Joe Charlan is both a legend, and ADHDAF family! Freshly diagnosed Joe was born and educated as female in the 70s and 80s - which will likely play a large role in why he’s only just been diagnosed at the age of 46! Mancunian Joe,  a Commissioning Manager supporting people with disabilities, now identifies as a transgender man. Right at the very start of this podcast, Joe reached out thanking us for our statement of inclusion re gender and sexuality and we hit it off.   We’ve had a mutual appreciation society ever since! Alongside sharing his experiences of undiagnosed ADHD, his recent diagnosis journey, and how the disorder and diagnosis effects his life; Joe shares a truly incredible insight….What has undiagnosed ADHD cost Joe? POWER. We resonate so hard, and we are sure you will too! Join us as Joe shares where he is up to on the late ADHD diagnosis rollercoaster, and the damage self deprecation can cause. This is a truly POWERFUL episode!THANK YOU SO MUCH JOE for helping us further understand the impact of late diagnosed ADHD! We loved this chat, and are sure you will too. *Trigger Warning* Contains swearing, and subjects some might find disturbing such as bullying, negative self talk, low self worth/esteem, anger, being misunderstood/belittled, mental health struggles and self sabotage. Support the show

We can’t believe we’ve made twenty episodes… ironically, that’s probably due to imposter syndrome!This is a really meaty episode(!) in which we share our insta story poll results, our personal reflections, and answer your ‘ask us anything’ questions. Never has their been a week where we have achieved so much and felt like such total failures! Comparison is the thief of joy, and imposter syndrome and dopamine deficiency suck all of the glory out of the wins! We’ve ended up letting the above upset ourselves and each other(!) and all on the week we are diving into the topic of imposter syndrome and identity crisis! You couldn’t write it, but we can discuss it… in our standard oversharey, brutally blurted out honest way that we hope listeners will find relatable and validating. Merriam-Webster defines imposter syndrome, in part, as "persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one's ongoing success.‘’ ~ verywellmind.comWe’ve said in jest in the past ‘who T F are we? We thought we knew, but then we discovered at 38 that we’d been battling through life with undiagnosed brain disorders, and now we haven’t a clue’… in all seriousness, identity crisis is very common among late diagnosed ADHDers. ‘Being repeatedly misunderstood causes people with ADHD to deeply misunderstand themselves and their situations. Feeling deficient and mistrusting yourself from an early age makes it extraordinarily difficult to properly evaluate yourself as an adult. There is a continual internal vacillation.’ ~Additudemag.com As ever, this podcast is us documenting our experiences on the late ADHD diagnosis rollercoaster in real time; hop aboard and hold on tight! Trigger Warning: we use strong language, and mention topics that some might find disturbing; including imposter syndrome, self loathing, identity crisis, self sabotage, and excessive use of the word ‘journey’ - cringe! Support the show

Hanna, is so driven to achieve her healthy eating and fitness goals that she motivates others to do the same online: @hannabfitness So it could be a surprise to hear that Hanna was diagnosed this year with ADHD at the age of 40! BUT, what we have learnt on our late diagnosed ADHD mission is that THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL! Despite the similarities between ADHDers there are as many differences. The areas in which some of us struggle to survive, some thrive and vice versa. Unlike us, and many other ADHDers, Hanna doesn’t struggle with self care, motivation or finances… One more time for the folk in the back - ADHD PRESENTS DIFFERENTLY IN EACH INDIVIDUAL! Hanna helps people (now us included) overcome the ‘all or nothing’ mindset which holds so many of us back. This ‘black and white’ thinking is so common with ADHDers, but having fought hard to overcome her own struggles, Hanna uses what she has learnt in battling her undiagnosed neurodivergence to motivate others. A genuine positive to ADHD that Hanna shares - EMPATHY. This absolute powerhouse understands struggle and blocks only too well, and is therefore able to help people to overcome theirs: https://form.jotform.com/210422639917053Alongside sharing how ADHD negatively impacts her life, and her diagnosis and treatment journey, Hanna gives us some fantastic advice about health and self care, which we are so grateful for! Mainly: STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF AND SETTING UNREALISTIC GOALS! Thank you Hanna, you ledge! There’s so much to take away from this interview,; relatable and inspirational, Enjoy! TRIGGER WARNING: We cover some sensitive topics which some may find triggering. Including; mental health struggles, weight loss, medication, ADHD diagnosisSupport the show

