Autistic burnout is more than just feeling tired. It can involve overwhelming exhaustion, difficulty managing everyday tasks and a reduced tolerance to sensory input. But what causes it, and what can help?

In Part 2 of Figuring It Out, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what autistic burnout actually is, how masking, sensory overload and the pressure to meet everyday expectations can contribute, and why recovery isn't always straightforward.

They also answer a listener's dilemma: can you realistically manage a demanding full-time career as an autistic person without burning out?

From workplace adjustments and supportive managers to the challenges of asking for help, Alex and Kathryn discuss what the research tells us about preventing burnout, and why the responsibility shouldn't fall entirely on the individual.

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever come home from a social event feeling completely drained? For many autistic people and people with ADHD, socialising can be exhausting, particularly when masking and sensory overload come into play.

In Part 1 of Figuring It Out, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what ADHD and autistic masking actually look like, why people feel the need to hide certain traits, and the emotional toll of constantly trying to fit in.

They also unpack the science behind sensory overload, why everyday environments can feel overwhelming, and what researchers are still discovering about how autistic people and people with ADHD process sensory information.

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does exercise help chronic pain, or could it make things worse? And what does the science actually say about treating chronic pain?

In Part 3 of Figuring It Out, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates investigate common myths about chronic pain and pain management in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

From exercise and physical activity to pain medication, the nervous system and ageing, they explore what research tells us about chronic pain treatment, why there's no one-size-fits-all solution and why finding the right balance between movement and rest matters.

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can your mind change how much pain you feel? And why does chronic pain sometimes come and go, even when nothing else seems to have changed?

In Part 2 of Figuring It Out, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates answer a listener's dilemma about fluctuating chronic pain and explore the fascinating relationship between the brain, nervous system and our experience of pain.

They unpack the mind-body connection, the cycle of pushing through pain and then crashing, and how our beliefs about our bodies may influence pain management. Plus, what can you do when your symptoms are invisible or difficult to explain to your doctor?

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us think pain is simple: you get hurt, a signal travels to your brain, and it hurts. But what happens when there’s no injury to see, and no one believes you?

In Part 1 of the Figuring It Out podcast, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what pain actually is, how the way experts define it has changed, and why chronic pain can be real even when scans show nothing.

They also ask why some people are believed more than others. From the gender pain gap to the years it can take to get an endometriosis diagnosis, they look at how stereotypes shape whose pain is taken seriously.

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Never give up” sounds like good advice. But is pushing through always helpful, or can being resilient mean knowing when to stop?

In Part 3 of the Figuring It Out podcast, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates put common claims about resilience to the test in Myth, Fact and It’s Complicated.

Are we born resilient, or can we build resilience at any age? Can resilience and emotional distress exist at the same time? And how much does financial security affect our ability to cope? Alex and Kathryn explore the pressure to keep going, the importance of being adaptable and what the research tells us about getting through difficult times.

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone tells you how strong you are. But inside, you feel like you’re barely holding it together. Does that mean you’re not actually resilient?

In Part 2 of the Figuring It Out podcast, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore resilience and coping with stress through a listener’s dilemma: why is there such a gap between how others see them and how they really feel?

Together, they explore what building resilience can look like day to day, from reframing difficult situations and asking for help to finding purpose and making space for rest. What might help when you’re struggling, and does coping have to feel the way we expect it to?

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever looked at someone going through a difficult time and wondered how they’re coping so well? What makes us more resilient, and how much of it comes from things we don’t see?

In Part 1 of the Figuring It Out podcast, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what resilience really means, how researchers study it, and why there’s more to coping with adversity than individual willpower.

From the way our brains and bodies respond to stress to the support we get from other people, they unpack what shapes our capacity to cope. And they ask an uncomfortable question: when we praise someone for being resilient, are we overlooking why they’ve had to be?

No lectures. No easy answers. Just two people trying their best to figure it out.

We're not here to give medical advice, we're just two friends exploring the science and figuring out life together. If you have any concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Each episode arrives in three parts from Monday to Wednesday. Part One tackles the Big Question. Part Two answers a real dilemma sent in by a listener. Part Three puts the most common claims to the test in Myth, Fact and It's Complicated.

Have a question or dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@figuringitoutpod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.