Episode 68: When Gratitude Becomes Another Chore
In this storytelling episode, Blaze shares a composite client story about gratitude fatigue — the moment when expressing thankfulness feels more like pressure than peace. Through the lens of neurodivergent masking and emotional labor, this episode explores how authenticity, not performance, reconnects us to true appreciation.
You’ll Hear:
Emotional Takeaway:
You don’t have to feel grateful to deserve rest. Gratitude will return when your system feels safe again.
Read the companion blog: “The Hidden Labor of Gratitude in ND Relationships” at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Explore: Book a Clarity & Connection Call or learn about Blaze’s book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance: A Year of Gentle Support.
🎧 Listen anywhere podcasts are found.
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #WakingUpNeurodivergent #GratitudeFatigue #EmotionalSafety #NeurodivergentHealing #AutisticWomen #MaskingExhaustion #AuthenticLiving #RestIsRegulation
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Episode 67: Why Gratitude Practices Can Feel Hollow
Traditional gratitude exercises can feel like pressure — especially for neurodivergent adults managing emotional labor, masking, and sensory load. Blaze explores how gratitude becomes meaningful again when we shift from performance to presence, grounding the conversation in both therapeutic experience and research on regulation.
You’ll Learn:
Emotional Takeaway:
You don’t have to fake positivity to be kind. Real gratitude begins where honesty and safety meet.
Read the companion blog: “The Hidden Labor of Gratitude in ND Relationships” at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Explore: Book a Clarity & Connection Call or learn about Blaze’s book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance: A Year of Gentle Support.
🎧 Listen anywhere podcasts are found.
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #TherapyInsightsTuesday #GratitudeFatigue #NeurodivergentHealing #AutismAndADHD #HolidayStress #ReliefNotPerformance #EmotionalSafety
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
When Holiday Traditions Feel Like Traps
For many neurodivergent adults, holiday traditions meant to bring joy can end up feeling like obligations that drain energy. Smiling through events, hosting under pressure, or keeping rituals alive “because that’s how it’s always been done” often leads to exhaustion and collapse.
In this storytelling episode, Blaze shares the story of Samira, a client who discovered that the traditions she was carrying were actually traps. By redefining what felt sacred and letting go of what didn’t, she created a holiday season that felt more restful, intentional, and safe.
The takeaway? Traditions aren’t sacred if they cost your well-being. You’re allowed to redesign them to fit your nervous system.
This story echoes themes from the blog, “Why Holidays Can Feel Like Pressure Cookers for ND Couples.” Find it at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Blaze’s book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance, launches November 18, 2025 — offering 365 gentle reflections to help you release the pressure of tradition and find rest all year long.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #NDHolidays #NeurodivergentRelationships #ADHDOverwhelm #MaskingAndExhaustion #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #NeurodiversityAffirming #YouAreNotBroken #EmotionalSafety
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Therapist Tools for Calmer ND Holidays
The holidays often feel like pressure cookers — with social expectations, sensory overload, and traditions that demand too much. For neurodivergent individuals and couples, this season can bring hidden stress, overwhelm, and disconnection.
In this episode, Blaze shares therapist-informed tools to help create calmer, more intentional holidays: mapping boundaries, building buffer time, redistributing roles, and creating rituals that don’t demand masking. She also highlights new research showing how holidays impact neurodivergent adults — from increased executive load to higher social fatigue.
The takeaway? Holidays don’t have to hurt. With intention and boundaries, they can become spaces of connection and rest.
This episode is a companion to the blog, “Why Holidays Can Feel Like Pressure Cookers for ND Couples.” Read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Blaze’s new book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance, launches November 18, 2025 — with 365 daily reflections to guide you through the holidays and beyond.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #NDHolidays #NeurodivergentRelationships #ExecutiveFunctioning #MaskingAndExhaustion #NeurodiversityAffirming #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #YouAreNotBroken #EmotionalSafety
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
I Smiled Through It All — Then Collapsed Later
Many neurodivergent women are praised for being “strong” and “resilient,” but what others don’t see is the cost: collapsing in private after smiling through the day.
