In the final episode of our Self Care September: Exploration of Stillness series, host Carole Jean Whittington is joined by Sheetal Story, Spiritual Grief Support Counsellor and Cosmic Alignment Strategist, for a deeply insightful conversation on the connection between stillness, intuition, and burnout recovery.
Together, they explore:
✨ How overcommitment, people-pleasing, and lack of internal safety feed burnout
✨ Why creating and protecting quiet space is essential for healing and clarity
✨ The difference between ego-driven thoughts and true intuition
✨ Practical tools like breathwork, meditative walks, and automatic writing to reconnect with yourself
✨ Why women—especially in leadership and helping roles—must prioritize boundaries and self-trust
Sheetal also shares her personal journey of navigating transitions with intuition and purpose, offering guidance for anyone ready to reclaim inner calm and align with their authentic self.
🔗 Connect with Sheetal Story → www.SheetalStory.com
👉 Ready to discover where you are on your burnout recovery path? Take the free Spicy Pepper Burnout Screening and unlock your first custom audio guide with tools designed specifically for your burnout level. Don’t guess—assess. Take the screening now → https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
In Episode 220 of Beyond Chronic Burnout, host Carole Jean Whittington sits down with Lee-Anne Reuber, founder of Sekond Skin Society, to uncover how traditional fitness culture often intensifies burnout rather than preventing it—especially for autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent women.
Together, Carole Jean and Lee-Anne explore: 💪 How exercise can push you deeper into burnout if you ignore your body’s signals 💪 The damaging societal message that body image = self-worth 💪 Why “move more, do more” is not the path to health or energy 💪 The importance of listening to your body and rejecting all-or-nothing fitness culture 💪 How inclusive and accessible approaches to movement foster real joy, well-being, and sustainability
Lee-Anne also shares her journey from obsessive exercise and exhaustion to creating the Sekond Skin Society fitness app, a supportive space that empowers individuals to embrace movement that adapts to their unique needs and energy levels.
🔗 Learn more about Sekond Skin Society → Download the app here https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/sekond-skin-society/id6738430213
To save on the membership, Use Code- BeyondChronicBurnout
In this episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, host Carole Jean Whittington sits down with Dr. Adam “Dutch” Hazlett, professor, disability inclusion expert, and Fulbright Specialist in Education, to explore his PB&J framework—Predictability, Balance, and Joy—a practical guide to supporting neurodivergent individuals in moving beyond survival into true thriving.
Together, they discuss: 🌱 How Predictability, Balance & Joy create the foundation for burnout recovery 🌱 Why compassionate curiosity is the key to authentic self-discovery 🌱 The impact of late identification and learning to embrace your neurodivergence 🌱 How micro-accommodations and inclusive design foster healthier communities 🌱 The role of nourishment—internal & external—in sustainable energy
Dr. Hazlett also shares details about the upcoming Neurodivergent Empowerment Conference in Dearborn, Michigan, a space for innovation, connection, and building inclusive communities.
✨ About the Guest: Dr. Hazlett is a renowned neurodiversity and inclusion expert, a tenured humanities professor at Henry Ford College, and the host of NACHOS (Neuro-Affirming Conversation Hour for Outreach and Support). He is also the founder of Humanities 101, an autistic-led charitable organization dedicated to redefining “normal” and empowering neurodivergent communities. Learn more about his work: 🔗 Article – The Importance of Resources and Interventions for Mid-Career Autistic Professionals → Read here https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dvr2.70016
👉 Don’t just guess where you are in burnout—diagnose it. Take the free Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz and unlock your first custom audio guide with strategies personalized to your burnout stage. Take the quiz now → https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/115574
In this Self Care September: Exploration of Stillness episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, host Carole Jean Whittington welcomes Tanya Roberts, AuDHD artist, meditation teacher, and founder of Mindfulness Done Differently.
Tanya’s journey through panic disorder, undiagnosed ADHD and autism, and years of feeling like a “meditation failure” led her to a powerful realization: mindfulness doesn’t have to mean “sit still and breathe.”
