Understanding PDA, Sensory Sensitivities and Masking-Dr. Grace Malonai

During this epsisode with Dr. Grace Malonai we talk about PDA, sensory sensitivities and sex, hygiene issues, and masking and unmasking. In addition, we address the following topics: Understanding PDA by looking at trauma and the trauma response to take care of ourselves. May have developed a protective mechanism and a way to manage it. Avoiding things that will elicit a similar response or experience. Impact of challenges that happen during different developmental windows. Noticing the change in your behaviors and then breaking things down into small little steps. Bring your adult self back to a childhood memory using “parts” work. Hygiene issues and struggles you or your partner may have. Addressing possible sensory issues. Ways to develop work arounds. Sensory sensitivities and sex. Communicate about your sensory sensitivities and practice what feels good and understand what doesn’t feel good. LGBTQI+ and neurodivergence. Interest in kink and the benefits of having more rules and implicit trust. Neurodivergent folks may have to go through lots of self exploration. Masking and Unmasking-understanding when you developed the masks. Trauma masks may be the ones that many people want to release. Some masks may be helpful to be able to function in certain circumstances. Do you know when you started to feel overwhelmed having to mask? Which masks hurt and take so much energy? Using masks to protect yourself. Get to know your mask as another part of you. What kind of stims are going to help you after you mask all day? Understanding each others values and discussing which values are supportive of each other and which are in conflict?l Falling in love with someone’s mask and then determining if you can love the person under the mask? Every person deserves to love and value who they are! It’s okay to slow down and get to know who you are. Take time to heal! You can contact Dr. Grace through her website: www.therathrive.com or by calling her practice at: 1-888-777-2915 To learn more about the support groups and other resources that Mona has available check out her website: www.neurodiverselove.com