Medication for ADHD can help improve emotional regulation and focus.
Differentiating between ADHD symptoms and anxiety is crucial for understanding their impact.
Sharing personal stories can provide support and change attitudes towards ADHD.
Deep dives
Laura's ADHD Diagnosis Journey
Laura Key shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30, two years after being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. She discusses how her therapist and psychiatrist recognized the ADHD symptoms and prompted her to pursue an evaluation. Laura describes how she initially resisted medication but eventually found that it helped her gain insight into her emotions and improve her focus and emotional regulation.
The Impact of ADHD Medication on Laura's Life
After starting medication for ADHD, Laura describes how it made her feel regulated and aware of her emotions. She clarifies that the medication did not make her feel happy or high, but rather provided her with the ability to better control her emotions and focus on tasks. Laura emphasizes the significant positive impact medication had on her emotional regulation and ability to pause and think before reacting impulsively.
The Intersection of ADHD and Anxiety
Laura discusses the complex relationship between ADHD and anxiety in her own experience. She shares how her ADHD symptoms and difficulties with focus and emotional regulation were often intertwined with her anxiety. Laura explains that it was sometimes challenging to differentiate between the two and understand how each condition affected her. She highlights the importance of awareness and learning to identify when ADHD symptoms or anxiety are influencing her emotions and behaviors.
The Power of Personal Stories in ADHD Support
Laura delves into the impact of personal stories in helping individuals with ADHD feel understood and connected. She highlights how sharing stories and experiences through her podcast, ADHD Aha, allows listeners to resonate with others who have similar symptoms or challenges. Laura emphasizes that personal stories help change attitudes and provide support by allowing people to see themselves in others and gain new perspectives on their own ADHD journeys.
Laura's Reflections on Being a Parent with ADHD
Laura opens up about how her ADHD affects her parenting experience. She discusses how she sometimes becomes hyper-focused on organization and planning, causing her to lose the present moment with her child. Laura shares her struggle to find a balance between being organized and being fully present and highlights the importance of managing her ADHD symptoms to be a more engaged and mindful parent.
In this episode, Laura Key from joins the show! Laura is a mom of two kids, a long-time editor and content-creator, hosts the , and is the editorial director at Understood.org! Understood.org is a resource for people with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia, where Laura also co-leads the ! Join in as Laura and Eric share their stories about keeping up with deadlines, anxiety, mental flexibility, and perfectionism. You’ll also hear about Laura’s roles with Understood.org, her experience as a mom and the ways her ADHD can shine, and how the ADHD Aha! podcast was born. Resources & Honorable Mentions: Podcast Episode: ADHD reWired # Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens
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