In this storytelling episode, Blaze shares the story of Priya, a client who lived two lives — one where she appeared composed and positive, and another where she fell into bed every night exhausted from masking. You’ll learn how masking drains energy, why research links it to burnout and anxiety, and how small acts of unmasking can bring relief.
The takeaway? Smiling on the outside while collapsing on the inside isn’t weakness — it’s survival. And survival is exhausting.
This story echoes the blog, “The Hidden Cost of ADHD Masking: Why You Feel Bone-Tired.” Read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Want daily reminders that you don’t have to perform your way through life? Blaze’s book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance, comes out November 18th — just in time to support you through the holidays.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #MaskingAndExhaustion #ADHDOverwhelm #NeurodivergentWomen #NeurodiversityAffirming #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #EmotionalSafety #YouAreNotBroken #NeurodivergentHealing
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
What Therapists See Beneath the Mask
On the surface, masking can look like confidence and competence. But as a therapist, Blaze often sees what’s really underneath: exhaustion, overwhelm, and the toll of surviving in a world that wasn’t built for neurodivergent nervous systems.
In this episode, Blaze unpacks why masking is so draining — from the constant executive load of self-monitoring to the emotional suppression that leads to collapse later. You’ll hear how masking is not strength but survival, and why survival strategies eventually leave us depleted.
The takeaway? Masking isn’t weakness, but it is exhausting. Gentle unmasking can help restore your energy and your truth.
This episode is a companion to the blog, “The Hidden Cost of ADHD Masking: Why You Feel Bone-Tired.” Read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Blaze’s book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance, launches November 18th — with 365 daily reflections to support you in resting, unmasking, and softening into your full self.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #MaskingAndExhaustion #ADHDOverwhelm #ExecutiveFunctioning #NeurodivergentWomen #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #NeurodiversityAffirming #YouAreNotBroken #EmotionalSafety
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Crying Over a Sandwich: Decision Overload Is Real
Sometimes the smallest choices carry the heaviest weight. In this episode, Blaze shares the story of a client, Anika, who found herself crying over a sandwich while reading about executive functioning struggles in neurodivergent adults. It wasn’t about the sandwich — it was about years of masking, hidden labor, and decision fatigue finally catching up with her nervous system.
Through Anika’s story, you’ll learn how executive functioning overload and masking drain make daily decisions feel impossible, why these moments of breakdown are actually signals of overwhelm, and how to soften your system with simple practices like reducing options and creating rhythms.
The takeaway? You’re not broken for struggling with decisions. Your nervous system is asking for gentleness and relief.
This story echoes themes from the blog, “ND Decision Paralysis: Why Even Small Decisions Feel Impossible.” Read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Blaze’s new book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance, launches November 18th — offering 365 daily reflections to help you stay grounded through the holidays and beyond.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #DecisionFatigue #ExecutiveFunctioning #ADHDOverwhelm #MaskingAndExhaustion #NeurodivergentLife #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #NeurodiversityAffirming #YouAreNotBroken
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Therapist Tools for Simplifying Everyday Overwhelm
For many neurodivergent adults, even the smallest decisions — such as what to eat, what to wear, or how to respond to a text — can feel overwhelming. It isn’t laziness or failure. It’s decision fatigue, stemming from the extra executive functioning load and the emotional drain of masking every day.
In this episode, Blaze unpacks why neurodivergent brains experience decision overload, weaving in research on executive functioning and the exhaustion that comes with masking. She also shares practical therapist tools — reducing options, creating rhythms, and externalizing decisions — that can bring immediate relief.
The takeaway? Decision fatigue doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your nervous system is asking for gentleness and care.
This episode is a companion to the blog, “ND Decision Paralysis: Why Even Small Decisions Feel Impossible.” Please read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
And don’t forget: Blaze’s new book, Unmasked Self-Acceptance, launches on November 18th — offering 365 daily reflections to support you through the holidays and beyond.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #DecisionFatigue #ExecutiveFunctioning #MaskingAndExhaustion #NeurodivergentLife #ADHDOverwhelm #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #NeurodiversityAffirming #YouAreNotBroken
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
I Didn’t Know How to Ask for Help Until I Broke Down
For much of her life, Blaze carried everything on her own — until her body gave her no other choice. After her second cancer diagnosis and a full hysterectomy, she was suddenly faced with the reality that she couldn’t do it all alone. For the first time, she had to ask for help — even from strangers.
