EP. 285: Laura Key: How Successful Women with ADHD Mask Their Struggles
Jun 19, 2024
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Laura Key, host of the ADHD AHA podcast, shares her journey of discovering her ADHD, reflecting on childhood struggles with focus and perfectionism. She discusses unique challenges women face with ADHD, societal expectations, self-worth battles, and finding balance in life. Laura's mission is to create a supportive community for individuals with ADHD, offering personal stories and practical advice for embracing ADHD and mental health awareness.
Embracing ADHD strengths and passions is crucial for individuals' alignment with personal values.
Recognizing successful individuals with ADHD can shift the narrative to focus on accomplishments.
Seeking help, laughter, and community support are essential tools in combating perfectionism and stress for ADHD individuals.
Deep dives
Tracy announces the final run of the AOK program
Tracy announces the final run of the six-week program 'Your ADHD Brain is A-OK,' signaling a shift to a six-month hybrid program. The new program offers additional benefits such as Voxer coaching sessions, accountability pods, and audio training. Participants of the last six-week cohort can access discounts and test new program features.
Focusing on the celebration of unique ADHD traits
Tracy highlights the aim of the program to celebrate and guide individuals to discover their hidden strengths and passions. The focus is not solely on coping with ADHD but aligning life with personal values and falling in love with one's ADHD brain. The significance lies in embracing individual traits amidst feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty.
Lack of recognition for successful individuals with ADHD
Tracy discusses the underrepresentation of successful individuals with ADHD, like Justin Timberlake and Simone Biles. She questions the focus on challenges rather than achievements, highlighting the positive mental health statistics of 43% of individuals with ADHD. The podcast aims to shift the narrative towards acknowledging accomplishments and spotlighting diverse role models.
Laura Key's journey towards ADHD diagnosis
Laura Key, a host in the ADHD Aha! podcast, shares her journey of diagnosis in her early 30s. From struggles with focus and anxiety, her diagnosis brought clarity about her lifelong challenges. Reflecting on journals from her youth revealed long-standing issues with focus, leading to a pivotal realization about the impact of ADHD on her life.
Embracing humor and asking for help with ADHD
Laura emphasizes the value of making people laugh as a way to combat perfectionism and stress. She highlights the importance of seeking help and support, challenging traditional notions of self-reliance. Through vulnerability and humor, she navigates challenges and fosters a sense of community for individuals with ADHD.
Struggling with perfectionism? Feeling like there's always more to achieve? You're not alone!
Join us as Laura Key, host of the ADHD AHA podcast, shares her journey from an anxiety disorder diagnosis to discovering her ADHD. She talks about the moments that led to her diagnosis, including a discovery in her childhood journals. Laura reflects on her sensitive and perfectionist childhood, revealing how she turned struggles with focus and burnout into strengths. This episode highlights the inspiring experiences of women with ADHD and the importance of embracing mental health awareness.
Laura discusses the unique challenges women face with ADHD, from societal expectations to internal battles with self-worth. She shares personal stories and practical advice on embracing ADHD and finding balance in life.
Laura Key is a longtime editor and the host of the "ADHD Aha!" podcast, where she shares interviews about the surprising and emotional ways ADHD symptoms appear. She also leads content strategy at Understood.org, an organization dedicated to supporting people with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia. Laura’s mission is to create a supportive community where individuals can share their stories, find resources, and feel less alone in their journey.