ADHD Her Way 50. Grief and Neurodivergence: From Infertility & Identity Loss to Losing a Parent with Katrina Shaw
In this episode, Johanna and Katrina delve into the intersection of grief and ADHD + Autism, exploring how neurodivergence can impact the grieving process. Katrina shares her personal journey with loss, including the death of her mother at a young age and her experiences with infertility and miscarriage. They discuss the importance of finding healthy ways to grieve, the duality of emotions, their thoughts on the stages of grief, and the significance of connection and support in navigating grief. Katrina emphasises that grief is not a linear process and can coexist with joy, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding in both personal and shared experiences of loss.
📍 Where to Find Us
🎙 Host: Johanna Badenhorst – ADHD Coach & Podcast Host🌐 Website: www.adhdherway.com
🛒 ADHD tools + guides: Shop Resources
📧 Contact: hello@adhdherway.com
📱 Instagram: @adhdwithjohannab
👩🍼 Guest: Katrina Shaw
🌐 Website: www.grief-talks.com.au📱 Instagram: @grief-talks
🧠 Helpful Links & Support Services
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. These supports can help:
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): panda.org.au | Helpline: 1300 726 306
COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence): cope.org.au
Lifeline Australia (24/7 crisis support): lifeline.org.au | 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: beyondblue.org.au | 1300 22 4636
- Griefline — offers free, confidential support — call 1300 845 745, 8am to 8pm (AEST), 7 days a week.
- Pink Elephants Support Network: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/
Takeaways
- Grief is a universal experience that can be empowering.
- Neurodiversity affects how individuals process grief.
- Support and connection are crucial during times of loss.
- Grief can coexist with joy and happiness.
- There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
- Anticipatory grief can be just as intense as the actual loss.
- Finding healthy coping mechanisms is essential.
- The dual process model of grief allows for reflection and distraction.
- It's important to honor your own grieving process.
- Grief can teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and our relationships.
Sound Bites
00:00- Exploring Grief and ADHD
02:27Katrina's Journey Through Loss
05:06Navigating Grief as a Neurodivergent
07:42The Impact of ADHD on Grief Processing
10:26Finding Support and Community
13:11The Intersection of Infertility and ADHD
15:55Understanding Loss of Time and Self-Compassion
18:04Rejection Sensitivity and Grief20:08Sensory Overwhelm in Grieving Process
21:23Rebuilding Relationships After Loss
23:09Understanding Neurodiversity in Family Contexts
24:17The Complexity of Grief and Individual Experiences
24:53Challenging Traditional Grief Theories
26:12The Dual Process Model of Grief
28:20Navigating Joy and Sadness in Parenthood
29:56Grieving Expectations of Parenthood
32:07Overstimulation and Parenting Challenges
35:11Navigating Pregnancy After Loss
36:02The Complexity of Grief and Anticipatory Grief
37:09Finding Glimmers in Grief
38:37Creating Connections in Grief
39:38Personalizing the Grief Experience
41:57Supporting Grievers: Practical Tips
43:51The Evolving Nature of Grief
44:37Healing and Living with Grief
47:36Embracing the Duality of Grief
49:44Outro ADHD Her Way podcast .mp3