I Have ADHD Podcast

A brand new series is here, and it’s on everyone's favorite topic: rejection. From childhood to adulthood, we experience rejection in a variety of ways and learn how to respond to it. Those of us with ADHD often experience this frequently and at an early age. As a result, we tend to have heightened sensitivity to feelings of exclusion or dismissal. We react extremely or suppress our own desires in order to please the people around us whose love and approval we most crave.The first episode in this series involves a critical self-examination and reflection time to determine whether or not you may demonstrate rejection sensitivity. I discuss expert opinions on the relationship between having ADHD and experiencing rejection, how rejection can be perceived but not real and the importance of nurturing our psyches when we experience these strong feelings.While this episode may bring up some intense memories or emotions, I’m here to offer generous validation and grace so that listeners can better prepare for self-regulation in times of uncertainty.In addition to finding a good trauma-informed therapist for support, my group coaching program, FOCUSED, is a great, supportive community for other ADHDers learning how to harness our strengths and overcome our weaknesses. I hope you check us out!Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. Referenced Links: Experiences of criticism in adults with ADHDRejection sensitivity and the social brainRejection sensitivity and disruption of attentionPeer Functioning in Children with ADHDPeer victimization in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

I’m so relieved to be wrapping up the last episode in the executive function series. This episode focuses on self-motivation, which is quite funny seeing as how I have felt very little of it to get this series done. The timing of this episode couldn’t be more perfect, however, because we are in the last few weeks before taxes are due! Many of you adults with ADHD may be especially struggling with the motivation to beat that deadline, and I’m here to explain why.It all comes down to our lack of dopamine, but that doesn’t mean we are lazy or a lost cause for productivity. A customized cocktail of support can help us improve in this impaired executive function.I provide several tips in the episode for improving motivation through determination. Three of these include:Talking to your doctor about medically increasing your dopamineSetting up rewards systems for yourselfJoining a coaching program, like FOCUSEDListen to this episode,  and please share with a friend who could also benefit!Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

We are now five down with one to go in my executive function series. Part 5 is on self-awareness - the ability to reflect, evaluate and ponder your thinking patterns. This executive function, also known as metacognition, is closely influenced by emotional regulation and working memory. For ADHDers, self-awareness can be a very uncomfortable thing to do and it might bring up a lot of shame and guilt. That’s why I offer six super helpful tips to implement that will create a safer space for you to examine your way of thinking and make a game plan for positive change.There is a significant shift within my group coaching program FOCUSED. I’m now offering the emotional regulation course in the first batch of courses now for all new participants! This is truly the foundation of our ability to make changes, and I’m happy to offer this at the beginning now. Listen in as I discuss what active mindfulness and compassionate self-reflection look like as we embark on a journey to be more self-aware.Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

My conversation with Dr. Lindsay Gibson generated pure gold in this week’s episode about emotionally immature parents. It’s important to note that this is in no way parent-shaming but instead illuminates how many people with ADHD were likely raised by emotionally immature adults (and perhaps perpetuating this behavior).We’re often led to believe that we ADHDers are always the problem. But maybe we were raised by adults that used manipulation and guilt to force us into people-pleasing and parentification to prioritize their needs and wants at all times above our own as children.While ADHD is hereditary, emotional immaturity can sometimes be passed down through generations as well. A cycle of neurodivergence coupled with emotional immaturity is not an ideal combination, so I invite you to listen in as we discuss how to identify this type of parenting, common coping mechanisms to avoid, and the pathway toward peace and freedom.Many of the participants in my group coaching program FOCUSED can relate to this and are in good company as we work towards being more emotionally mature adults. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, I encourage you to check out drlindsaygibson.com and read one of her many helpful books.

In this special episode, I’ve invited emotional abuse and relationship experts, Katie McKenna and Helen Villiers, to share their perspective on toxic relationships and how they affect ADHDers. You may know these incredible women from their podcast In Sight: Exposing Narcissism.With Helen being a fellow ADHDer and Katie deserving a gold medal for supporting neurodivergence, I’m in great company during this conversation as we learn definitions for emotional abuse, narcissism, gaslighting and even mysophonia. Many of us adults with ADHD were raised with neurotypical or even narcissistic parents who did not understand and accept us for our neurodivergence. As a result, we may be more susceptible to similarly toxic and abusive relationships with people who deny our feelings and needs.Please give this episode a listen and share with friends and family as you never know who may be suffering in an abusive relationship. I encourage my listeners to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233) if you feel that you are in danger and need help.I invite you to join my group coaching program FOCUSED, where adults like you receive regular coaching calls and have a supportive community with all the tools needed to thrive with ADHD. Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