In this deeply personal episode, Blaze shares how illness stripped away the mask of independence and revealed a new truth: asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s connection. Listeners will walk away with hope, self-recognition, and permission to let others in.
The takeaway? Support doesn’t diminish your strength — it expands it.
This story resonates with themes explored in the blog, “Neurodivergent Women: Understanding the Unique Journey Through Life.” Read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
If you’re ready to explore what safe, steady support could look like for you, book a Clarity & Connection Call with Blaze today.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #NeurodivergentWomen #MaskingAndExhaustion #ADHDOverwhelm #NeurodiversityAffirming #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #YouAreNotBroken #EmotionalSafety #AskingForHelp
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Why Support Feels Complicated for Neurodivergent Women
For many neurodivergent women, asking for help isn’t simple. Years of masking, hyper-independence, and being misunderstood often turn support into something that feels unsafe or shameful.
In this episode, Blaze explores why support feels so complicated for women with ADHD and autism — and how redefining support as nervous system safety can change everything. You’ll hear how lived experience and research both point to the same truth: you’re not weak for needing help, you’re wired for connection.
The takeaway? Support isn’t a flaw or a failure. It’s a vital form of care your nervous system deserves.
This episode is a companion to the blog, “Neurodivergent Women: Understanding the Unique Journey Through Life.” Read it now at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
Ready to explore safe, steady support for yourself or your relationship? Book a Clarity & Connection Call with Blaze today.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #ADHDAwarenessMonth #NeurodivergentWomen #MaskingAndExhaustion #ADHDOverwhelm #NeurodiverseRelationships #UnmaskedSelfAcceptance #NeurodiversityAffirming #YouAreNotBroken #EmotionalSafety
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Podcast | Waking Up Neurodivergent Wednesday | Ep. 58
Have you ever come home from the grocery store and felt like you’d just run a marathon you never signed up for?
In this episode of Love on the Autism Spectrum, Blaze shares a deeply personal story about why she stopped going to the grocery store and started using Instacart instead. What looked like “just an errand” to others was actually a sensory gauntlet — the lights, sounds, decisions, and social demands left her exhausted every time. Choosing Instacart wasn’t laziness — it was wisdom, and an act of nervous system care.
You’ll also hear about a client who cried after shopping at Target, and how she discovered the freedom of giving herself permission to choose gentler options. Together, these stories remind us that avoiding depletion is not weakness — it’s self-trust.
🔁 This story echoes themes from this week’s blog:
👉 Why ND Overwhelm Looks Like Shutdown, Not Laziness
🌿 Ready for support?
Book a Clarity & Connection Call at
🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:
[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [Google Podcasts] | [YouTube]
SEO Keywords: grocery store overwhelm autism, sensory overwhelm shopping, neurodivergent daily life, errands and executive function, Instacart autism support
Hashtags:
#NeurodivergentLife #AutismAndOverwhelm #LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum
#GroceryStoreOverwhelm #SensoryGauntlet #InstacartForAutism
#MaskingAndErrands #NeurodivergentFreedom #YoureNotBroken #EmotionalSafety
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
If overwhelm makes you shut down, freeze, or feel “lazy,” you are not broken.
In this week’s episode of Love on the Autism Spectrum, Blaze shares therapist-informed tools for calming daily overwhelm — and reminds you that your nervous system is asking for care, not criticism.
Through the story of Jordan, a capable professional who froze at the thought of making dinner, you’ll see how what looks like procrastination is often a protective response to too many invisible steps. You’ll also learn practical tools for breaking down tasks, pausing with compassion, and shrinking demands into doable actions.
You’ll walk away with clarity, nervous system safety, and the reminder that overwhelm is never laziness. It’s your body protecting you.
