Neurocomplex Health: EDS, MCAS, POTS, and the Path to Wellness (Virtual Talk on 2.19.25)
"Neurocomplex Health: EDS, MCAS, POTS, and the Path to Wellness"
When your wiring goes awry – common health problems associated with neurocomplex wiring, how to identify them, and what to do about them
Neurologic & connective tissue differences are neutral (not inherently bad–nothing needs to be done to “fix” them–just part of your wiring–unless you’re having pain/problems related to this). It is important to understand your neurologic & connective tissue differences so that you can align your life in a way that allows you to feel healthy.
The complex interplay between your individual wiring (nature) and your surroundings (nurture) can lead to complex chronic illness when your wiring is not well-supported or your physical body is pushed beyond its capacity.
You can learn to support your wiring using self-support strategies, and you can receive support from medical and complementary and alternative healthcare providers.
This talk will cover:
- Common complaints that lead neurocomplex people to seek medical care
- Common experiences with medical evaluation (what happens to neurocomplex people when they go to the doctor with dizziness/fatigue/pain)
- Physical/physiologic wiring differences in neurocomplex individuals
- “The trifecta” (EDS, MCAS, & POTS)
- Professional support that can help you feel better
- How to support yourself (global overview)
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About the Speaker
Sarah Dueffert is a doctor of physical therapy and board-certified neurologic clinical specialist. She helps neurocomplex adolescents and adults struggling with dizziness, pain, fatigue, and weakness to reduce their symptoms, improve their health, and get back to enjoying their lives. Diagnosed with POTS as a teen, Sarah understands the frustration of being told “just drink more water, eat more salt, and exercise,” and has dedicated her career to helping people with complex chronic conditions receive the medical support and clarity they deserve to support their own healing.
Education, Licenses, & Certifications:
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, Mayo Clinic
- Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency, Mayo Clinic
- Licensed Physical Therapist, State of Minnesota
- Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
Dr. Dueffert is the owner of Cortex Rehabilitation, LLC in Minnesota, USA
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"Neurocomplex Health: EDS, MCAS, POTS, and the Path to Wellness"
Date: Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
Time: From 6:00pm-7:30pm US Central Time
Virtual Link: Zoom link will be sent out to registrants prior to event
with Dr. Sarah Dueffert, PT, DPT, NCS
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist
Hosted by Lindsey Mackereth, MA, LPCC, LADC
Founder of Method Creative
Choose what you pay!
Registration OPEN until filled!
Virtual Talk: Autism in Highly-Masked Adults (Recorded mp4 Download)
Recorded 90-minute talk (mp4) by Lindsey Mackereth, MA, LPCC, LADC, founder/therapist/coach at Method Creative and the Superwell Collective.
A virtual opportunity to learn about the unique experience of autistic adults using a neurodiversity-affirming approach at your own pace.
For individuals hoping to learn about themselves or someone they care about as well as professionals (therapists, coaches, healthcare providers, wellness providers, executive leadership) who would like to better understand autism from a neurodiversity-affirming framework.
Topics covered:
- Defining Autism from a neuro-affirming framework
- Preferred language
- Camouflaging/masking in Autism
- Presentation nuances within phenotypes of the Autism diagnosis
- Differentiating Autism from other areas of neurodivergence
- Screening tools for Autism, self-identification
- Resources learning more about Autism
Link + access to digital talk will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of purchase.
Talk recorded on 4.10.2024.
30 Chronic Health Conditions Linked to Autism
A resource (PDF) to share with your therapist, coach, partner or medical provider to provide context around your complexity
This detailed model includes the following areas of the Autistic experience:
Aspects of a Complex Nervous System or “Wiring”, including:
- Differences in processing information
- Different cellular response to stress, hormones, invaders, etc.
