Amethyst Counselling & Supervision

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

You ARE worthy of the same kindness you give to others.

22/04/2026

I used to always wait around till motivation struck to do things and while yes this can happen I realised that most of the time motivation only came once I started doing the thing. What can you start to do today that you have been waiting to do?
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18/04/2026

How to Be You by Ellie Middleton is such an easy, engaging read. The format is brilliant for ADHD brains — you can dip in and out of it without losing the thread, which made it feel really accessible and manageable. It’s full of practical hacks and helpful tips for working with your neurodivergent brain instead of constantly feeling like you have to fight against it. I found it both interesting and informative, but more than anything, incredibly affirming. It really encouraged me to lean into my authentic self and let go of all the “shoulds,” “woulds,” and “coulds.” A genuinely empowering read that feels like a supportive reminder that you’re not broken — you just need ways of living that actually work for you.

14/04/2026

I know things can feel dark, overwhelming and insurmountable at times but maybe you don’t have to do this alone and maybe, just maybe, there is a way through this with time, compassion and support

14/04/2026

New blog post!!
Head over to my blog to read all about starting to understand sensory overload and practical ways to help with it.
Link in the comments

10/04/2026

Some great information here on managing burnout when you are neurodivergent and the idea that rest doesn’t always look like we think it does

I’m someone who wrestles with depression, and many of my worst episodes have started with a long season of burnout. Because of this, I approach burnout recovery a bit differently now: instead of collapsing into inertia, I try to build a gentle balance of rest, small pleasures, and tiny intentional actions.

In Autistic and AuDHD burnout, rest is deeply necessary, but rest alone can sometimes tip into numbness, inertia, and that heavy, depressive “stuck” feeling. When rest is paired with doable sources of pleasure and sensory nourishment, plus a bit of structure that respects our actual capacity, it can help us stay out of that immobilized inertia trap. I think of this as finding a rest-and-pleasure balance: gentle routines, soothing sensory input, and special-interest time.

I write more about AuDHD inertia, the lethargy cycle, and adapting behavioral activation for AuDHD folks in this week’s research article: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/managing-burnout-with-rest-and-pleasure/

04/04/2026

You don’t suddenly burn out… you slowly disappear from yourself without even noticing it

The quiet build-up no one talks about

It doesn’t start with a breakdown.

It starts small.

You’re still showing up.
Still responding.
Still trying.

But something feels… heavier than usual.

You tell yourself it’s just a bad day.

Then a bad week.

Then somehow… it becomes your normal.

When “I’m fine” stops being true

At first, you still have energy.

You can socialize.
You can engage.
You can enjoy things.

But even then…

You start needing more time alone than before.

More recovery after simple things.

More silence.

And you don’t question it.

Because technically… you’re still functioning.

The stage where anxiety quietly grows

Then something shifts.

You begin to feel overwhelmed by things that never used to feel this intense.

Plans feel heavier.
Noise feels sharper.
People feel harder to keep up with.

You start saying “I’m just tired.”

But it’s not just tired.

It’s your system asking for space you’re not giving it.

When the world starts feeling like too much

Now it’s not just discomfort.

It’s overload.

Simple tasks feel complicated.
Going outside feels like effort.
Even things you used to enjoy feel like pressure.

Your mind is trying to keep up.

Your body is trying to cope.

But both are starting to fall out of sync.

The point where everything becomes too loud

You become more sensitive.

More reactive.

More drained.

And the hardest part…

Is that you still try to push through.

Because you’ve always pushed through.

Because stopping feels like failing.

When burnout isn’t dramatic… but deeply consuming

This is where people misunderstand it.

Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse.

Sometimes it looks like:

Not replying.
Canceling plans.
Avoiding everything.

Not because you don’t care…

But because you literally don’t have the capacity anymore.

The stage where even basic things feel impossible

Getting out of bed feels heavy.

Taking care of yourself feels like effort.

Even small responsibilities feel overwhelming.

And you don’t recognize yourself anymore.

Because the version of you that used to manage everything…

Feels very far away.

This is what burnout really is

Not weakness.

Not laziness.

But a nervous system that has been stretched too far…

For too long.

And the hardest truth…

It didn’t happen overnight.

It happened in all the moments you kept going…

When you actually needed to pause.

03/04/2026

Wishing you a happy and peaceful Easter, whatever that looks like for you

26/03/2026

Burnout can be so insidious, creeping up on you almost without you noticing. So right now just pause, have a look through this list and see if you have any (or how many) of these signs of burnout you have, then listen to it and decide what you need to help you

20/03/2026

Rejection sensitivity and limerence can feel overwhelming. Counsellor Sharon McDonagh explores why these experiences may be common for neurodivergent people. 💭 http://ow.ly/SwPi106vMbE

17/03/2026

Ever wondered what “trauma-informed” actually means in counselling? In my latest blog, I break it down in a clear, gentle way — why safety and choice matter, how therapy can feel more grounding, and what you can expect from a trauma-informed approach. If you’re curious about your patterns, your nervous system, or just want therapy that makes sense of what you’ve been through, have a read.
(Link in comments)

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