules, processes, and rituals that are involved in friendship as adults. So how do you make friends when your neurodivergent brain has difficulty navigating these complex social scripts? To be honest, we're not entirely sure either but in this episode we're combining our observations with some seemingly basic logic and our own personal experiences to make a hopefully helpful guide to forming friendships. If you're enjoying the podcast please subscribe, rate, review, and spread the word about us. And if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Coping with Depression

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Last time, we discussed what it's like when depression takes up residence in your head, but how can you actually deal with this frustrating, unwanted roommate? Today, we're exploring a variety of coping strategies and treatment options, and not all of them are textbook. We've both lived alongside depression for most of our lives and if we've learned anything it's that each person's relationship with depression is unique; coping strategies are not one-size-fits-all; and humor can go a long way toward healing. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to support us please like, rate, review, subscribe, and spread the word. You can also support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Depression: An Exploration of Lived Experience

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Depression is one of the most common mental health struggles that people experience. For some, it is a temporary response to a specific trauma or loss. For others, the battle with depression comes in waves, seldom has a triggering event, and will last a lifetime. Today, we're talking about what it's like to live with depression, getting into the gritty details of how it impacts your health, your relationships, and your life. If you've struggled with depression, we hope that hearing our experiences will help you feel less alone. Even if you've never experienced depression yourself the likelihood is still high that someone close to you is struggling with it right now, and we hope that this episode will help you recognize the signs and understand their internal battle. If you'd like to support the podcast on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

A Walk Down Memory Lanes: Differences in Memory in a Dysfunctional Home

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Today, we're talking about the convoluted connection between reality and personal experience. You can expose several people to the exact same event, and yet everyone involved will walk away with unique and often conflicting accounts of their experience. This becomes even more complicated in dysfunctional families where secrecy, isolation, and complex relationship dynamics cast a long shadow over each family member's perception. Beyond just being confusing, these drastic differences in perception complicate our ability to heal from the trauma we endured, to maintain our relationships within the family, or even to trust our version of the events that transpired. Join us as we blind-record our individual accounts of a single traumatic event in our childhood and then discuss the contradictions in our stories, as well as how our subjective experiences have shaped the adults we are now. Patreon members at our two highest tiers get access to bonus content for this episode, where we do an even deeper dive into the roles we each played in the family and how the differences in how we were raised influence our memory of events. https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

10 Things We Hate Hearing as Neurodivergent Adults

Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Last time we talked about all the things we hated being told while growing up in a dysfunctional family. This time, we hope you'll listen in for a more light-hearted and humorous discussion about what gets under our skin to hear as neurodivergent adults living in a "normative" world. And please, join our chorus of angry laughter and take a jab at society too by telling us what things you hear that annoy the heck out of you as a neurodivergent person. You can vent it out to us here https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact

Also, there's a bonus number 11 for this list that you can find on our Patreon for free at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

10 Things We Hated Hearing While Growing Up in a Dysfunctional Home

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 -0400

If you grew up in a dysfunctional family and traumatic home we're guessing there were a few things you really hated being told as a kid. Today, we're discussing some of the frustrating and infuriating messages we heard while growing up, both from within and from outside our family. What phrases did you hear that got under your skin? Click here https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact to vent to us about it to your heart's content. And if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Reduced Functioning (part 2): Making the Most of the F*cks You Have

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Last episode, we discussed what it's like to live with reduced functioning, and we covered the many daily challenges that come with just not having enough internal resources. Today, we're talking about how you can begin to budget your f*cks or spoons or pies or whatever you choose to call those limited resources. Laugh with us as we share our own struggles and victories with f*ck budgeting; and gather some shiny, new budgeting tools to add to your own toolbelt too. To see our resources for this episode https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources and if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Reduced Functioning (Part 1): When You Don't Have Enough F*cks

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 21:00:00 -0400

This time we're talking about the difference between "I don't give a f*ck." and "I can't give a f*ck." When you have mental health struggles, a trauma background, or are neurodivergent there is a distinction between the two. In this episode, we're covering a few examples of how ingrained societal pressures and differences in the way our minds work can influence us and challenge out ability to budget our limited number of f*cks. We'd love to hear from you about your own experiences with limited functioning and about what factors influence how you budget your inner resources so let us know at https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact And if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Coping with Social Anxiety: Just Talk About Poop