This episode comes with an ENORMOUS TRIGGER WARNING! Containing mentions of: ED, BN, AN, ABW, BDD, BI, BETRS, COE, EDNOS, MH, SH, CA, SUIPlease handle this episode with care, and don’t listen if any of the above or any mentions of disordered eating are triggering for you.If you are struggling with disordered eating in any form, please reach out for the help you need. One example of a fantastic charity: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/We cover this topic extremely reluctantly! As we bumble our way through, you can literally hear at points this discussion has felt like pulling teeth. Despite continuous requests from listeners to cover this, we’ve put it off for three months, but having discovered stats proving the strong correlation between ADHD and BEO / BN, we’ve put our shame and fear of upsetting people aside in the hope that our honesty can help others. We apologise if any of the language we use in an attempt to convey our experiences is inappropriate or upsetting. Our aim is to be part of the solution rather than the problem, but we accept the likely possibility of getting things wrong.  As ever, please note that we are not Drs, therapists, experts… we are just two late diagnosed ADHD women, reflecting on our own disordered eating and body issues of the past, with the new knowledge of our neurodivergence, and how the two relate in an attempt to validate the experiences of others like us; to eradicate the shame of potential comorbidities of a brain disorder, and to pull the community together. Though potentially as an instinctive defence mechanism, we move onto our usually silly blethering about nonsense, meaning this episode ends on a high after such dark subject matter. Support the show

Imagine getting a private diagnosis after hearing the lengthy wait for an NHS ADHD assessment, only to then have said diagnosis denied by the NHS! That’s exactly what happened to our next guest earlier this year… New Yorker, Nicole followed her heart to Edinburgh, Scotland, where she lives with her Scottish husband and works as a writer. She’s currently reviewing acts performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ADHD Shared Care, in a nutshell: is where a specialist (ie a private Psychiatrist) shares responsibilities with a General Practitioner (GP) in the treatment of the patient. Including: management of prescription, monitoring progress, tests - such as ECG, communication of dose changes during titration, etc. Despite many ADHDers in desperate need of treatment being advised by the NHS to go private if they can afford to due to the wait; Nicole was told that her shared care was rejected BECAUSE she wasn’t diagnosed by the NHS! Nicole is a UK resident who has a brain disorder that is considered a disability in the UK.MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! Despite sharing her story with BBC Scotland, Nicole’s case has not been reviewed. Like many, Nicole has to pay for her medication, and feels so dismissed by the NHS, that she doesn’t have the energy to keep fighting to be heard to access the treatment she needs and is entitled to.  Fortunately, Nicole is privileged enough to be able to pay for her medication, unlike many already struggling to survive the cost of living crisis(!) forced to choose between medication that enables them to function and basic living costs.Despite her diagnosis ordeal, Nicole’s tale is a positive one…‘Having ADHD is the worst thing that ever happened to me. Getting an ADHD diagnosis is the best thing that ever happened to me!’ - Nicole Nadler After a lifetime of self loathing, battling depression, feelings of ineptitude and despair, Nicole has found acceptance, is thriving and making up for lost time! GO ON NICOLE! We LOVE this proper blether of an episode! There’s so much to take away from it, from validation to inspiration… ENJOY! *Trigger Warning* This episode contains strong language, and sensitive topics which some may find distressing. Including; grief, severe mental health struggles and suicideSupport the show

Undiagnosed ADHDers can’t cope. The NHS can’t cope. And we can’t cope with constantly hearing from listeners just how broken the ADHD (in particular the adult ADHD) diagnostic system is! We haven’t started this podcast to get internet points, we’ve done it to help others like us. We get multiple messages daily telling us our ramblings are helping people feel validated and less alone in their suffering, which is incredible! BUT, what we really want is to help (even in a tiny way) to influence systemic change, so that ADHDers that need/want to access medical diagnosis/treatment don’t have to suffer like they are!This very emotional episode, in which we share just a handful of the countless experiences we get sent, our @adhdasfemales Instagram story poll results, followers suggestions for how to change the broken system, and our own, is fuelled by rage at the injustice of how many undiagnosed adult ADHDers are being treated by medical professionals. It’s not all ranting and feet stomping though, we promise! This isn’t about pointing the finger, it’s about potential problem solving.. and there is some joy in it too. ADHDers need help, the NHS needs help, CHANGE IS URGENTLY NEEDED. We need to come together and understand this crisis from both sides and start a new system to save lives! *Trigger Warning* Alongside swearing, this episode contains topics such as medical negligence, false accusations of abuse, body shaming, ADHD denying, severe mental health struggle and suicide. Support the show

We are so grateful to Helen Anderson for joining us on the late ADHD diagnosis rollercoaster, and so excited to share this insightful and hilarious interview with an absolute powerhouse! Helen humbly introduces herself as an ‘Internet Person’ (ADHDers tend to self deprecate) Helen is in fact an internet sensation! She has an ENORMOUS online following of her YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/helenmelonlady which she began vlogging on a decade ago. Her straight- talking, no BS attitude, body positivity, hilarious reels and rock n roll style have gained her an equally gargantuan following on Instagram: @helenanderz Helen has also created an online shop: @sweetsweethoneydew for ‘Rock n Rollin’ self lovers and loathers’. To top it all off, she is the lead singer of the band: @sunny.bones - their new EP, ‘This Hell Called Home’ is out now! It’s hard to imagine that a woman this driven could suffer with RSD,  task paralysis, low self esteem and the other struggles that hold so many ADHDers back… but don’t believe everything you see, or rather perceive on social media…Helen Anderson is ADHD AF! Very recently diagnosed at the age of 31.Massive thank you to the absolute legend that is Helen for sharing her struggles and experiences, that so many will relate to (us included!) and for the pearls which we will treasure. Enjoy! *Trigger warning* as ever this episode contains strong language. We discuss some sensitive topics such as depression, anxiety, unsympathetic strangers (ie internet trolls) family and romantic relationship struggles, and low self esteem.We also voice some potentially controversial opinions. Please note, that we are not experts or medical professionals, just three women who battled through life with undiagnosed brain disorders,  desperately hoping to influence change to save others from suffering for as long as we have. Support the show