Part 4 in the Executive Function Series is here, and I’m focusing on problem solving. This includes “fun” elements like planning, organizing and prioritizing that many ADHDers struggle with. The truth is, while those of us with ADHD may be good at solving big, complex problems, facing the breakdown of smaller situations can be a real challenge. In Episode 199, I share info from articles, books, and direct feedback from people in my group coaching program to help you understand why problem solving is so hard and what we can do to tackle it head-on. Problem solving shouldn’t be scary. It’s supposed to manifest like mental play, or a game of chess, with our brains simulating multiple scenarios with choices and actions and helping us decide the best course of action.Listen in on my basic tips for approaching and solving a problem, and don’t forget to check out my FOCUSED group coaching program to receive tools to keep you on track with accomplishing your goals.Here is the article I mentioned in this episode. Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

You’ll want to save this episode to re-listen and share with your neurotypical friends because Episode 198 is solid GOLD. In part three of my six-part series on executive functions, I’m diving into emotional regulation and how it’s impacted with ADHD. But the truth is, we ALL can use help getting our emotions under control sometimes.Emotional regulation directly impacts how productive we’re able to be because how we feel drives our actions. While ADHD inhibits our ability to self-regulate, leading us to react poorly at times, there are so many useful tools we can use to regain control of our body’s response to external stimuli.While I myself even get worked up a bit in this episode, I cover my frustrations with clinicians for not sharing more info about this executive function after diagnosis, the biological differences between ADHD brains and neurotypical brains, and how to SURF our emotions in the moment instead of avoiding them.The 37 minutes of this episode are chock full of good info, but if you’re looking for even more training on emotional regulation, you can receive a full course on this topic after completing three months of my group coaching program FOCUSED!Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

Part two of my six-part series on executive functions is all about inhibition. This one’s a little heavy and a little scary. Those of us with ADHD can attest to how debilitating it is to not have strong, internal self-restraint that can protect us from automatic urges and impulse decisions. From interrupting conversations to cutting in line to leaping before we look, life with impaired inhibition can be daunting. In episode 197, I share the four types of inhibition (including cognitive, behavioral, and emotional motor) that impact our reactions and decision-making. I also offer tips on how we can keep this impairment in check and guard ourselves against making hasty choices.While there are some ADHD tools out there to support children, adults continue to need help understanding a new diagnosis or just managing day-to-day life. That’s why I started my group coaching program FOCUSED, and I invite you to sign up today and learn how to practice inhibition with a supportive and encouraging group of people just like you.Hang out with me on Instagram HEREReferenced Links: What is Inhibitory Control? and How is it Related to ADHD?Inhibitory capacity in adults with symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

In Episode 196, I am kicking off the anticipated Executive Function series! I’ll be breaking down the six key executive functions that are impacted by ADHD. Today’s focus is all about Working Memory. Working memory is a temporary storage system that allows you to hold information in your mind long enough to do something with it. I like to think of working memory as an internal bulletin board where sticky notes get posted temporarily. Did you know there are two types: verbal and non-verbal? Join me as I dive into understanding the mind’s voice and the mind’s eye that are both necessary to picture the steps involved in a task and get it done.This is an easy one to give ourselves a hard time about. We think we SHOULD be able to do XYZ from start to finish, and we shame ourselves when we don’t. As you’ll find out in the podcast, my biggest lesson here is to embrace acceptance of our impairment and learn how to externalize these plans of action to help us accomplish them. Ready to make a game plan for yourself to improve life with ADHD? I invite you to join my group coaching program FOCUSED, where adults like you receive regular coaching calls and learn how to hold themselves accountable in a loving but firm way.Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. 

Episode 195 welcomes Daniel Jones from The Aspie World as a special guest! PLEASE NOTE: There is strong language used in this one. Daniel has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 2), ADHD, OCD, and Dyslexia. He’s especially passionate about providing education, support, and diagnosis access to any and everyone. In this special episode, we chat through the differences and similarities between ADHD and Autism. Daniel shares tips for tricking the ADHD side of his brain into staying focused for longer periods of time and expresses why it’s so important to love each other and not feed dissension amongst our neurodivergent community.You can find Daniel across all your favorite social media channels @theaspieworld. My group coaching program FOCUSED is a great place for folks with neurodivergent conditions like ADHD, and we believe we’re better together!Hang out with me on Instagram HERE. #adhd #adhdawareness #adhdsupport #lifecoach #adhdcoach #adhdproblems #adhdadult #adhdlife #adhdcoaching #adhdexplained #adultadhd #adhdsymptoms #adhdinfo #adhdlife #adhdtips #adhdexplained #adhdtribe #adhdsolutions #adhdhelp #adhdtreatment #adhdstrategies #adhddiagnosis #ocd #dyslexia #autism