Instead, she created Mindfulness Done Differently—a playful, sensory-friendly approach that integrates movement, fidgeting, art, sound, and self-expression.
Together, Carole Jean and Tanya explore: 🌱 Why conventional meditation often fails autistic & ADHD women 🌱 How sensory play and movement can transform mindfulness into something sustainable 🌱 The role of community, co-regulation, and advocacy in burnout recovery 🌱 Practical tools to build individualized mindfulness practices rooted in self-acceptance
Tanya’s story is a reminder that stillness doesn’t always look quiet—and that accessible, customized approaches can help autistic and ADHD women reclaim peace, presence, and energy.
👉 Take the Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz (free) and discover your burnout level—from Poblano Pepper Level 1 (a little heat) to Ghost Pepper Level 5 (you’re so hot, you’re not). Unlock your custom audio guide to begin your recovery journey with tools tailored to your burnout type. Take the quiz now → https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
✨ Connect with Tanya: 🌐 Mindfulness Done Differently → www.mindfullydifferent.ca 💡 First month free with code: BEYONDBURNOUT
In this Self Care September: Exploration of Stillness episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, host Carole Jean Whittington is joined by meditation teacher, author, and global wellness leader Kevin Ellerton.
Kevin shares his personal story of building a multi-million-dollar company on Wall Street by age 24—only to walk away from it all in search of something deeper. His journey led him to Buddhist monasteries in Thailand, years of global study, and ultimately founding Meditation Magazine and Meditation University, where over 200,000 people have learned meditation practices.
Together, Carole Jean and Kevin explore:
🌿 How meditation supports burnout recovery at the physiological, emotional, and cognitive levels
🌿 Why chasing outcomes in meditation prevents you from receiving its benefits
🌿 The paradox of presence: how to stop “trying” and start being
🌿 Personal stories of burnout recovery through stillness and conscious lifestyle choices
Kevin’s message is clear: meditation isn’t about perfection or performance—it’s a universal human practice, a way to root yourself in presence and reconnect with what matters most.
👉 Take the Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz (free) and discover your burnout level—from Poblano Pepper Level 1 (a little heat) to Ghost Pepper Level 5 (you’re so hot, you’re not). Unlock your custom audio guide to begin your recovery journey with tools tailored to your burnout type. Take the quiz here → https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
Connect with Kevin Ellerton:
You can find many of Kevin’s guided meditations, interviews, and documentaries on his youtube channel, youtube.com/kevinellerton, you can find many of his articles on meditationmag.com, and you can find his meditation courses at meditationuniversity.us
In this second episode of our Self Care September: Exploration of Stillness series, I’m joined by Amalia Maria Lee, founder of The Root Method, movement and breath therapist, and holistic healthcare practitioner.
With over two decades of experience in yoga, Pilates, nervous system regulation, and pelvic healing modalities, Amalia helps women reconnect with their bodies, reclaim sovereignty, and find sustainable well-being.
Together we explore:
🌿 The role of the root chakra and pelvic floor in women’s health and burnout recovery
🌿 How societal conditioning and hormonal shifts impact nervous system balance
🌿 Why body literacy is key to healing burnout, incontinence, and pelvic pain 🌿 Practical ways to integrate breathwork, mindful movement, and incremental self-tending into daily life
Amalia shares how The Root Method empowers women to orient to the body as an oracle, a trusted guide to help identify root causes, release stress, and restore authentic agency.
👉 Take the Spicy Pepper Burnout Screening (free) and discover your burnout level—from Poblano Level 1 (a little heat) to Ghost Pepper Level 5 (you’re so hot, you’re not). You’ll unlock the Assessment Pack just for your burnout type so you can identify your exact roots to burnout. Take the quiz here →
https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
Connect with Amalia Maria Lee: https://www.amaliamarialee.com/
#BurnoutRecovery #SelfCareSeptember #PelvicHealth #StillnessPractice #TraumaInformedCare #WomensWellBeing
We’re kicking off our Self Care September: Exploration of Stillness series with a powerful conversation you don’t want to miss.
