Turning Point: ADHD as Explanation Not Excuse

In this week’s episode of The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, we're unpacking the emotional and relational challenges many ADHD women face, especially when it comes to productivity, partnership dynamics, and understanding how ADHD shapes our daily lives.

I'm joined by Ari Tuckman, a leading psychologist, sex therapist, ADHD specialist and author of The ADHD Productivity Manual. Ari takes a realistic, compassionate approach to managing ADHD by helping individuals and couples find what truly works for them, rather than quick-fix, unhelpful ADHD hacks.

We discuss how recognising and understanding ADHD can transform both productivity and personal connection, from romantic relationships to how we respect ourselves. Ari shares powerful tools from his latest book, The ADHD Productivity Manual, and offers practical guidance for living with more clarity, communication, and compassion.

My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is now available, grab your copy here!

Key Takeaways:

• How couples can navigate ADHD together and build stronger, more understanding relationships.
• The turning point in a relationship when ADHD becomes a lens for explanation, not blame.
• The impact of a non-ADHD partner empowering their partner, while the ADHD partner takes active responsibility.
• The truth about "productivity hacks": why they often fall short, and what really helps in daily life.
• Exploring the ADHD-autism crossover and what it means to be AuDHD.
• What to do when your partner isn’t interested or supportive of your diagnosis.
• Why having an ADHD-affirming therapist can be transformative for both individuals and couples.
• The role of compassion, empathy, and humour in navigating ADHD.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one with ADHD, or simply curious about how to better support your ADHD day-to-day life, this episode offers validation, clarity, and actionable advice.

Timestamps:

• 05:27 - Understanding ADHD's Impact on Relationships
• 08:14 - ADHD as an Explanation vs an Excuse
• 11:53 - Shared Productivity in Couples
• 17:48 - Tools for Creating a Calmer Life
• 21:24 - Understand What ADHD Means to You
• 27:00 - Advice for Disengaged Partners During ADHD Diagnosis
• 30:03 - The Benefits of Working with a Neuroaffirming Therapist
• 33:19 - The Intention Behind Ari's New Book

Join the More Yourself Community - the doors are now open!

More Yourself is a compassionate space for late-diagnosed ADHD women to connect, reflect, and come home to who they really are. Sign up here!

Inside the More Yourself Membership, you’ll be able to:

• Connect with like-minded women who understand you
• Learn from guest experts and practical tools
• Receive compassionate prompts & gentle reminders
• Enjoy voice-note encouragement from Kate
• Join flexible meet-ups and mentoring sessions
• Access on-demand workshops and quarterly guest expert sessions

To join for £26 a month, click here. To join for £286 for a year (a whole month free!), click here.

We’ll also be walking through The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Toolkit together, exploring nervous system regulation, burnout recovery, RSD, joy, hormones, and self-trust, so the book comes alive in a supportive community setting.

Links and Resources:

• Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod
• Connect with Ari on Instagram @arituckmanpsyd

Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.