Description
Late Diagnosis, Grief, and Growth with AuDHD Coach Jenny Lucas
Late diagnosis can feel like a relief and a gut punch. In this episode, I sit with Jenny Lucas to name both—then move forward.
I talk with Jenny about what the world saw versus what was really happening inside, the moment she heard “autistic” and “ADHD,” and the very real grief that followed. You’ll hear how she began unmasking in small, practical ways, what shifted in her marriage and parenting, and why she chose to become the support she couldn’t find. We also explore how AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot help with tone, clarity, and day-to-day overwhelm.
I reveal the questions I ask guests about burnout, people-pleasing, and work boundaries—plus the simple experiments Jenny used to figure out what she actually needed. You’ll discover how she reframed self-worth, how she talks to her AuDHD daughters after school, and the one message she wants every late-diagnosed person to hear tonight.
By the end, you’ll be thinking: What can I let go of? Where am I masking without realizing it? And how could small supports change my day this week?
About the Guest
Jenny Lucas is a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer, mom to two AuDHD daughters, former high school music teacher, and creator of resources for neurodivergent women. She’s the author of “Your No-Guide to Life After Late Diagnosis” and shares accessible support across Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and more.
Key Timestamps
0:02 – Welcome and Jenny’s story: teacher, burnout, and late diagnosis
7:11 – “Why does this feel harder for me?” and the cost of people-pleasing
11:14 – The ADHD and autism diagnoses: shock, numbness, validation
20:12 – The grief no one warns you about—and why capacity dips
22:07 – Mourning old coping skills and rethinking energy
24:40 – When the diagnosis started to feel empowering
27:12 – Using AI for tone, clarity, and daily support
31:22 – Becoming the person she needed when support wasn’t there
39:17 – What unmasking actually looked like day to day
41:39 – How relationships changed at home and at work
43:54 – Parenting two AuDHD daughters with more compassion
46:25 – “You’re not broken”: inside Jenny’s book
52:03 – What clients say in the first conversation
55:45 – A message for anyone late diagnosed or questioning
56:37 – Where to find Jenny online
If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or friend who needs real-talk support. Subscribe for more conversations on autism, ADHD, and life after diagnosis.
#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #AuDHD #LateDiagnosis
Hosted by Reid Miles.
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🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com
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