I’m joined by Emma Treharne, Founder of Nuveya Life, who brings over 30 years of experience in the wellness field. Emma blends ancient wisdom with modern-day science (and a sprinkle of humor!) to guide individuals and teams from exhaustion and dysregulation into clarity, joy, and authentic connection.
Her own journey through burnout, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation inspired her to create transformative programs like Tired to Inspired, The Path to Purpose, and Mindful Leadership. Emma has supported corporate medical companies like Wright Medical, Stryker, and Healx, as well as countless individuals navigating the gap between hectic modern life and the embodied wisdom of ancient practices.
In this episode, we explore: ✨ How internal and external pressures create hidden stressors and cycles of burnout ✨ Why pausing for integration is essential for nervous system repair ✨ Practical tools like guided pause practices and yoga nidra to close the stress circuit ✨ The role of community, belonging, and trauma-informed support in sustainable well-being
This is your invitation to pause, listen, and discover what stillness could mean for you.
👉 Take the Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz (free) to discover your burnout level: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
🔗 Connect with Emma Treharne: 🌿 Path to Purpose Community → emmatreharne.com/pathtopurpose
🌿 Book a Tired to Inspired 1:1 Connection Call → calendly.com/emmatreharne/connection-call
What would happen if you pressed pause on every “should” in your life?
In this episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, Alice—one of our Accelerate members and a founding participant in The UnVeiling Method—shares the radical two-week experiment that completely shifted her relationship with burnout. With guidance from Carole Jean, Alice stopped all non-essential activities and only did what brought her joy.
The results?
✨ Eye-opening realizations about how much energy guilt and duty were draining.
✨ The power of journaling and compassionate curiosity during rest.
✨ How partner support and household task division created lasting change.
✨ Practical advice for those who can’t step away completely but want to start reclaiming their energy.
If you’ve ever felt crushed by obligations, guilty when you rest, or stuck in a cycle of burnout, Alice’s story will show you what’s possible when you let go of “shoulds” and start listening to your body.
👉 Take the free Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz to get your custom burnout recovery audio guide now: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
This is your starting line. Don’t guess. Assess.
#AutisticBurnout #SelfDiscovery #AutisticWomen #WellBeing #SelfHelp
So many autistic and ADHD women find themselves stuck in the same cycle: trying program after program, searching for the one that will finally “fix” the burnout, overwhelm, and constant self-doubt.
But what if the problem isn’t you—it’s that most programs are too surface-level, never addressing your unique needs, identity, and lived experience?
In this episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, Michelle, a participant in the UnVeiling Method’s Accelerate Membership, shares her journey from anxiety, self-criticism, and feeling lost… to discovering peace, gratitude, and a deep connection to her authentic autistic/ADHD self.
Through journaling, group support, and tools like the Enneagram, Harmony Cycle, and Rest Modules, Michelle learned how to:
Ask herself meaningful questions that brought clarity
Recognize her true needs (without guilt)
Release the pressure of “fixing” herself
Embrace her neurodivergent identity with compassion
Her story is proof: you don’t have to keep guessing, masking, or settling for burnout.
✨ 👉 Take the quiz now (free) and get your first custom audio guide → https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
This is your starting line. Don’t guess. Diagnose.
And IF you haven’t taken the quiz in the last 30 days, now is the time to re-evaluate where you are—so you don’t find yourself in the same place 30+ days from now.
Stillness doesn’t have to mean sitting perfectly still—or emptying your mind completely. In this episode, Carole Jean Whittington explores what stillness really is, why it matters for your nervous system and sensory system, and how to practice it in ways that feel safe, trauma-sensitive, and accessible for neurodivergent brains.
