Avoiding 'Should' and Reducing Shame

Did you turn into a brand new person on the stroke of midnight NYE? US NEITHER! In fact, we're not subscribing to any of that ‘new year, new me’ BS! We can't wish our ADHD away, plus we’re not broken versions of ourselves needing to be fixed! We’re the same people, and we’re facing the coldest and darkest months of year! We meed compassion, not pressure and we need each other!

ADHDAF+ Charity ⁠ Oxford ADHD Peer Support Group Facilitators Kirsty and Claire, and myself about Seasonal Affective Disorder and navigating the start of 2026; whilst the post Christmas comedown and our Instagram algorithm's are serving shame in heavy doses.

The title is the topic of Jamuary's eight f⁠ree ADHD Peer Support Groups⁠ in Scotland and England; shared in a similar format of the groups to give a feel of what sessions are like and to help educate, validate and shame eradicate.

ADHDAF+ Charity was inspired by and is informed by the work of ADHDAF Podcast. We hope you can make your local group, and if there isn't one near you yet; that this episode helps you best support yourself at this challenging time of year. Please be kind to yourself.

MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING: Contains swearing, loud laughter, gallows humour(!) and mentions of very sensitive topics including; eating disorders, weight-loss medication (NO JUDGEMENT) parent loss, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship and work struggles, mental health struggles, suicide, addiction, self harm, alcohol, school struggles, bullying, and medical negligence.

If you are struggling, lo siento. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Please REACH OUT FOR HELP HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

ENORMOUS THANKS to the ABSOLUTELY LEGENDARY Claire & Kirsty!

- Read the new ADHDAF+ Charity Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Register Interest in ADHDAF+ Charity's FREE Peer Support Groups to get email reminders ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Apply to Volunteer to start your own local ADHDAF+ Support Group, Volunteer your time or become an Ambassador ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- You can Shop Neurodivergent and help fundraise for the Charity ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠

- You can get involved in The Big ADHD Fundraiser 2026 HERE

If you would like to join the Patreon Community of ADHDAF Podcast listeners to lean on and learn from literally like-minded legends in an online space that has been going strong for THREE WHOLE YEARS of invaluable Peer support, you can do so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow all things ADHDAF on Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adhdafpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adhdafplus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adhdafemporium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lauraisadhdaf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you SO MUCH for listening! We'd love you to leave a comment/review/hit those stars so that others can be signposted to support and know that they're not alone.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

THANK YOU so much for all of your support

BIG LOVE

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Laura⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ x