When to Seek Help - Navigating Professional Support
Remember the grandfather in The Princess Bride? He wasn’t the hero. He didn’t slay giants or storm castles. But he showed up when the kid was sick, sat by his side, and read him a story that reminded him the world wasn’t ending.
Sometimes, we don’t need someone to fix everything—we just need someone to stay.
And when it comes to neurodivergent burnout, that’s what professional support can look like. Not a magic cure. Not someone swooping in to save you. But a calm, experienced voice saying:
“This is hard. But the story isn’t over.”
Not All Burnout Can Be DIY’d….said the DIY queen
For real, neurodivergent folks are used to figuring it out ourselves. We Google. We mask. We grit our teeth through crash after crash because we’ve learned that support is rarely designed for us.
But the truth is: You’re allowed to ask for help even if you're not in crisis.
You don’t have to wait until you're completely wrecked to deserve support. In fact, the earlier you seek help, the more power you keep.
How Do You Know It’s Time? (How I knew anyway)
Here are some signs that it might be time to bring in support:
Burnout is interfering with work, relationships, or basic self-care.
You’re stuck in survival mode for more than a few weeks.
You keep trying new strategies… but nothing sticks.
You’re starting to feel hopeless or disconnected from things you used to care about.
This doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means your nervous system needs backup.
What Kind of Support?
There’s no one thing that’s going to work for everyone. But here are some options that work with neurodivergent needs, not against them:
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy (especially trauma-informed care) - I know, licensed professional care can be difficult to find and expensive, but it is an excellent option
Coaching that focuses on executive function, burnout recovery, and real-life support
Peer-led groups or online communities where you don’t have to explain your brain
Occupational therapy for sensory needs and daily functioning
And sometimes? It’s a combo. A therapist and a coach. A group and a friend. You’re allowed to stack your support systems.
What I Do as a Coach
I’m not here to tell you how to be neurotypical because I have less than zero idea how to do that. But seriously, do we really WANT to be neurotypical? I think not.
I’m here to help you build a life that works with your nervous system, not against it.
In my 1:1 burnout recovery coaching, we:
Identify what’s actually draining your energy (it’s not always what you think)
Build sustainable systems that support your sensory, emotional, and cognitive needs
Practice pacing, boundaries, and recovery—without shame
Get you out of survival mode and into something that feels like life
Whether you’re on your 4th burnout or just starting to notice the signs, coaching can be the bridge between knowing what you need… and actually doing it.
Not Sure If Coaching Is Right for You?
I get it. You’ve probably tried things before that didn’t help—or made things worse.
That’s why I offer a free intro call where we can talk about:
What’s going on
What kind of support you’re looking for
Whether coaching is a good fit (and if it’s not, I’ll tell you!)
No pressure. No performance. Just real talk.
The Story Isn’t Over
If you’re feeling “mostly dead” inside, I want you to know:
You’re not damaged goods, and you’re not alone. You’re probably burnt out. And support exists that doesn’t ask you to mask your way through it.
Be the kid in the bed. Let someone read you the dang story.
And if that someone needs to be me for a while, I’d be honored to help.
Let’s rebuild something sustainable.
Book a free intro call and take the first step toward a burnout-resistant life. You don’t have to go it alone anymore.
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About the Author
Gal is an autistic artist, late-diagnosed at 49, and the creator of AuRTistic Expressions—a space where neurodivergent truth meets creative survival. Through blog posts, printables, courses, and the “This Might Get Messy” podcast, Gal explores what it means to unmask safely, communicate authentically, and make art that doesn’t ask for permission. Stick around—there’s plenty more where this came from.
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