As with the endocrine system, discussed in the last episode, coordination of activity has to be very tight to pull this off. If either system is dysregulated, both are and the body is left vulnerable. Worse, the immune system may attack the nervous system causing serious, debilitating disease. Or, the nervous system may trigger exaggerated immune responses to any number of environmental stressors that are not true physical threats to the body. 

The symptoms are familiar to us Clinical Misfits.

Also in this episode, Dr Mary discusses how masking autistic traits undermines the Clinical Misfit's immune system, contributing to the physical illnesses that present in late-stage burnout.

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She explains how the communications among a person's thoughts, senses, emotions and experiences affect and are affected by a person's hormonal balance at any time. When the autonomic system is dysregulated, the endocrine systems cannot function normally. This can result in all the signs and symptom of hormone gland disease, when the glands themselves might be completely healthy.

The result is true illness that cannot be identified using standard medical testing.

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In Episode One of Clinical Misfits, Dr Mary describes in detail a unique way to identify neurodivergent people who are approaching or in the middle of burnout, who she calls Clinical Misfits. She emphasizes a gestalt approach to diagnosis, looking for patterns, in true autistic style, rather than focusing on specific organ systems, or parts of the body, and the afflictions thereof.

The episode recommends a thorough examination of all parts of a person's life, looking for numerous vague symptoms, in many different categories, that have characteristics commonly seen in neurodivergent people in crisis. Below are links to materials that may be helpful.

Clinical Tools

List of Podcasts that are helpful to neurodivergent people facing burnout:

• Autistic Culture Podcast
• Beyond Six Seconds
• Meet My Autistic Brain
• Divergent Conversations/ Divergent Insights

Webpages dedicated to caring for neurodivergent people in affirming, non-ableist ways: Allbrainsbelong.org

If you know of other resources, please contact Dr Mary: maredog3d@icloud.com

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Welcome to Clinical Misfits, a podcast exploring neurodivergent health, medicine, and clinical understanding through an autistic cultural lens. Part of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.

Hosted by Dr Mary Sims, a neurodivergent neurologist who is AuDHD herself, the series combines lived experience and medical expertise to explore the physical, neurological, and systemic realities of neurodivergence.

From burnout and the autonomic nervous system to hormones, genetics, and immune system interactions, Clinical Misfits challenges assumptions and offers new ways of understanding neurodivergent health.

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🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.