Most of us learned about the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. But did you know that humans have more than five senses? We actually have eight core sensory systems. Interoception is another sense, which is our body’s inner sensory system. It helps us understand what is happening inside our bodies and recognize sensations such as hunger, thirst, temperature, pain, fatigue, a full bladder, and changes in our heart rate. For people with ADHD, interoception c

Have you ever spent hours focusing on one thing while the rest of your surroundings seemed to disappear from your awareness? Think of the times you may have spent hours researching a topic you love, reading about an area of interest, or learning everything you can about a subject that few others seem to care about. These autistic interests have often been described as “special interests” or “restricted interests.” During these moments, you may be so focused on one thing tha

Do you feel as if you have trouble following what is happening when multiple conversations are occurring at once? Have you ever walked into a gathering and felt like it was too much? Maybe the noise was far too loud, or the lights felt way too bright. Perhaps you didn’t feel comfortable in the clothes you were wearing because the room temperature was too warm or too cold. You may have been experiencing sensory overload, where too much sensory input becomes overwhelming. Thi

“I can do it myself.” Have you ever said these words to someone when they asked you if you needed support? Maybe you were feeling completely overwhelmed in that moment, but handling everything on your own is second nature. You refused to ask for help because it feels uncomfortable, unnecessary, or unsafe. For many of us, “I can do it myself” is a reflexive response that occurs due to years of hyper-independence, consistently holding it together, and being the one responsibl

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of the healing process. Working with a therapist who understands neurodivergence and tailors support to your unique experiences, strengths, and goals can make all the difference. At Blue Sky Learning, our neurodiversity-affirming therapists in Ontario, Canada, provide strengths-based, trauma-informed support for teens, adults, couples, families, and parents across Ontario (Canada) through secure virtual therapy.

Finding a coach who understands your neurodivergent experience can make a meaningful difference. At Blue Sky Learning, our virtual ADHD and Autism coaches provide neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based support to anyone, anywhere for individuals navigating ADHD, autism, AuDHD, executive functioning challenges, academic goals, career transitions, relationships, and everyday life. Our coaches bring together professional expertise and lived experience to create supportive spa

Have you ever looked around your home and noticed how one chair has become the permanent dumping ground for your laundry, unopened mail, unfinished projects, and the jacket you keep telling yourself you’ll put away tomorrow? Perhaps your kitchen counter is no longer visible beneath paperwork, water bottles, chargers, and random items that don’t belong in the kitchen. Maybe your desk clutter is so overwhelming that it is now easier to work around the clutter than to deal with

According to a poll from the Canadian Mental Health Association, compared to only 9% of Canadians seeking help in 2020, almost one in four Canadians now pursue professional mental health support. People seek therapy for various reasons, and one of them is feeling disconnected from oneself. You may feel as if you are stuck, overwhelmed with emotions, in a cycle of self-criticism, or struggling to understand why you react to situations in certain ways. You might notice that o

In recent years, the number of people referring to themselves as neurodivergent or discovering that they are autistic, have ADHD, or are neurodivergent later in life has steadily increased. Conversations around different ways of thinking and processing have become more visible. Friends are mentioning they’re autistic. Your coworker is talking about their ADHD more. Books and stories are more likely to include neurodivergent experiences. This has led many people to ask, “Why

If you have ever started typing a message and found yourself stuck and unable to send it, you’re definitely not alone. Many autistic people experience challenges with texting. Maybe you know what you wanted to say, but the other person didn’t quite interpret your words the same way. You may spend hours trying to adjust your tone, add additional context, remove vague words (to add them back again later), and try to ensure that the message is clear and impossible to misinter

“I’m fine.” Have you ever said these words before when someone has asked you how you are feeling, even though you were not doing fine? For many of us, “I’m fine” becomes a reflexive response. It feels easier than trying to explain what is really happening internally. From the outside, someone on the outside might hear "I'm fine" and interpret it literally. But beneath the surface, it often carries a much more complex internal experience. For many neurodivergent people, espec

Life in postsecondary education usually takes some adjustments. Have you ever sat down to study with the intention of getting through some of the material, only to find yourself unsure of where to even begin? Perhaps you get distracted by the bright lights in the room or overwhelmed with the amount of information on the page. You may spend hours thinking about a single topic before you move on to the next. Maybe you’ve read the same paragraph three times or reorganized your