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Last time we talked about what it's like to have social anxiety and what drives that anxiety. This time we're sharing some inspiration and strategies for how to cope with, embrace, and work around social anxiety. Maybe you'll take a page from Autumn's book and do a recon mission in advance or shut down small talk with poop. On the other hand, Ivy's bathroom hideout and extrovert-boyfriend summoning skills might be more your style. We've got lots of suggestions and even some last-ditch desperation maneuvers to share with you. Come listen in as we discuss all the rational and ridiculous ways we can live...mostly peaceably, with our social anxiety. You can find our resources for this and all our other episodes at https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources And if you'd like to support us on Patreon we are at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Social Anxiety, Spy Speaking, & Small Talk

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Do you ever shake like a chihuahua when a stranger speaks to you? Do you make a mad dash to the bathroom just to avoid people at parties? Does your mind go blank during conversation, or maybe you're compelled to talk about the most inappropriate things you can think of? Does small talk make you feel like people around you are speaking in coded language? Do you seem confident and fun-loving in social situations but you're actually screaming on the inside? Have you ever just felt so different from everyone around you that socializing like a "normal" person feels impossible? We've been there too, and today we're talking about our own struggles with social anxiety. This is a much more lighthearted episode than our last one, and we hope you'll join us as we discuss our frustrations and confusion about social scripts, share our stories, and laugh at ourselves a bit too. It'll be like being at a party, except nothing is required of you and there's no pressure. If, however, you do want to share your own stories or thoughts you can send them to us at https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact and if you'd like to donate to our Patreon you can find us here https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Antihero Coping Mechanisms: How to be a Functional Badass Even When You Can't Afford a Batmobile

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 21:00:00 -0400

This time around we're talking about the antiheroes of the psyche. These are the double-edged swords of coping skills and mechanisms that we all use to help us survive. There are some that we abandon along the way, some we aren't yet ready to give up, and still others that we consciously choose to hold onto even when society tells us that we're wrong. Join us as we explore the antihero in us all. ***Trigger Warning*** This episode includes discussion of violence, abuse, sexual assault, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to support us in making it even better you can find us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Compatibility in Relationships: The Importance of Matching and Complementary Baggage

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 01:09:15 -0400

Today we're talking all about baggage! We've all got some! We all bring it into our relationships! That's why it's so important, when we're looking for love, to find someone who has baggage that fits well with our own. What does that look like? Let's figure it out together. Check out our resources for this episode here: https://www.differentfunctional.com/relationship-baggage Check out the our blog episode The Science of Love https://www.differentfunctional.com/blog/the-science-of-love You can also find us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

BONUS The Myth of Happily Ever After: You're More Likely to Find a Partner Peeing in the Woods Than Singing in the Woods

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 22:59:07 -0400

Happy Valentine's Day! Or Not! You'll get no judgement from us either way. We all know this is a commercial holiday so embrace it by grabbing yourself some chocolates, flowers, wine, or whatever else strikes your fancy; and join us as we break down and bust some myths about love and relationships.

How to Perform a Mental Health Check-in

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 01:04:35 -0400

We’ve all heard this term, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, we discuss what a mental health check-in is, from a holistic perspective, and we talk about how to do one for yourself. Hint: It’s not just all in your head. Find our resources for this and all our other episodes at: https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you'd like to donate to help us improve the quality of the podcast you can find us on Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Self-Acceptance: It's Not All Rainbows, Unicats, and Kittens Dangling Cutely From Trees

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 23:51:32 -0400

In this episode, Autumn and Ivy talk about the challenges of learning to accept yourself when you're continually influenced by your neurobiology, mental health, past trauma, and social experiences. Sometimes the hardest person to like is yourself but the "hang in there" kitten is cheering you on so don't let them down. To see our resources for this episode visit: https://www.differentfunctional.com/self-acceptance And if you're like to support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

What is Trauma?

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:06:17 -0400

In our first episode we take a deep dive into the meaning of trauma. We look at the medical definition, the cultural reality, and use our own personal stories to explore what it looks like in real life. To see our resources for this episode visit: https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources And if you'd like to support us on Patreon, you can find us here: https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true

Trailer

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:24:58 -0400

Trailer