ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup_____What if the intensity you’ve chased in relationships wasn’t love, but dopamine?Amanda McCracken is an award winning journalist, endurance athlete, and intimacy researcher who was diagnosed with ADHD at 36, long after she had built a successful career. From the outside, her life looked accomplished and disciplined. Inside, she struggled with distraction, emotional intensity, anxiety, and a lifelong pattern of romantic fixation. In this episode, Amanda shares how ADHD showed up quietly in her life, from trichotillomania and overthinking to using extreme exercise as a form of self regulation, long before she had language for what was actually happening.The conversation centers on limerence, a psychological state of intense romantic longing marked by obsession, idealization, and emotional highs and lows. Amanda explains how limerence thrives on uncertainty, making it especially powerful for ADHD brains that crave novelty and fast dopamine. Tracy and Amanda explore how rejection sensitivity, perfectionism, and trauma can blur the line between desire and self worth, and why many women mistake intensity for connection. Amanda also shares how chasing emotionally unavailable partners became an organizing force in her life, and how that pattern kept her stuck in fantasy instead of intimacy. She also had to confront a deeper truth: real intimacy feels quieter than fantasy. Today, Amanda is married to a securely attached partner and is the author of When Longing Becomes Your Lover, a deeply personal exploration of limerence, ADHD, and what it takes to receive love instead of chasing it.Resources:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-mccracken-4716373 Website: https://www.amandajmccracken.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.mccracken.39 Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2 Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup_____Some ADHD stories come from authors, psychologists, and researchers. This one comes from a 23-year-old ER nurse who learned early that the brain she has is exactly the one she needs.Nina Padilla spent ten years trying to get someone to take her ADHD symptoms seriously. From age thirteen through twenty-one, she told her pediatrician every year, “I think I have ADHD,” and every year she heard the same dismissal: good grades and good behavior meant she couldn’t possibly have it. It wasn't until her last semester of nursing school, during a three-day panic attack, that she finally found a therapist who listened. At 23, she was formally diagnosed with combined-type ADHD and started on Adderall.Today Nina works in the pediatric emergency room at the same hospital where she fell in love with the chaos during her final clinical rotation. She calls herself an energizer bunny, moving so fast that a pediatrician once told her, "Nina, don't fix whatever's going on up there." That was the moment she realized her ADHD wasn't a disability. It was her superpower.In this conversation, Tracy and Nina talk about growing up emotional and misunderstood, finding your people early, seeking rejection on purpose to heal rejection sensitivity, and why the ER is the perfect place for an ADHD brain that never gets bored.For any listener in their twenties who feels unsure about the future, Nina offers the clarity so many of us need at that age: follow what interests you, work with the brain you have, and stop chasing a version of “productive” that does nothing but make you miserable.Resources:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_izabellaSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://tracyotsuka.com/book2 Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Gratitude isn't just a feel-good concept; it's crucial for ADHD brains. Tracy reveals how gratitude spikes dopamine, enhances emotional regulation, and supports focus. Starting each day with gratitude can set a positive tone and improve sleep. She shares practical rituals, like family gratitude meals and journaling, that promote positive emotions. The discussion includes overcoming self-doubt and the transformative power of gratitude, even in tough circumstances. Understanding the five levels of gratitude helps reframe challenges and aids in emotional healing.

Dr. Gilly Kahn is a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodiversity and emotion regulation, and author of 'Allow Me to Interrupt.' She shares her personal journey with ADHD, discussing the challenges of late diagnosis and the hidden impact of masking. The conversation delves into the intersection of hormones and ADHD, emotional dysregulation, and the often-misunderstood influence of migraines. Gilly offers insights into practical strategies for managing symptoms and emphasizes the importance of authenticity in navigating life with ADHD.

Susanne Schotanus, an ADHD writing coach and founder of Passionate Writer Coaching, shares her journey from struggling writer to helping others overcome ADHD-related creative blocks. She highlights why consistency is a myth for ADHD writers and how perfectionism can stifle creativity. Discussing the healing power of play in writing, Susanne emphasizes that ADHD storytelling can be structured yet free, allowing creativity to flourish. Her insights on rebuilding a healthy relationship with writing inspire listeners to embrace their unique process.

Devene Godau, a certified professional dog trainer with over 25 years of experience, shares her journey from journalist to dog trainer after adopting a greyhound. She emphasizes the importance of compassion in training, revealing that dogs, much like people, thrive when understood. Devene discusses the effectiveness of clicker training and playful gamification, especially for neurodivergent dog owners. She also highlights how dogs reflect their owners' emotions and how sniffing can enhance wellbeing, providing practical strategies to strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners.

Dr. Kalaki Clarke, a board-certified family physician and TEDx speaker, shares her journey with ADHD, sparked by recognizing herself in a young patient. She discusses the high-pressure medical residency environment that exacerbated mental health issues. Kalaki introduces her CAT method—Capture, Analyze, Transform—as a valuable framework for neurodivergent learners to develop tailored strategies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of acknowledging ADHD without shame to enhance personal and professional growth.

Dr. Daniella Karidi, a research scholar and ADHD coach diagnosed in her fifties, shares her unique insights into memory's quirks in ADHD brains. She dives into the concept of prospective memory and why traditional time-based cues often fail. By outlining five critical memory breakdowns, she emphasizes the need for multiple, event-based reminders. Daniella highlights how intentional memory encoding and external supports, like tech tools, can enhance task completion. With humor and practical strategies, she redefines memory challenges as opportunities for innovation!

Kiersten Lyons, a talented writer and actress famous for her one-woman show 'Crushed,' shares her journey of navigating heartbreak and a late ADHD diagnosis. She discusses the challenges of rejection sensitivity in Hollywood, revealing how her experiences shaped her artistic endeavors. Kiersten emphasizes the importance of authenticity, grief, and self-acceptance, while providing valuable insights into the emotional toll of creative industries. Her memoir blends humor and healing, aiming to connect with others feeling 'too much' or 'not enough.'

Nicole Bela, Director of Development at Advance Illinois and advocate for neurodiversity, shares her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD at 37. She reveals how burnout is prevalent in the nonprofit sector, especially among neurodivergent individuals. Nicole discusses the pressures leading to burnout, the importance of unmasking, and how embracing ADHD transformed her leadership style. She proposes practical changes for creating inclusive workplaces and highlights the need for open conversations about employee needs.