ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

EP. 350: Mental Mindfields: RSD, Overthinking, and the Trap of Feeling Judged

Sep 17, 2025

Dive into the challenges of ADHD, focusing on rejection-sensitive dysphoria and perfectionism. A personal struggle reveals how these issues can undermine confidence. Tracy introduces a clever 'table legs' analogy, illustrating how interconnected pitfalls support a shaky foundation of self-doubt. Gain insight into the power of presence in relationships and the value of genuine connection. Learn to embrace your strengths by turning perceived weaknesses into assets, with practical strategies for breaking free from negative thought cycles.

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ANECDOTE

Impromptu Recording Failure

Tracy Otsuka froze when asked to deliver an impromptu training despite extensive experience and preparation.
She realized her brain needs a runway and over-preparation to perform well under pressure.

ANECDOTE

Praise For Scripted Trainings

Producers praised Tracy's scripted trainings and asked for another because she delivered prepared content well.
Their praise contrasted sharply with her struggle to perform impromptu, highlighting how context changes outcomes.

INSIGHT

Table Legs Analogy For ADHD Patterns

Tracy compares ADHD pitfalls to legs of a table that support self-doubt and shame.
Removing even a few legs collapses the negative cycle and creates space for change.

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Sometimes, the most humbling moments teach us the most about ourselves. Tracy recently found herself in Santa Barbara, recording courses for major companies like LinkedIn Learning and Google. After three flawless, scripted trainings, she was asked to do an impromptu training on ten ADHD tips. Despite having written a book and recorded 350 podcast episodes, Tracy couldn't do it. Her brain needs a runway to get off the ground, and being forced to wing it made her brain refuse to cooperate.

That experience forced her to confront every ADHD pitfall she coaches other women through. In this solo episode, Tracy introduces her "table legs" analogy for understanding how ADHD challenges are interconnected. RSD, feeling judged, overthinking, perfectionism, and their cousins all act like legs holding up a table built on self-doubt and shame.

Here's what Tracy discovered: you don't have to fix everything at once. Kick out just a few of those legs, and the whole table collapses. Tracy walks through each "mental mindfield," shows how they're connected, and offers practical strategies for interrupting these cycles.

This episode is for anyone trapped in the endless loop of ADHD perfectionism and self-doubt. Tracy's vulnerable story and actionable framework prove that these patterns don't disappear with success—but they can be dismantled.

Resources:
Website: https://tracyotsuka.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyotsuka
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tracyotsuka4796
Free Training: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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