ADHD Aha!

Executive Mananya Komorowski shares her journey of discovering she has ADHD, coping with grief, and her thoughts on ADHD accommodations at work. She reflects on how her diagnosis has changed her perception of herself and discusses the challenges of managing ADHD in high-stress executive roles.

Dr. Johnathan Flowers, specializing in the philosophy of disability, shares his journey with ADHD, including childhood diagnosis, challenges in school, and hitting a wall in grad school. They discuss the importance of support and advocacy, and the experience of being a professor with ADHD.

Actor Oliver Vaquer discusses his 'noisy' ADHD brain and the challenges he faced growing up. He talks about using ADHD medication to build better habits and the experience of feeling like he's operating at 100% for the first time ever. The podcast also touches on ADHD social anxiety and the misconceptions surrounding the condition.

Dani Donovan, Creator of The Anti-Planner, talks about productivity with ADHD, self-criticism, analysis paralysis, rejection sensitivity, friendship, and the power of understanding neurodiversity.

Dr. Karen Wilson, clinical neuropsychologist, joins to explain executive function and its link to ADHD and mental health challenges like anxiety. She discusses the different skills encompassed by executive function, the importance of flexible thinking and self-regulation, and the possibility of a part two episode exploring working memory and flexible thinking.

Musician and content creator Weston Gardner discusses his experience with ADHD, rejection sensitivity, and the power of failure. Topics include ADHD and gaming, therapeutic benefits of tabletop role-playing games, understanding and managing neurodivergency, and Weston's act of giving to the community through royalty-free music for tabletop games and more.

Max Willey, an expat living in Norway, shares his journey of being diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression in adulthood. He discusses the challenges of complex tasks, the relief of his diagnosis, and the downsides and positives of ADHD. The podcast explores early signs and symptoms of ADHD, writing a thesis with the condition, maintaining friendships, and living with ADHD by emphasizing self-awareness and coping strategies.

Allison O’Keefe, a UX designer in Detroit, discusses her journey with ADHD, including social awkwardness and accidentally ghosting people. They explore her childhood experiences, overthinking in relationships, and the benefits of therapy. Allison expresses gratitude for being interviewed and shares her aspirations for starting her own podcast.

Lawyer Adam Sosnik was miserable in his job. Miserable when he couldn’t concentrate, which was often. Miserable because it was physically uncomfortable to focus on even a small thing, like writing a single sentence. The trouble was, he was being treated for anxiety and depression, but not ADHD.  When he began working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, his wife noticed his frustration. And with her encouragement, he booked an appointment with a new psychiatrist. That led to an ADHD diagnosis, which validated the discomfort Adam felt. But it also marked the beginning of a new struggle. Also in this episode: Adam talks about ADHD and tics and his experience with Tourettic OCD (TOCD). And how he’s charted a new way of living that’s finally made him happy.To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.org.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at ADHDAha@understood.org.  Related resourcesADHD and ticsADHD and mood swingsA day in the life of an employee with ADHD Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Pediatrician Josh Maxwell had two “aha” moments that led to his ADHD diagnosis. One came from talking with a teenage patient whose ADHD symptoms were different from what he’d seen in other patients. It wasn’t that the teen couldn’t pay attention, but rather that they were paying attention to everything all at once. Josh related to that feeling.  Josh’s other ADHD “aha” came from his experience with depression. After starting antidepressants, he could more clearly see his own ADHD symptoms. Now, the coping strategies he’d put in place for himself, the masking, and even the childhood poem he wrote about fidgeting made perfect sense. Listen to this episode of ADHD Aha! to learn what Josh would rename ADHD, and why pediatrics is the only specialty for him.   To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at ADHDAha@understood.org. Related resourcesADHD and depressionHow attention worksShould I get tested for ADHD as an adult? Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give