Episode 276: Insurance Denials, Unexpected Connection Hacks and a Kitten with a Foot Fetish - Patricia Young

Patricia Young (she/her) shares a “mishmash” of real-time reflections on disappointment, expectations, nervous system shifts, and the everyday emotional intensity of being AuDHD. From insurance frustrations and PDA autonomy struggles to surprising connection hacks like a digital picture frame, Patricia explores what it means to be neurodivergent in a world full of unpredictability. This episode is a gentle reminder that big feelings are valid, connection can show up unexpectedly, and sensitivity is nothing to apologize for.

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

The emotional whiplash of going from calm to dysregulated in minutes
How autistic and AuDHD nervous systems respond to sudden disappointment
The impact of insurance denial and loss of autonomy (PDA profile)
Why “doing the next indicated step” can be grounding
The difference between pushing through vs. honoring rest
Patricia’s experience as a verbal processor and why venting helps
The autistic struggle of wanting specificity but needing to stay vague
How gifts outside your frame of reference can initially trigger discomfort
A surprising digital picture frame “object permanence” connection hack
The neurodivergent reality of out-of-sight, out-of-mind relationships
Internalized self-judgment about what we “should” value
How accommodations from safe people feel deeply regulating
The joy of being supported without shame or inconvenience
Navigating sensory overwhelm in loud restaurants with Loop earplugs
How trusted relationships can invite novelty without dysregulation
The concept of “burnt toast” moments — when bad things lead to better outcomes
Grief, rage, and relief that can come with late autism diagnosis
The pain of expectations falling flat in relationships
Rejection sensitivity showing up even with pets (hello, Walter the kitten)
The reminder that neurodivergent big feelings are human and shared

SOUND BITES

“My window of tolerance is increasing. I can just sit with more uncomfortable things.”
“Sometimes just doing the next indicated step is how we move through things.”
“I wouldn’t have asked for a digital picture frame… and it ended up being a great hack for connection.”
“I feel so seen and so accommodated — and there’s nothing about ‘you’re too much.’”
“There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not alone. We’re just wired the way we are.”

SENSITIVITY IS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR; IT’S HOW YOUR BRAIN IS WIRED

You are not broken. You were shaped by systems that weren’t built for you. You deserve rest, joy, and support exactly as you are.

PODCAST HOST

Patricia Young (she/her) was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 17 years, but she is now exclusively providing coaching. She knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truthteller. Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), then learning she is AuDHD with a PDA profile, OCD and RSD, helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and a sense of self-compassion. She created the podcasts Unapologetically Sensitive and Unapologetically AuDHD to help other neurodivergent folks know that they aren’t alone, and that having a brain that is wired differently comes with amazing gifts, and some challenges. Patricia works online globally working individually with people, and she teaches Online Courses for neurodivergent folks that focus on understanding what it means to be a sensitive neurodivergent. Topics covered include: self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors you

Patricia’s website, podcast episodes and more: www.unapologeticallysensitive.com

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

SOUND BITES

SENSITIVITY IS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR; IT’S HOW YOUR BRAIN IS WIRED

PODCAST HOST

LINKS