You’ll learn:
Common myths about stillness—and why they can make it feel intimidating
How small, gentle pauses support your nervous system and restore energy
Practical, playful ways to explore stillness without pressure or judgment
✨ Want to take your stillness practice further? Register for 4th Annual Self Care September to get your 30-Day Stillness Calendar, Stillness Support Guide, an exclusive live community event with Carole Jean, and special discount codes for well-being supports.
👉 Register for Self Care September & Subscribe Here
Summer heat, humidity, and hormone shifts can turn POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) into a perfect storm—especially for autistic women navigating perimenopause.
In this episode of our Things That REALLY Matter series, Carole Jean Whittington and co-host Becca Lory Hector get real about living through POTS flare-ups and how they collide with energy, self-care, and internal beliefs about productivity.
We cover:
If you want to go deeper into building energy-friendly routines—ones that restore your nervous system and support burnout recovery—my Recharge Newsletter + Resource Library is the place to start.
You’ll get access to our Clinical Companion Toolkit, packed with tools, worksheets, and guides you can use for yourself or with clients including this month’s Routine Building with Your Enneagram for all 9 types PLUS resources from today’s episode including - A Guide for Autistic Women- Navigating POTS, MCAS, EDS & Hormones .
Join here: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180958
You’ll also receive early notification to register for Becca and Carole Jean’s upcoming workshop series The Journey of Self Renewal.
Connect with the fabulous Becca:
Are you constantly showing up for others, but no one sees what it’s costing you? This episode is a powerful acknowledgment of the invisible exhaustion that autistic and AuDHD women often carry—emotionally, mentally, and physically.
You’ll explore:
12 core truths about what’s really draining your energy
How emotional suppression leads to burnout and disconnection
Why masking creates deep internal confusion (and what to do instead)
How helping professionals can support without adding pressure or shame
Whether you're an autistic woman ready to reclaim your emotional world—or a therapist or coach supporting neurodivergent clients—this episode offers practical Root-to-Practice insights you can use today.
🎧 Plus: Download the free listener worksheet to explore the episode at your own pace.
➡️ Get your worksheet and explore more tools:https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180958
#BurnoutRecovery #NeurodivergentSupport #AuDHD #AutisticWomen #TherapistsOnLinkedIn #ChronicBurnout #EmotionalSuppression #MaskingRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #NeurodivergentTherapist #WhittingtonWellBeing
In Episode 209 of our “Things That REALLY Matter” series on Beyond Chronic Burnout, Carole Jean Whittington and Becca Lory Hector dive deep into the often-overlooked world of subtle trauma—especially how it uniquely impacts autistic women.
Together, they explore how lifelong patterns like people-pleasing, hyper-vigilance, emotional suppression, and the fear of being “too much” are often rooted in trauma we were never taught to recognize. From personal stories to practical tools, this episode is a must-watch if you’re navigating burnout, masking, or the struggle to prioritize your own needs.
💬 “People-pleasing at the expense of your own well-being is a giant trap. It masquerades as politeness or kindness.” — Becca Lory Hector
💬 “I reclaim calm. It is mine. It belongs to me.” — Carole Jean Whittington
🔎 Topics Covered:
Subtle trauma in autistic women
The impact of masking and emotional suppression
Communication, boundaries, and burnout recovery
Self-worth without performance
How to reclaim calm and rest without guilt
🎧 Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch right here.
🔗 Download the free checklist: 22 Subtle Signs of Trauma 📬 Get weekly insights inside The Recharge: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180958
#BeyondChronicBurnout #AutisticWomen #SubtleTrauma #NeurodivergentBurnout #PeoplePleasing #SelfWorth #AutismAndTrauma #ReclaimRest #AutisticVoices #BurnoutRecovery
In this powerful episode of Things That REALLY Matter, Carole Jean Whittington and Becca Lory Hector dive deep into one of the most toxic messages autistic women have been fed: that we must hustle to be worthy of rest.
From masking-induced guilt to inherited scarcity mindsets, this episode explores how internalized capitalism, neurodivergent nervous systems, and societal pressure collide—leaving us burnt out and disconnected from our natural rhythms.
