Understanding Neurodivergence, Diagnosis & Identity

What even is a diagnosis, and who gets to decide?

In this Research Segment of The Neurodivergent Report, we unpack the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), explore how symptoms show up differently for different people, and highlight why identity, culture, and community matter so deeply in this conversation.

Curious what's inside?

• 📚 Brief history and evolution of the DSM

  💥 Outline of the categories and symptoms it includes

  🤓 Dive into the intersection of mental health and identity politics (literally my favorite part!)

• Whether you're a clinician, a neurodivergent adult, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, this episode offers perspective, compassion, and context.

  However you're able to engage, thank you for being here!
  With love, Sarah 💜

  📚 Resources Mentioned:

  • APA: DSM-5 Table of Contents (PDF)

  • Open Access Research Article on DSM

  • CHADD, NAMI, Embrace-Autism, some of my favs

  
  

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Feeling off but not sure why?

It’s not too early (or too late) to talk about the full-body impact of perimenopause.

This week on The Neurodivergent Report, I was SO excited to speak with Dr. Daemon Dae, a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, all about how hormonal shifts—especially during perimenopause—affect more than just our cycles.

💡 Inside this episode:

• Basic hormone literacy

• What perimenopause actually means (and why it’s often misunderstood)

• How we can support ourselves—and each other—through big life transitions like this one

If you’ve ever found yourself crying in frustration, buried under medical symptoms that just don’t add up, this conversation is for you.

However you're able to engage, thank you for being here.

With love, Sarah 💜

🔗 Resources

https://www.healthydaes.com/

Peri/Menopause Score card https://hd.livehealthseminar.com/menopausesymptomscorecard

@healthydaes - IG

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Need real strategies for writing with ADHD?

This week’s episode of The Neurodivergent Report is packed with practical tools, mindset shifts, and permission to do things differently! All thanks to a gentle conversation with ADHD writing coach Susanne Schotanus.

Listen to this episode NOW to help you redefine what productivity and consistency can look like with a neurodivergent brain.

🔍Curious what’s inside:

• How perfectionism and RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) hold writers back
• The power of scatterbrain focus (yes, it’s real!)
• The “Four A’s” to cyclical motivation: Action, Achievement, Attitude, and Atmosphere

💡 Big takeaway: You don’t need to be consistent. You need to experiment!!!

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here. With love, Sarah 💜

🎁 LISTENER BONUS

Don’t miss this companion article from Susanne: 👉⁠ ADHD Writing Experiments⁠

🔗 Resources

@passionatewritercoaching - IG

https://passionatewritercoaching.com/adhd-writing-experiments/ (this is the article she wrote just for us!)

susanne@passionatewritercoaching.com

Come check out the ADHD Writer's Room! (https://passionatewritercoaching.com/writing-coach/writers-room/)

📢 Connect with Us

Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

Apply to be a guest 🎤⁠ ndreportpod.com

Connect with Sarah 1:1 (https://sarruss.my.canva.site/hi)

🚨 Trigger Warnings

Layoffs and workplace discrimination

Burnout and stress-related mental health impacts

Gaslighting and invalidation of neurodivergent needs

Welcome to the first official Listener Interview segment on The Neurodivergent Report!

What happens when you're performing well at work—but still don't belong? In our first listener spotlight, Jad shares their story of diagnosis, challenges in the workplace, and hopes for moving forward.

In this episode, we sit down with Jad, a software engineer, world traveler, and proud member of the NeuroSpicy community.

Curious about what’s inside:

• The difference between being diagnosed and receiving treatment
• The harm of corporate “neurodiversity inclusion” without actionable steps
• What it’s like to be high-performing but still perceived as a “problem”
• The double-edged sword of masking less at work

This is a raw conversation about empty DEI efforts and being made to feel “too much” at work—and learning to live a life where your full self is accepted.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here.

With love,

Sarah 💜

🔗 Resources & Links

@whereisjad

https://www.instagram.com/whereisjad

📢 Connect with Us

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This week on The Neurodivergent Report, we’re joined by licensed clinical psychologist, school psych, and ADHD mom Dr. Jessica McCarthy. As someone in the midst of autism evaluations for my toddler, I really valued this conversation.Curious what else is inside:

• Why so many kids (and adults!) are missed by the current diagnostic systems
• How to spot red flags during the evaluation process & what questions parents can ask instead
• The confusing mish-mash of ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and anxiety—and why it matters to get to the heart of a problem
• Secret plans to meet up in NYC!

However you are able to engage, thank you for being here!With love, Sarah 💜

Looking for Dr. Jessica?

https://elementspsych.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.jessica.mccarthy/

📢 Connect with Us

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This week on The Neurodivergent Report, Sarah is joined by cognitive psychologist and ADHD coach Dr. Eliza Barach, PhD. Eliza blends rigorous research with lived experience to help high-performers with ADHD—no silver bullets required.

Curious about what's inside:

• Why ADHD strategies “expire” (and how to build a rotating toolbox)
• The truth about object permanence vs. prospective memory
• How to hijack emotional connection to make routines stick

Whether you’re an ADHD executive-functioning coach, a neurodivergent parent, or simply curious, you’ll walk away with science-backed, heart-centered tools for managing executive dysfunction with compassion.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love,

Sarah 💜

🔗 Resources & Links

Find Eliza: neural-revolution.com

📢 Connect with Us

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✨ This week we're talking to Lindsey Kee about how to shift from survival mode to whole body regulation

Welcome to another episode of The Neurodivergent Report — where we break down current events, research, and lived experiences, neurodivergent style!

This week, I’m joined by executive coach Lindsey Kee for a balanced conversation about burnout, nervous system literacy, and reclaiming well-being as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman!

Curious about what's inside?

• the real impact of chronic/inflammatory stress

• why belly breathing might be your nervous system’s new best friend
• the nervous systems, explained & abridged

However you're able to engage, thank you for being here.

With love, Sarah 💜

📢 Follow us @ndreportpod

🎙️ Want to be a guest? ⁠⁠⁠Apply on our website!⁠

🌍 Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠ndreportpod.com⁠

Looking for Lindsey?

• Personal Website: lindseykee.com

• Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heylindseykee/

Welcome to the first episode of Current Neuro-divergEVENTS — where we break down current events, neurodivergent style!

We’re your hosts, Sarah and J.Q., and today we’re diving into the recent media frenzy around ADHD and autism.

From the controversial NYT Magazine article to RFK Jr.’s comments and expert clapbacks from Dr. Russell Barkley and ADDitude Magazine — we’re covering it all.

👉 Curious about RFK Jr.’s Aunt Rosemary?

🤔 Wondering why the media has a moral responsibility to get this right?
Let’s talk about what’s going wrong—and what we can do about it.

However you're able to engage, thank you for being here.
With love, Sarah 💚

📢 Follow us @ndreportpod

🔗 Connect with us: ⁠⁠Sarah⁠ ⁠| ⁠⁠J.Q.⁠

🎙️ Want to be a guest? ⁠⁠Apply here

🌍 Learn more at ⁠⁠ndreportpod.com

📚 References

• Barkley, R. A. – Expert rebuttal on ADHD misinformation

• ADDitude Magazine – Critique of NYT ADHD article

• The New York Times – Original article under scrutiny

• RFK Jr. – Public statements on autism