I Have ADHD Podcast 359 BITESIZE | ADHD, Chronic Pain, and the Cost of Pushing Through
Dec 11, 2025
This bite-sized conversation dives into the struggles of feeling unseen and disbelieved in the context of ADHD. A physician shares her journey through persistent pain and the medical culture that glorifies pushing through. She discusses the transformative power of therapy and breathwork that led her to choose medical leave. Insights on neuroplasticity reveal how our brains can reshape chronic pain responses. The episode also touches on the importance of setting boundaries and the emotional toll of self-abandonment in healthcare.
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Masking Pain Until Collapse
- The physician described masking intense pain at work until it became impossible to ignore, which led to emotional breakdowns and eventual leave.
- She spent hundreds weekly trying to function and realized continuing was unsustainable so she sought medical leave and accommodations.
Breathwork Triggered Brave Action
- She reached a tipping point during breathwork where she thanked her pain for forcing action and then started therapy and coaching.
- That led her to prioritize nervous-system healing and step away from unsustainable work demands.
Pain As A Neuroplastic State
- Chronic pain rewired the nervous system into a constant sympathetic fight-or-flight state, making pain feel continuous.
- Addressing neuroplasticity helped the physician understand pain is real yet modifiable with nervous-system work.
