Rachel Rouse Counseling, PLLC

05/17/2026

Coaching With Brooke ❤️

05/16/2026

Masking is a strategy used by some autistic people, consciously or unconsciously, to appear non-autistic in order to blend in and be more accepted in society. Masking can happen in formal situations such as at school or work and in informal situations such as at home with family or socialising with friends.

Masking is sometimes referred to as ‘camouflaging’, ‘social camouflaging’, ‘compensatory strategies’ and ‘passing’. Research suggests autistic people learn how to mask by observing, analysing and mirroring the behaviours of others – in real life or on TV, in films, books, etc.

Masking autistic characteristics and suppressing your needs, preferences, instincts and coping mechanisms (such as stimming) can result in:

*distressed behaviour, including meltdowns and/or shutdowns (often only expressed when it can’t be held in any longer or when the individual feels safe enough in their environment to do so, such as when they get home from school)
mental and physical exhaustion (which can lead to autistic burnout)
*mental health difficulties (including increased suicidality and/or self-harm)
*isolation and/or feeling disconnected from other people
being more vulnerable to abuse (if you ‘blend in’ by overriding your reactions and going along with what other people want, this may not keep you safe in certain situations, such as sexual interactions)
*a loss of sense of self
*low self-esteem. (National Autistic Society ❤️)

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05/13/2026

AuDHD is a new term that’s being used to describe people who have both autism andADHD. It’s not an officialdiagnosis but is meant to draw attention to the combined effect of having the two disorders.

Having both autism and ADHD is very common — studies estimate that 50 to 70 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder also have ADHD (though most people with ADHD do not also have autism).

It’s only since 2013 that the possibility of having both was recognized in the DSM-5, the guide to mental health disorders. Before that the two diagnoses were considered mutually exclusive. But mounting evidence of how common it is to have symptoms of both, and more recognition of the frequency with which people have several related developmental disorders, led to a change in the guidance.

Since the combination has only been recognized so recently, there is a limited amount of research on how people are affected by having both disorders, says Conner Black, PhD, associate director of the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute. The term AuDHD was coined by autism advocates to highlight the experience of having symptoms of both, because they can interact in confusing ways. (Child Mind Institute ❤️)

Image credit unknown.

05/10/2026

05/06/2026

Would you add any other features?

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05/02/2026

Great list!

From

05/02/2026

Feeling overwhelmed and feeling completely drained aren’t the same thing, but we often treat them like they are.
Stress usually comes from too much. It can feel like pressure, urgency, and having more on your plate than you can handle. Burnout is different. It’s what happens when that stress goes on for too long. It can feel like exhaustion, numbness, and having nothing left to give.
Understanding the difference matters, because they don’t need the same kind of care.
This month’s Love Notes focuses on stress and burnout, and how to recognize what you might be experiencing.
Read more and sign up here: https://bit.ly/4g0CwVT

05/02/2026

Although many adults have found effective ways to compensate for their neurodivergence, a diagnosis can still be valuable for both practical and emotional reasons.

Many patients are relieved when they finally receive a diagnosis. They often say, “I have spent my entire life feeling different and I don’t know why. Now I understand why I’ve struggled so much.”

Practically, a diagnosis can pave the way for interventions and support that may improve a person’s life.

Diagnosis has a life-long impact, and with interventions people can improve their ability to function daily. Medications can help treat ADHD. Sensory integration treatment can help with sensory issues. Using “theory of mind” therapists can help neurodivergent individuals develop important communication and social skills.

A lot of life in our society is dependent on whether a person can pull off social interactions with other adults. If someone faces challenges, there is treatment available. There are ways in which a person can improve upon their ability to interact with others at work, at home, and out in the world. ( Washington Medical Group ❤️)

Image Dr. Mark Bowers ❤️

05/02/2026

Coaching With Brooke❤️

05/01/2026

May 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month focuses on the theme "More Good Days, Together," promoting community, reducing stigma, and connecting individuals to support.