Clinically Awkward

Join me, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite Stressy, Depressy, AuDHD therapist, as I chat with Blair Buckley, a social worker and therapist from Denver. Blair dives into her journey of dealing with late-diagnosed ADHD, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS, and MCAS, while navigating the complex healthcare system as a neurodivergent woman. We discuss the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in medical settings, the importance of advocating for oneself, and the small victories in managing chronic illness. Tune in for an insightful and honest conversation filled with practical advice and as always a healthy dose of humor.
Join me, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite Stressy, Depressy, AuDHD therapist, as I chat with Blair Buckley, a social worker and therapist from Denver. Blair dives into her journey of dealing with late-diagnosed ADHD, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS, and MCAS, while navigating the complex healthcare system as a neurodivergent woman. We discuss the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in medical settings, the importance of advocating for oneself, and the small victories in managing chronic illness. Tune in for an insightful and honest conversation filled with practical advice and as always a healthy dose of humor.
00:00 Teaser & Intro
01:15  Blair's Neurodivergent and Chronic Illness Identity
08:20 Challenges in Healthcare for Neurodivergent Women
16:33 Sensory Issues in Medical Settings
21:25 Neurodivergence and Being a ‘Difficult Patient'
28:58 Emotional Challenges and  The Spoon Theory
34:27 Under Employment and Systemic Issues
48:37 Advocating for Yourself in the Medical System
51:50 Conclusion and Resources
 

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I’m joined once again by friend-of-the-pod Sidrah Kahn as we unpack our shared experiences with aunthood, messy family dynamics, and what it means to be the resident child-free women holding the emotional scaffolding together. We talk about the joys and chaos of being an aunt, swap stories about our nieces and nephews, and get into the very specific kind of care child-free women end up providing. We also dig into how millennial women think about motherhood now that we’ve seen the unfiltered reality of pregnancy and postpartum. It’s honest, funny, and a little too relatable for anyone “cool aunt” who has never been cool on purpose.
 
00:00 Introduction to Clinically Awkward
00:58 Welcoming Sidrah Kahn: Aunthood and Family Dynamics
04:29 The Role of Aunts in Child Development
08:39 Cultural Perspectives on Aunthood
20:53 Neurodivergence in the Family
23:56 Sensory Sensitivities and Accommodations
27:34 Navigating School Cafeterias and Childhood Experiences
28:53 The Evolution of Communication: From Track Phones to Smartphones
31:34 The Role of Child-Free Women in Family Systems
33:41 Aunt Life: The Joys and Challenges
35:39 Reflections on Parenthood and Child-Free Choices
43:25 The Importance of Community and Support Systems
53:44 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode of 'Clinically Awkward,' host Alyssa Zimmerman welcomes singer, songwriter, and therapist Cassandra Holt Kimball to discuss her journey with neurodivergence and her passion for gardening. They explore Cassandra's diagnosis journey to discovering CPTSD and autism, and how this has influenced her therapeutic approach. The conversation touches on the role of specialized therapy, cultural identity, and the challenges of navigating systems as a neurodivergent individual. They also dive into the sensory and therapeutic benefits of gardening, sharing tips for urban gardening and building community. Filled with personal stories, humor, and insights, this episode celebrates neurodivergent experiences and advocates for a deeper understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity in both therapeutic settings and everyday life.
 
01:31 Introducing Cassandra Holt Kimball
01:43 Cassandra's Journey with Neurodivergence
04:04 Navigating Cultural Identity in Therapy
06:03 Challenges with Medical Providers
12:16 Understanding Neurodivergence and Trauma
17:50 Gardening as a Therapeutic Hobby
20:00 Urban Gardening Tips and Tricks
25:47 Sensory Aspects of Gardening
29:29 Connecting Through Pop Culture
30:35 Therapeutic Gardening and Sensory Experiences
32:48 Community and Nature in Urban Spaces
33:28 Challenges of Neurodivergence in Daily Life
45:01 Eye Contact and Autism
47:53 Political Frustrations and Advocacy
51:52 Embracing Neurodivergence
54:07 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of 'Clinically Awkward,' host Alyssa Zimmerman speaks with guest Katy Raileanu, a therapist diagnosed with ADHD, who discusses her journey with the diagnosis and experience as a neurodivergent therapist. Katy delves into her lifelong special interest in horses, sharing insights into horse breeds, their personalities, and why horses might attract neurodivergent individuals. The conversation also touches on the emotional regulation benefits of horses, and how neurodivergent people often develop an interest in understanding others.

This week on Clinically Awkward, I’m diving deep into the world of Taylor Swift with licensed professional counselor Sidrah Khan. We talk Swifties, limerence, parasocial heartbreak, and how Taylor’s music hits different when you’re neurodivergent. From hyper-specific memory quirks to the chaos of the Eras Tour, we unpack the patterns, the rage, and the unapologetic feelings that make Swifties feel seen.
Expect oversharing, laughs, and way too much discussion about all the songs—from All Too Well to Mastermind—as we explore why Taylor’s storytelling resonates with big emotions, messy relationships, and the neurodivergent experience of being misunderstood.
 