✨ Carole Jean shares her personal story of panic responses to rest
✨ Becca opens up about growing up in survival mode and redefining value
✨ Together they unpack the myth of “earning rest” and offer pathways to healing
You’ll hear how living in alignment with seasonal and moon cycles can help autistic women move away from hustle culture and back into the comfort of their own bodies. Plus, they offer micro-challenges and self-awareness practices you can try today.
Whether you're an autistic woman unmasking your values or a helping professional guiding others through burnout, this conversation will ground you in what really matters.
🔗 Connect with Becca Lory Hector:
🔗 Connect with Carole Jean Whittington:
🔥 Feeling the Burn? Find out where you are on the burnout scale with the Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz! Whether you're just starting to sizzle or fully in Ghost Pepper mode, this quick quiz helps you identify your current burnout level—and what to do next.
🎯 Take the quiz and unlock your free Pepper insights to start feeling better—on your terms. 👉 Take the Quiz Now
https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
Redefine unmasking. Reclaim your comfort zone. Restore your Optimum Steady State.
#AutisticBurnout #SelfDiscovery #AutisticWomen #AutisticWellBeing #ThingsThatReallyMatter
In this cozy and personal solo episode, Carole Jean Whittington shares her real-life journey of rest, healing, and unexpected adventures—including a nasty bee sting, a crooked pool, and an invitation to direct the very first CASY Summer Camp through Cultural Autism Studies at Yale.
Tune in as Carole Jean offers a beautiful reflection on what it means to truly listen to your body, honor your limits, and embrace a new kind of rest—one layered with play, creativity, and self-discovery.
🌹 Plus, she pulls a card from her Rose Deck (The Fertile Void) and explores how this sacred season of becoming is guiding her—and maybe guiding you, too.
🔥 BONUS: Learn all about CASY Summer Camp: Your Compass to Self Care—a 6-week, free, on-demand experience created by autistic adults for autistic adults. There’s still time to register and join the Campfire Kickoff this Sunday!
🪵 Register here: https://forms.gle/wrGnyjGxqN33x18Q9
💌 And don’t forget—our Social Saturday episodes continue all summer, and your UnVeiler Kaleidoscope Community meets this Sunday!
🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout—where we explore what it really means to thrive as autistic women.
🔗 Connect with Carole Jean Whittington:
Take the Spicy Pepper Quiz: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
Subscribe to The Recharge Newsletter and receive weekly burnout recovery insights, tools for yourself or to use with your autistic clients, and learn about upcoming workshops at Whittington Well-Being.
🔗 Subscribe to The Recharge:
https://energyuplevel.kit.com/becomeafan
🔗 ALIGNMENT SUNDAYS
Have you ever felt that Sunday evening dread, knowing another week is looming? 🌟As someone who has been there, I understand the feeling of your to-do list spiraling out of control.
That's why I'm thrilled to introduce Alignment Sundays - a sanctuary designed just for you. Join Us!
Get a FREE trial starting today Then just $11 monthly.
This could be the change you've been seeking. Together, let's turn Sunday evenings into a time of peace and preparation, rather than dread.
Ready to reclaim your week? Let's embark on this journey together.
Get Started this Sunday:
https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180659
🌿 Ready to reconnect with your authentic Self and finally step into your Comfort Zone? Get your copy of Living Unmasked: An Autistic Woman’s Guide to Get Into Your Comfort Zone—and start your journey out of burnout and into sustainable well-being.
✨ Your $9.99 digital + audio bundle includes the full book, exclusive bonus meditations, printable worksheets, and your personalized Roadmap to Energy Mastery.
📘 Grab it here
:https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1182513
You don’t have to hustle your way to healing. Let’s unmask gently, together. 💛
#AutisticBurnout #SelfDiscovery #AutisticWomen #WellBeing #SelfHelp
What does a bee sting have to do with burnout, boundaries, and saying “yes” or “no”? Everything.