- Differences in connective tissue density and permeability
- Differences in sleep-related circuits
- Differences in sensory processing
- And more
Mental Health Issues: Secondary to Complexity + Chronic Stress, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression, Burnout, and/or Suicide
- Trauma
- Menstruation and (peri-)Menopausal differences that impact mood
- Sensory Processing differences
- Alexithymia
- Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
- And more
Physical Health Issues: Secondary to Complexity + Chronic Stress
- Neuroinflammation
- Autonomic Dysfunction (Dysautonomia) ex: POTS
- Autoimmune disorders
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Issues
- Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain
- And more
This model also includes how outcomes such as maladaptive coping strategies (ie Masking), internalized ableism, disability, and identity confusion fit into the lived experience of Highly Masked Autism as well as extensive links to research for ongoing self-exploration.
50 Less Commonly Known Traits of Autism in Highly Masked Adults: With Corresponding DSM-5-TR Criteria.
Finally, it’s here! I’ve compiled a 7-page resource that includes the following particulars:
- A comprehensive list of 50 (valid, yet less commonly talked about) traits of Autism presentation in highly masked adults
- How each of these traits correspond directly with the most current diagnostic criteria (DSM-5-TR) used to professionally assess for Autism
Download this resource:
- To prepare for an upcoming Autism assessment
- For self-exploration around Autism
- As a clinician, to increase competence in this presentation in high masking Autistic clients
- To better understand an Autistic family member, friend or employee
- Share with your therapist, coach, partner or medical provider
Download 7-Page Resource Here:
Neurocomplex Lifespan Model: Gifted Kid to Autistic and/or ADHDer Adult (in Burnout)
A resource (PDF) to share with your therapist, coach, partner or medical provider to provide context around your complexity
Neurocomplexity Lifespan Model
I’ve created this very special download that depicts a holistic unfolding model of the lifespan of Neurocomplex individuals, based on anecdotal and research that I’ve gathered throughout my career, including the following areas of subjective experience:
- School/academic functioning
- Workplace functioning
- Social/interpersonal life
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Gender
- Sexuality
- Existential issues
This lifespan model explains common phenomena in Neurocomplex beings in early and middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and beyond.
Burnout, Diagnosis and Post-Burnout
This download also illustrates common contributors to burnout in the Neurocomplex that can often lead to shifts in functioning and/or diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD.
Finally, this model offers methods of recovering from Neurocomplex burnout by honoring these individuals’ inherent drive to embody meaningful and purposeful living while navigating the ongoing unique balance of the needs of a complex body-mind (rest, movement/stillness, input/output, connection/alone time, stillness) to support all aspects of functioning, in addition to the sustainability of a meaningful existence.
Remarkable Overlap in ADHD, Autism, Giftedness & Burnout: 8 Page Resource
A resource (8-page PDF) to share with your therapist, coach, partner or medical provider to provide context around your complexity
Have you ever wondered why it seems like there is so much overlap in descriptions of Autism, ADHD, Giftedness and even burnout? Let’s dig in.
In order to show you a slice of what my brain “sees” when assessing an individual with all of these areas of complexity in mind, I have created an AUTISM, ADHD, GIFTEDNESS, BURNOUT Characteristic Overlap table of items—all known characteristics of ADHD— and:
- Identified which other areas of neurocomplexity (Autism, Giftedness) and/or burnout this item could potentially overlap and
- My reasoning as to why/how this item could be characteristic of Autism, Giftedness and/or burnout.
In other words, any time an individual endorses one of these items in an ADHD assessment, here are all of the expanded differential possibilities I am synthesizing to determine a potential diagnosis/identification/further recommendation.
This resource is a sneak peek of the table I created for you to share with your therapist, coach, partner, family, friends, or medical provider to provide context around your complexity!
Giftedness, Autism, ADHD, Complex PTSD & Burnout: Significant Trait Overlap: 8 Page Resource
A resource (8-page PDF) to share with your therapist, coach, partner or medical provider to provide context around your complexity
What is “Giftedness” and what are the characteristics in adults? How do these characteristics overlap with Autism, ADHD, Complex PTSD and Burnout?!