We are reunited in Aberdeen, after Laura's couple of weeks on the road selling her handmade wears at The Secret Garden Party.  Not only does that explain the length of this episode (us neurodivergent neighbours had a lot of catching up to do!) but it also led us to the topic of this Episode. With Dawn studying 3D Design at University and Laura into her 12th year as a creative entrepreneur with @hathor.hedonism, evidently we are both very much creatives. However, as we always say - ADHD is not a one size fits all disorder! Though ADHDers share similar struggles and traits; the disability effects us all in different ways. We decided to challenge this ADHD creative entrepreneur stereotype with a poll for our instagram followers: @adhdasfemales, and it's fair to say we were very surprised by the results. Thanks to all who participated. We begin this Episode by answering the 'ask us anything' questions from our followers, before diving into the poll and giving our own personal reflections on a topic that definitely holds some weight; but we argue, this could potentially be due in part to RSD as much as anything else. We share some 'information' from online articles on the topic, one of which makes a claim so untrue, irresponsible and insulting that Laura has a meltdown and shares some choice words for the 'journalist' at multiple points. sorry, not sorry! We also debunk the myth that ADHD meds destroy creativity. We conclude with our 'differences', 'the most ADHD thing we have done this week' and some VERY EXCITING news from Dawn!!!!!!!TRIGGER WARNING: The rage evoked by said article makes this episode even more sweary than usual, so be warned.  We cover some sensitive topics including: Severe mental health issues, depression, anxiety, self loathing, relationship struggles, and people disbelieving and diminishing our invisible disabilitySupport the show

We are so excited about this Episode. It’s a bit longer than usual; as Louise shared so many pearls, we didn’t want to cut any out! (Hence why there’s minimal into/outro from us) As many of you will be aware, Louise Williams is an absolute LEGEND! She has an incredible blog - Pink Pear Bear - and ADHD support groups of the same name. Louise has been making much needed noise about mental health for seven years online. She has helped so many ADHDers and continues to do so with her ENORMOUS online community, and now she has started a gym with a difference - Solace, providing solace for the soul. Unlike standard gyms that many find intimidating; the ethos is that all are welcome of all abilities, to join a safe community that they can feel comfortable in. Louise shares her journey battling depression and anxiety, with medication for what turned out to be comorbidities (sounds familiar!) Her mental health deteriorated further after having her children until eventually getting diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 37.We are sure you will love this inspirational interview with a truly lovely lady! Trigger warning: sensitive topics covered such as; mental health struggles, alcoholism, medication problems, imposter syndrome, potentially controversial opinions, and some swearingSupport the show

Apologies in advance that the sound isn’t the usual standard. We had to record this on the road - literally!In every Episode of ADHDAF we invite you to join us on our late ADHD diagnosis journey, but in this particular instalment you are joining us on an actual journey too(!) from north east Scotland down to Blackpool in a car full to the rafters of festival accessories, with a surprise guest appearance from Laura’s Husband Big. Reason being, we have to hold our hands up at this point and admit we’ve taken on WAY too much, meaning it has become a struggle for us both to keep all of the plates spinning! ADHDers are prone to overcommitting.  A lifetime of not meeting expectations, and ‘just try harders’ can lead us to become hardcore people pleasers! Overcompensation and executive dysfunction can cause us to take on too many tasks.  Time blindness, a lack of boundaries/self- worth/care and rejection sensitive dysphoria can all bring an inability to perceive our own limits. Not to mention that the lazy’, ‘useless’ etc labels many of us have picked up along the way can make us feel like we have a hell of a lot to prove! We hope you enjoy this very random check-in, in which we reflect on everything from our incredible interview with Clementine Ford, storming the UK & Australian podcast charts, the seriousness of the worldwide health crisis of ADHD, wearing cycling shorts to work, forgetting to sleep, wash and get any fresh air for over a week… and loads more. That’s not even half of it…as ever, we have a LOT to say! Always remember this truly inspirational quote:  ‘Keep smashing everything!’ -  Dawn-Marie Farmer LOLS! TRIGGER WARNING: Contains strong language and mentions of severe mental health crisis, suicide, death, family bereavement, work and financial struggles, trauma and relationship strugglesSupport the show