In this episode, Carole Jean Whittington shares a personal story from the past week—an unexpected MCAS reaction to a bee sting—and how it became a deep practice in rest, self-check-ins, and honoring her own “yes, no, or maybe” in real time.
She also brings in reflections from her Accelerate Circle students in The UnVeiling Method, where they explored the powerful questions that help us recognize what we’re agreeing to—both with others and ourselves.
Whether you’re navigating people-pleasing, energetic overwhelm, or the fuzzy in-between of not knowing what your body or nervous system is saying… this episode offers real insight, warm encouragement, and a reminder that checking in with yourself is a form of radical care.
✨ Key Questions We Explored:
What does your body say when it wants to say “no”?
Is this really a “yes,” or just a habit?
How can you begin practicing a pause, even when it’s uncomfortable?
This episode is an invitation to move from auto-pilot into authentic alignment—one conscious “yes,” “no,” or “maybe” at a time.
🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout—where we explore what it really means to thrive as autistic women.
🔗 Subscribe to The Recharge:
https://energyuplevel.kit.com/becomeafan
🌿 Ready to reconnect with your authentic Self and finally step into your Comfort Zone? Get your copy of Living Unmasked: An Autistic Woman’s Guide to Get Into Your Comfort Zone—and start your journey out of burnout and into sustainable well-being.
✨ Your $9.99 digital + audio bundle includes the full book, exclusive bonus meditations, printable worksheets, and your personalized Roadmap to Energy Mastery.
📘 Grab it here
:https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1182513
You don’t have to hustle your way to healing.
Let’s unmask gently, together. 💛
#LivingUnmasked #AutisticBurnout #Boundaries #NeurodivergentLife #TheUnVeilingMethod #RestIsProductive
What if the connection you've been craving isn’t in fixing yourself—but in being witnessed, supported, and celebrated exactly as you are?
In this week’s episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, Carole Jean Whittington is joined by therapeutic coach and sacred circle facilitator Kanan Tekchandani to explore the transformative power of sisterhood—especially for highly sensitive, gifted, and neurodivergent women.
Together, they dive into:
🌿 What a Sistership Circle is—and why neurodivergent women need it now more than ever
🌀 How masking, perfectionism, and loneliness begin to unravel in safe, sacred space
💫 Kanan’s powerful personal journey as a 2e woman reclaiming connection, voice, and joy
🔥 Why celebration and ritual can feel like a radical return to self
Plus: an invitation to the upcoming Sol-Sister Celebration—a global Sistership Circle Day event full of community, creativity, and deep restoration.
If you’ve ever longed for community that gets you, this episode is your gentle nudge to step into the circle.
🎟️ RSVP for the Sol-Sister Celebration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sistership-circle-day-sol-sister-celebration-tickets-1388612119229?aff=oddtdtcreator
🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout—where we explore what it really means to thrive as autistic women.
🔗 Subscribe to The Recharge:
https://energyuplevel.kit.com/becomeafan
🌿 Ready to reconnect with your authentic Self and finally step into your Comfort Zone?
Get your copy of Living Unmasked: An Autistic Woman’s Guide to Get Into Your Comfort Zone—and start your journey out of burnout and into sustainable well-being.
✨ Your $9.99 digital + audio bundle includes the full book, exclusive bonus meditations, printable worksheets, and your personalized Roadmap to Energy Mastery.
📘 Grab it here
:https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1182513
You don’t have to hustle your way to healing. Let’s unmask gently, together. 💛
#AutisticBurnout #SelfDiscovery #AutisticWomen #WellBeing #SelfHelp
🎁 Grab free burnout tools & weekly bonuses for your journey: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/therecharge
Things That REALLY Matter with Becca Lory Hector & Carole Jean Whittington
What if asking for help wasn’t a weakness—but one of the most radical acts of self-trust an autistic woman can make?