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the mental health system through the eyes of AuDHD clinicians. From navigating burnout and boundary-setting to the frustrating inefficiencies of working in inpatient and outpatient settings, we break the 4th wall to reveal what it’s really like to be a neurodivergent therapist. Expect candid stories, unfiltered reflections, and insights into how neurodivergence shapes both the work and the people doing it. This is mental health, unmasked.

In this episode of 'Clinically Awkward,' host Alyssa Zimmerman welcomes sex therapist Samia Kahn for an in-depth and candid conversation about the intersection of sexuality and neurodivergence. They discuss societal pressures, personal experiences, and the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in understanding and expressing their sexuality. Listeners will learn about Samia's background, both professionally and personally, as an ADHD and late-diagnosed autistic individual. The episode explores cultural perspectives on sex, the impact of media, and the importance of special interests in the lives of neurodivergent women. Together, Alyssa and Samia provide a space for radically honest oversharing, reflecting on everything from early sexual awakenings to the dichotomy between societal expectations and personal needs. This episode highlights that all special interests, including the seemingly taboo, are valid and worth celebrating.
 
 
01:41 Guest Introduction: Sex Therapist Samia Kahn
 
01:59 Samia's Journey into Sex Therapy
 
02:53 Neurodivergence and Diagnosis
 
03:51 Early Sexual Awareness and Cultural Perspectives
 
06:13 Sex Education and Personal Experiences
 
09:17 Fascination with Butts and Sexuality
 
11:07 Pregnancy, Trauma, and the Body
 
13:14 Societal Expectations and Neurodivergence
 
21:53 Sexuality, Shame, and Pop Culture
 
25:33 Neurodivergence, Bullying, and Social Dynamics
 
27:26 Sexual Precocity and Relational Trauma
 
28:28 Challenges in Dating and Relationships
 
29:35 Misdiagnosis and Neurodivergent Traits
 
29:51 Sensory Needs and Coping Mechanisms
 
30:24 Dating Challenges and Labels
 
31:42 Neurodivergence and Sexuality
 
37:29 Media Influence on Sexual Norms
 
45:13 Alcohol and Neurodivergent Coping
 
50:34 College Experiences and Impulse Control
 
55:54 Conclusion and Resources
 

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, host Alyssa Zimmerman, an AuDHD psychotherapist, is joined by Rainn Glenn, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. They discuss traveling as neurodivergent individuals, exploring topics like the impact of late ADHD diagnoses, the stress of misdiagnosis in women, and the challenges and joys of travel. Rainn shares her personal experiences with ADHD and how it has shaped her approach to travel, emphasizing the importance of having a comfort person and planning around personal needs. The conversation touches on travel preferences, the pitfalls of spontaneous trips, and coping mechanisms for travel-related anxiety. They also delve into the broader impacts of neurodivergence on everyday life and provide advice for neurodivergent individuals looking to explore the world.
 
00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes
 
00:25 Meet Alyssa Zimmerman
 
00:42 About Clinically Awkward Podcast
 
01:31 Guest Introduction: Rainn Glenn
 
01:44 Rainn's Diagnosis Journey
 
02:58 Challenges of Late Diagnosis
 
04:35 Misdiagnosis in Women
 
06:25 Travel and Neurodivergence
 
06:59 Childhood Travel Memories
 
11:19 Traveling with Neurodivergence
 
16:13 Travel Preferences and Challenges
 
17:38 Travel Companions and Comfort
 
19:24 Types of Trips and Preferences
 
22:43 Spontaneous Travel and Neurodivergence
 
25:10 The Struggles of Modern Travel
 
26:06 Navigating Foreign Customs
 
27:58 Language Barriers and Neurodivergence
 
29:23 Food and Drink Culture Abroad
 
33:31 Travel Companions and Social Dynamics
 
39:45 Travel Fails and Crisis Management
 
46:49 Advice for Neurodivergent Travelers
 
49:57 Final Thoughts and Referrals

Ever wonder why some people are so irresistible to us while others push all of our buttons? Alyssa Zimmerman chats with fellow neurodivergent therapist Lauren Evans to break down the Enneagram in a way that’s practical, funny, and unapologetically real. We dive into each of the nine types, explore wings and growth paths, and share stories about embracing quirks, contradictions, and all the “too much” parts of yourself. Whether you’re curious about your type, want to understand others better, or just need permission to own your weirdness, this episode is full of insights, laughs, and tools you can actually use.

The girls are not okay. The girls have been fine-ing their way through undiagnosed ADHD and autism for decades and they are exhausted.
For the first episode of Clinically Awkward, I sat down with Bailey Pilant, an AuDHD licensed mental health counselor, to talk about what the neurodivergent female experience actually looks like when nobody caught it the first time, or the second, or the third. We cover the masking that starts in childhood before anyone has words for it, the misdiagnoses that pile up in its place, and what it means to finally stop performing okayness.
Bailey brings her own story, including a stint in pageantry that turned out to be an accidental masterclass in sensory management and people-pleasing, and her clinical specialty connecting ADHD, autism, and hormonal conditions like PMDD and PCOS.
Bailey is licensed in New York and Florida and can be found at thewavecounseling.com.