The Hidden Guilt of Unread Messages | People Pleasing, AuDHD & The Pressure of Being Needed

Healing Was Never the Destination: Living After Trauma | Dr. Lisha Antiqua

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood trauma, abuse, human trafficking, addiction, and suicide. Please listen with care. Oh my goodness… where do I even begin? Dr. Lisha has taught me so much about myself, healing, and perspectives I’d never even considered before—particularly around the more spiritual and energetic aspects of healing. Whether or not every idea resonates with every person, our conversation genuinely challenged me to think differently, and I’m so grateful for that. I will absolutely be recommending Dr. Lisha’s courses and website to anyone interested in exploring her approach to trauma recovery and personal transformation. She has opened my mind to looking at healing from a completely different perspective. Thank you, Dr. Lisha, for your openness, your wisdom, and such a fascinating conversation. You’re not only beautiful—you are incredibly intelligent too. It was an absolute pleasure to have you on the podcast.

How Childhood Trauma Shapes Relationships, Self-Worth and Healing | Anu Verma

🎙️ Victim 2 Victor: Trauma, Relationships and Learning That Love Doesn’t Have To Be Earned | Anu Verma In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with trauma recovery coach, therapist, author, podcaster and filmmaker Anu Verma to explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma and what healing can really look like. Together we discuss how traumatic experiences can shape our relationships, self-worth, nervous system and sense of identity long into adulthood. Anu shares her personal journey of recovery and offers insight into trauma bonds, people-pleasing, unhealthy relationship patterns, emotional healing and nervous system regulation. We also explore whether trauma can be stored in the body, how childhood experiences can influence the partners we choose later in life, and why so many survivors feel they need to earn love rather than simply receive it. This episode includes an important discussion inspired by Anu’s conversation with Hannah Shewan Stevens on sexual violence against women, the lack of support available to many survivors, and the long-term effects trauma can have on both physical and emotional wellbeing. Topics covered include: ✨ Childhood trauma and its lasting impact ✨ Trauma stored in the body ✨ Sexual violence and recovery ✨ Trauma bonds and relationship patterns ✨ People-pleasing and the “fixer” role ✨ Self-worth and validation ✨ Nervous system healing ✨ Fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses ✨ Emotional resilience and recovery ✨ Learning that love doesn’t have to be earned Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey, supporting someone who has experienced trauma, or simply wanting to better understand the connection between trauma, relationships and recovery, this episode offers compassion, insight and hope. 📌 Connect with Anu Verma: https://victim2victor.net/

Why I Need Recovery Time After Existing | AuDHD, Masking & Social Exhaustion

Have you ever had a great day out, enjoyed yourself, laughed, socialised, and then felt completely exhausted afterwards? In this episode, I talk about why so many AuDHD and neurodivergent people need recovery time after social events, busy weekends, and even enjoyable experiences. From masking and sensory overload to social exhaustion and nervous system overwhelm, I share my own experiences of attending events, navigating social situations, and dealing with what I jokingly call the “AuDHD hangover.” If you’ve ever wondered why you need time to recover after being around people, why your social battery drains so quickly, or why enjoyable events can still leave you exhausted, this episode is for you. Topics include: • AuDHD and social exhaustion • Masking and burnout • Sensory overload • Recovery time and self-care • Nervous system overwhelm • Neurodivergent experiences 🌿 Be gentle with yourself.

Are We Making Light of AuDHD? The Reality Nobody Talks About | AuDHD, Autism, ADHD & Mental Health

recently stopped me in my tracks. Someone said they hate TikTokers who make fun of ADHD and AuDHD. It got me thinking about the way I talk about neurodivergence online and why I choose to share not only the funny and relatable moments, but also the difficult realities of living with AuDHD. In this episode, I talk openly about: • Living with Autism and ADHD (AuDHD) • Being sectioned as a teenager before understanding what was wrong • The impact of executive dysfunction on everyday life • Debt, relationships, burnout and mental health struggles • Masking, shame and being misunderstood • Why awareness needs to include the hard parts, not just the relatable memes • The importance of honest conversations about neurodivergence I recently Googled my own name and found a description that said I share my experiences of AuDHD, including “the shit parts” — and honestly, that might be the most accurate thing ever written about me. This episode is a reminder that AuDHD isn’t quirky, cute or trendy. For many of us, it has shaped every part of our lives. By sharing the reality, I hope to help others feel seen, understood and less alone. #AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #LateDiagnosis #ExecutiveDysfunction #MentalHealth #AutisticAdult #ADHDAwareness #AutismAwareness #AuDHDPodcast #NeurodivergentWomen #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #Mas

I Thought Mindfulness Was a Pile of Shit | AuDHD, ADHD & Why I Changed My Mind

As an AuDHD woman, I genuinely thought mindfulness was a pile of rubbish. My brain was too busy, my thoughts moved too fast, and every time someone suggested meditation, I felt like they clearly didn’t understand what it was like to live with a neurodivergent mind. In this episode, I talk honestly about why I resisted mindfulness for years, why I felt like I was failing every time I tried it, and what finally helped me see it differently. This isn’t an episode about becoming perfectly calm or clearing your mind. It’s about learning that mindfulness can look very different for neurodivergent people, and how a few small changes helped me become more aware of stress, overwhelm, anxiety and burnout before they completely took over. If you’ve ever thought mindfulness wasn’t for you, you’re definitely not alone. Topics include ADHD, AuDHD, Autism, Neurodivergence, Mindfulness, Meditation, Emotional Regulation, Anxiety, Burnout, Overthinking, Mental Health, Self-Awareness and Late Diagnosis. 💜 Ellie