In this powerful episode of our monthly Things That REALLY Matter series, Becca Lory Hector and Carole Jean Whittington go deep into a topic many autistic women carry quietly: why asking for help feels so hard—and how we begin to heal that wound.
Together, we unpack:
The cultural myth of independence—and the trauma of self-reliance
How masking and rejection train us to equate strength with silence
Why past help-seeking may have felt dangerous or shameful
Rewriting the inner dialogue: shifting from “I should do it all myself” to “I deserve support”
Creating your “Safe to Ask” list and learning to receive without guilt
How helping professionals can hold space for interdependence without overstepping autonomy
Whether you're navigating burnout or supporting someone who is, this episode offers insight, validation, and gentle next steps toward reclaiming your voice—and your right to ask.
💌 Companion Article: Why Asking for Help Feels So Hard as Autistic Women—And How to Start Healing That Wound
📩 Special Subscriber Bonus in The Recharge includes healing prompts + tools for clinicians
🔗 Join us at WhittingtonWellBeing.com or in the show notes to access your bonuses
📢 This week’s listener reflection: “This week, I asked for…” Tag us or message to share your micro-acts of radical self-care.
@BeccaLoryHector @CaroleJeanWhittington
🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout—where we explore what it really means to thrive as autistic women.
🔗 Connect with Carole Jean Whittington:
How to get out of burnout - STEP 1: Take the Spicy Pepper Burnout Quiz and discover if you are in burnout or not, and if so, what’s your burnout level from a Poblano Pepper Level 1, where there’s just a bit of heat up to the Ghost Pepper Level 5 when “you’re so hot, you’re not.” You’ll get the opportunity to join our free Step 2 Class after you take the quiz.
Take the Spicy Pepper Quiz: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1155744
Subscribe to The Recharge Newsletter and receive weekly burnout recovery insights, tools for yourself or to use with your autistic clients, and learn about upcoming workshops at Whittington Well-Being.
🔗 Subscribe to The Recharge:
https://energyuplevel.kit.com/becomeafan
Access the Recharge Library - https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180958/?action=signup
Connect with Becca Lory Hector:
#AutisticWomen #RadicalSelfCare #ThingsThatReallyMatter #NeurodivergentSupport #UnmaskingHealing #AutisticBurnout #BeyondChronicBurnout
What if the way you speak—or don’t speak—was shaped more by survival than by choice?
In this solo episode, Carole Jean Whittington dives into how shadow work can reveal hidden fears, unmet needs, and the unspoken patterns that impact the way autistic women communicate.
You'll learn how masking, alexithymia, and trauma may be influencing your communication style—whether that’s silence, shutdown, over-explaining, or people-pleasing.
Carole Jean shares how uncovering these shadow patterns can help you reclaim your voice, speak your truth, and ask for what you need with clarity and self-trust.
🌿 This episode includes:
– A warm, trauma-sensitive explanation of shadow work for autistic women
– Insights on how fear and unmet needs show up through the Enneagram lens
– Guided practice to gently connect with your inner voice – Actionable communication tools to use in your life or your practice
– This week’s Recharge Bonus: “Journaling Prompts for Shadow Exploration”
Whether you're on a journey of unmasking or guiding others through theirs, this episode offers powerful tools for speaking from a place of authenticity, not apology.
🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout—where we explore what it really means to thrive as autistic women.
Plant the Seed
Here’s your energy-in-action experiment for this week:
Identify one communication pattern you’d like to shift.
Maybe you over-apologize.
Maybe you stay quiet when you want to contribute.
Maybe you soften your tone so you won’t be “too much.”
Practice bringing awareness to why you do that. What’s the fear behind it? What need might not be getting met?
Water & Nourish
This week, I’ve got two prompts for you—and there are 16 more waiting for you in the full Shadow Workbook in The Recharge Library.
🖋 What parts of my voice have I hidden to stay safe?
🖋 How can I begin to communicate my needs without guilt or apology?
And here’s one more from the bonus download: 🖋 How does my shadow influence my communication style? Am I passive, aggressive, or something in between?
