ChatGPT as a Thinking Partner for ADHD / Autistic Brains

Genie Love • May 21, 2025

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I've had this conversation a few times recently, so I thought I’d share it here with you too. 


Do you ever just talk to ChatGPT about what’s going on in your brain? 


For me, it’s kind of like journaling (which I do in the mornings), but with feedback. 


I often have way too many ideas spinning around in my head, and I struggle to prioritize or figure out where to start. It all just feels so big. So, I’ve created a little ChatGPT “notebook” just for brain dumping. 


First, I just brain dump. Then I ask it to: 


  • Pull out the big ideas 
  • Help me prioritize 
  • Suggest first steps 
  • Create a timeline (if that’s what I need) 


I’ve been doing this for a while now, so it “knows” me and what matters to me. It can pull from previous conversations to help guide me forward. 


What about your oppositional defiant brain? 


You know...the part of you that immediately says no to anything someone suggests? 

Try bringing that to ChatGPT. Let it generate ideas without triggering the emotional response that sometimes comes when another person gives you feedback. No judgment. Just ideas. 


What about supporting emotional regulation? 


Sometimes it helps just to make a list of your stressors and get them out of your head, so you can see them. Because when they stay inside, your brain thinks it has to solve all of them right now. 


But once they’re on paper (or screen), you can start to: 


  • Notice which stressors are smaller than you thought 
  • Realize which ones you’ve already handled 
  • Identify what can wait 
  • Decide what to tackle today 


You can even check in with ChatGPT regularly to update your list, letting go of the things that have been resolved and adding new ones as they arise. 


These are just a few ways I’ve used this tool. 



Give me some other ideas! What have you tried that has worked? 


Ready to LEARN MORE?


Set your yourself up for success.

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Sometimes My Brain Feels Like a Snow Globe

By Genie Love • August 27, 2025
My daughter used to say, "I just want to go home" when she was completely overwhelmed and felt out of control (even though she was home and safe). It's like inside her head felt too hard to be in, and she wanted to escape somewhere calm. Too much noise. Too loud. Too busy. Chaotic. These are words my clients use to describe what's happening in their brain when it's all just too much. Too overwhelming. To me, when it all feels out of control and I finally notice it and stop, it feels like a snow globe settling. The swirling slows down, the chaos quiets, and I can think again. The key is finally noticing that this is going on inside your brain. And, it's really hard to do. When Your Brain Feels Like a Snow Globe You're using too many words when talking. Going in circles, over-explaining, can't get to your point. If you notice you're spiraling when you talk, that's good. That's the first step. Too many things going on. Everything feels urgent and overwhelming. You're stuck or frozen but also frantic. Just notice that it's happening. Too many ideas. You're bouncing from one to another and can't seem to stick to any and see it through. Good, just start by noticing it. Spiraling negative self-talk. "Everyone else has it figured out. This is all about to fall apart." Just try to notice it when it's happening. Here's What You Can Do Just notice that it's happening. That's it. Try one of these (whatever feels doable right now): Turn your phone off. Turn your monitor off. Do nothing for a couple of minutes. Go for a short walk, even if it's just to the end of your driveway or hallway. Stare out the window. Just look. Circular breathing (breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, like you're blowing out birthday candles). Rub your fingertips together and pay attention to all the sensations you feel. Breathe deeply into your belly. Take a sip of your drink and really notice the temperature, the taste, how it feels going down. Be Gentle With Yourself It's very hard to catch the chaotic brain when it's happening. Even if you only realize hours later..."Oh, that's what was happening this morning when I couldn't think straight"...that's still good. That's still building your awareness and noticing skills. You don't have to be perfect at this. Just start by noticing. The snow globe will settle when you give it time. Tell me, what does your busy brain feel like? P.S. A short Instagram video in the comments of Dr. Andrew Huberman demonstrating a breathing technique that's new to me. I'll be giving it a try.  Want to learn more about my work? Website: https://neuroautonomy.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt_ciMlkbqElTXqRZLLWWGg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genielove_coaching/

Energy Isn’t Always Consistent. And That’s Okay

By Genie Love • August 22, 2025
For some reason today, I’m thinking about Olympic runners. The sprinters, the marathoners, and the ones who specialize in that middle distance where you have to balance sprinting with maintaining a steady pace. Each event asks something different from the athletes. And the athletes are built differently. Their bodies are designed to do very specific things, at very specific intensities, for specific durations. The same is true in a lot of sports. I love the Tour de France, and even though everyone rides the same distance, each rider has a specialty. Climbers, sprinters, those who lead the pack...all with very different strengths and different builds. I think brains work this way too. Yet...We Expect Every Brain to Run the Same Race...The Same Way In work and life, we tend to expect everyone to maintain the same pace, hour after hour, day after day. Steady output. Consistent energy. Linear productivity. For neurodivergent people, this expectation can feel brutal. Some brains go all-in at 150% effort in hyperfocus mode for a distance, but need real recovery afterward. Some days they’re at 50% and beat themselves up because they can't maintain a steady speed like everyone else. A Tool for Checking In I once heard Brene Brown describe a system she uses with her husband to check in at the end of the day. They ask each other: How much emotional energy do you have left to give tonight? One might say, “I’ve got 40%.” The other might respond, “Okay, I can cover the other 60%.” Sometimes they both come in low, and they agree to lower the bar and make adjustments to the evening. What if we used this strategy more often, especially if you’re neurodivergent and experience emotional or sensory overwhelm? What If You Tried This? Start by checking in with yourself: How much energy do I realistically have? Can I communicate that to my partner, family, my team? Or, at the very least, communicate that to yourself so you are aware. If you’re at 20%, it’s okay to say so. If you’re at 80%, step up and give more. If you're at 150%, go all in. This isn’t about fairness, it’s about honesty. And it might help you respond with more compassion (for yourself and others) instead of snapping or shutting down. You’re not a machine. Your brain may not built for a steady pace all the time. Check in with your energy. Communicate if that's what's needed. Definitely give yourself permission to work differently. And adjust accordingly. Want to learn more about my work? Website: https://neuroautonomy.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt_ciMlkbqElTXqRZLLWWGg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genielove_coaching/
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