If you’re a highly sensitive, ADHD, or autistic woman who was diagnosed later in life, you might have spent years wondering why self-regulation feels so hard. Maybe you get overwhelmed easily, struggle to manage emotions, or feel like your energy levels swing unpredictably. The truth is, traditional self-regulation advice wasn’t designed for neurodivergent brains. This blog breaks down why self-regulation is uniquely challenging for you—and gives you practical, brain-friendly strategies to help you manage emotions, energy, and sensory overwhelm in a way that actually works.

Coping Ahead is a phrase I learned many years ago in my own therapy. It helped me through tough visits back home with family while I was undergoing my own healing. But coping ahead can be used for far more than just visits with family. At it's core, coping ahead is really about preparing yourself for any situation so that you may go into it with enough efficacy, resources, and capabilities to handle whatever happens.