Subscribe to The Recharge Newsletter and receive weekly burnout recovery insights, tools for yourself or to use with your autistic clients, and learn about upcoming workshops at Whittington Well-Being.
🔗 Subscribe to The Recharge:
https://energyuplevel.kit.com/becomeafan
Access the Recharge Library - https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180958/?action=signup
🔗 Hormone shifts shouldn’t feel like chaos. If you’re an autistic woman or support autistic clients, this is your invitation to experience a new kind of hormone education—one rooted in rhythm, clarity, and compassion.
✨ Join us for Hormone Harmony, a live guided event exploring how to align with your body’s natural hormone cycle—from menstruation to menopause—even when conditions like PMDD, POTS, MCAS, PCOS, or EDS/hEDS are also in the mix.
📅 Live Online | May 29th
🎁 Free ticket includes tracking tools, and support plans for hormone-related burnout or upgrade to VIP for a separate Q&A with Carole Jean.
🔗 Claim your spot now –https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1178946
NEW BOOK 🌿 Ready to reconnect with your authentic Self and finally step into your Comfort Zone?
Get your copy of Living Unmasked: An Autistic Woman’s Guide to Get Into Your Comfort Zone—and start your journey out of burnout and into sustainable well-being.
✨ Your $9.99 digital + audio bundle includes the full book, exclusive bonus meditations, printable worksheets, and your personalized Roadmap to Energy Mastery.
📘 Grab it here:
https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1182513
You don’t have to hustle your way to healing. Let’s unmask gently, together. 💛
#AutisticBurnout #AutisticWomen #WellBeing #SelfHelp
What if thriving with ADHD isn’t about fixing yourself—but redesigning your life around what actually works for your brain?
In this week’s Social Saturdays episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout, I’m joined by ADHD and neurodiversity coach Alexia Hetzel for a powerful, paradigm-shifting conversation on how high-achieving ADHDers can create sustainable success—on their own terms.
Based in Luxembourg, Alexia blends research, coaching, and lived experience to help ADHDers (and those who support them) move beyond burnout and into alignment.
In this episode, we explore:
🔔 Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Beyond Chronic Burnout—where we explore what it really means to thrive as autistic women.
This is the episode that finally gives you permission to stop fighting your brain—and start celebrating it.
🎁 Grab free burnout tools & weekly bonuses for your journey: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/therecharge
🔗 Subscribe to The Recharge:
https://energyuplevel.kit.com/becomeafan
🔗 ALIGNMENT SUNDAYS
Have you ever felt that Sunday evening dread, knowing another week is looming? 🌟As someone who has been there, I understand the feeling of your to-do list spiraling out of control.
That's why I'm thrilled to introduce Alignment Sundays - a sanctuary designed just for you. Join Us!
Get a FREE trial starting today Then just $11 monthly.
This could be the change you've been seeking. Together, let's turn Sunday evenings into a time of peace and preparation, rather than dread.
Ready to reclaim your week? Let's embark on this journey together.
Get Started this Sunday:
https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1180659
🌿 Ready to reconnect with your authentic Self and finally step into your Comfort Zone? Get your copy of Living Unmasked: An Autistic Woman’s Guide to Get Into Your Comfort Zone—and start your journey out of burnout and into sustainable well-being.
✨ Your $9.99 digital + audio bundle includes the full book, exclusive bonus meditations, printable worksheets, and your personalized Roadmap to Energy Mastery.
📘 Grab it here
:https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1182513
You don’t have to hustle your way to healing. Let’s unmask gently, together. 💛
#AutisticBurnout #SelfDiscovery #AutisticWomen #WellBeing #SelfHelp
🌐 Connect with Alexia and explore her work at:Website - mondaycoach
Research Paper - How Positive Deviance in High-Achieving Adults with ADHD can Inform Strength-Based Coaching and Life Design to Complement Traditional ADHD Management
University-approved version: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4985832
Extended version (because I realized last minute I had written double the word count!):