In this continuation of the previous episode's exploration, Kedra dives deeper into the body's protective mechanisms when facing daily demands. After experiencing morning fear at 6 AM (covered in the last episode), she now confronts a new puzzle: sudden, overwhelming sleepiness at 7 AM—right when the workday begins.

With ChatGPT as her analytical partner, Kedra unpacks why her nervous system shifts from panic to shutdown, discovering the concept of "protective hypo-arousal at anticipated demand." This isn't about coffee crashes or simple fatigue—it's a sophisticated survival mechanism that's been operating since elementary school.

Through raw, unfiltered reflection, she connects decades of misdiagnoses (chronic fatigue syndrome, encephalopathy) to what's actually happening: a nervous system trying desperately to protect her from the cost of conforming to neurotypical expectations. The episode explores why exhaustion sometimes works better than anxiety at stopping demands, and what "transition design" might look like for AuDHD nervous systems.

Honest, relatable, and deeply personal—this episode is for anyone who's ever felt their body shut down the moment responsibility appears, and wondered if something was fundamentally wrong with them.

Keywords: autism, ADHD, AuDHD, neurodivergent, autistic burnout, nervous system regulation, pathological demand avoidance, PDA, executive dysfunction, masking, late diagnosed autism, chronic fatigue, demand avoidance, neurodivergent podcast, autism in women, undiagnosed autism, sensory overload, autistic adults, ADHD paralysis, task initiation, mental health podcast, neurodiversity, polyvagal theory, freeze response, dissociation, autism awareness