As a licensed therapist who specializes in the overlap and co-occurrence of complex areas of primary neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD, Giftedness) and secondary factors (CPTSD, Burnout) in adults, I have had a front row (OK, behind closed doors) view of how these terms overlap in characteristics and/or co-occur in one individual.
I’ve recognized that ~90% of the adults I assess for Autism, ADHD and/or Giftedness have experienced at least one (usually more) episode of neurodivergent burnout, commonly linked to masking their differences at work, home or in other environments. Additionally, ~70% of the adults I assess show signs of Complex PTSD. That’s a lot of overlap.
This time, I have created a (monster of a) table that expands on published characteristics of GIFTEDNESS in adults and I:
- Identify whether each characteristic of Giftedness overlaps with characteristics of Autism, ADHD, Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and/or Burnout and
- My reasoning as to why/how this item could be a characteristic of Autism, Autism, CPTSD and/or burnout.
In other words, any time an individual endorses one of these items in a session or Gifted profiling assessment, this table depicts many of the expanded differential possibilities I am synthesizing to determine a potential diagnosis/identification/further recommendation.
Enjoy!
10-Day Digital Reset Guide
Feeling over-screened? Indulge in a creative-minded 10-day digital detox + intentional digital reintroduction! This downloadable offering was designed to help neurocomplex creatives (like you!) increase mindfulness around digital use + to intentionally reset your personal digital strategy to better align with your creative process + values.
Here is what you can expect:
•Days 1-5: Guided intermittent digital fasting, digital mindset exploration questions + creative prompts.
•Days 6-10: Intentional reintroduction of social media, values aligned reintroduction process + goal setting.
14-page PDF!!
(Purchase download below!)
Can’t wait to detox with you!
3-Page PDF: 8 Strategies to Address Skill Regression
Identify + Address Skill Regression now as a late(r) in life identified Autistic, ADHDer or AuDHD Adult!
Includes 8 Strategies for Addressing Skill Regression. Bring to therapy/coaching or use in your own self-exploration!
Sensory Preferences Deep Dive: Fillable Inventory
8-Page PDF Download
Excellent tool to use to identify workplace accommodation requests! Also, great to use with your partner or roommate to understand each others’ sensory preferences and needs.
This list invites you to rate and explore your preferences in sensory areas that include:
- Visual environment
- Lighting
- Sounds
- Scents
- Temperature/Air Flow
- Body posture
- Touch/Proprioception
- Clothing
- + More!
3-Page Tool: Social Strategy in Neurocomplexity
3-Page PDF Download
So, you realize you are (or suspect you may be) neurocomplex—Autistic, ADHDer, and/or gifted—and are coming to grips with the fact that your social life needs some love.
- It’s too draining yet not deep enough
- You’re lonely yet over stimulated in your social situations
- You like people but can’t figure out how to have the friends you need
- All of the templates for communication and social skills are not quite created for our wiring
What do you do? Self leadership! Ok, but HOW?
- Stop trying to learn about our social and communication needs and preferences solely from traditional social and communication templates.
- Actually learn about your unique social needs and preferences as they ARE, not as you’ve been taught they should be!
This tool (!) is a great starting point to explore your social preferences as they pertain to the various social networks in your life! Download this 3-page resource here to begin this new path towards a more aligned social life!
Masking + Social Preferences Exploration + Checklist: 6-Page PDF
Have you been finding yourself wondering: I realize I socially mask (my traits of Autism, ADHD, Giftedness, etc.), but NOW WHAT?!
Then, this 6-page resource is for you. This checklist and experiential guide was created to help you to deepen your awareness around masking and take next steps for integrating this new information.
This resource references multiple screening tools, assessment questions, and anecdotal data on common social traits of neurodivergence as well as common signs of masking.
BONUS! Application questions for you to do a deeper dive on your own, with yourself (auto therapy), your therapist, coach, partner, or friend.
Also an excellent tool to bring to your upcoming autism or ADHD assessment!