🔗 This episode is a companion to this week’s blog: 👉 Why ND Overwhelm Looks Like Shutdown, Not Laziness
🌿 Want more support? Book a Clarity & Connection Call at 👉 LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
🎧 Listen on your favorite platform: Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Audible
#NDOverwhelm #AutismPodcast #NeurodivergentHealing #LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #OverwhelmIsNotLaziness #ShutdownNotLazy #NeurodivergentTherapy #TaskBreakdownTools #EmotionalSafety #YoureNotBroken
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Have you ever wondered:
“Is this who I really am… or is this who I became to feel safe?”
In this heartfelt episode of Love on the Autism Spectrum, Blaze explores the quiet, powerful question that so many late-diagnosed or self-aware neurodivergent adults are just beginning to ask:
Was I always this way… or did I adapt?
We explore what adaptation looks like when it’s born from masking, caretaking, or survival. You’ll meet Sam, a client who realized they weren’t inherently conflict-avoidant — they were trained into it. Their story might sound like yours.
You’ll also receive one gentle noticing step to begin returning to your authentic self — without pressure, and without needing to rush.
🔗 Book a Clarity & Connection Call:
🎧 Listen on your favorite platform: Apple, Audible, YouTube, Spotify or at www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com/Podcast
#UnmaskingAutism #NeurodivergentTruth #LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #WasIAlwaysThisWay #NeurodivergentHealing #MaskingRecovery
#AuthenticSelfJourney #EmotionalSafetyMatters #NeurodivergentPodcast #YoureNotBroken
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Can you be both autistic and carry trauma? Absolutely.
And for many neurodivergent adults, the line between the two feels painfully blurred.
In this episode of Love on the Autism Spectrum, Blaze explores how autism and complex PTSD (CPTSD) can mirror each other — especially in moments of shutdown, hypervigilance, or relational withdrawal — and why understanding the root cause matters more than getting the label “right.”
Through a real client story and gentle reflection prompts, you’ll learn to tell the difference between sensory overwhelm and trauma response… and begin to offer your nervous system the kind of care it’s truly been asking for.
You’ll walk away with clarity, compassion, and one grounding question to guide you through any difficult moment.
🔗 Read the Blog: "Is It Trauma, Neurodivergence, or Both?"
📅 Book a Clarity & Connection Call: LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
🎧 Listen on your favorite platform: Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Audible, or on my website: www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com/Podcasts
#AutismVsTrauma #NeurodivergentHealing #LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #CPTSDRecovery #SensoryOverwhelm #MisdiagnosisMatters #NeurodivergentTherapy #EmotionalSafety #HumanDesignTherapist #YoureNotBroken
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Bright Lights, Loud Voices, and the Need to Hide
After a long day of fluorescent lights, clanging HVAC systems, and noisy coworkers, Ethan, a 27-year-old engineer, walked into his parents’ living room to find the TV blaring and overlapping voices. His body snapped. He yelled, stormed off, and hid in his darkened bedroom — ashamed and shaken by a meltdown he couldn’t control.
In this first-person narrative episode, Blaze shares Ethan’s inner experience of sensory overload and the truth he’s learning: meltdowns aren’t failures. They’re signs of a nervous system overwhelmed.
You’ll hear:
This story is for anyone who’s ever needed to retreat, only to feel shame afterward. You’re not broken. You’re overwhelmed.
✨ Learn more at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com and explore a free Clarity & Connection Zoom Session.
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #WUNWednesday #NeurodivergentLove #SensoryOverload #AutisticMeltdown #EmotionalRegulation #NDLifeUnmasked #NeurodiverseCouples #SelfCompassion
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Creating a Sensory-Safe Environment
Ethan is 27, an engineer, and lives at home with his parents. On the surface, his life looks steady. But under the surface, he’s constantly drained, irritable, and misunderstood — both at home and at work.
In this episode, Blaze shares Ethan’s story of discovering something he never had words for before: sensory sensitivities. From bright lights at the office to overlapping conversations at the dinner table, Ethan’s nervous system was overwhelmed. What looked like moodiness or disconnection was actually sensory overload.
You’ll learn:
Ethan’s journey is a reminder: you’re not “too sensitive.” Your nervous system needs care.
✨ To explore more, visit LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com and book your free Clarity & Connection Zoom Session.
🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #TherapyInsightsTuesday #SensoryOverload #NeurodiverseRelationships #SensorySensitivities #EmotionalRegulation #NeurodivergentLife #CopingStrategies #NDRelationships
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
The Day I Stopped Smiling Through It
For years, James smiled through dinner parties, agreed when he wanted to say no, and performed the role of the “perfect partner.” On the outside, he looked easygoing. On the inside, he was unraveling.
This is the hidden cost of masking: it protects from rejection, but it also blocks intimacy. In this week’s story, Blaze shares the turning point when James whispered the truth—“I’ve been pretending because I was afraid you’d leave if you saw the real me”—and how that moment of honesty began to transform his marriage.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Maybe you’ve been the agreeable one, too. Always smiling, always saying yes. This episode is a reminder: your truth belongs in your relationships.
✨ Learn more at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com and book your free Clarity & Connection Zoom Session today.
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #WUNWednesday #NeurodivergentLove #MaskingInRelationships #AuthenticityInLove #AutisticBurnout #NeurodiverseCouple #MicroUnmasking #NDRelationships
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
The Mask You Didn’t Know You Were Wearing
Masking in neurodiverse relationships isn’t about dishonesty—it’s about survival. Many autistic and ADHD partners unconsciously hide their needs, suppress their sensory sensitivities, and perform “fine” in order to feel safer in love. On the outside, they look easygoing. On the inside, they’re carrying exhaustion and disconnection.
In this episode, Blaze unpacks:
You’ll hear the story of James and Rachel, a couple who discovered that survival strategies can quietly cost intimacy. Their shift toward honesty shows us how small truths create space for deeper love.
Healing doesn’t require perfection. It begins with noticing where you’ve been performing, and daring to let a little more of your real self show.
✨ To explore this further, visit LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com to read the blog and book your free Clarity & Connection Zoom Session.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
#LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum #TherapyInsightsTuesday #NeurodiverseRelationship #AutisticMasking #EmotionalConnection #NeurodivergentLife #MaskingAndUnmasking #NeurodiverseCouples #ClarityAndConnection
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
I Shut Down Again… and He Shut Down Too!
What happens when both partners go quiet—not out of apathy, but out of overwhelm?
In this vulnerable episode, Blaze shares a quiet but powerful story about mutual shutdown in ND love. You’ll hear what it really means when both people retreat, and how moments of reconnection can start with just a breath, a hand, or a whispered truth.
This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt the ache of emotional silence—and wondered if connection was still possible.
To explore this more deeply, visit our blog or book a Clarity & Connection Zoom at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
#neurodivergentmarriage #mutualshutdown #autismlove #adhdrelationships #relationshipshutdown #ndcommunication #emotionaloverwhelm #nervoussystemcare #loveontheautismspectrum #ndstorytelling
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**
Freeze, Fawn, and the Fear of Vulnerability in ND Love
Why does emotional openness feel dangerous sometimes—especially in neurodivergent relationships?
In this therapist-informed episode, Blaze explores freeze and fawn responses in love, and how these misunderstood behaviors are often signs of deep care—not disconnection. Learn what’s really going on, how to build nervous system safety, and how ND couples can begin to reconnect without pressure.
🎧 A calm, steady exploration for anyone who’s ever asked, “Why do I disappear when it matters most?”
To explore this more deeply, visit our blog or book a Clarity & Connection Zoom at LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com.
#neurodivergentlove #freezeandfawn #emotionalavailability #neurodiversecouples #autismrelationships #adhdandrelationships #ndrelationships #emotionalregulation #therapypodcast #nervoussystemhealing
Explore more tools, relationship guidance, and weekly blog posts at:
🌐 www.LoveOnTheAutismSpectrum.com
For behind-the-scenes reflections and bonus content, follow along on Instagram:
✨ Come for the real talk. Stay for the support. You’re not alone here.
**This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.
Barbara (Blaze) Lazarony, LMFT, is licensed in California. Listening does not create a therapeutic relationship or imply individualized advice.
Any tools or techniques shared are for general education only and do not guarantee results. Participation in educational offerings does not establish a client-therapist relationship.
All client examples are fictional and used solely for illustrative purposes.
If you’re in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 or contact local emergency services.**