274 The Day My Nervous System Chose Violence (Internally)

The Day My Nervous System Chose Violence (Internally)

Patricia Young (she/her) explores what happens when big feelings meet medication changes, OCD spirals, and unmet needs. Through a vulnerable personal story about adjusting OCD medication, asking for support, and reacting more intensely than expected, Patricia reflects on autism, relational OCD, RSD, and trauma responses. She also discusses how to hold grief and joy at the same time, how to create meaning when life is profoundly unfair, and why it's okay to share joy without making yourself smaller. This episode is a compassionate reminder that awareness, baseline tracking, and self-permission are key tools for sensitive and neurodivergent people navigating relationships, mental health, and change.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

· Big reactions aren't character flaws — they're often signals, especially for autistic and OCD brains

· Medication changes can remove protective buffers, even when life circumstances are stable

· Asking for what you want can activate PDA, RSD, and old relational wounds

· OCD often pulls in "evidence" and tallying to justify emotional pain

· Feeling justified doesn't mean the story is accurate — it means the feelings are loud

· You can manage your behavior externally while still experiencing internal emotional chaos

· Walking, movement, and problem-solving can help — but they don't erase vulnerability

· A "hard day" doesn't mean failure — it means data

· Knowing your emotional baseline is critical when adjusting meds

· It's okay to decide that you don't want more days like that

· You don't have to accept injustice to learn how to live alongside it

· Two truths can exist at the same time: devastation and joy

· Therapy and coaching work best when clients feel safe giving feedback

· Neurodivergent-affirming practitioners change the entire therapeutic experience

· You don't have to make yourself small to protect others from discomfort

SOUND BITES

 

· "It wasn't about the coffee — it was about how big everything felt in my body."

· "The bigger my feelings got, the more justification my brain wanted."

· "This hasn't been my baseline — and that matters."

· "I don't think this is something you ever 'accept,' but you can still create meaning."