EP. 244: Perfectionism, Confidence and ADHD with Dr. Fiona Peters
Sep 6, 2023
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Dr. Fiona Peters, an expert in perfectionism and anxiety, joins Tracy Otsuka to discuss the connection between perfectionism, confidence, and ADHD in women. They explore the impact of societal expectations, share tips for navigating the workplace with ADHD, and emphasize the importance of open dialogue and understanding in creating a neurodiverse culture.
Self-acceptance is crucial for living successfully with ADHD, allowing individuals to focus on their own needs and abilities.
Perfectionism, anxiety, and ADHD in women can hinder personal and professional growth, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance and managing these tendencies.
Creating a supportive workplace environment for ADHD individuals involves understanding their unique needs, providing flexibility, and fostering inclusivity.
Deep dives
The importance of self-acceptance in living successfully with ADHD
Self-acceptance is key to living successfully with ADHD. It allows individuals to embrace their unique strengths and weaknesses, fostering a sense of confidence and self-worth. By accepting oneself, individuals can move away from seeking external validation and instead focus on their own needs, desires, and abilities. This self-acceptance leads to a greater understanding of how ADHD affects them and allows for more effective strategies and workarounds to be implemented. It also helps individuals prioritize their energy and focus on what truly aligns with their passions and goals.
The impact of perfectionism, anxiety, and ADHD in women
The combination of perfectionism, anxiety, and ADHD in women can be particularly challenging. The constant strive for perfection and the fear of failure can lead to dissatisfaction, anxiety, and a sense of never being good enough. This toxic cocktail can prevent individuals from fully embracing their true selves and can hinder their personal and professional growth. Recognizing the negative impact of perfectionism and anxiety and working towards self-acceptance and strategies to manage these tendencies is crucial for living successfully with ADHD.
The value of neurodiversity in the workplace
Neurodiverse individuals, including those with ADHD, bring unique strengths and perspectives to the workplace. Their creativity, entrepreneurial drive, and ability to think outside the box can lead to innovative solutions and strategies. However, it is important for organizations to be educated about neurodiversity and create environments that support and accommodate the needs of neurodiverse employees. This includes understanding and valuing different work styles, providing flexibility, and fostering inclusivity. By embracing neurodiversity, organizations can unlock the full potential of their workforce and drive success.
The importance of delegation for ADHD individuals
Delegation is a key workaround for ADHD individuals, allowing them to focus on their strengths and passions while offloading tasks that drain their energy or are less suited to their skillset. Delegating responsibilities can help individuals maximize their productivity and alleviate the feelings of overwhelm and stress often associated with ADHD. By recognizing the value of delegation and seeking support from others, ADHD individuals can create more balance, reduce burnout, and thrive in both their personal and professional lives.
Creating a supportive workplace environment for ADHD individuals
Creating a supportive workplace environment for ADHD individuals involves understanding and accommodating their unique needs. This includes flexible work arrangements, providing clear and structured communication, and fostering an inclusive and non-judgmental culture. Employers can also encourage open dialogue and provide resources and support for ADHD individuals to thrive. By valuing and embracing neurodiversity, organizations can create a more inclusive and productive work environment for all employees.
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Perfectionism causes so many of us ADHD women to get in our own way and stops us from reaching our full creative potential for fear of criticism. My guest this episode, Dr. Fiona Peters knows firsthand just how disabling the anxiety-perfectionism spiral can be, which is why she's so passionate about helping others escape it.
Dr. Peters is a speaker and trainer for schools and is currently touring with her talk entitled "Perfectionism and Anxiety," with which she helps parents, educators, and ADHDers recognize the true cost of this obsession with perfection. "We really rob the world of the genius that we are because we are so worried about external validation and the fear of criticism that actually we don't start things."
Join our conversation to hear the brilliant Dr. Fiona Peters share her incredible ADHD journey from struggling student to PhD program, why it's so important to be a last 5% finisher, her tips for navigating the workplace when you have ADHD, and ways to start moving away from the need for external validation and toward a more balanced life that allows you to experiment, to make mistakes, and to find validation from within. ______________
